Graal: Shifting Ages

[Soul-Blade]

Hello, as you might be able to tell from my account, I am Soul Blade, creater of Murasamune. For those who do not yet know, the Murasamune project has now been eliminated. But it has not died in vain - as the skills it has taught me has now allowed me to begin production on my new project.

Information will not be released in this. I will release very few screenshots, probably only one or two. I want only feedback. Hopefully Murasamune's proud past will explain the future of this current project.

This is all I will say - this will be a story rich and well planned PW. It will change how you see graal, and it will be a fun environment to play in.

Well, I will say nothing else. Here is my first screenshot of initial tiles. Yes - There will be a new body/gui/and everything else.

[Kaimetsu]

Cool, ban evasion. Just don't break any more rules, yeah?

[Python523]

Originally posted by Kaimetsu
Cool, ban evasion. Just don't break any more rules, yeah?

stefan unbanned him

[Kaimetsu]

Originally posted by Python523

stefan unbanned him

Yeah, I know, despite it being a really bad idea. I'm not gonna do anything about it, but I'll keep my eye on the account.

[Soul-Blade]

Kaimetsu, read the sig.

Stefan observed that this account has not posted before today since October 1st....2001.. Is that not accurate with what I told you after you banned frolic_RC2? And guess what...T-Squad was banned before that. Hmm...strange that I was right, isn't it? Fact of the matter is, you had no right to ban me. But, its over now, and hopefully whatever offended you can be put behind...

[_0AfTeRsHoCk0_]

About the screenshot: Looks amazing.

I am just concerned as to how long it will take you to complete this project. It could take many months, maybe even a year I reckon.. and you won't be able to get a private server on just crudentials, you need to pass the test offline, though I'm trying to talk to Stefan about possibly opening up a server for scripters so they can test their things online and work more efficiently.

[Genesis]

pfftt soul blade that is nothing wait till u see what Rapture is bringing to the table.

[Kaimetsu]

Originally posted by Soul-Blade
Stefan observed that this account has not posted before today since October 1st....2001.. Is that not accurate with what I told you after you banned frolic_RC2?

I have no idea what you're talking about, but I don't think you understand your ban reasons. 1) You were ban evading in that you were posting before being unbanned, and 2) you were using a staff account, which is not permitted on the forums.

And yeah, I don't think I am just gonna forget the past. You're a disruptive member - your childish antics on Oasis show me that you haven't changed - and it's my job to deal with people like you. You're safe for now, but you'd be best advised not to cross any lines.

[Soul-Blade]

Originally posted by _0AfTeRsHoCk0_
About the screenshot: Looks amazing.

I am just concerned as to how long it will take you to complete this project. It could take many months, maybe even a year I reckon.. and you won't be able to get a private server on just crudentials, you need to pass the test offline, though I'm trying to talk to Stefan about possibly opening up a server for scripters so they can test their things online and work more efficiently.

Thanks.

About how long to complete - hehe...lets just say "I wouldn't worry about that".

I already have a testing thing worked out, with another server which is private...

So, I am not worried about any of that. Thanks for the concern though =).

Originally posted by Genesis
pfftt soul blade that is nothing wait till u see what Rapture is bringing to the table.

-_- Seriously, this was not made to advertise what ever what you are speaking of is. I am not trying to compete, but I guess the fact that you would say that means you worry about the competition, so I guess I could see that as a good thing. Anyway, I truely don't care, as I am not worried about other projects.

[Soul-Blade]

Originally posted by Kaimetsu


I have no idea what you're talking about, but I don't think you understand your ban reasons. 1) You were ban evading in that you were posting before being unbanned, and 2) you were using a staff account, which is not permitted on the forums.

And yeah, I don't think I am just gonna forget the past. You're a disruptive member - your childish antics on Oasis show me that you haven't changed - and it's my job to deal with people like you. You're safe for now, but you'd be best advised not to cross any lines.

Do you know how annoying you sound? This is not your personal power center - you are not dictator - if anyone has control, its Stefan and Unixmad, and Stefan has unbanned me. I am not afraid of you, and you CLEARLY are posting remarks to prevoke me allowing you to ban me again. Stop your power trips and realize what your position is.

