I want to help in quests/scripting

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:51 pm

This is my quest. I already some years using TES CS and I think that I already can create some not bad scripts. But I have no ideas what to create. I hope that I find here ideas that will be interesting to create and my knowledge of scripting will be useful.
In quest there is some simple ( as for me ) scripts and some dialogs (English is foreign lanquage for me, sorry for maybe bad grammar)
Quest conception is not great but I hope that I find ideas here.

bamman62 · Post by **bamman62** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 5:15 pm

Welcome to TR! It seems you already have a an esp up, so I am assuming you have full knowledge on how the showcase works. Just in case, the main focus of a showcase is to help you improve (If necessary, then you will be promoted to the rank of TR modder once your work is deemed good enough.

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:10 pm

Yes. I looked throught some showcast of other users before post my own, so I know how showcase works.
And already find some bugs in quest. It seems that I delete some needful dialogue while edit plug in enchanted editor, so scripts did not work. I've update esp in first post, so I hope that there is will be no bugs like this anymore.

theviking · Post by **theviking** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:21 pm

Hi Ivan, I've decided to give this quest a look over, since it is a week since you posted it.
The quest is clean, which is very good. I noticed that you used different greetings, we generally only use greeting 5. This is because the other greetings have another function, greeting0 is generally being used for criminals and/or deseased people and/or vampires. (I don't know presizely)
In the script hd_door (good names, btw) you use short unblock but that isn't used in the rest of the script so it can probably be removed.
The name of the door is probably in russian or oekraanian, and so it becomes all sorts of weird letters in english.
The dialogue is a bit poor, but I have some ways to improve it majorly. First select your mod in the construction set as active then select the option File->Export Data->Dialogue->new dialogue. You can then make a text file with all your dialogue. Open it, select all of it and then copy it to a program like Word. Select the language U.S.English to be your base language and then run a spellcheck. After that select all of it again and copy it to the original text file with the old dialogue still selected! Save it, then you can use the function import data in the constuction set to get it your mod and all dialogue should be overwritten by the new spellchecked one!
Also, try to speak out every line that you write down. When it doesn't sound okay, try to make it better. Mostly it already will sound better if you use more words like "the". I hope this helped and lots of succes to improve it!

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:17 pm

I think that I had fixed all of this. I still use greeting 1 because I need Aryon to speak about quest but not about my diseases, crimes, etc. And thanks for idea with Word – I already know about exporting and importing but I never had an idea to use Word with dialogs. I hope that now quest has better dialogue.

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:46 am

As I see my showcase is not popular one... Maybe the reason is low number quests writers in TR team... If you think that my dialogue or quest idea is not on TR level, let me to compile quests that already has storyline or let someone else rework my dialogues.

Some time ago I decide to find a way to use maps created by createmaps function. I know programming a bit, so at first I created "Morrowind In-game map" It convert bmp maps, so you will see a map as you have it in-game and plugin weight is about 100 Kb but not 80 Mb if I'll add created textures.

After this I started writing program that will use those bmp to show Morrowind map, including all plugins that was enabled when createmaps has been used. Later I find the way to add all doormarkers extracting them from Enchanted Editor dump file. At the moment I almost finished it. If someone wants to see program or plugin –say and I’ll post it here, but you need maps for using both of them.

Theron Udraer · Post by **Theron Udraer** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:46 am

It's not that it's not popular; the reviewers are very busy these days, all with the release of Map 2 and things. I downloaded your file and looked through it. I haven't finished yet, but I'll use this post for my Error Report.

immortal_pigs · Post by **immortal_pigs** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:27 pm

Hey Ivan, would you mind giving me a short overview of your quest [basically how it is started and what I'm supposed to do]? Because I'm trying to figure it out with the CS, but I'm not very good at it.

Other than that, what theviking meant with the Greetings1, is that it isn't supposed to be used for quests. Quest Greetings should generally be in Greetings5, this way, if the player were to be sick, or a vampire, or a criminal, they wouldn't be able to get the Greetings. We do this for 'realism' I guess. It wouldn't make sense for someone to offer a quest to a vampire, a diseased person, or a criminal.

