Scripting help

[Jerakeen]

OK, what I'm trying to do is compare how much gold the party has before they sell their stuff and after. I can get the first number by putting this (courtesy of Niemand) in the dialogue node before the shop mode node:

Click to reveal..

i = coins_amount();

set_flag(74,0,i/256);

set_flag(74,1,i%256);

 

But I can't figure out how to get the second number. Putting a similar chunk of code in the code section after begin_shop_mode doesn't seem to work.

I think basically what I need is some way to call a state immediately after the party finishes shopping. Feasible?

 

Edit: Using the SET_SDF action to trigger a call in the town's start state sort of works, but if the player goes into shop mode again before moving or waiting or otherwise using up a tick, the original number gets over-written before the second number is generated.

 

Another Edit: OK, I've got it. SDFs make dialogue into a versatile tool. Added another node: "I'm busy, come back when flag (0,17) is set back to zero." sort of thing.

 

It would be more elegant if I could put the call right into the dialogue script, but the game doesn't seem to pay attention to anything you put after begin_shop_mode. Is this one more thing that isn't mentioned in the documentation?

 

[Kelandon]

Originally Posted By: The Turtle Moves

It would be more elegant if I could put the call right into the dialogue script, but the game doesn't seem to pay attention to anything you put after begin_shop_mode.

I believe that is true, yes.

[Ishad Nha]

There is a screen that is displayed when you finish shopping but its content is not under the control of the scenario designer, apart from the Text1 text.

"You finish shopping.

1. I have another question.

2. That's all for now. Thanks."

[Niemand]

I think there's a way you could make this work even in case the party tries to shop twice. It's similar to what you mentioned already:

Quote:

SDFs make dialogue into a versatile tool. Added another node: "I'm busy, come back when flag (0,17) is set back to zero." sort of thing.

What you do is that when the party tries to shop, you first check whether the flag indicating the start of a transaction is already set. If so, you do whatever it is you want to do to complete the transaction (e.g. record the change in gold). Then, you set the flag and start a new transaction.

Then, you need to duplicate the code to complete the transaction in other places to make sure that it always gets run eventually (and probably before the player has a chance to do anything else to modify the party's amount of gold). So, you would probably want to put it in the town's START_STATE and also in the code of any other nodes in the dialogue which depend on the amount the party spent.

[Jerakeen]

Ah, very clever. My way works, (and actually makes sense in the context), but I like your idea better. I'll try it. Thanks.

[Metatron]

Did you try throwing in a while loop? Perhaps a while loop would allow you to evade the problem of control going to the shop mode.

[Jerakeen]

I'm just starting to play with while loops. Where would you suggest putting one?

[Kelandon]

Originally Posted By: Metatron

Perhaps a while loop would allow you to evade the problem of control going to the shop mode.

I can't imagine how.

[Jerakeen]

Well, anyway, Niemand's suggestion worked beautifully once I sorted out all my brackets and semicolons.

 

And I learned not to use the call "end()" in dialogue code unless I actually want it to end.

[Enraged Slith]

Do grouping calls work outside of town scripts?

 

EDIT: Let me specify, do they work in creature scripts?

[Niemand]

As far as I know: yes, with the caveat that they only make sense in scripts being run while in a town. (I'm not sure what happens if you try to use them from an outdoor script, for example, but a creature should be perfectly able to organize itself and its fellows into groups.)

[Enraged Slith]

Well, it's been a while since I've last scripted, and I'm trying to make a special ability for an enemy that selects all nearby enemies and puts animations on them so that they activate all at once and selectively damage them all at once.

 

The animation is fine, because it doesn't pause the game until it runs. Damage, on the other hand, pauses the game, which makes using them both in conjunction a little difficult. Essentially, I can have the script cycle through a bunch of enemies and do what it's supposed to do one at a time, but I want it to happen all at once.

[Niemand]

There's not a very good way to do this, as I recall; a number of us have tried to do what you describe, and I'm not sure if anyone has found a way to do it well. You may just be stuck with a long, annoying set of delays.