[Genesis]

do u have my old tileset that i payed for?

i cant find it no where on the forums

[Soul-Blade]

Originally posted by Genesis
do u have my old tileset that i payed for?

i cant find it no where on the forums

Oh...yeah I do actually. Why? (No one ever posted it on the forums).

Anyway, talk about that out of this thread =P.

[Genesis]

can u get on aim ?

[Kaimetsu]

Originally posted by Soul-Blade
Do you know how annoying you sound? This is not your personal power center - you are not dictator - if anyone has control, its Stefan and Unixmad, and Stefan has unbanned me.

I was appointed to enforce the rules, and that's just what I'm doing. I don't put myself above Stefan or Unixmad, but your unbanning does not give you immunity to the rules either. This isn't about fear or power, this is about me telling you that you're not gonna get many chances this time. You're not as special as you think.

[Tyhm]

Zipit

Soul - Kai's doing his job.

Kai - Soul's sorry and wants to get back to work.

[Soul-Blade]

Well anyway, back on topic. I still need feedback on this - I don't want to devote alot of my time into something the players won't enjoy =).

[Tyhm]

Roof could use eaves...and the windows should probably have more blank wall below than above.

[JrTerrorist]

All I have to say about the screenie is it has nice GFX.. but this IS graal.. it's a pixel-loving game.. and you're turning it into some sort of Diablo 2 or something.. people play graal for how it is, they wouldnt pay $20 every 3 months if they didnt like it the way it is.. and.. well.. that tileset doesnt seem like graal to me

[Soul-Blade]

Originally posted by JrTerrorist
All I have to say about the screenie is it has nice GFX.. but this IS graal.. it's a pixel-loving game.. and you're turning it into some sort of Diablo 2 or something.. people play graal for how it is, they wouldnt pay $20 every 3 months if they didnt like it the way it is.. and.. well.. that tileset doesnt seem like graal to me

Well, we don't need things which aren't original to graal. This is different, but it is still graal. GK was completely different, but look how nice it is. It is still graal though...

[Kaimetsu]

On-topic, the tileset really is very impressive. Toward the left it looks like the ground dips down - if it's not a gmap then how will you handle the player's movement over those tiles? It won't look natural if he doesn't have some percieved z-movement.

[Soul-Blade]

Originally posted by Kaimetsu
On-topic, the tileset really is very impressive. Toward the left it looks like the ground dips down - if it's not a gmap then how will you handle the player's movement over those tiles? It won't look natural if he doesn't have some percieved z-movement.

Heh, you are the first one to notice that. Well, as a matter of fact, I am using a gmap. But, I have chosen not to use very drastic height changes and such. I will use only small hills, but thats about it. The gmaps are more so I can have level preloading and a little tile variation by using the gmap heights more for distorting the tiles rather then making realistic terrain...

[Kaimetsu]

Originally posted by Soul-Blade


Heh, you are the first one to notice that. Well, as a matter of fact, I am using a gmap.

Well, that's good to hear. Too few people take advantage of the technology. But how do the cliffs work? GMaps usually aren't great at that kind of thing.

[konidias]

I think the gmap is going to make it look awfully strange... you can kind of see the left (viewers left) side of the house sinking down the incline. The cliffs don't feel right but they look kind of neat, although they seem too "photoshop textured" to me for some reason. I like the water though, but the house needs to show more of the top of the roof and back of the roof, as it seems like it's kind of at a sideview and not 3/4th. Plus the door and stuff is really short... don't know what size your characters will be but they'd have to be short(er) than a normal Graal character and skinnier if you wanted to have a realistic perspective... meaning it's going to be hard seeing much detail on the players.

But just a word of advice (which you should already know), it's better to not start giving info or screenshots until you've gotten far into development. I probably should have kept a lid on my own playerworld for a longer time but we all make mistakes. So are you going to give any info on what the server is about? I'm guessing medieval fantasy setting?

[Kaimetsu]

Yikes, I only just noticed the size of the door. Am I the only one that thinks it looks too small? I was expecting players to be like twice the height of the opening.

[Spark910]

Originally posted by Soul-Blade


This is all I will say - this will be a story rich and well planned PW. It will change how you see graal, and it will be a fun environment to play in.



.

NW Said This!

