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I was wondering if anyone knew of any guides for making plug-ins to EVNova, One that has step by step help and images and things.
Thanks.
------------------ "To defeat my enemy I must study my enemy then become my enemy then move in with my enemy then wear my enemy's clothes then-" "Your in my light."
There is always Bomb's Plug-in Making Guide for EV/EVO, but I am not sure if it still relates to EVN.
------------------
Sorry, but it's not that easy.
I'm serious. If you read the FAQ,you would see: It's not a plug-and-play thing.
In other words, sorry, but it's more complicated than that.
If you read the Bible, you would see that it is not a simple process. You have to remember multiple resource types, resource IDs of other things, index numbers of other resources, and a ton more.
Even if all you want to do is modify something, you can't expect there to be an end-all guide to whatever you needthat would be impossible, for such a guide would need to cover everything from changing the cost of one item to making an enormous TC.
When EVN was already out, I was learning about EVC plug-in making. Earlier this year, I began escalating to the slightly more advanced engine of EVO. Recently, I've upgraded to EVN plug-ins. Sorry, but you can't just ask for something like that. You'll need to do some research. It's harder than you think.
In any case, your guide is the Bible. Period. I can't emphasise it enough: the Bible is your guide. Read it. Read it again. Read it over and over, and read it some more, and there'll still be things you don't know.
------------------ The programmer's code of entomology: there's always another bug. Windows users: stop asking for plugins. (url="http://"http://www.aznt.com/EVN/EVNEW/")Make one yourself.(/url)
(This message has been edited by orcaloverbri9 (edited 12-12-2003).)
I sniff the scent of a harsh reprimand coming this way...
You won't be able to develop anything until you have a decent feel for what everything means. Play the game, observe the different resources and their attributes (for example, look at ship stats: equipped equipment, speed, shielding, armor, etc; systems: number of asteroids, number of ships/what kind of ships, fleets, interference, visibility, planets and stations in the system, hyperlinks, etc). If you do so, you'll understand much better what the different resources and attributes mean, and you'll have an easier time.
------------------ (url="http://"http://www.geocities.com/ue_rd")Fatal Alliance- an upcoming quasi-TC for EVN.(/url) Retribution: The Starways Await... Visit the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=20&SUBMIT;=Go")Chronicles(/url) today! Be sure to read the short story ' (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/ubb/newsdisplay.cgi?action=topics &number;=20&forum;=*EV/EVO+chronicles&DaysPrune;=100&article;=000262&startpoint;=")Fiery Descent(/url)'! (url="http://"http://www.cwssoftware.com")Sephil Saga(/url): An upcoming TC, visit the web page today.| || Both the best and the worst plug-in editor for Windows! (url="http://"http://www.aznt.com/EVN/EVNEW")EVNEW(/url)!
Quote
Originally posted by UE_Research & Development: I sniff the scent of a harsh reprimand coming this way...
Coming this way? It's here already.
Originally posted by orcaloverbri9: ** If I'm just scaring you off, then good. We don't need stupid question-askers here, and would be far better off without.
**
Yeesh. How about "Psychonaut, welcome to the boards," instead?
Questions lead to answers.
Orcalover is right -- plug making isn't easy.... Except for those parts that are easy! I wish I did know of more detailed plug-making guides, with more pictures. A link to Bomb's guide is in my sig; it's got good advice, but it's non-visual and doesn't get into the nitty-gritty of working with the plug-making tools (NovaTools, MissionComputer, and EVONE). You also should check out Ambrosia's official EV Plug-in Developer FAQs, and maybe the FAQ over at EV-Nova.net (see my sig, again).
My advice isn't that different from what's already been said: get the Bible and NovaTools. Follow the directions to install NovaTools. Make a backup copy of your Nova Files folder, then just use ResEdit/NovaTools to mess around with the Nova Files files -- change beam colors, give a viper variant an insane shield value, learn which weapons are good values and which aren't, add cocky insults to mission texts, etc., etc. Have fun and get familiar with the innards of the game for a while. Make some cheat plugs for your own use. In short, just slowly play yourself up to the level where you can tackle making a "real" plug-in.
------------------ (url="http://"http://home.comcast.net/~drtrowel/")Dr. Trowel's E.S.W.P.(/url) -- Featuring Cold Fusion Graphics for EVN Override, and an EVN/O outfit bug fix. Very Good Stuff: (url="http://"http://ev-nova.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2832&sid;=43627ead61761e7f19060b00c14c739c")Big Nova FAQ(/url) (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=31&SUBMIT;=Go")Bomb's Plug-in Guide(/url) (url="http://"http://www.evula.com/escape_velocity/")EVula's Lair(/url) (url="http://"http://w00tware.ev-nova.net/")NovaTools(/url) Interests: The Good, The Bad, and The Loopy.