An exception is if the questgiver were to be in a life-threatening situation, then a Greetings1 might be appropriate, since they shouldn't care if it's a vampire or criminal saving their life. But that's not the setting of your quest, so I believe Greetings5 is needed, even though the questgiver is a Telvanni Master.

Also, nothing may be placed above the Greetings1 greeting "I have broken my vow of silence." This is part of a quest where the player vows to not speak to anyone. If any greetings were to placed above this one, then players would be able to 'break' their vow, without the game acknowledging it.

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:48 pm

Quest short overview:
Receiving quest from Muriel Sette in Sadrith Mora if you member of House Telvanni.
Your task is to sneak into Tel Vos castle, into armory tower, find there locked door and look what is there.
When you reached this hidden door you should use item\spell to make switch visible (night eye effect needed)
After this locked door opens.
When guards defeated, open the chest and take your reward
At this point script hd_main starts and dremora appears behind you. Then you teleported to Aryon and he speaks with you (use forcegreeting so I prefer greeting1 to greeting5)
Player returns to Sadrith Mora.

As about silence... I think I fix that after someone finish his review. Then I fix this error and all other that can be found.

Theron Udraer · Post by **Theron Udraer** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:57 am

Good news, Ivan. Your review is in! I have an error report, and I am official authorized to give you one, since I'm an official Quest Playertester! (ooh how I love saying that)

The error report is pretty hefty, with 30 or so problems, but all of them 'cept 1 are typos, so don't you fret.

1. You either used TR dremoras, or named yours TR. Showcases are not supposed to use TR data.

2. Under the topic Tel Vos secrets (up to 10) - You are Telvanni Mage, should be "You are a Telvanni Mage."

3. Do you interesting in job like this - Very unclear grammar and sentence structure. Maybe "Are you interested in a job like this?"

4. I have a work for you - Should be "I have work for you"

5. After %PCName, there is no period.

6. Should be "Some of us were there, but..."

7. I think that you help would be useful - change you to your.

8. In the choices after this - I have no time for such job
- should be "I have no time for such a job."

9. If yes - Your task is to sneak into Tel Vos castle, into armory tower... - should be "Your task is to sneak into the Tel Vos castle, into the Barracks and Armory tower..."

10. Continued from last comma - , find there locked door and look what is there. Very unclear like last time. Should be, though this is kinda telling you what to write, ", find the locked door there and look around."

11. Now onto the Journal Entry after Tel Vos secrets - Muriel Sette has told to me, that... - no comma after me and no to.

12. There are some secret doors - There is only 1 door.

13. Like 12 - one of them - only 1

14. If you talk to her again - You already receive your task. What else you want? - should be "You already received your task. What else do you want?

15. When you press the switch (the messages) - "strange" is lowercase.

16. nust should be must.

17. When you use the switch again, it gives the journal has been updated entry again. Doesn't add another one, though. Should be something like a "display message if HD_HiddenDoor 10 < 1"

18. Journal entry 10 - with help of night eye spell - Since the player could use the ring, should be "with the help of Night-Eye."

19. I manage - should be "I managed"

20. Journal entry 15 - I have opened chest - should be "I have opened the chest"

21. Journal entry 21 - stunned by warhammer. - should be "stunned by a warhammer:

22. When I have come to the senses, I was at Master Aryon chambers - should be "When I came to my senses, I was in Master Aryon's chambers."

23. Journal entry 22 - I have been attacked ... . When I have defeated it, he cast some spell. Not clearly as, I have come to the senses in Master Aryon chambers. - should be "I was attacked ... . When I defeated it, it cast some spell. Not as clear, I have come to my senses in Master Aryon's chambers."

24. Journal entry 30 - enchanted chest on giving only one weapon to anyone who open it. The stronger the person, the more powerful will be the item. - should be "enchanted a chest to give anyone who opens it one weapon. The stronger the person, the more powerful the weapon will be."

25. Journal entry 50 - with experiment of the master. - should be "with the experiment by the master."

26. Then I had received my reward - should be "Then I received my reward."

27. When teleported to Master Aryon (greeting 1) - gives for everybody - no for.

28. abilities unfortunately - add an "are" in between.

29. Dwemeric should be Dwemer.

30. you should use - no should.

