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Post by Dave on Nov 14, 2007 4:02:27 GMT
I'll be sure to post a link once it's undergone a little outside testing, which is currently underway.
Thanks for the interest!
I remember reading the Lone Wolf books when I was a kid (~20 years ago! yikes!) and I wanted to do a computer version of them even back then. I started on one in BASIC. Maybe I'll dig it out of my archives, and post a screen shot or two. It was definitely a doomed project - I really didn't have any idea how to tackle such a project. I'm still just a programming hack, but I've learned a lot over the last couple of years.
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Post by mckinstry on Dec 4, 2007 14:10:42 GMT
Hi Dave Just wondering what software you used to write your program. Visual basic.net? The functionality looks fantastic by the way. Looking forward to the beta version download. You graphically captured the style of the books very well although the buttons could do with a face lift, if i'm being very picky I'm a graphics designer still at collage and in what little spare time I have between assignments I've begun my own program in the style of Joe Dever's Lone Wolf. Mostly for fun and to familiarize myself with coding. This is still in the early stages and includes battle script for small armies and many ideas for extra additions like stats influenced by your actions for good or evil. However this is my own story not set in the Lone Wolf world and for my own enjoyment. Possibly could evolve into a future colaborative project. Lone Wolf as it is, is an amazing interactive story and if you would like any help with graphics, static or interactive I would be only to happy to offer my services such as they are.
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Post by Doomy on Dec 4, 2007 14:49:03 GMT
Hey McKinstry, to the Project Aon forum!
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Post by mckinstry on Dec 4, 2007 15:01:43 GMT
Why thank you doomy.
Couldnt believe my luck stumbling upon all of the elusive Lone Wolf books on Project Aon ;D
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Post by Dave on Dec 5, 2007 16:03:13 GMT
Just wondering what software you used to write your program. Visual basic.net? It's written in C++. I use the MS Visual C++ IDE, but it's not particularly Windows-centric code. It wouldn't take much work at all to port to Linux and/or Mac, if only I had any experience with development on those OS's... Thanks for the comments - and yes the buttons aren't the greatest, but they are easily replaced by the end-user. I also would like to include a few more sets of button graphics for people to choose from, so if you'd like to help, I would be happy to accept it. Actually, if you're really interested in helping me out, I could use a little help with some specific graphical elements. Drop me a PM, and we'll talk specifics. Your project sounds really neat. I like the idea of good/evil actions having a direct impact on character stats/development. Hopefully, the beta download link will soon be publicly available - things are in the process of it becoming so... I know I keep saying that! Just bear with me... Also, is anyone else able to see the pictures on the first page? The links appear to be broken to me, but apparently mckinstry was able to see them just yesterday. Can anyone else confirm seeing them/not seeing them? Thanks! Edit: I can see them now... weird!
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Post by Dave on Dec 14, 2007 5:20:26 GMT
Good news! Not only have I survived the Oklahoma ice storms(Though I'm afraid the patio roof, kid's swingset, and neighbor's fence didn't pull through! ), I have updated the first post in this thread to reflect the fact that all of you forum goers are now able to download and try out my creation. I hope you enjoy it. Please do leave feedback about anything you particularly liked or didn't like. And if you find bugs(likely), let me know - it is still beta software, so don't expect perfection. (There's a lot of information in the first post. Be sure to read it over, so you don't post questions like "How do I install more books?" )
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Post by fredc on Dec 14, 2007 10:48:03 GMT
Hi Dave, Thanks for this! Unfortunately, I tried to run your program, but it crashes at launch every time I double click it (no screen, nothing, just an error popup dialog). I installed the Visual C runtimes, but no success either. I'm running on Windows XP SP2. Any idea? Thanks!
