Dragon Warrior Radiance Spell Effect

[cybrim]

Hi, I've tried and failed several times now to recreate the "Radiance" Spell and Torch effect in Dragon Warrior 1, is it possible to make a picture follow the character, I have a black picture with a transparent center, theoretically it should work, and it does as long as I do not move, but I would like to make the center of that picture follow the character... I am drawing a blank as to how to make this happen so I can recreate that feeling of walking into a cave and just not knowing what lies within. I hope people still know what I am talking about, I actually have 3 copies of Dragon Warrior on the NES and I still play them! I miss classic role-playing games, and this one made a huge impact on my childhood... I am an adult now but I could always go back for seconds!

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

you will run a parallel process event that moves the picture to the player's screen position

 

[cybrim]

It isn't working... The Picture moves but it is nowhere near where I need it and it move far less quickly than the characters with and without sprinting... Wow this is frustrating! How did they do this on the NES? lol wow I can only imagine... those guys were SMART! another thing I'd like to see is Ultima IV's forest/heavy mountain transition, however I think that would take up far more resources to implement.

Thanks for the help Shana

 

[Kes]

If in 'Show Picture' command, you select 'Center' as your display position, doesn't that work?  Assuming that your picture is the same size as your map (or you have adjusted the zoom to compensate) it should always be central, and usually that's where your sprite is.  

I can't be more specific than that because I have never played Dragon Warrior 1, so have never seen the effect you are referring to.  It's always tricky building your explanation of your problem around a specific example like that because you cannot assume that others know the particular game.

 

[Zoltor]

If in 'Show Picture' command, you select 'Center' as your display position, doesn't that work?  Assuming that your picture is the same size as your map (or you have adjusted the zoom to compensate) it should always be central, and usually that's where your sprite is.  

I can't be more specific than that because I have never played Dragon Warrior 1, so have never seen the effect you are referring to.  It's always tricky building your explanation of your problem around a specific example like that because you cannot assume that others know the particular game.

The Radiance spell is basically a Torch effect(just much stronger), illuminating a bigger area around the char.

Doesn't that useless(well not 100% useless, but in no situation can you use a picture placed in that default position, you'll need to drastically move it ) center option in picture sets it at 0.0 on the map by default, which not only Isn't center going by any form of mapping/math, it sure wont center on the char(or put it center bottom/center top, infact there is no centering going on).

PS. You should play Dragon Warrior 1 atleast once in your life, despite being the father of the genre(thus being very basic), it has a sweet classical feel to it.

To OP: I think it would be easier to change the lighting of the entire map, to make it pitch black, and then use a lighting effect that just centers on the char to pull off the torch, and Radiance effects,opposed to having a black picture follow the char around.

 

[Hollow]

Cybrim, Pentagonbuddy made a tutorial on what you're asking (just read through the "Using Pictures" spoiler). The tutorial's for VX, but all the event commands are the same in VX Ace.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Maybe you're using Player map X/Y? You should use Screen X/Y... also, please post the event that ur using so that we can determine what's wrong

 

[cybrim]

Cybrim, Pentagonbuddy made a tutorial on what you're asking (just read through the "Using Pictures" spoiler). The tutorial's for VX, but all the event commands are the same in VX Ace.

Yeah... that tutorial link... error 404's massively! I am going to try the "Lighting Effect" Zoltor suggested.

(I spammed it in all hopes of finding a solution)

 

[cybrim]

Well now, I'm pretty sure the rules of reality no longer have any effect, I've tried variables as player (XY) & Screen (XY) with center and upper left image, movement of picture on all speeds, no picture movement... I don't understand why it isn't working, there should be an area around my character that I can see and a larger area further out that I can't see... but it just moves the image anywhere but where I need it, not erratically but displayed in a manner that is no where near where I need it.

PS there isn't a "lighting effect" it is either the whole screen or nothing...?

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

can you post the event?