31. Again - gives for everybody - no for.

32. Steelsword - Should be Steel Sword.

33. is generous thing - add an "is" before thing.

34. AGAIN - gives for everybody who open it - no for and opens.

OK there are a few more errors, just typos. You seem to spell well on the forums. I know you come from Ukraine, so did you write this in your language then translate it? The translators usually don't work that well. I will post the rest tomorrow; work on these for now. And remember - these are only typos. They may be a translator's work, or yours, but remember-they are minor. VERY minor. They have nothing to do with the scripting or idea or modding. Very good job. I still think it needs a little more revision; typos, however small, are necessary, and need to be fixed. They make a story seems poorly done and without care, which I know you did the opposite of both. Just fix these typos and the ones on this post tomorrow, and you're set by my standards! Good luck with life!

-Theron Udraer

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 1:29 pm

Thanks for review. I've fixed most of those 34 errors except one:
12, 13 ...that in Tel Vos there are some secret doors - Tel Vos have more then 1 secret door. There are five doors all over the castle.

I'll post quest after you finish its review. And I notice that my interior does not fit in exterior. Also if I kill Aryon forcegreeting still works. What can you say about errors of this kind?
Also can you tell me a way to move topics up (those vow of silence) except deleting replicas above it and placing new below?
I know about quality of the translators so I write this already on English. I only use electronic dictionary from time to time to find synonyms.

Edit:I have found the way to swap topics. If I change previous/next ID with help of enchanted editor on my first and last topics, they will be placed where it should to be - below vow of silence topic

immortal_pigs · Post by **immortal_pigs** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:09 pm

There is no way to move topics up, sadly. You'll have to either delete vow of silence and recreate it above your greetings, or delete your greetings and recreate them below it.

Edit: Whoops, I guess you shouldn't touch the Oath of Silence. Listen to what BC said.

Bloodthirsty Crustacean · Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:51 pm

You can move dialogue entries by pressing the left and right arrow keys. It's undocumented, and a bit of a chore, but it works.

You should certainly not recreate or modify at all a Bethesda entry like the Oath of Silence entry. Doing so could lead to conflicts, or just plain nasty errors like the Thieves Guild joining bug in the current Map 1 release.

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:00 pm

It seems that Theron Udraer has not finished review of mine showcase. Maybe he is busy, maybe something else. I'll post my quest where all mentioned above errors are fixed. I hope that someone will find a time to finish review.

Theron Udraer · Post by **Theron Udraer** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:30 am

Ok, ivan. Sorry, I've been busy. But I'm back to finish the review! You see, I accidentally dragged my Data Files folder into my CSUninstall folder, so a day later, I couldn't find half of my esps! Morrowind, Tribunal, and bloodmoon were missing, too! I finally found them, but it's gonna take a while to move them.

Ok, nevermind. I won't be able to finish this review until I fix this problem. Many of my files are half-files now, since that happened. I'm not sure if I can even play Morrowind...

Theron Udraer · Post by **Theron Udraer** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:15 pm

Review time! I'll review your new file.

35. Snowy crown - should be Snowy Crown

36. open it - should be opens it (this goes for most of the greetings)

37. is generous thing - should be is a generous thing (Steel Sword of Aegis)

38. from cheap ones - should be "not one of the cheap ones."

39. abilities - add a comma after

40. sword of white woe - should be "Sword of White Woe"

41. %Pcname - If I'm correct, should be %PCname.

42. Sword of white woe is unusual and powerful present - should be "The Sword of White Woe is an unusual and powerful present."

43. Archmagister has sneaked - should be "The Archmagister has been sneaking"

44. what Archmagister - should be "what has the Archmagister"

45. from chest - should be "from the chest"

46. The chest give me sword of white woe - should be "The chest gave me The Sword of White Woe." (goes for all)

47. There was the steelsword of Aegis - should be "There was the Steel Sword of Aegis." (goes for all)

48. In the chest I found dwemer soultrap - should be "In the chest, I found the Dwemer Soultrap." (goes for all)

49. There was snowy crown inside the chest- should be "There was the Snowy Crown inside the chest."

50. Telvanni Wizard has made way in tower of other wizard. - should be "A Telvanni Wizard has found the way in my, another wizard, tower."

