Illustrations discussion thread.

[Nathvaan]

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!

[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!!!!!!!

[Akaramu]

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?

[Nathvaan]

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!)

[solera]

"Wanted" posters! 

[Pale Horse]

[Nathvaan]

"Wanted" posters! 

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!

[BadSkeelz]

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?

[Feco]

This is absolutely wonderful.

[Marauder Moe]

Why the prohibition on ASCII art?

[RogueGunslinger]

Because it looks like shit, probably.

[Rathustra]

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.

[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. 

[Nathvaan]

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.

[Nathvaan]

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.

[Nathvaan]

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. 

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

[Nathvaan]

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.

[solera]

"Wanted" posters! 

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.

[Feco]

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.

[solera]

[wizturbo]

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.

[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!

[LauraMars]

Daaaamn. This is so cool.

[wizturbo]

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

[Is Friday]

Been wishing for this for years. Thank you so much.