Also the tileset is a bit, not very nice!

[Brad]

Erm, what about all old Murasamune staff..x.x

[Soul-Blade]

Originally posted by Kaimetsu


Well, that's good to hear. Too few people take advantage of the technology. But how do the cliffs work? GMaps usually aren't great at that kind of thing.

Well, I am taking advantage of the not explained tile orders. Basicly I made a NPC to color code the tiles, so I can change the tile order and get what is onwall, and onwater, and neither. So I formed a template of the NewWorld tile order, and I am using that. The NewWorld tile order, in case you do not know, is by far superior to the default tile order.

Originally posted by Konidias

I think the gmap is going to make it look awfully strange... you can kind of see the left (viewers left) side of the house sinking down the incline. The cliffs don't feel right but they look kind of neat, although they seem too "photoshop textured" to me for some reason. I like the water though, but the house needs to show more of the top of the roof and back of the roof, as it seems like it's kind of at a sideview and not 3/4th. Plus the door and stuff is really short... don't know what size your characters will be but they'd have to be short(er) than a normal Graal character and skinnier if you wanted to have a realistic perspective... meaning it's going to be hard seeing much detail on the players.

But just a word of advice (which you should already know), it's better to not start giving info or screenshots until you've gotten far into development. I probably should have kept a lid on my own playerworld for a longer time but we all make mistakes. So are you going to give any info on what the server is about? I'm guessing medieval fantasy setting?

Well, gmaps give you much more control over the levels. I suggest you use them, as well. Gmaps can be made completely flat to allow normal building but level preloading, or you can use heights to your advantage. That level is just a test level for now, I just wanted to make something to show my tiles to everyone.

As far as showing stuff, this is the only thing I plan on showing for a very long while. I have actually been working on this for a little while now, I already have a full body done with most animations (walking, idle, working on attack). Giving out information is usually always a negative. Plus, I just fuel my motivation with making things for debug on GK, which is currently my first priority above my PW, but they don't ask of a overwhelming amount.

Originally posted by Kaimetsu

Yikes, I only just noticed the size of the door. Am I the only one that thinks it looks too small? I was expecting players to be like twice the height of the opening.

Well, I should enlarge it, but I guess I will explain one little aspect....I believe Stefan has given the ability to resize character sprites in ganis. Well, it should be self explanatory, but characters will not all be the same size....on top of that, it will allow for magics making a character a giant, or as small as a rat heh.

Originally posted by Spark910

NW Said This!

Also the tileset is a bit, not very nice!

-_- NW was a whole different project, bound by many factors such as the limitations of the engine at the time. This project will go on.

Don't post remarks without explanation. Konidias, Kaimetsu, and Tyhm are kind enough to post some explanation, giving me what I should improve and think about. You just flat out say "Also the tileset is a bit, not very nice!" Which almost doesn't make sense =/.

Originally posted by Brad

Erm, what about all old Murasamune staff..x.x

This is not a Murasamune related project. I, once again, will not want any serious staff until it is online, which will be a little while. All I need help with is a little scripting here and there, but I already can get that on debug server.

Originally posted by Kill3r

I think those little tiles are ugly, all I see is easily drawn stuff with static all over it

Hey buddy, make something better then get back to me. They are all pixel drawn in paint, and mostly shaded in paint. Because they were made originally for "NewWorlds" new engine, I touched them up in paint shop pro. Now I have brought them done a little so it takes less colors, but I assure you they are not easy to draw, and I am not seeing this "static" you speak of. As I said about to Spark, same goes for you.

[Spark910]

Ok then if your that bothered, I would have thought you could work out what I ment:

The tileset isnt very nice, its too bity not smooth!

[Python523]

Originally posted by Kill3r


If you have a problem with my opinions and views...well...too bad. I make Half-Life mods, I think making "NPCs" etc. is for amateurs, and little 2D graphics that are easy to draw are for amateurs. Ever heard of spraypaint?

people say a lot of things, I think you are BSing about you making halflife mods, people who are truely good at things usually don't brag about it at every possible opportunity

[Spark910]

Originally posted by Python523

people say a lot of things, I think you are BSing about you making halflife mods, people who are truely good at things usually don't brag about it at every possible opportunity

2230 NPC Guy
Admin
Developer
Co Manager
I don't know, I'm just some useless guy with level 4 rc

Thought they dont brag? Only joking And you didn Work for Rudora, Until you... Stopped coming on .

