Ricebug on 1/10/2015 at 12:16
I agree. Same in the movie industry, where low-budget movies filmed on retail video cams were huge successes.
My problem has always been starting out small, and 6 months later, I've got this huge, CPU-hogging mission. I just can't slap a box around a house and call it 'good.' The player has to see trees beyond the walls. Then comes buildings beyond the walls. Then comes people, mountains, etc, etc. Then you're thinking, gee, I put all that work into stuff outside the walls...I may as well let the player in there to do some stuff. And so forth.
Melan on 1/10/2015 at 17:54
That's how most of my missions are made. Plus: badly estimated terrain scale resulting in the need for way more building work than anticipated.
margotbean on 5/10/2015 at 17:46
I'll second some of what was said earlier. I'm a newbie to the community, and a programmer in real life. The DromEd interface is something I can't even force myself to think about tackling. I've tried to edit existing missions (to give myself 1000 flashbombs, for example), and it's so damn difficult to do that simple thing, I can't comprehend how anyone makes a complex mission using it.
At the same time, I feel like I should be making missions... I've got programming skills, and I should be contributing something! But I just can't seem to force myself to dive into that old monster of an editor. For god's sake, you can't even change the display resolution until you spend time researching which .ini file to edit! You can't even open the IDE properly without doing your homework!
Tell me how to get past that...
I have to mention also that in my experience, posting a "noob" type question in the editing forums is something to be done at one's own peril. It seems there's a pervasive attitude that one should "RTFM" before daring to query those god-like creatures who are experienced in the care and use of DromEd. It's a side issue, but it ain't helping the problem.
I do thank God that there are still developers making fan missions.
Renault on 5/10/2015 at 18:45
Quote Posted by margotbean
I have to mention also that in my experience, posting a "noob" type question in the editing forums is something to be done at one's own peril. It seems there's a pervasive attitude that one should "RTFM" before daring to query those god-like creatures who are experienced in the care and use of DromEd. It's a side issue, but it ain't helping the problem.
That sounds pretty unfair, and not at all accurate. I think the folks in the Editor's Guild are extremely helpful. I've never been told to "RTFM" (or seen it happen to others either, for that matter).
Ricebug on 5/10/2015 at 19:20
She's probably referring to one person, whom I won't name.
You want to see RTFM and worse, cruise over to the (all-but-extinct) Doom 3 editing forum. In its infancy, you couldn't post a link to your website without getting barred. If you asked a question that had already been answered, FLAME CITY.
Go for it, Margotbean! We need some new blood. Join us! Join us now!
Yandros on 5/10/2015 at 22:07
There's probably more than one person over there who treats noob questions like that, but on the whole you'll generally get helpful advice, or perhaps mild scolding and then being pointed at the FAQ or the appropriate thread if you didn't do a basic search before asking. But generally you get help and not condescending derision.
Tannar on 6/10/2015 at 01:35
What Yandros said. Most folks over there are busy working on their own missions, so they prefer that you do at least some basic searching first before asking. Just using the search function with a few well chosen terms will net results most of time, and then there is the (
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131800) Tutorials thread with hundreds of links to tutorials on hundreds of topics. But at least do a search before asking. If nothing else, what you find might help to clarify your questions in some cases.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience there, but don't let one or two people turn you off. Most folks over there are very willing to help anyone, and especially a new author who's serious about tackling the beast for the first time. We are always in need of new authors.
margotbean on 6/10/2015 at 06:10
Quote Posted by Ricebug
Go for it, Margotbean! We need some new blood.
Join us! Join us now!ROFLMAO! The haunts are beckoning me.... God help me! :ebil:
I will admit the four of you (Brethren, Ricebug, Yandros, & Tannar)
may be right... but this is my perspective:
I was a computer n00b at one point, and now I have a B.S. in Computer Science; I graduated Magna Cum Laude, and I effing worked for it! But when asked a technical question (even the simplest thing), I
always answer as if I were speaking to my own mother. If I don't have the time for a complete and patient explanation, I don't post a reply! And I save the condescention for snot-noses who clearly deserve it.
I mean, really, who is under any obligation to post a response at all? If I don't get an answer, I'll start that daunting task of reading through the two screenfuls of dromed tutorial listings... and then start actually reading the tutorials... and then in a couple of days I might find the answer I was seeking. Without anyone else being bothered to slightly chastise me (or worse).
I think even one negative or snippy response can be an enthusiasm-killer for someone considering starting out with Dromed. But I do think most of this community are gems of human beings.
If only I had the skills to code a mouse-based graphical interface wrapper for Dromed... :erg:
Melan on 6/10/2015 at 07:20
I am not a programmer in real life, am mostly technologically illiterate, and yet found Dromed much more easy to use than originally anticipated. The first few hours are hard, but after that, it is a robust and flexible toolset.
nickie on 6/10/2015 at 08:39
I must say, margotbean, that when I was struggling to understand Komag's tutorial, my embarrassingly ignorant questions were met with nothing but kindness in EdGuild.
I too am technologically illiterate but I managed eventually to get my head around the tutorial and have not forgotten the utter delight when I finished it. Grinning from ear to ear for weeks. I became addicted to Dromed and losing my internet for several weeks was the only thing that saved me. :)
But even if the LGS or Komag tutorial is the only thing you do, it's still something I'd recommend everyone having a go at. The sense of achievement is amazing.