51. what you find in chest there? - should be "what did you find in the chest there?"

52. As I understood you - should be "As I understand, you"

53. And what you received there? - should be "And what did you receive there?"

54. Telvanni too. - add a comma in between.

55. reachable - should be reached

Greeting 5

56. That why you die... - could just be a dialect, but "That's why you die..."

57. Can you solve Tel Vos secrets - this one is hard, since it is a topic, but it should be "Tel Vos' secrets"

58. same problem as above

59. Or you - should be "Or do you"

That should be all. Good luck, and happy modding!

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:38 pm

Wow. I expected some grammar errors, but almost 60...
Sarri far bed Inglish

Thanks for review. And sorry for lowercase. I use localized version and use ItemID to translate names back on English. All errors fixed and new version ready.
And BTW
41. %Pcname as all functions is not case-sensetive. I changed for more usual %PCname but just to better readability.
And I hope that this will be last version

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:40 pm

Could someone review it? I know that you are quite busy, but I think that review will not be take a lot of time, because most (and maybe even all) errors are fixed. Please, review it if you can...

Theron Udraer · Post by **Theron Udraer** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:02 pm

sure I'll review it when I get home from school. Remember, bump only if it has been 1 week+. most of us are quite busy, me being one. But I'll find some time to review it.

Theron Udraer · Post by **Theron Udraer** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:33 pm

Ok, so I reviewed your quest. The cell seems good, a few errors in the dialogue.

1. Tel Vos' secrets - Some of us were there. But they did not manage to open it - Open what? Make this clear, so that the player knows what is in stock for him.

2. a Master Aryon experiment? - Master Aryon's experiment?

3. Sword of White Woe - present - add a period.

4. Journal Entry - Night-Eye - add a period.

5. chambers - add period.

6. will be - would be

That should be all. Although I like it, I don't think I can give you my recommendation, since I am not promoted for this field. Also, add some more stuff in the room. Dremoras don't just stand there. Good luck, and I await you promotion!

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:56 pm

Thanks for review. I think that I fixed this. Could someone who have a right for recomendations\promotion check it?

Lady Nerevar · Post by **Lady Nerevar** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:13 pm

im gona post this message here in hope that Viking will see it and review it. you could try PMing some of the testers (like Osiris for example), they could probably give you a speedy review.

theviking · Post by **theviking** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:33 pm

The quest was good in the first place and now you made a dedicated effort and the language is much better. It really is a lot better than in the first file I saw. But it still needs a lot of fixing; an example "when I come to the hidden door" should become "when I arrive at the hidden door". These sort of problems are hard to deal with if you just start with writing quests in English. I think we can give you error reports and then you can fix the language problems on and on, a true TR quest will need even more fixing because it has to be flawless.
Therefore, I suggest the following plan. I'll promote you, because you clearly know how to quest, but then you should export the dialogue of the quests you make and then someone with a good English knowledge will fix it hopefully. Then you should import that fixed dialogue and only then can your quest be sent to reviewing. I think you'll learn a lot in this process and you can still help us wih questing. This may sound a bit harsh, I'm sorry, but language errors can be very tough to fix when they are already merged and there are a lot of them. If you agree with this plan you can be promoted, I hope you do. It's your choice, though.

Ivan · Post by **Ivan** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:08 am

Yes of course. I agree with this. I know that my English is bad, but I will try to improve it. Moreover - I already have this idea with dialogue before, so I could not be against it.

By the way - one of mine friends know English well (he even live one year in USA). If he will not be busy, I will ask him to check mine dialogue

Lady Nerevar · Post by **Lady Nerevar** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:31 pm

aight then, glad thats settled. Promoted for Questing, welcome to the team!

Theron Udraer · Post by **Theron Udraer** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:56 pm

yay!!!! congrats!!!! I feel so proud. lol. Lady N, you forgot to add him to TR Modder usergroup, btw. Happy questing, Iv.

Thrignar Fraxix · Post by **Thrignar Fraxix** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:13 am

actually, she forgot to edit his title.

fixed that.

theviking · Post by **theviking** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:36 pm

Congratulations, you really deserve it.