 

One trick that might make it work is that a number of the things that the game does, like showing damage inflicted, involve running animations, which, as I recall, will also trigger queued up user animations. So, you could try setting all of the animations, not triggering them yourself, and then applying the damage.

[Enraged Slith]

*sigh*

 

Does activate_hidden_group() not work outside of the INIT and START states?

 

EDIT: I figured it out. I was trying to activate the hidden group of a creature standing on water.

[Enraged Slith]

How do I get a creature to move closer to the party during combat?

 

In a custom creature script, I removed all of the do_attack() calls in order to keep the monster from occasionally charging my party instead of doing what it's supposed to do. Unfortunately, now it refuses to move during combat in order to keep my party in sight. What's worse is that it will use its abilities even when no one is in sight.

 

I tried having his script revert him back to the START_STATE if he couldn't see his target, but apparently creature scripts employ selective hearing, just like my dog.

[Niemand]

Quote:

How do I get a creature to move closer to the party during combat?

I'd say that approach_char(), with 1000 as the target argument would be the thing to try.

Quote:

In a custom creature script, I removed all of the do_attack() calls in order to keep the monster from occasionally charging my party instead of doing what it's supposed to do. Unfortunately, now it refuses to move during combat in order to keep my party in sight. What's worse is that it will use its abilities even when no one is in sight.

I tried having his script revert him back to the START_STATE if he couldn't see his target, but apparently creature scripts employ selective hearing, just like my dog.

If you're having trouble with behavior across states, maybe try simplifying the script by putting everything into just the START_STATE. It's often easier to reason about how the code will work when there are no state transitions involved.

[Enraged Slith]

How does approach_char() even work? It returns a value instead of forcing the creature to move.

[Niemand]

The return value indicates what the creature is actually going to do, after having received the instruction. You may need to cancel whatever the creature was already doing (using stop_moving()) in order to make it do anything useful.

[Enraged Slith]

Code:

	if(dist_to_char(get_target()) > 2){		t = dist_to_char(get_target());		while(t >= 3){			if(approach_char(ME,get_target(),1) == 0)				t = dist_to_char(get_target());			if(my_ap() == 0)				end_combat_turn();			}		}

This seems to be doing what I want it to do, save that the game claims it's an infinite loop. What exactly is infinite about this?

Jeeze, my coding ability must seem akin to breaking rocks into smaller rocks.

[Niemand]

One issue is that if approach_char() returns 1, you remove all of the creature's AP, but keep running the loop. (Keep in mind that the game will call the creature's script repeatedly as long as the creature still has AP, but if the creature runs out of AP while the script is running, the script still runs to completion.)

[Enraged Slith]

Originally Posted By: Niemand

The return value indicates what the creature is actually going to do, after having received the instruction. You may need to cancel whatever the creature was already doing (using stop_moving()) in order to make it do anything useful.

How are you supposed to make that any useful? It's supposed to return a 1 if the creature can no longer move, but, from what I can tell, it doesn't.

If I set up the approach_char() as a while loop to keep running as long as it keeps returning 0 (the creature is moving), then the script infinitely loops even after the creature has arrived at its destination or can no longer move. If the creature cannot move, then the call is supposed to return a 1, which should end the loop.

I am real close to forgetting these movement AI calls and manually moving the creature myself. I have truly created a monster, and I shall enjoy repeatedly murdering it in testing.

[Niemand]

I think that the solution is to not put it in a loop. Remember that you already have an implicit loop because the game will call the script as long as there are AP left. If the call gives back a 1, then have the creature just do something (or nothing) else instead.

[Enraged Slith]

I completely forgot that creature scripts will repeatedly loop. All my script needed was a simple restructure, and now it works perfectly. Thank you so much.

 

Now, if only I could figure out why Sanctuary randomly breaks. I may just have to give the monster an equal amount of invulnerability to fill in the cracks.

[Niemand]

Quote:

Now, if only I could figure out why Sanctuary randomly breaks. I may just have to give the monster an equal amount of invulnerability to fill in the cracks.

