AA suggestions for upcoming release

[LysleShields]

Right.  I'm going to go on the logic that the libraries were sold for THIS game and can only be sold for THIS game.  I'll put in some legalize text in the distribution that points this out and makes it clear we are "indemnified" from any illegal use elsewhere.

As for the graphics, yes, I'm only using SDL routines, no OpenGL.  Again, want to get a strong base version that matches the DOS version first.

[EdSinger]

I never really liked the wavy thing in UI or understood its purpose...
Some of the comments I have read online are interesting so many ideas for multiplay.
Some said that some classes are stronger than others, but I thought originally that was the way for increasing difficulty levels. (though it would be cool if that one free attack you get from stealth did extra damage)

[LysleShields]

Just to let everyone know, EdSinger was our main level and testing guy.  Edward would play the game constantly looking for problems and report them to me as he found them.  He also worked on the levels and tested all the levels everyone else did too.

[LysleShields]

An update on controls has been posted here:  http://amuletsandarmordev.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/wasd-with-mouse-and-spawn-of-lysle/

[el zee]

Oh man this is cool 

I think having 'e' as a use key/pick up item is perfect for the WASD control set. The highlighting objects is a great idea too, I personally love it - but maybe make it a setting/option, in case some people find it annoying.

How does this work with the UI though?

[EdSinger]

Level 255 rollover to zero?  I never imagined such a high level problem.... That would be a lot of playing in the current game.

[LysleShields]

Oh man this is cool 

I think having 'e' as a use key/pick up item is perfect for the WASD control set. The highlighting objects is a great idea too, I personally love it - but maybe make it a setting/option, in case some people find it annoying.

How does this work with the UI though?

Currently, you press Q to go in and out of the cursor mode.  The E key would just be a short cut for picking up items (similar to ALT-right-click on an item).  The item goes to your inventory.  You still have to press Q to get out of look mode and get back into cursor mode, open your inventory, select the item you need, and then use it.  Of course, we could do other tricks such as clicking E and holding for a second readies the item you picked up in your main hand or the inevitable potion belt idea.

[leilei]

Is the turning speed a bit too fast?

Was approaching the rerelease with the keyboard-exclusive controls I was familiar with and noticed that.

[LysleShields]

In the original game, when hitting Shift for Run mode, it would not only increase movement speed, it would also increase turn speed.

In the new version, the Run key is now a Slow key effectively reversing the user interface from always running and making Slow be the reverse.

Feel free to provide feedback on it and if it should be changed back or some type of combination.

[Xusilak]

The new release is pretty amazing. It's quite liberating to be able to move around freely with the new controls, although it does make the game a great deal easier. I'm really looking forward to the eventual "community edition" Windows release with modified game mechanics and such.

One issue I noted: While testing it with my level 40 Mage with 120 speed, moving around at run speed had... unpredictable results. I'm guessing the speed is exceeding some internal engine limitation. It tended to make me either get stuck or fly off in a random direction when I tried to move. Walking fixed this. I didn't test it all that thoroughly, so there could be some other factor at play.

[LysleShields]

I'll be honest.  We never expected anyone to reach level 40, much less level 20.  But we didn't cap it either.  I should probably put a cap in there.  The numbers for speed are probably "rolling over" and not able to handle it being so crazy fast.

[Xusilak]

Yeah, I figured as much. I didn't exactly reach level 40 through normal gameplay means. Since you base experience rewards on damage dealt rather than killing things, there are ways to earn experience very quickly (such as attacking things that won't die). I was bored one day about 10 years ago and decided to make use of that.

What factors affect your final movement speed? Just the speed stat, or does level itself influence it too? I don't think 100+ speed is all that hard to get, since there are rings that give +10 speed each.

[LysleShields]

Movement speed is based on your speed ability score and the load you are carrying.  Sailors and rogues also get a bonus to speed.  Your level does not affect your speed so much as it affects your speed score.

For those of you who want to help with bugs and problems in the game, you can go to https://www.pivotaltracker.com/s/projects/757959, sign up for an account, and then (if you can find the magic link), request to join the tracker for adding bugs.  I can then add you to the bug tracking system.  I just ask that people add new bugs into the "Icebox" area and leave the backlog area for my own choosing.

[Xusilak]

Has anyone else been able to use the exit on Quest 7 Map 1? It doesn't trigger when I enter it in the new version, but it works fine in the original version. I was doing a quick run to test the viability of doing a proper speed run, but this kind of brought it to a sudden stop.

Also, I've noticed a few people commenting on the run-as-default vs walk-as-default situation; I think modern games tend to have run as the default and walk as the special mode (and sometimes a short-duration sprint key on top of that), since needing fine movement control is much rarer than wanting to move quickly. However, I can see why people used to the original game might have an issue with it. Would it be possible to make a toggle to switch between run-as-default and walk-as-default in the new options menu?

One other note: that issue I mentioned with run speed only affects the new version. The mage with 120 speed (100 base + 2x10 speed rings) can run at top speed in the original version without problems, though controlling it is certainly interesting.

EDIT: After testing it a bit more on the new version with my level 11 Knight, movement works normally at 50 speed, but starts glitching out at 55. This is actually a bit inconvenient for a speed run, since obviously, movement speed is very useful there. Still workable, though.

[LysleShields]

If Quest 7 map 1 is blocking you, then we'll need to get this in the next update immediately.

I guess I can add an option for the speed key.  I think the biggest question is the turn rate.

I'll look into the speed thing more.  A level 11 character is definitely important to review (level 11 knight with 4 rings of speed, I'm assuming).