5 replies to this topic

[aigleborgne]

For all of you that have played with complex scripts editing, you know that it's quickly become a pain when you want to change something or just to find a block in a 2500+ lines' file.

I've written many scripts, and while I was on them, I was good. But one year after, it was a pain to read them and be sure they were correct and well-written.

 

I have written a small script generator, something like SCS, and while it's good, I want more. So, I have started a bigger project: an advanced script editor.

It is usable by modders and by players.

 

When a mod uses script templates, it must generate scripts from a configuration file. This file will contain many things like tracking options, prebuff, spell checks, tobEx enabled ....

Modders will have a web-interface to configure their templates and shortcuts.

 

How it will works:

- it can be used a normal script editor, it will include completion and helper as any good editor.

- it will have new keywords that are shortcuts to triggers or actions. A keyword can be a shortcut for one or several actions/triggers.

- it will have an action configuration. It will be possible to configure how an action (with params) can be used. Then, when you want to use this action, all blocks will get generated. This is one of the most powerful feature.

- it will have a templating system: a template is a portion of code to be included somewhere, it can have some parameters too.

- it will used the best available triggers to perform an action, based on config (EE, tobEx, spell checks...) 

 

My goal is to reduce a 5000 lines script to about 100 lines.

I could detail a lot more if some are interested...

 

ETA: 6 months

It is on GitHub, using java EE 7, hsql database, liquibase, spring, hibernate, and angular client-side.

 

My first release will not include any web interface, it will only be a command-line program. All configuration can be done with CSV editing or query in database.

 

[DavidWallace]

You can do pretty much all of this in SSL, the scripting metalanguage used in SCS and aTweaks.

That's not a criticism - I'm sure SSL can be improved on. I mention it because
(a) if you're not aware of SSL, it might be that you can use that instead, and save lots of time;
(b) if you are aware of SSL, it would be interesting to know more about how this tool will improve on it.

[aigleborgne]

You can do pretty much all of this in SSL, the scripting metalanguage used in SCS and aTweaks.

That's not a criticism - I'm sure SSL can be improved on. I mention it because
(a) if you're not aware of SSL, it might be that you can use that instead, and save lots of time;
(b) if you are aware of SSL, it would be interesting to know more about how this tool will improve on it.

 

I have looked at it brievly, not that much and it didn't seem to be that powerful. So, I'll get a look again this week !

[aigleborgne]

Below an example of my old generator for a level 20 mage. Config was set in an excel workbook, with all spells, triggers, and spell detection checkstat.

While it was quite ok, config were a mess to maintain and rather limitated, compared to a true database. Even the java code was quite a mess because of no database...

 

My new generator would be made from scratch, but based on my previous work. I want more declarative syntax, simplier if possible, and of course more powerful.

I have looked at some of your scripts in SCS and it is still strongely based on IE scripting engine. My system can be a total wrapper where you don't have to write a single line of IE scripting engine.

It means that my code could be shorter and thus, easier to read on huge script.

 

But well, I might be wrong about your system !

 

// Dradeel (Enchanter)
[CLASS=WIZARD;CASTER_LEVEL=20;MAX_SPELL_LEVEL=10]
[include=autocast_spell_arcane]


[action=CHAINCONTINGENCY(Improved Mantle,Ghostform,Protection from Energy,response<100>);require=seeEnemy]
[action=CONTINGENCY(Shadow Door,response<100>);requireSelf=hp%lt(51)]


[include=init_npc]
[include=tracking]
[include=disable_spellcasting]


[spell=Shadow Door;requireSelf=!improvedInvisible]
[spell=Shadow Door;requireSelf=hit]


[spell=Absolute Immunity]
[spell=Protection from Magical Weapons]
[spell=Stoneskin]


[spell=Spell Shield]
[spell=True Seeing]
[spell=Remove Magic]
[spell=Greater Malison]


[action=TRIGGER(Remove Magic,Hold Monster,Disintegrate,response<80>),
        TRIGGER(Remove Magic,Chaos,Disintegrate,response<100>)
 ;target=player;require=!disable,random(75)]


[spell=Selune's Blessing]
[spell=Selune's Curse;requireSelf=random(50)]


[spell=Comet]
[spell=Power Word Kill]
[spell=Symbol of Stunning]
[spell=Power Word Stun]
[spell=Power Word Blind]
[spell=Symbol of Weakness]
[spell=Prismatic Spray]


[action=SEQUENCER(Stoneskin,Protection from Missiles,Haste,response<100>);require=random(50)]
[action=SEQUENCER(Remove Magic,Greater Malison,Emotion Despair,response<100>);target=player;require=!disable,random(75)]


[spell=Domination]
[spell=Dire Charm]
[spell=Charm Person]
[spell=Disintegrate]
[spell=Power Word Silence]
[spell=Hold Monster]
[spell=Otiluke's Resilient Sphere]
[spell=Hold Person]
[spell=Confusion]
[spell=Emotion Despair]
[spell=Slow]


[spell=Selune's Blade]


[action=MINORSEQUENCER(Sleep,Power Word Sleep,response<80>),
        MINORSEQUENCER(Sleep,Ray of Enfeeblement,response<100>)
 ;target=player,fighter;require=!disable,random(75)]


[spell=Sleep]
[spell=Power Word Sleep]
[spell=Color Spray]
[spell=Knock]
[spell=Ray of Enfeeblement]
[spell=Melf's Acid Arrow]
[spell=Chromatic Orb]


[offensive_spells=Selune's Blade,Selune's Blessing,Selune's Curse]


[include=combat_caster]
[include=combat_smart]

 

template disable_spellcasting:

// Enable/Disable Spellcasting
[action=GLOBAL(ja#disable_spellcasting,0);requireSelf=global(ja#disable_spellcasting,1),canCast]
[action=GLOBAL(ja#disable_spellcasting,1);requireSelf=global(ja#disable_spellcasting,0),!canCast]

combat_caster:

 

// is there is any nearest enemy able to hurt me ?
[target=nearest(num:10,random:false);require=!disable,!stat(1,POLYMORPH_OTHER),see]


[name=Avoid melee if able to cast spells and no magical melee weapon
  ;action=RUN(60);requireSelf=global(ja#disable_spellcasting,0),global(ja#melee,0),movementgt(6)
                            ,!item(chillt),!item(ghoult),!item(phanblad),!item(blakblad),!item(sblade)
                            ,!item(shille),!item(shille2),!item(shille3),!item(shille3),!item(serious),!item(critical),!item(slaylive),!item(harm)
                            ,!item(fblade1),!item(fblade2),!item(fblade3),!item(fblade4),!item(fblade5),!item(fblade6),!item(fblade7),!item(fblade8),!item(fblade9),!item(fblade)
                            ,!item(shammr),!item(shammr2),!item(shammr3),!item(shammr4),!item(shammr5)
  ;require=!disable,!stat(1,POLYMORPH_OTHER),range(5),see]


[name=Avoid combat if able to cast spells and no magical weapon or invisible
  ;action=WALK;requireSelf=global(ja#disable_spellcasting,0),global(ja#melee,0),movementgt(6),!magicalWeaponItem;require=!disable,!stat(1,POLYMORPH_OTHER),see]


[action=WALK;requireSelf=global(ja#disable_spellcasting,0),global(ja#melee,0),!movementgt(6),!magicalWeaponItem;require=!disable,!stat(1,POLYMORPH_OTHER),see]

 

Code after generation is about 5000 lines, too long to post it here.

 

[Miloch]

This is very interesting. I too would like to know how it differs from SSL (also not a criticism - I am not really familiar with it either).