Yeah, that's a weird one. If, however, all you want is for the creature to not be harmed (you don't need the completeness of it being able to break its own sanctuary by itself attacking) invulnerability should be just about equivalent. Even if you do need it to be able to 'break' its protection, you could script it so that it removes its own invulnerability before attacking.

[Celtic Minstrel]

Isn't Sanctuary supposed to be invisibility? How is invulnerability in any way equivalent to that?

[Niemand]

The effect of sanctuary (as I recall, for PCs) is that the character cannot be targeted for attack by enemies, unless he attacks someone else, in which case the sanctuary is lost. Invulnerability isn't quite the same thing, since attacks will be able to target the creature, but they still won't inflict any harm.

[Celtic Minstrel]

They don't become invisible, then?

[Niemand]

No, definitely not.

[Enraged Slith]

Whenever the PC attacks a monster with sanctuary, you get a message saying something to the effect of "this creature is protected by sanctuary."

 

Unfortunately, for whatever reason, attacks occasionally break through. This makes it difficult to use Sanctuary for any sort of reasonable purpose, particularly since Invulnerability does the same thing with no bugs attached.

[Jerakeen]

Also, characters with Sanctuary can be targeted with offensive spells.

[Enraged Slith]

So I just had one of my scripts eaten by Vista, because ever since I tried shutting my UAC off my computer freezes whenever a program goes unresponsive. Oddly enough, I thought I had saved the file a bunch of times, but w/e.

 

At the time, I was trying to figure out how to check whether or not a space was clear of obstructive terrain or floors, but there doesn't seem to be a call that checks to see if the party can walk on a space.

 

I really don't want to have to manually punch in the number for each terrain I want the script to check for, so is there any easy work around that doesn't involve simply making sure the spot is devoid of terrain altogether?

[Niemand]

Quote:

I really don't want to have to manually punch in the number for each terrain I want the script to check for, so is there any easy work around that doesn't involve simply making sure the spot is devoid of terrain altogether?

There is no supported way. I think that there is probably a tricky solution, however, and it should even be pretty portable. I haven't researched it in detail, but I could if you want.

[Enraged Slith]

Originally Posted By: Niemand

Quote:

I really don't want to have to manually punch in the number for each terrain I want the script to check for, so is there any easy work around that doesn't involve simply making sure the spot is devoid of terrain altogether?

There is no supported way. I think that there is probably a tricky solution, however, and it should even be pretty portable. I haven't researched it in detail, but I could if you want.

That's alright, the alternative doesn't take that long, it's just more dependent on location,which is fine for this, since it's just one fight.

[Enraged Slith]

How do I keep enemies from getting free pot shots at the party if you turn them hostile after a cutscene?

 

I've done everything I can think of, save a really inconvenient workaround, but it seems that the game skips ahead quite a few ticks.

 

EDIT: I finally figured out why my tick method wasn't working. If I declared the variable during the cutscene, ending the cutscene would move the game forward a tick, so that wouldn't work. Without declaring the variable, my original (tick_difference(tick,get_current_tick()) != 0) would always run because of whatever number variables are naturally set to return.

 

Code:

	if(get_flag(0,0) == 2){		if((tick_difference(tick,get_current_tick()) == 1) || (tick_difference(tick,get_current_tick()) == -29999)){			set_attitude(1001,10);			set_flag(0,0,3);			}		}	if(get_flag(0,0) == 2)		tick = get_current_tick();

[BJ Back From the Beyond]

Try using the START_STATE to turn them hostile instead of the cutscene's state. I did a bit of quick testing on this, and it appears to work.

[Enraged Slith]

I've got a creature script that needs to check whether or not its target is weakened and slowed. Unfortunately, get_char_status() will not return a negative number. Any way around this?

[Niemand]

Quote:

Unfortunately, get_char_status() will not return a negative number. Any way around this?

