[CF-Devel] Objects and the player

[David Hurst]

My reply to Mark's post about objects included the line, more thought is needed. When I said this I did actually have an idea, I just didn't feel it thought out enough to suggest. After some talking with gros, I have a better idea of how to do it.

My thought started when I player with the dxclient for awhile and got used the the body map. Mich basically created a body and mapped all the items (rings, helms and boots) to various parts of the body. I loved this idea and suggested implementing it for the linux clients. The problem of course is that the information about where an object belongs is really very dodgy to get indeed. Currently it is stored client side and matched by looking at the object's name! ARGH!. If an item changes this can easily get broken.

My suggest basically involves moving this body map to the server and sending the client the body map (exactly how this information sent is not my field of experties ;). The most obvious use for this is creating the body map, but it actually has alot more use than that. If this system is inherited, then an object will become attached to a body part, if we then change the shape of the body, we can very simply change what a player can and can't use. We remove it's body, it can't wear armour, remove it's back and it can't wear a cloak. Currently there are really only time monsters which this is useful for, the Q and the fireborn.

There was talk of the fireborn being able to wield more rings, and the Q being able to use a girdle and bracers. If we use a body mapping type system this changes will be simple, indeed as gros points out, a 7 headed hydra is possible. 

Also, if we think carefully about what each body part is, we can start doing things like two handed items, any number of combinations of item wielding and equipment that can block off other equipment (a glove that stops you wearing a ring?). All this could be displayed on the client with a drag&drop type system. Mich's client currently has a human picture, with alittle bit of cleverness I could make a Q's body or even a fireborns body. Indeed the extent to which this would benfit player designing would be extreme.

A side benefit would be that we could even check if something can be applied before we ask the server, this would certainly speed item application alittle.

Gros has shown interest in this and wants to play around abit (or at least brood over it abit). I think it would be good to get some feedback on this idea. I feel it would certainly kill a few birds with one stone and, if done correctly, could fix all of our information giving problems (like plurals of items etc). What do you think? is it feasible, I know it is in python so surely it is in c. Is anyone interested in helping implement such a thing?

dnh