Illustrations discussion thread.

Started by Nathvaan, February 25, 2017, 08:01:21 AM

This is a good place to discuss the new change to add Illustrations.

I'll be glad to add any clarifications that I can with regards to this change.  Also, be glad for suggestions for additions to the help files where needed.

Please discuss!

February 25, 2017, 08:23:00 AM #1 Last Edit: February 25, 2017, 08:51:29 AM by Zenith
I am SO EXCITED for the draw command!!!! This is SUCH an exciting change!!!! I absolutely love that there is now support for minimal artistic endeavor such as sketching out mastercrafts for someone, the street artist, the portraitist, etc.  Thabk you for adding this!!!!!!!

OMG I've wanted this for so long YEEEEEEEEEEES

I had a character (like my third?) back in... 2004 or so who was a skilled illustrator / painter, and it was so difficult to play her without any skill to back up her talent.

Thanks, Nathvaan!

Question: can we now mastercraft paintings if we get the skill to master?


Quote from: Akaramu on February 25, 2017, 08:24:27 AM
Question: can we now mastercraft paintings if we get the skill to master?

It's been something I have been working for a long time.  It's good to see it finally out in the 'wild'!

From the release notes:
-Drawing skill added (crafting skill) but maxes at advanced unless certain in character circumstances are met. (Yeah, find out IC)

So in a word. Nope.  But there is/will be ways to get it to master but your character will need to pursue that IC.  Note that not being a master doesn't in anyway inhibit what your character can draw but instead is a  general barometer on the quality of what your character drew.

We are giving fairly wide latitude for players to decide how good or not their character is at drawing.  Though I for one can't wait to see drawing of stick figures! (maybe because that is roughly all the artistic ability I have in real life!)


Quote from: Dalmeth
I've come to the conclusion that relaxing is not the lack of doing anything, but doing something that comes easily to you.

Quote from: solera on February 25, 2017, 08:57:41 AM
"Wanted" posters!  ;D

Funny, but isn't a wanted poster without the words wanted on it just a picture of some person!?  No written words on these drawings!

Historically when drawing to communicate to an illiterate populace certain symbols would be used to convey meaning. A shoe above a cobbler, for example. I could see zalanthas having it's own short hand for certain topics. Would probably be best for staff to define the initial ones, I.e a cross and pile of coins equals bounty in allanak.

Very interesting change all the same. Can we overwrite existing books with images, or do we need to use fresh pages?

This is absolutely wonderful.
QuoteSunshine all the time makes a desert.
Vote at TMS
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Because it looks like shit, probably.

Quote from: Marauder Moe on February 25, 2017, 11:02:02 AM
Why the prohibition on ASCII art?


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The quality of ASCII drawings varies wildly, but for the most part it is a crude stand-in for actual art. I believe there are some things that ASCII does better than well-written descriptive text - such as maps. But even there, unless particularly well-wrought to fit the in-game world, ASCII maps rely on OOC constructs - such as everything in the game world fitting on a 2D plane with only 4 possible directions. For OOC tools such as maps of cities to help newbies, this OOC crutch is fine - but if your PC is laying the wastes of Allanak onto such a grid, they're missing the IC reality of a vast desert wasteland. The abstraction between coded and virtual in-game reality is well covered by using instead only descriptive text.

February 25, 2017, 12:27:28 PM #12 Last Edit: February 25, 2017, 01:15:49 PM by Akaramu
I predict that rinthers are now going to make a killing with booklets of lewd drawings.

Bonus points if the lewd drawings feature prominent Allanaki figures.  ;D

Quote from: BadSkeelz on February 25, 2017, 10:17:14 AM
Historically when drawing to communicate to an illiterate populace certain symbols would be used to convey meaning. A shoe above a cobbler, for example. I could see zalanthas having it's own short hand for certain topics. Would probably be best for staff to define the initial ones, I.e a cross and pile of coins equals bounty in allanak.

Very interesting change all the same. Can we overwrite existing books with images, or do we need to use fresh pages?

What you speak of in this case is probably more akin to written cavilish.  That would be a slippery slope.  Please only use this to describe an illustration/drawing.  As it stands, this is designed for artistic endeavors while read/write is designed for communication.

When you use it you will find that you need to write on a fresh page when drawing and cannot draw over the top of already written (or drawn) pages.

February 25, 2017, 01:13:53 PM #14 Last Edit: February 25, 2017, 01:15:51 PM by Nathvaan
Quote from: Marauder Moe on February 25, 2017, 11:02:02 AM
Why the prohibition on ASCII art?

