Level editing FAQ's
 

Okay, I have constructed a Level Editing FAQ. Please read this through before posting a new thread, because your answer could be here.


I will start with commands in the editor. (Training and then F4)

alt 0: Creates a log, which also shows people logging on / off
alt 1 : Takes a snapshot of the full level, not showing tiledefs, seteffects, or light effects.
alt 2: Takes a snapshot of the current screen, showing everything.
alt 3: Toggles the minimap on/off
alt 4: Toggles bitrate on/off [Only works online]
alt 5: Takes a snapshot of the level in .graal or .nw format.
alt 6: Records the players movements for scripting. [Does not work online.]
alt 7: Stops recording player movements and creates a recordpos.txt under the /levels directory. [Does not work online.]
alt 8: Zoom in.
alt 9: Zoom out.


For you people who are trying to add your own tileset you made, or add some custom tiles to the current tileset, look here.

addtiledef - This command replaces the whole tileset image with a brand new one. (remember the image has to be 256 colours (8 bit)) The code is this:

NPC Code:

---

addtiledef tilesetimage,0,0;

---

The first 0 meaning levelstart, so that say you have a world with level names myworld_1-100. You would put 'addtiledef tilesetimage,myworld_,0;' so that all your levels will have the new tileset. The second 0 is type, 0=normal pics1.png and 1=a newworld type tileset order.


addtiledef2 - This command just replaces part of the tileset image, sort of like putting an image on top of the base image. The code is:

NPC Code:

---

addtiledef2 tilesetimage,level name,x,y;

---

The x,y specifies where you want your image to go over the tileset.

Map tutorial

-The text file
You will need a text file with the levels ordered in it.
For example, name the file "bigmap.txt"
So, you open it, and write levels in it. You have a 4x4 map (4 by 4 levels). The levels are listed like this:
-----------------------------------
"mylevel_a-1.nw","mylevel_b-1.nw"
"mylevel_a-2.nw","mylevel_b-2.nw"
-----------------------------------
With the quotations.
That tells the graal.exe how to read your levels when you choose to generate a map.

-The Levels
Okay! We've written the text file, now to make the levels (and link them [not explained... I hope you have enough sense to figure it out!])
Make four levels, and name them

mylevel_a-1.nw
mylevel_b-1.nw
mylevel_a-2.nw
mylevel_b-2.nw

and place them in the same folder as the text file.
link them as needed.

Now, in Level-editting mode (f4) open the first level on your map press "M" and it will ask you if you want to generate a map. Select "yes" or "ok" or whatever, and it will eventually finish with an image asking to be named, sort of. Go to the folder that your levels and .txt are in, and save it. Boom, you have a map image.

To get your map and all the levels to link together, put the script

NPC Code:

---

setmap mapname.png,bigmap.txt,30,60;

---

in an NPC in the "starting" level.

Minimap: If you want a minimap just simply follow this: Anyway just take your map and resize it much smaller so that it looks appealing to you in the bottom left hand corner. From there add this code to your previous map script:

NPC Code:

---

setminimap mapname.png,bigmap.txt,playerx,playery;

---

If you do not understand any of this, post here and I will answer your question. Special thanks to Torankusu and Zakur for their contributions.

Spiffy Idea :)

Very very well put Mmmmkay. One thing about the map though, you don't have to create a blank .png img in there before the rest of it. I find that harder since I cant make a .png that is just 8bit

Uh, you have to or the script won't work and generate a map. There has to be an existing image, preferrably in 256 colors/8-bit.

When generating a map, it all you need is the levels in one folder and then press "m" in the editor, and it creates everything for you -_-

Torankusu made the map, I will edit it later to how I do it, which seems easier.

a text file is also needed, as well as an image. Or else you get an error in the NPC when you "test" it, thus, not allowing it to work.

My map is glitchy, I have no idea why... can somebody explain to me why it has glitches and stuff in stripes like my map here? It is sooooo ***, and if i look really closely it looks like millions of tilesets shrunk really small

That happens some times, and it's not the way the map was generated. One of the computers at my grandparents does that, but the levels don't have that on them.

Happend to me when i was making a good level but it actually shoed up on the levels=/

That is a question without a definite answer, so I cannot write you something which gives you mad ability. (Oh, I believe the 'new' icon in the editor makes a level ;))

You have to make levels with your knowledge, and then study what you did. See where you can improve, possibly look at other level techniques and adapt your own. Level making takes time, the saying "practice makes pefect" is meaningful.

wow, thanks mmmmkay, this taught me how to make maps, now i am able to make large scale projects much easier, look at the map ima workin on...

Be more specific...

The map was all black :O I fiexed it though, I had to regenerate the levels and overwrite the old .png img