Halloween Challenge 2009: The Oubliette

[DarkRider]

Hey all, i have recently been asking DR a few questions that i thought might be important for everyone to be clear on. So anyway, here is a kind of a mini-FAQ

-snip-

Thanks BC!

Should be noted however, these are just suggestions, not required, if your cell has absolutely no distinct tie in to the prison theme of the central corridor that's fine too. The back story I've developed for The Oubliette explains away the madness found within, so build your scare in your own vision. The only required tie in is the RF door entry to each level as outlined in the OP.

[DaMage]

I was up with a question the other night...

is it okay to removeallitems / hidequestitems on the player for your level of the dungeon, and then give them back at the end?

or should we aviod doing that?

EDIT: Also, do we need to give the entrance/exit doors a specific reference name?

[DarkRider]

It's probably not wise to take away all of a player's items, given the nature of the mod, players might need their stuff to survive your level depending how late in the order it ends up!

No you don't need to give your doors specific refs.

[DaMage]

Just thought I'd give a heads up to people. IF you want to use the peyrite portal in your mod(or any portal at all) , check this resource by trademark: http://www.bethsoft.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1046553

It looks pretty good

[DaMage]

just a quick question, when you say:

Meshes\TESA\Halloween01\(category)\(item name)

in the first post, what do we do we out in (catergory)?

[PacificMorrowind]

I think (at least what I've been doing anyways is) that the category are basically the same as vanilla - creatures, clutter, architecture, etc.

Pacific Morrowind

[DarkRider]

PacMo is correct categories are same as vanilla so architecture, clutter, creatures, weapons, armor, etc.

[WillieSea]

For category, I made up my own folder names. They do not match the vanilla folder.

QUESTION for Rider.

1. I imagine we will need to let you know where the entrance door is as well as the exit door. How should we do that?

2. Testing the mod. If I am done early, can I turn it in to you so you can test it? Will you give us feedback so we can 'fix' any blatent errors? Or are we on our own?

3. Is there a reason for making the 'sounds' folder totally different from the Meshes and Textures folder?

TheOubliette\(category)\(sound file)

vs

TESA\Halloween01\(category)\(sound file)

[DarkRider]

It might be easiest to give your door Ref IDs like "WillieSeaEnterDoor" "WillieSeaExitDoor" or something, if you already use particular ref IDs for some scripting purpose you can just include a .txt file with your entry that lets me know which is which.

If you are finished, you can submit your entry early. You should test your mods yourselves first, but I will test them once and report any glaring fixes before merging them into the Oubliette.

The sounds folder is different because that's how my sound folder was set up by default and since I'm merging them together I went with what my folder setup is. For release the assets for the mod will be in a BSA file so the minor discrepancy should be okay.

There are a few hiccups with this whole process since it was sort of a last minute idea (only a month to release) and our first modding competition, so future contests will have fewer questions.

[WillieSea]

Okay, guess I have to re-do my sounds folder. Not big problem.

The first competition is giving us (you) a good idea of what it takes. Great job Rider! This is certainly a fun competition. Having a blast putting my cells together and not having to worry about a 'story' to go with it.

[DaMage]

cheers all, putting my folders together now

[WillieSea]

Can I assume Icons will be here?

menus\icons\TESA\Halloween01\(category)\(icon file)

[DarkRider]

Yes Will, any icons would go in that directory, I hadn't considered folks might add icons so I'll add that to the OP thanks!

It is a great competition, I already have one planned for next year that will be similar in that everyone will only need to do an interior, but I won't spoil it yet!

[the-manta]

Alright, I'll have a go, do I need to PM DarkRider or is this all the entering I need to do?

[InsanitySorrow]

You should PM DR , Details for the PM are in the first post.

[the-manta]

ah yes, just reread that, cheers

[WhoGuru]

Welcome to the Oubliette Manta! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

[Xinimator]

Hey, DarkRider. Question: Once we're done building our cells, how should we upload this to the exchange? Not like "How do we upload to the exchange", but how can we upload our "super secret" cells, which we worked very hard to keep secret, when the exchange is open to the public? Are you going to temporarily shutdown the exchange until the competition is over or do you have some ingenious way of making sure nobody takes peaks at other players' cells?

Or are we allowed to look at other people's cells once their uploaded?

[InsanitySorrow]

Edit: DR posted the correct method below.

[Xinimator]

Okay, just wanted to make sure nobody will steal my ideas.

[InsanitySorrow]

Edit: DR posted the correct method below.

[DarkRider]

You should attach your files in a PM here and send to me using the attachment feature. You could also upload them to your favorite fileshare site if you use one and PM me the link.

No part of the Oubliette will be made public even to other contestants until the final mod is put together and released on the 31st your secrets are safe!

[Xinimator]

Uh..you're going to think of me as a newb but...where's the attachment feature?

[DarkRider]

Go into your PM box and choose "Compose New" there should be a slot under the message form and a button that says "Browse" you search for your file there then click "Attach File". Wait until it's attached and then send the PM as usual. Here's an image, let me know if your PM box doesn't have that feature.

[Xinimator]

Nope, don't have that feature for some reason.