I just tried this out, and it seemed to work. In the START_STATE of a creature script I put:

Code:

set_char_status(ME,1,-10,1,0);

and in the START_STATE of the town script I put:

Code:

print_nums(get_char_status(6,1),get_char_status(7,1),get_char_status(8,1));

(Creatures 6, 7, and 8 are ones using the script I first modified.)
I saw matching negative numbers being printed out, as hoped for. One thing to watch out for: Did you try using print_num() to have a script report values to you? As I recall that particular print call doesn't handle negative numbers properly, which is why I've made a habit of using print_nums() instead (although doing so necessitates providing three numbers to print, whether that was what you needed or not).

[Enraged Slith]

Originally Posted By: Niemand

Quote:

Unfortunately, get_char_status() will not return a negative number. Any way around this?

I just tried this out, and it seemed to work. In the START_STATE of a creature script I put:

Code:

set_char_status(ME,1,-10,1,0);

and in the START_STATE of the town script I put:

Code:

print_nums(get_char_status(6,1),get_char_status(7,1),get_char_status(8,1));

(Creatures 6, 7, and 8 are ones using the script I first modified.)
I saw matching negative numbers being printed out, as hoped for. One thing to watch out for: Did you try using print_num() to have a script report values to you? As I recall that particular print call doesn't handle negative numbers properly, which is why I've made a habit of using print_nums() instead (although doing so necessitates providing three numbers to print, whether that was what you needed or not).

Ha ha, yep.

Coincidentally, my script worked when I removed the portion checking to see if the specific status returned a negative number (though I left the ones checking for positive numbers). I have no idea why it wasn't working, all I know is that it wasn't. I like my alternative better, though, so it doesn't matter to me at the moment.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Enraged Slith]

Why does not terrain scripts generate with set_terrain()? No easy way around, I am pain.

[Niemand]

I assume you mean, when you use a set_terrain call to create a door where there wasn't one, why doesn't it get a door script added on that space? I think that some of it has to do with the fact that this isn't what one would always want, that it might be a bit tricky for the game to handle loading another script when not in the process of loading a zone, and partially that this is yet another feature Jeff overlooked because he didn't happen to need to dynamically manage terrain scripts.

 

A work-around, if you're always modifying a terrain on the same space, would be to place a terrain script there ahead of time that lies dormant until you need it. This script could be activated (via give_ter_script_message might be a good way) when you place the new terrain on top of it.

[Enraged Slith]

I considered that, but the intention was actually to have a creature script drop/throw explosives around that would explode in a turn or two. The alternative was to transfer the code to a creature script, I just preferred that the player and other creatures be able to walk over the explosives.

 

Actually, I can carpet the relevant area with dormant terrain scripts without hitting the town limit. I guess this will have to do. Thanks for the help.

[BJ Back From the Beyond]

Originally Posted By: Enraged Slith

I considered that, but the intention was actually to have a creature script drop/throw explosives around that would explode in a turn or two. The alternative was to transfer the code to a creature script, I just preferred that the player and other creatures be able to walk over the explosives.

You could do this without terrain scripts. You'll need to set aside three SDFs for every explosive you want to be available at a time (say you want a max of three at a time, then you need nine SDFs). When the creature 'throws' an explosive, have the creature script set those three flags to the numbers you want, the first two being the x and y locations of the explosive and the third the time to the explosion. Be sure to make the creature script check if those flags are zero before changing them, or you're going to have explosives jumping all over the place. Then what you want is for the START_STATE in the town script to check if the flags are non-zero. If so, have it reduce the timer flag by one, then check if that flag is zero. If so, set off the explosion at the location defined by your first two flags. Then, set those flags back to zero.

[Enraged Slith]

That's a cool idea, but aren't flag values maxed out at (299,29,whatevermaxnumberthegamecanrecognize)?