Originally posted by UE_Research & Development: **You won't be able to develop anything until you have a decent feel for what everything means. Play the game, observe the different resources and their attributes (for example, look at ship stats: equipped equipment, speed, shielding, armor, etc; systems: number of asteroids, number of ships/what kind of ships, fleets, interference, visibility, planets and stations in the system, hyperlinks, etc). If you do so, you'll understand much better what the different resources and attributes mean, and you'll have an easier time.
*I hate the "Clear Fields" Button. What's the point of it. If I didn't like what I wrote I'd select all and delete.
Anyway... Amen to that. Just reading the Nova bible won't mean didly if you don't understand how the reasources work together. I'm surprised at how many people seem to think otherwise.
------------------ ((Ż'ˇ.¸(Ż'ˇ.¸Ť-KAME-ť¸.ˇ'´Ż)¸.ˇ'´Ż)) I used to jog but the ice kept falling out of my glass. (url="http://"http://www.0three0.net/l-1551/")L 1551(/url) - The official site of RONIN and The Way and the ten thousand things
'ˇ.¸(Ż
Originally posted by Dr. Trowel: Yeesh. How about "Psychonaut, welcome to the boards," instead?
Eh, I misworded that. What I meant was, "if this scares you off, you better leave now, 'cause the worst has yet to come."
------------------ The programmer's code of entomology: there's always another bug. Windows users: stop asking for plugins. (url="http://"http://www.aznt.com/EVN/EVNEW/")Make one yourself.(/url) (url="http://"http://www.cwssoftware.com")Sephil Saga Website(/url)
Flames Equal Karmaslaps.
Just so you know...
------------------ (url="http://"http://www.mazca.com/")Mazca(/url) , Moderator, (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=9&SUBMIT;=Go&urgaylol;=yes")EV Developer's Corner(/url) look through a faithless eye - are you afraid to die?
I don't know much about plug-ins for Nova, but their probably fairly simaler to original EV, only alot more complex. I would say to downlod the ResEdit Begginers guid(aviable in the EV utilites add on section) ; this will get you started with the original EV. Once you have that mastered, you can try reading the EV nova bible, you will probobly understand it better then. Other than that I can't help you at all. I gave up playing Nova a while ago, and since then have switched to the original.
------------------ The name of my ship is the Avenger, its time for all pirates and Pee Cee useres to run, or die.
What's with all the hostility these day's ?
The EV Developers corner is supposed to be a place where people help each other out , not flame for asking a (stupid is some peoples eyes) question.
If you got an attidue probelm don't post.
That being said others have a point , start by checking out some plugins , open them and grab a copy of the EV bible in there is an explanation of what each field does. Its not that very hard just take some time to do it. Everyone can do it eventually don't worry.
If you have windows you can grab a copy of an editor (url="http://"http://www.aznt.com/EVN/EVNEW/")here(/url)
If you have mac you first have to grab (url="http://"http://www.resexcellence.com/support_files/resedit.shtml")Resedit(/url)
Then grab the stuff on (url="http://"http://w00tware.ev-nova.net/")this page(/url), install instructions are included.
Then go to the (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/addons.html")EVN Addons page(/url) and look arround there are many version of the bible available.
Like I said before it explains what each field in resedit/evnew does , by using the bible you can find out what correct values for the fields are and what they do.
Trial and error is a good technique too , just try some stuff and see what does. Always make a seprate plug don't edit the datafiles directly until you know what you are doing.
If you have questions use (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/ubb/search.cgi?action=intro&default;=9")the search function(/url) , if nothing turns up go ahead and make a new topic , lots of nice people on these boards too that can awnser you question.
Also you are bound to have questions about control bits , so I have provided my bit guide below , you can look it up here if you need it (wich will be anytime soon)
This should get you on the road , if you have more questions just post!
You can also email me : max at evula dot org
I don't mind.
Good luck,
Entarus,
------------------ "Don't wait for your life to happen , find something you are happy with and do it" (url="http://"http://www.ariossoftware.com/products/evone/")EVONE 1.0pb2 - the plugin editor for EV/EVO/EVN(/url) (url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number;=9&SUBMIT;=Go&urgaylol;=yes")EV Developer's Corner(/url) (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/ubb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum;=Uplink+web+board&number;=69") Uplink Forum(/url)
------------------------------------------------------ A explanation of Nova Control Bits
Here follows an explantion of nova control bits. Bits were also available in previous versions of EV , but in nova they became much more powerful but also more difficult. Control bits are an essential part of making things happen in Nova, so I suggest you read trough this section carefully. I use parts from the EVN bible and explain each part.
