JUDE'S PROFILE

Created a test project to prototype some new stuff for integration into Guild Master.

One of the biggest things is I've once again refactored my GUI module. Now the entire thing has a parent/child relationship and all of the components that go into making new widgets are much more versatile and compartmentalized. Basically it's a lot easier to create new interfaces.

I had created a brand new graph class for my RPG engine with a lot of new features to it, many of which allow me to do a lot of useful new things in Guild Master as well. One of the big things about my new graph module is nodes and edges can own any number of attributes, including objects--if that makes sense to anybody. So I've prototyped the ability to easily plot new nodes on the overworld and connecting them. Basically the idea is that instead of upgrading a solitary guild hall, you are also building expansion outposts.

I have two ways of displaying node placement range. One of which is too slow for pure Python. I split the valid range rings into arc segments, and used the intersection points of a nearby node's minimum range ring to draw portions of the valid range ring with the nearby node as its origin. That was an awful sentence and I should bring pictures next time instead. Unfortunately that takes about ~4ms when there are multiple intersecting circles, so I either need to refactor that function in C or implement an alternative technique. The alternative technique is to find circle intersections by bitmasking rather than math, which should be much faster, but I need to identify how SDL chooses to offset the new mask that is created when I mash two masks together. I have an idea on how, but will work on that tomorrow. in the interim I am just drawing a red line from a node that's too close to where I want to place the new node, which is informative enough, along with the valid range ring from the parent node.

I also modified my province class, such that provinces can be owned by whatever guild/faction and the border is painted the appropriate color.

Finally, my new edge object that I'm assigning to graph edges is done a bit differently, and I've just created a small simulation of moving red dots to make sure entities path along them correctly.

To encourage players to use appropriately leveled heroes in a given area, I think I'll create a new resource--call it "Prestige" or whatever. If heroes defeat foes of an equal or higher level, it adds to the Prestige score. Could use it as a resource to buy special goods or node structures or something neat.

author=Liberty
I swear to God, I swear! If Konami does this with Suikoden I might just have a break down. First Breath of Fire, now Secret of Mana.

Mana has been shit for longer than it's been not-shit anyway. It's basically impossible for this phone game to be worse than the DS ones. Even the last good Mana game, Legend of Mana (circa 1999, like fifteen years ago), is still really weird and terrible in some ways.