[Niemand]

Originally Posted By: B.J.Earles

You could do this without terrain scripts. You'll need to set aside three SDFs for every explosive you want to be available at a time (say you want a max of three at a time, then you need nine SDFs). When the creature 'throws' an explosive, have the creature script set those three flags to the numbers you want, the first two being the x and y locations of the explosive and the third the time to the explosion. Be sure to make the creature script check if those flags are zero before changing them, or you're going to have explosives jumping all over the place. Then what you want is for the START_STATE in the town script to check if the flags are non-zero. If so, have it reduce the timer flag by one, then check if that flag is zero. If so, set off the explosion at the location defined by your first two flags. Then, set those flags back to zero.

This is the way to go.

Originally Posted By: Enraged Slith

That's a cool idea, but aren't flag values maxed out at (299,29,whatevermaxnumberthegamecanrecognize)?

Yes, they are limited to the range[0,255]. However, have a look at this tip for a means of storing the necessary time.

[Lazarus.]

You don't need to store the actual tick that you want the explosive to go off, just set the "countdown" flag to the desired number of turns and have the start state decrease it each turn until the explosive goes off.

[Niemand]

True, if there's no need to deal with things like leaving town. (Which seems likely to be the case for a combat situation like this.)

[Enraged Slith]

Any idea why a dialogue script would simply stop in the middle? My states and nodes line up correctly, and there's nothing outstanding about the problem node to make the game act funny. It simply stops there and gives the generic "I have no more questions" line.

 

EDIT: It appears that the problem lies with how I'm activating it. I'm using a creature script that initiates dialogue from the start_state.

 

Specifically, I put this code in the start state of an otherwise unaltered basicnpc script:

 

Code:

	if((get_memory_cell(4) > 0) && (get_memory_cell(5) > 0))		if(get_flag(get_memory_cell(4),get_memory_cell(5)) == get_memory_cell(6)){			begin_talk_mode(get_memory_cell(3));			inc_flag(get_memory_cell(4),get_memory_cell(5),1);			}

 

Everything works, the dialogue just stops prematurely in an odd location. What's weirder is that if I initiate the dialogue naturally, the problem doesn't come up. Specifically, if I don't include the inc_flag and the dialogue is forced each turn, I can talk to the NPC normally in between turns and have it work just fine.

[Old MikeS]

Not sure if it will do anything different, but have you tried moving the inc_flag line before the begin_talk_mode line? All of the examples I have of beginning talk in the creature start state have the begin_talk_mode call as the last call made.

Similar to the following (if check wraps the move/fidget code also).

Code:

beginstate START_STATE; 	// if I have a target for some reason, go attack it	if (target_ok()) {		if (dist_to_char(get_target()) <= 16)			set_state(3);		else set_target(ME, -1);	}	// Look for a target, attack it if visible	if (select_target(ME, 8, 0)) {		do_attack();		set_state(3);	}	// Have I been hit? Strike back!	if (who_hit_me() >= 0) {		set_target(ME, who_hit_me());		do_attack();		set_state(3);	}	if (get_flag(2, 1) > 0) {		// Otherwise, just peacefully move around. Go back to start, if I'm too far		// from where I started.		if ((my_dist_from_start() >= 6) || ((my_dist_from_start() > 0) && (get_memory_cell(0) > 0))) {			if (get_ran(1, 1, 100) < 40)				return_to_start(ME, 1);		}		else if (get_memory_cell(0) == 0) {			fidget(ME, 25);		}	}	else {		begin_talk_mode(get_memory_cell(3));	}	// if we're in combat and the above didn't give me anything to do, just	// stop now. Otherwise, game will keep running script, and that eats up CPU time.	if (am_i_doing_action() == FALSE)		end_combat_turn();break;

[Enraged Slith]

I still don't know why forcing dialogue in the start state is being so buggy. It works for one of my dialogue trees, but stops at the second node for the others. Dialogue works fine otherwise. I've tried removing everything else in the start state, and the bug is the same. This is just weird.

[Lazarus.]

Check the dialog script for errors?

 

Edit: Initiate the dialog tree from the talk state and see if it still screws up. If not, and it only screws up from the start_state, then thats pretty weird. Are you running any code in the node that it freezes at?