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Post by mckinstry on Dec 14, 2007 11:15:21 GMT
Dave the beta version you sent me worked fine on my Windows XP SP2, the same as fredc. However I tried this new link and it fails to run. Just a little technical hitch I'm sure
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Post by Dave on Dec 14, 2007 15:06:52 GMT
I was puzzled at first, but now I know exactly what the problem is. Somehow, I included an old, debug version of the physfs.dll file, instead of my newer release version. In an hour or two, I'll be home, and I can at least put up a link to download the right .dll, until the .zip is updated. Ooops! Growing pains I guess!
Sorry everyone, but you should be able to download it in a couple of hours. For now, I've disabled the download link, so people don't try it and get frustrated.
(And when I get home, I'm going to scrub my hard drive and erase every instance of that stupid debug .dll! Nothing but headaches!)
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Post by Dave on Dec 14, 2007 16:47:44 GMT
Okay, okay. I have posted a link to a version of the .dll that will work for everybody (and not just those who have MSVC++2005 installed!) The main post is updated with the information. All you must do is replace the physfs.dll file with the updated one(it's smaller, too!), and then the LoneWolf.exe should start normally.
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Post by fredc on Dec 14, 2007 21:53:57 GMT
I tried your game, and I just have to say "congratulations" ! This is very well done and polished. The navigation is intuitive and the overall design is quite good. It must have required a lot of work, so thank you for this!
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Post by Dave on Dec 19, 2007 1:40:25 GMT
Thank you fo the kind words, fredc! I'm glad you enjoy the design and navigation. It has been a lot of work, but it's a labor of love, so it's kind of fun! I'm currently working on getting book 3 up and running... I've also discovered some great software for packaging the program and future updates, so it'll be a little easier on users to install it and get support for additional books as they are added.
Also, just a reminder to anyone monitoring the new posts, the program is now available for download via the link in the 1st post of this thread. I would love to hear more feedback (and no, it doesn't all have to be positive - I like honest opinions!)
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Post by Doomy on Dec 19, 2007 4:00:16 GMT
Had a play through FFTD, and have to say this is an extremely slick alternative to Statskeeper. Very impressive work. Suggestions - you have scope for various "house rules" but I'd like to see a "non-strict" option for character creation, since the campaign is basically impossible without good stats. Would it be possible to add an option where the program picks five numbers instead of two, and sets the highest as COMBAT SKILL and the second-highest as ENDURANCE? That's what I do if I'm planning to play the books in series, but if I'm just playing a book standalone I usually see how far I can get just using whatever I roll. Also, maybe it's my interpretation of the rules, but at the moment the player can pick a number to see what Weaponskill would be in, then choose not to take it if it's in a weapon they don't want - basically "scumming" it until they get something compatible with the Sommerswerd. That doesn't seem quite right to me. So on the one hand, I want to cheat a little more, but on the other I want to cheat a little less...
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Post by Dave on Dec 22, 2007 13:46:22 GMT
Doomy, thanks for your input. You've got some nice ideas, there. Unfortunately/Fortunately (depending on how you look at it), there is nothing stopping the player from simply restarting the book if they don't get the stats the want, or the weaponskill they want. Or doing a save/restore point right before picking the weaponskill number (I am changing that to be a one button process, but you can still de-select it if you change your mind - which is how it is with *all* of the disciplines. At least until you start the book.) Because of that, I'm not sure it's worth the effort to accomodate further cheat/not cheat ideas into character creation, since it's completely up to the player already, whether they will go ahead with less than perfect stats, or keep restarting the book/restoring the save point until they get what they want... So, in the end, you still have your choice to cheat a little less or cheat a little more! p.s. As a side note, the archive link now contains the correct physfs.dll, so I modified the first post to reflect that. I have begun good work on the 3rd book, so that should be coming sometime soon!
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Post by triwen on Dec 22, 2007 15:37:51 GMT
This program is awesome i am looking forward to more books being available with it. I noticed two things that need correcting, first if you use a torch before the burrowcrawler fight it doesn't consume it as it should and the other thing is that it occasionally crashes if you do something while an animation is still playing also a suggestion for dual wielding you should have an option for 1handed weapons only until whatever GM skill level it is that lets you wield 2handed weapons with 1 hand
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