Shivan Darkeyes
Warrior
266 Posts
    
 | | 06/19/2006 11:08 PM |
| | Can anyone teach me to modify VASSAL mods like the Dreamblade one so I don't have to bug someone on here every time I want to update it? | |
13th Place at the 2005 DDM Championship in GenCon | |
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tullywi
Sergeant
982 Posts
| | 06/20/2006 12:18 AM |
| Well, the first thing you should know is that a mod is just a zip file. Make a copy of it, change the extension of the new file to "zip", open up the zip file, and check out the objects inside it.
As far as learning Vassal, I suggest starting with the Vassal mod tutorials available here: http://wiki.vassalengine.org/doku.php?id=tutorials. Inside the Vassal mod editor, they have fairly decent help text. When you are ready to begin with Dreamblade, make a copy of the mod, open up the editor, and have at it.
In the D&D mod, I took advantage of templates. I found it much harder to do this in Dreamblade. So, Dreamblade is mostly a creature copied, pasted, and edited to make a new creature. The Dreamblade mod is definitely an Alpha version of what I imagine the end result to be. I believe it is in a pretty good state to learn how to do things right now.
As far as direct teaching, I suppose I could do that if I had the time to organize my thoughts on the mod editor. I think going through the tutorial and taking a look at the mod editor with the mod loaded will get you going faster than me trying to organize my thoughts. If you have specific questions, ask away and I will answer as best as I can. I've been doing the D&D mini mod for a couple of years now. Answering questions about modifiying the D&D mod is how I ended up taking it over from DarkFather. About the only thing I haven't done is add Java code. If necessary, (and we can contact him) Jai knows how to do this. | |
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tullywi
Sergeant
982 Posts
| | 06/20/2006 12:21 AM |
| Otherwise, you can bug me if you want. Adding the rest of the units from the first set might take me an hour or so.
Graphics are another matter. I'm fairly decent at taking an existing photo and touching it up, but creating content isn't my thing. It takes me HOURS to add new maps to the D&D mod. Fortunately, I've always been able to get volunteers for that. | |
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whodack
Skirmisher
3 Posts
| | 06/22/2006 2:15 PM |
| Updated mod with new map. If interested.
http://dreamblade.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=901 | |
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whodack
Skirmisher
3 Posts
| | 06/23/2006 9:42 AM |
| I made a slight change to fix a bug. New version sent to TCGplayer for posting.
1.03b FIXES
* "Silver Player" reverted back to "White Player" on the Join Game selection. This allows the Silver (white) player to drag pieces to the dreamscape.
* Removed duplicate piece from Passion list
* Update Bloodthirsty Redcap's ability text to simply read "Bloodthirsty"
* Updated the version number to read 1.03b
I don't know enough about Vassal to understand why simply changing the player name under the Player Definitions tab would disable the changed player from dragging pieces to the board. Why is that? How do I change the player name without breaking it like this?
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tullywi
Sergeant
982 Posts
| | 06/23/2006 6:55 PM |
| There is a restriction list that includes the player "names". Changing the restriction list would have helped fix this. I have forgotten if I used a template for these (I usually do). If so, you would need to change the name in the restriction list in the unit (and terrain) template.
I think there is one more thing that needs to be changed to finish off renaming players. I'm not at home so I can't verify this right now. | |
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2005 D&D Miniatures Champion
Fenris
Sergeant
974 Posts
| | 06/23/2006 7:17 PM |
| Err, is this an entirely separate effort Whodack? Any chance the mods could be rolled into one, so that casual players don't have to chase down competing versions of a Vassal mod?
We're hosting tullywi's mod on socalminis.org, and would be happy to host this version too -- I just think it'd be better if we had one mod to rule them all, y'know? | |
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PatEllis15
Commander
4463 Posts
| | 06/23/2006 8:52 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Fenris
Err, is this an entirely separate effort Whodack? Any chance the mods could be rolled into one, so that casual players don't have to chase down competing versions of a Vassal mod?
We're hosting tullywi's mod on socalminis.org, and would be happy to host this version too -- I just think it'd be better if we had one mod to rule them all, y'know?
Agreed!
Pat E | |
"Games evolve. Otherwise we'd still be pushing rocks around the dirt. What do you think the cavemen said when some dude showed up with sticks?" - Chairman7w | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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Shivan Darkeyes
Warrior
266 Posts
| | 06/24/2006 4:25 PM |
| | I'm in the process of putting the whole first set into VASSAL now. Hopefully it will be done by the time you get all the pieces spoiled... :) | |
13th Place at the 2005 DDM Championship in GenCon | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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tullywi
Sergeant
982 Posts
| | 06/24/2006 7:23 PM |
| I'm also of the opinion that having one person in charge is better long term for the mod and the community. I was just trying to convey this to someone else. Sure you might be extremely anxious to be able to use the mod and sure you might have plenty of time on your hands to do it. What happens then when the next set is released and you don't have as much time available? Do you duck out and let the next person take over? Impatience rarely gives good results in the long term.
I also see the "owner" needing to be available to answer technical questions on how to get into the mod. Sure the community can answer them. But some questions need more research. I've seen different problems crop with because Vassal released a new version. I think the "owner" of the mod is the most likely candidate for assuming responsibility for taking these questions to the people at Vassal.