Because that is very much counter to how the game has worked since it's inception.  Over the years the staff has been very careful to try and keep high quality descriptions making this more book like than not. Sometimes some bad ones slip through but not that often!  Introduction of ASCII art is thematically not where we want to go.  Basically we are giving players the freedom to draw what they want but requiring that they be written (hopefully well written though no need to be well drawn) descriptions of the drawing their character produced.

Hope that clarifies things a little bit.

Update: Didn't see Rathustra's reply before posting it.  That too.  That's what Rath said.

Quote from: Akaramu on February 25, 2017, 12:27:28 PM
I predict that rinthers are now going to make a killing with booklets of lewd drawings.

Bonus points if the lewd drawings feature prominent Allanaki figures.  ;D

Love it.  Lewd, crude and poorly drawn rinthi sketches of Lord or Lady Templar So-and-so doing things with elves!

I also forgot to mention if anyone finds a book/scroll etc object that says it cannot be used for illustrations but it should be please feel free to wish up to let us know and we'll get it fixed.  I modified around 2500 items when this was deployed but it's always possible for some things to be missed.  Thanks.

Quote from: Nathvaan on February 25, 2017, 09:40:40 AM
Quote from: solera on February 25, 2017, 08:57:41 AM
"Wanted" posters!  ;D

Funny, but isn't a wanted poster without the words wanted on it just a picture of some person!?  No written words on these drawings!

A soldier once asked my PC to draw one, which she did. Then I had to explain it was virtual and needed to be arranged.  :-\ .  This was my first thought when I read this.
I'm guessing you put your city soldier symbol on it, or something.

I reckon we don't have to think too hard about it.  Do what fits the rules, and if you aren't sure, ask staff first!

I can't wait to use this.
QuoteSunshine all the time makes a desert.
Vote at TMS
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Wow this is awesome!  There are so many opportunities that come from this!  The RW support is a nice add too,for the rare cases it needs to be used.

February 25, 2017, 04:01:54 PM #21 Last Edit: February 25, 2017, 04:12:08 PM by Jihelu
So you can now put pictures in books AND words?
WEW


I had a character that wanted to be an artist, before.



I asked about it, the ability to mc paintings and such, and was told it would have to be an art object like wood working.
Now, if I do *insert something weird or something here* I can get master and draw all the porn I want!

Daaaamn. This is so cool.
Child, child, if you come to this doomed house, what is to save you?

A voice whispers, "Read the tales upon the walls."

Nathvaan is it possible to use the "title" for a drawing to give it an sdesc? 

That would enable people to make drawings or paintings in a room as an object people can preview without having to mastercraft

Been wishing for this for years. Thank you so much.
Quote from: Fathi on March 08, 2018, 06:40:45 PMAnd then I sat there going "really? that was it? that's so stupid."

I still think the best closure you get in Armageddon is just moving on to the next character.

Time for me to brush off an old concept I've wanted to do :)
Quote from: MorgenesYa..what Bushranger said...that's the ticket.



Great addition, minus the prohibition of ASCII for maps, although I can kind of understand the reasoning.

Guess I'll have to settle for some light, elven pornography. ;)

really excited to try this!    Can a page contain both text and an illustration?
"Historical analogy is the last refuge of people who can't grasp the current situation."
-Kim Stanley Robinson

Quote from: 650Booger on February 26, 2017, 08:06:01 PM
really excited to try this!    Can a page contain both text and an illustration?
The same book can contain text AND pictures but only on different pages iirc

Quote from: Jihelu on February 26, 2017, 08:18:24 PM
Quote from: 650Booger on February 26, 2017, 08:06:01 PM
really excited to try this!    Can a page contain both text and an illustration?
The same book can contain text AND pictures but only on different pages iirc

That is correct.  Any individual page can be either an illustration OR written word but not both.  This is really do to a technical limitation on how one would differentiate written word from written descriptions.  It was decided that the most succinct way was to allow for only one or the other per page. Most scrolls are two pages so there could be an illustration on one side and written word on the other side.

I'll start playing again if this accompanies not being able to see sdescs over the Way anymore.

Quote from: MeTekillot on February 26, 2017, 09:58:02 PM
I'll start playing again if this accompanies not being able to see sdescs over the Way anymore.

Please keep on topic.  If you have suggestions that don't involve quid pro quo requirements, please feel free to post such suggestions in it's own thread.