- In Nova there are 10000 Nova Control bits (nbcs). Control bits are accessed through logical expressions that allow powerful and logical scripting. These expressions are divided into two types test and set.
Test These are boolean expressions(Boolean means that they can be TRUE or FALSE) that are used to determine when something happens; for example, when a mission is to be offered, or when a particular ship should be made available for purchase. In general, if the logical expression defined in a given test expression field evaluates to be true (nonzero), the associated property will be activated (mission becomes available, ship appears, etc ).
Lets explain this with an example :
We have made a ship , and want to add this into our plug , but we dont want to give it to the player right away. He must complete a difficult mission before hes is allowed to buy the ship.
We can use nbcs to accomplish this. We will use the Availability field of the ship resource for this. Its a test field we enter a ceratin expression in to the field. The player will be able to purchase our type of ship when the expression evaluates to true.
We decide to use bit 4999 for this.
-In the missions OnSuccess field( its a SET field , as explained below) we enter the following : b4999
-In the Availability field in the ship resource we enter the same : b4999
Lets see what happens : All bits are turned off as default. So we presume bit 4999 is unused and its turned off. When the player completes the mission , the Onsuccess field will be exectuted. This means that bit 4999 will be turned ON. Remember that our Availability field tested for bit 4999 to be true (ON)? So when bit 4999 is turned on the ship will appear , because all conditions are met. The ship will not appear as long as bit 4999 is false (OFF). You can use all SET fields to turn 4999 ON after a certain event.
There are several terms and operators to test. Lets have a look at them :
bxxx Lookup the value of control bit xxx. Bits are numbered from b0 to b9999. pxxx Check if the game is registered ((P)aid for) ... evaluates to 1 if the game is registered or is unregistered but less than xxx days have elapsed. Evaluates to 0 only if unregistered for more than xxx days.
G Lookup the player's gender - 1 if male, 0 if female
Oxxx Returns 1 if the player has at least one of outfit item ID xxx, 0 if not
Exxx Returns 1 if the player has explored system ID xxx, 0 if not
| Logical or operator
Can be used to test if an expression is true OR the an other expression is true.
& Logical and operator
Can be used to test if an expression is true AND another expression is true.
! Logical negation operator
Can be used to test if an expression is FALSE
( ) Parenthetical enclosure
The Nova evaluator is fairly primitive, it may do unpredictable things if you give it an expression like b1 & b2 | b3 ... instead, use proper parentheses to make it b1 & (b2 | b3) or (b1 & b2) | b3, as appropriate.
Let see this in two examples :
b13 & (b15 | !b72)
This will test if bit 13 is true , and either bit 15 is true or bit 72 is false. If both conditions are met the associated property will be activated .
!(B42 | B53) & b103
This will test if either bit 42 is false or bit 53 is false and if bit 103 is true. If both conditions are met the associated property will be activated .
Note that if you leave the field for a test expression blank, it will evaluate to true as a default.
Also note: The Oxxx operator also considers any carried fighters that are deployed when it examines the player's current list of outfits, although this feature may be confused if presented with a universe that includes multiple fighter bay weapons that launch the same ship type, or different outfits that grant the same fighter bay ammo. Set
Weve briefly touched SET expressions in our first example. Now we will go into detail. The following text comes STRAIGHT from the EVN bible.
Always read the EVN bible , its a very important tool.
These are simpler than the test expressions... basically all you are doing here is listing what bits you want to be modified when the expression in a give field is invoked. This will happen when the player does something (completes a mission, buys an item, etc.) as defined by the other resources. The syntax of set expressions is best illustrated by an example:
b1 b2 !b3 ^b4
In this set expression, bits 1 and 2 will be set, bit 3 will be cleared, and bit4 will be toggled to the opposite of whatever it was previously. No parentheses are supported for set expressions. Note that if you leave a set expression blank, no control bits will be altered.
n this set expression, bits 1 and 2 will be set, bit 3 will be cleared, and bit 4 will be toggled to the opposite of whatever it was previously. No parentheses are supported for set expressions. Note that if you leave a set expression blank, no control bits will be altered.