Shivan and whodack, lets work together to get this version of the mod out. I've downloaded your version of the mod whodack. I'll take a look at it tonight when I can. How much are each of you willing to do? | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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whodack
Skirmisher
3 Posts
| | 06/26/2006 10:55 AM |
| I created another update, 1.03c with following changes:
* Added Skeever Hatchling
* Added Genteel Husk
* Added Defender tag to Knight of Strife and Joy
* Moved power of Night Queen to upper-right corner
* Renamed Hawkeye guy to Instigator
I did all this before I saw the responses on this thread. I have no desire to take ownership of this mod. I agree the mod updates should be controlled and centralized. I don't have the time or desire to help other people with Vassal, since I know almost nothing about it.
The only reason I did it was because the "central" place for the mod hasn't been updated in over a month.
http://socalminis.org/Dreamblade/VassalMod.php
After waiting a few weeks for the new pieces to be added, I decided to just crack it open and figure it out myself. I thought that the original person who was maintaining the mod took a vacation or something. I was just trying to help other people. I play by myself, so putting this mod up for download was just me trying to help the community.
Feel free to take 1.03c and do whatever with it, even trash it if you want. I won't have time to maintain it in the future and my work demands are such that I sometimes must take sudden long departures from games like this.
As long as there is an up-to-date mod somewhere, people will be happy. | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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2005 D&D Miniatures Champion
Fenris
Sergeant
974 Posts
| | 06/26/2006 11:17 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by whodack
The only reason I did it was because the "central" place for the mod hasn't been updated in over a month.
http://socalminis.org/Dreamblade/VassalMod.php
After waiting a few weeks for the new pieces to be added, I decided to just crack it open and figure it out myself. I thought that the original person who was maintaining the mod took a vacation or something. I was just trying to help other people. I play by myself, so putting this mod up for download was just me trying to help the community.
Gotcha, I see. Well, I don't actually do any of the modding myself. I was just hosting the file because at the time this was started, people were asking for a place to put the file, so I volunteered to host. If hosting is no longer needed/helpful, then I'll take down the version on socalminis.org if that's what people want?
If we still want it hosted at socalminis.org, then whomever is making the updates just needs to email me whenever there's a new version, and I'll post within a few hours usually. | |
Read my championship tournament report.
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2005 D&D Miniatures Champion
Fenris
Sergeant
974 Posts
| | 06/26/2006 11:33 AM |
| In the meantime, I've added the new version to socalminis.org. Let me know if you want me to take it down (email is in my profile)
http://socalminis.org/Dreamblade/VassalMod.php | |
Read my championship tournament report.
Successful trades:
xBrendanx | Cha0tic G0od | ThatOneGuy | BrazenWood | Finley | Arris | Drift x2 | Neonmage | Cthulu's Librarian | Kalvos | PatEllis15 | Paradox1995 | Rhane | Gildogg | Darthrau | Vrecknidj x2 | erian_7 | Octavius Drowslayer x2 | stheis | Garate | thenameless | Lucky_ksu | ckissee | Corim Danex | Schooly_D | Username | |
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tullywi
Sergeant
982 Posts
| | 06/26/2006 2:17 PM |
| Shivan and I have exchanged e-mails on this. We will get the "official" version put together. I don't consider anything out there now as official. I hope to get on the next couple of nights and see what people are using for a mod. I'm a fan of the new map in terms of the way it looks (being just like the real map), but not in terms of space. The squares aren't big enough for 9 units, the right and left margins are wasted space.
As far as updates to the old version, I didn't bother updating it because I didn't think enough other units were released to bother doing it. I also didn't see any requests for it being updated. I also thought that the units from the virtual booster were included in the latest release that I put out, but I'm probably wrong.
Once Shivan and I touch base a couple more times, I'm sure we will let the community know what we are doing with the new mod. I have some better ideas on how to track scoring and we need to do something with the map. | |
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Amy
Skirmisher
7 Posts
| | 06/26/2006 6:36 PM |
| Maybe it is just me, but I think that the extra space on the sides IS useful. You might consider leaving it on VASSAL. The DB rulebook suggests using the side of the maps for keeping track of conquest points from destoyed creatures and bonus spawn points. Once these are resolved the minature moves into the "graveyard proper". Maybe its because I like to nit-pick or maybe its because I have a horrible memory so I need a system to keep track of such things, but I would appreciate having a system of tracking these points.
As I'm writing this, I am realizing that there is a score marker. Maybe a space could be added to keep track of bonus spawn (for turns when ones are rolled). I might be the only one who has this concern/problem but thought I would add my two cents. | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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Shivan Darkeyes
Warrior
266 Posts
| | 06/26/2006 9:46 PM |
| | <---------- Also having a problem with VASSAL | |
13th Place at the 2005 DDM Championship in GenCon | |
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tullywi
Sergeant
982 Posts
| | 06/26/2006 10:26 PM |
| What are the troubles?
I agree with you Amy about the space on the sides, I think the original map with the graveyards on the sides was the best use of the space. This leaves room for scoring, putting new graveyard units on the top (or bottom). If we took the real map and map the left and right graveyards, I think we could accomplish the same thing.
I like your idea of having another marker for keeping track of other things. I'll make sure that gets included too. | |
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tullywi
Sergeant
982 Posts
| | 06/26/2006 10:28 PM |
| | Ah, maybe the trouble is a successful connection but no main room? It looks like they are still having server troubles. | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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