Re: Design Tool: Dungeon Generator

Posted by MortiS-the-Lost on May 26, 2010; 12:53pm
URL: http://the-lost-and-the-damned.71.s1.nabble.com/Dungeon-Builder-Development-Thread-tp5062933p5103302.html

 I am loving Dungeon Builder 0.2!

the multiple-clicks to change the boarder round the squares feels very natural and intuitive (if a little time consuming when drawing in long sections) I'd like to request that when you do implement the corridor generating code, you have the option to turn it off (like with the boarders) so people can draw their own corridors in if they prefer.

My next suggestion (and I hope I'm not getting too far ahead here) is to expand the post-generation editing phase to include some icon/symbols you can 'drag-drop' or 'stamp pad' onto the map. Things to represent statues, fountains, traps, grills, pillars and doors, all that kinda stuff (I think doors would need 2 versions, one that would fill a square and another that would sit on the line for maximum flexibility)

the icons wouldn't have to be anything complex, doors can be represented by long rectangles (with an 'S' through them for Secret Doors) and other items could be represented by simple ASSCI characters (in a 'Rogue' type fashion) for example

* = Statue
T = Trap
Ө = Fountain
# = Grill
● = Pillar
O = Well
£ = Chest
~ = Water

(BTW I could come up with ASSCI equivalents of the all the basic dungeon symbols given time  )

Numbers could also be tagged onto the map to help the GM/author add notes to the map.

Don't worry about adding HeroQuest style symbols for the monsters as this would narrow the universal application/flexibility for the program as you'd need an icon for every monster from every system the program might be used with.
It's much more flexible (and easier for the GM) to tag a room/corridor with a number and then write in their notes “12 - this room contains 3 Orcs and a Troll, the Troll is asleep against the West wall blocking the Door and the Orcs are trying to wake it up by poking it with their swords” or “4 - The Statue is of a naked female humanoid with horns and bat-like wings, 2 Dark Elves are kneeling at the base of the statue, they appear to be preying” or “9 - this room is littered with broken furniture, 4 Kobolds are picking though the rubbish, the Chest in the north-west corner is Trapped (poisoned needles) and contains 2 potions of Cure Light Wounds and a worn leather hat” I think you get the idea

my final suggestion (of which I'm not sure how possible it would be) is a Save to File button that  saves your finished map as a JPEG with a little line of text in corner saying something like “Dungeon Map made with SamuelF's Dungeon Builder” so that you'd be credited if someone used it to create maps for a module.