One other feature of the set expression is the ability to make random decisions. By specifying R(<op1> <op2> ) you can make Nova randomly pick one of the two possible choices and execute it, skipping the other one. For example:
b1 R(b2 !b3)
...this expression will set bit 1, and then either set bit 2 or clear bit 3, but not both at once. Which operation will be picked is completely random, which allows for the design of interesting mission strings that branch unpredictably.
There are also a number of other operators that allow you to do many interesting things:
Axxx - if mission ID xxx is currently active, abort it.
Fxxx - if mission ID xxx is currently active, cause it to fail.
Sxxx - start mission ID xxx automatically.
Gxxx - grant one of outfit item ID xxx to the player
Dxxx - remove (Delete) one of outfit item ID xxx from the player
Mxxx - move the player to system xxx. The player will be put on top of the first stellar in the system, or in the center of the system if no stellars exist there.
Nxxx - move the player to system xxx. The player will remain at the same x/y coordinates, relative to the center of the system.
Cxxx - change the player's ship to ship type (ID) xxx. The player will keep all of his previous outfit items and won't be given any of the default weapons or items that come with ship type xxx.
Exxx - change the player's ship to ship type (ID) xxx. The player will keep all of his previous outfit items and will also be given all of the default weapons and items that come with ship type xxx.
Hxxx - change the player's ship to ship type (ID) xxx. The player will lose Any nonpersistent outfit items he previously had, but will be given all of the default weapons and items that come with ship type xxx.
Kxxx - activate rank ID xxx.
Lxxx - deactivate rank ID xxx.
Pxxx - play sound with ID xxx.
Yxxx - destroy stellar ID xxx.
Uxxx - regenerate (Un-destroy) stellar ID xxx.
Qxxx - make the player immediately leave (absquatulate) whatever stellar he's landed on and return to space, and show a message at the bottom of the screen. The message is randomly selected from the STR# resource with ID xxx, and is parsed for mission text tags (e.g. <PSN> and <PRK> ) but not text-selection tags like those above (e.g. {G "he" "she"} ) (see dësc and mďsn resource descriptions for more examples)
Txxx - change the name (Title) of the player's ship to a string randomly selected from STR# resource ID xxx. The previous ship name will be substituted for any '*' characters which are encountered in the new string.
Xxxx - make system ID xxx be explored.
Well, I was in the process of making such a guide, tailored specifically for Nova and all the major plugin utilities, but since Jager upgraded NS, it has been inaccessable. I may move it over to my (url="http://"http://www.evula.com/")EVula(/url) account, if I can retrieve it.
------------------ Eat blazing electric death!
Well that's just fine Mazca. If your intention was to make someone leave, then you win a gold medal. Congratulations. And if it's your life goal, then you may now die in peace.
I don't need the EVDC. I've been coming on to kill time. But now I see that I can't even go a little too far with the flaming. And I'm glad to be leaving—it gives me more time to do other things. Oh, and for what it's worth, I am sincerely sorry and have edited my post. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm not a forgiving person.
Thus, my final word here is as follows: Goodbye.
Originally posted by orcaloverbri9: < snip>
No one must have ever told you no before.
Seriously, we hate to see anyone leave, but you're previous comments were out of line and when people tried to give you help you by calling you on it you acted arrogantly and failed to head their advice by again lashing out, showing absolutely no remorse. Yes, we get tired of people asking the same questions over and over but that's just how web boards are. And yes, many of us (me especially) get tired of holding people's hand when they simply won't try and figure some things out for themselves. But none of that justifies aggressively attacking another person and telling them that they have no place here. If you feel that Mazca's goal was to make you leave (somehow, I doubt that was his intention :rolleyes: ) then you simply got a little taste of your own medicine. Best of luck to you. Try drinking some chamomile tea, relax and learn to take criticism a little more graciously.
(This message has been edited by Kame (edited 12-13-2003).)
Before this topic meets its demise, I have something that might be of use.
Psychonaut, its not a guide as such, but a collection of tutorials. It doesen't cover all aspects of plug-in making, but I found it extremely useful for getting to know some of the resources, and how to use them. Though it's mainly the graphical aspect of plug-in making, spďns, spöbs, s˙sts, shäns and shďps.
Download it from here: (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/vftp/dl-redirect.pl/TutorialsInS.sea.hqx?path=evn/guides&file;=TutorialsInS.sea.hqx")http://www.ambrosias...ialsInS.sea.hqx(/url)
It's a little gem, which doesen't seem to be to well known.
-Hope it helps.
------------------ "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain.
One useful thing to know, both to talk of the ressources and to change the file/creator of the plugs/files: to type thoses odd ¨'d letters, you'll need to type alt-u, then the letter on an american Mac (thank God my Azerty keyboard!), alt-"oddnumbers" on a PC (I can't find them right now, I'm back on my Mac). In these web boards, I rather type HTML tags: & yourwowel uml; so that it is platform compatible.