And yeah most people dont brag about all these things, and if they do, then they cna normaly support their skills with evidence.

[Soul-Blade]

Originally posted by Kill3r


If you have a problem with my opinions and views...well...too bad. I make Half-Life mods, I think making "NPCs" etc. is for amateurs, and little 2D graphics that are easy to draw are for amateurs. Ever heard of spraypaint?

Once again, show something. You haven't shown anything yet, and by what you say you appear as a newbie. Show something, then wait until people confirm if it is a original work by you or not, because it will probably be something from a nice half life mod. Not to mention, I can in fact make textures and skins, but I doubt you even know what something as simple as that is. I currently lack the ability to create models though...

Originally posted by Spark910


Ok then if your that bothered, I would have thought you could work out what I ment:

The tileset isnt very nice, its too bity not smooth!

...? Try making some sense. Where are you seeing this? Point it out, because I fail to see what you are talking about.

[LOA--Paul]

Originally posted by Kill3r

I think making "NPCs" etc. is for amateurs, and little 2D graphics that are easy to draw are for amateurs.

NPC making is definately not for amateurs, it is its own field sort of. Just tell Kai that he's an amateur.
And as for the gfx/tileset- I think they're very nice, they FIT THE SCENE WELL, and that's what matters, not if he made them 2d or 3d, etc

[syltburk]

There are only dumb people who brag about how good they are at a skill, even thought i dont belive him being a cs mod.

[Spark910]

Its horrible, its bity, its grity, its not smooth, its rigid, and ugly!

The ideas are fine, but the tiles aren't very nice and look weird, nice attempt at a terrin tileset, but it doesn't work very well.

[G_yoshi]

Originally posted by Spark910
Its horrible, its bity, its grity, its not smooth, its rigid, and ugly!

The ideas are fine, but the tiles aren't very nice and look weird, nice attempt at a terrin tileset, but it doesn't work very well.

Perhaps you need to check your eyes? The transitions of the tiles are quite smooth. If anything, you might be seeing a dithering effect which was done by whatever software SoulBlade is using.

Tip for SB:
If you want to get more colors into your tiles, seperate them into seperate images and just use addtiledef2. That would probably "smooth" them out for those with poor eyesight

[Soul-Blade]

Originally posted by G_yoshi


Tip for SB:
If you want to get more colors into your tiles, seperate them into seperate images and just use addtiledef2. That would probably "smooth" them out for those with poor eyesight

Ah...I was going to do that...but I decided not to. I might just end up doing it anyway, I really appreciate the idea.

[konidias]

Originally posted by Kill3r


If you have a problem with my opinions and views...well...too bad. I make Half-Life mods, I think making "NPCs" etc. is for amateurs, and little 2D graphics that are easy to draw are for amateurs. Ever heard of spraypaint?

Spraypaint (or a form of it) is essentially what is used to make most 3-D textures and skins. Let's see what's harder to make, a 2-D, 3/4th view of a cardboard box, or a cheap 3-D box model, and a snapshot of a piece of cardboard as texture. Gee, let me think.

[G_yoshi]

Originally posted by Soul-Blade


Ah...I was going to do that...but I decided not to. I might just end up doing it anyway, I really appreciate the idea.

No problem. Yeah, its a slight problem because it creates more files for players to download. However, if they are small as well as the base tileset, it shouldn't be too bad. I'm pretty sure you are more than aware that the more colors in a 256 color palette there are, the larger the file will be aside from image dimensions.

[G_yoshi]

Originally posted by konidias


Spraypaint (or a form of it) is essentially what is used to make most 3-D textures and skins. Let's see what's harder to make, a 2-D, 3/4th view of a cardboard box, or a cheap 3-D box model, and a snapshot of a piece of cardboard as texture. Gee, let me think.

I PICK B!!!!!!

[JrTerrorist]

I cant read all those posts.. id die from boredom..

He said above (To lazy to quote) that its gonna bring graal to a new level,

That's what 2k2 is for.. and if you server is going beyond 2k2 then dont expect to see me on it.