 

[Zoltor]

Well now, I'm pretty sure the rules of reality no longer have any effect, I've tried variables as player (XY) & Screen (XY) with center and upper left image, movement of picture on all speeds, no picture movement... I don't understand why it isn't working, there should be an area around my character that I can see and a larger area further out that I can't see... but it just moves the image anywhere but where I need it, not erratically but displayed in a manner that is no where near where I need it.

PS there isn't a "lighting effect" it is either the whole screen or nothing...?

Yea the move picture system is downright ******ed.

I had a picture issue myself, know what the answer to it was, XY for pictures doesn't go by map coordinance, It's pixels(I kid you not), and yea, upper left, and center(if you select center, it puts the picture at 0.0, lol what donkey math were they using, that the 0.0 on a grid, is center) doesn't start it off in the position it says

Each cell/tile on the map is 32x32 pixels, so to move a picture a noticeable distance requires "big" numbers.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

he said he already tried out Screen X/Y too


we really need to see a pic of what he's doing

 

[Zoltor]

he said he already tried out Screen X/Y too

we really need to see a pic of what he's doing

After scrolling through the event command list(double checking, picture, screen options, and even SE/animations, I'm pretty sure there's no way to pull that off without a script(in any shape, form or way).

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Huh???


You can set a variable to be equal to Screen X and another one to Screen Y using the Change Variables event command (->Game Data -> Player/Character -> Screen X/Y)... then use move picture command using those variables


and poof, it's done... no scripts needed in any form...

 

[Zoltor]

There is actually... You can set a variable to be equal to Screen X and another one to Screen Y using the Change Variables event command... then use move picture command using those variables

It's not a simple move picture through event thing though, the picture needs to be centered on the player at all times, while the player explores the dungeon.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

It's not a simple move picture through event thing though, the picture needs to be centered on the player at all times, while the player explores the dungeon.

Eh? It's just 1 event page with only 4 event commands... how is that "NOT SIMPLE"?


That's actually the method to do that... I've already helped somebody else on another thread about that... in case it doesn't center right away, you can always adjust the variables after getting the Screen X/Y... You might need to reduce the Y by half of the height of the picture...


You can always move the picture every frame if you're using a parallel process event... unless you forgot about it...


+ I even just tried it out a few moments ago btw...

Spoiler

Parallel process Event


Set variable 1 = Player's screen X


Set variable 2 = Player's screen Y


Set variable 2 = Variable 2 - 16 (since this pic that I used was only 32x32)


Move picture (of course you should have some other event that used Show Picture)


--Origin = Center


--X = variable 1


--Y = Variable 2


--Do not wait


--Set time to 1 frame

Now tell me which of those 4 event commands is not simple...

 

[Zoltor]

That's actually the method to do that... I've already helped somebody else on another thread about that... in case it doesn't center right away, you can always adjust the variables after getting the Screen X/Y...

You can always move the picture every frame if you're using a parallel process event... unless you forgot about it

I think that would only work for a picture following an event around(aka a event, following an event, but I'm not 100% sure), not the player, but I need to tinker with that more to know for sure, It's a interesting thought though

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

And why won't it work for the player when ur using Player's Screen X/Y??? Enlighten me please about your logic... coz I fail to see why Player Screen X/Y cannot be used for the Player...


You really need to tinker "more" if you think that... anyway, I posted an actual set-up above which I used a few minutes ago for a picture that centers around the player always...

 

[Zoltor]

And why won't it work for the player when ur using Player's Screen X/Y??? Enlighten me please about your logic... coz I fail to see why Player Screen X/Y cannot be used for the Player...

You really need to tinker "more" if you think that... anyway, I posted an actual set-up above which I used a few minutes ago for a picture that centers around the player always...

Even in the small print(the hovering info), in both the move picture options, as well as move event options, I don't see anything labeled "Player's" screen. everything is labeled like destination variables or whatnot, I don't see anything whatso ever even ref the player.

 

[MagicMagor]

Because you first have to save the Player's Screen X/Y into variables.

Control Variables -> Game-Data -> Character: Player -> Screen X/Screen Y

Then you can use these variables in the move picture command.