Update: from an older post by me, here's the information: alt-129 for ü, alt-132 for ä, alt-137 for ë, alt-139 for ď, alt-148 for ö, did not bother to find for ÿ because I forgot sÿst. ------------------ The (url="http://"https://secure.ambrosiasw.com/cgi-bin/store/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item;=breakdown.html&BREAKDOWN;_SKUID=1480")Ambrosia Mac CD(/url) with other registrations - 5$. Paying for (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/")EV Nova(/url) as it's such a great game - 30$. The (url="http://"http://www.ambrosiasw.com/games/evn/tshirts.html")1337 EV Nova T-shirt(/url) - 22$. The (url="http://"http://w00tware.ev-nova.net/")NovaTools(/url) by wOOtWare to tinker with your Nova - FREE! The feeling you're a Nova geek - priceless. There are things you can't buy or that are free, for everything else, there's indeed Eurocard Mastercard.
(This message has been edited by Zacha Pedro (edited 12-13-2003).)
Originally posted by Kame: **
Seriously, we hate to see anyone leave, but you're previous comments were out of line and when people tried to give you help you by calling you on it you acted arrogantly and failed to head their advice by again lashing out, showing absolutely no remorse. Yes, we get tired of people asking the same questions over and over but that's just how web boards are. And yes, many of us (me especially) get tired of holding people's hand when they simply won't try and figure some things out for themselves. But none of that justifies aggressively attacking another person and telling them that they have no place here. If you feel that Mazca's goal was to make you leave (somehow, I doubt that was his intention :rolleyes: ) then you simply got a little taste of your own medicine. Best of luck to you. Try drinking some chamomile tea, relax and learn to take criticism a little more graciously.**
Well, as is usual with someone who just left, I have been lurking to see people's responses. To answer your first comment, I have been told no before. My resons for leaving were more complex than that. You see, in reality, Mazca would have done WAY better to get his point across had he given me a warning stating that should I ever post anything rude again, I will be karma-slapped. Had he done this, the results I am sure he wanted would have happened. Instead, he went ahead and just lowered it. Believe me, that sends a completely different message.
In any case, I agree that my first post was out of line, rude, and even immature. While I don't see where the arrogance comes in, I agree that my second post was nearly as bad, eespecially since I acted as if it was all a joke. My third post was a mistake. What I should have done was reviewed my post and edited it. Instead, I merely told what I intended to say. Off the topic of apologizing, there was actually no way I could show remorse—by the time I came back, Mazca had lowered my karma, people had scolded me, and everyone was off of that topic. Back to apologizing. My next post did show remorse, however, and I had assumed that that would be enough. But let me say it again: I am genuinely and sincerely sorry for those posts, and have edited my first one for this reason.
In any case, I did not mean to imply that I thought his intentions were to make me leave the Developer community. What I meant to imply was that I was leaving. However, I would like to say that while I do believe my first message was out of line, rude, and immature, my head was not entirely clear at that time, and I did not review my post before sending it, and as such figured it was okay. If you look at the times, you will notice that my first post and my second post were extremely near each other. Once again, my clear head ruined the post.
Also, again off the topic of apologizing, I never lashed out. I stated that I was leaving. I see no lashing out in that. Back to apologizing. While I doubt very much my karma will be raised, I would merely like to point out that it would go a long way toward me shaping up.
In any case, I made multiple mistakes here. And humans are allowed to make mistakes. The thing is that while they may make mistakes, they should learn from those mistakes. Believe me when I say that I have definately learned from my mistakes. I actually wasn't intending on leaving altogether. I was going to see what happened when I was gone, and in any case I needed some time to debate whether it was worth it to continue on here. If it's worth anything, I don't intend on posting anything near to the effect of my first post should I continue posting on the EVDC. If anyone has read this far, I hope that their view of my personality has changed.
It seems that you have learned your lesson well. I don't mind you posting here at all , just stay friendly and it will be a better place for everyone.
Anyway just post 20 messages after you got slapped and your karma will be back to clean (0)again.
(This message has been edited by Entarus (edited 12-13-2003).)
Originally posted by Entarus: **It seems that you have learned your lesson well. I don't mind you posting here at all , just stay friendly and it will be a better place for everyone.:)
After I got slapped, it automatially raises it to zero after 20 posts, or the moderators raise it after 20 posts?
Right now, I fell like a certain president of a certain software company...