GearHead2 v0.311

[Joseph Hewitt]

I've just uploaded GH2v0.311 to http://gearhead.roguelikedevelopment.org

Here's a list of the changes:

- May toggle between perspective and isometric modes (glmap.pp)
  Perspective is the old mode. In isometric mode, the camera follows the PC but doesn't rotate. The direction keys work as they did in GH1. Are you happy now, Tung? Are you?

- Fullscreen mode now on by default (glgfx.pp)
  You can switch to a window display by including "WINDOW" in your configuration file.

- Improved DialogMsg for graphical mode (glgfx.pp)
- InfoBox no longer transparent (glgfx.pp)
  Between the two of these, screen output has speeded up a lot. If you were having troubles before try it again now, it may be better.

- Lancemates limited in new skill choice (pcaction.pp)
- Lancemates may not learn new talents (pcaction.pp)
  We discussed these things before, now I'm trying them out. The only new skills you can teach a lancemate are the basic 10 combat skills; other than that they only have what they came with. This should make specialist lancemates far more useful, since you can't teach "Science" or "Medicine" to your battle-hardened mercenary just because he has a free skill slot anymore.

- All menus should now have background (pcaction.pp)
- GetNewSkill display fixed (pcaction.pp)
  There are loads of displays that still need work, though.

- Save files will include extra xxran debugging info (playwright.pp)

- Mouseover will indicate items (glmap.pp)
  If a pile of items, only the top item will be named. Oops.

- Configuration saved when program exits (ui4gh.pp)
  Handily enough, this function also creates a configuration file for the user, which should eliminate a number of headaches. Also, no more wondering what the configuration file can do- just open it up and uncomment the options you want.

- MoreText viewer slightly beautified (glgfx.pp)
  Also, the regular direction keys should work with it now.

- Fixed bug with xxran components grabbing scene 0 (playwright.pp)

- Encounters can't move through other models (locale.pp)

- PC should enter buildings facing in right direction (randmaps.pp)
  Still to do: Elevators and other secondary entrances should be able to specify a direction for the PC to look in as well.

- Power sources now get description string (description.pp)

- Added QMemo, GSceneID ASL commands (arenascript.pp)
  QMemo adds a memo which is tied to a quest. When the quest is completed, the memo automatically disappears.
  GSceneID returns the scene number of the grabbed gear. For instance, if the grabbed gear is a NPC, you can use this function to find out what scene he's in.

- Fixed problem with quest scene name initialization (playwright.pp,navigate.pp)

That's about it for now. Many of these changes were requested in the "Bugs & Suggestios" thread, which I should probably reply to one last time. Try out this new version and let me know how it is.

[Sabin Stargem]

It has been an definate improvement so far.  Still, it seems like you missed two areas to give an background to.  The robotics skill menu, and one of the Field HQ sections. (right after selecting a mecha)

[Joseph Hewitt]

Oops. Well, I did say "should" instead of "definitely"...

[ARKARY]

Well I gave this version a try, and I have to say I like the isometric perspective. However, I noticed a couple things about it.

If you fire up the game in isometric, the default angle is some bizarre non-even value. It goes back to this even if you quit/restart.

If you're in the normal view and switch to isometric, whichever way you're currently facing is set as "up". It would work a lot easier if it was always fixed at the same angle (such as always having north be the top-right side).


I've also had a number of crashes while trying to play with swapping mech parts, but I'm not sure if there's any specific repeatable cause.

[Tung Nguyen]

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

- May toggle between perspective and isometric modes (glmap.pp)
Perspective is the old mode. In isometric mode, the camera follows the PC but doesn't rotate. The direction keys work as they did in GH1. Are you happy now, Tung? Are you?

DIVING FOR JEDI-SDL HEADERS NOW!!!1one

[Reaver]

Oh, one thing that caught my eyes...

Why did you call them lancemates? I'd presume the old medieval reference to lancebeaers who held lances upon which a standard <banner> was hung - Much unlike other uses of lances, but back then it was a Standard, not a lance persay.

[Joseph Hewitt]

Not a reference to lancebearers, but a reference to "Lance" as a military unit. The term lance can refer to a knight and his supporters together. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lances_fournies

Also, "lance" is the name given to a squad of inner sphere mecha in BattleTech, although in this case it refers to a team of equals rather than a single knight and his followers. If I remember correctly at some point in recent history the term "lance" was used to refer to the crew and support team of an armored vehicle.

So, basically, the term was chosen because I used to play a lot of miniature wargames.

[draconuszero]

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

Also, "lance" is the name given to a squad of inner sphere mecha in BattleTech, although in this case it refers to a team of equals rather than a single knight and his followers. If I remember correctly at some point in recent history the term "lance" was used to refer to the crew and support team of an armored vehicle.

I thought lance in battle tech meant the smallest grouping of a squad.

[Epsilon]

Quoting: draconuszero

I thought lance in battle tech meant the smallest grouping of a squad.

I think the lance IS the smallest grouping of Mecha in BattleTech; it's 4 'Mechs, I think.

[balanus]

Yep, four mechs make an Inner Sphere Lance.
Clans have Trinarys, wich are made of three mechs.
I don't remember the rest... how mant lances make a batallion, or a legion, or something like that.

[Joseph Hewitt]

Here's a summary of inner sphere military organization, again from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_Sphere_Military _Organisation

The lance is the smallest unit of mecha fielded. Three lances make up a company. There's probably a page for clan organization as well.

[Aquillion]

I compiled a copy of the ASCII version for DOS, for people who get bothered by the mouse cursor or have speed troubles running in Windows 95/98/ME:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PP8SM9DE