Map Suggestion

[Atomic]

I've been thinking of this for a while, there are many tools out there to edit the map by importing bmps (UO Landscaper & Dragon) or by editing the file tile by tile (Worldforge).. But sometimes thats not enough. What we really need is a way to edit the map real time from the client and see it instantaneously while playing the game. Obviously this is not possible on the original client, because it lacks a "Maptile" packet. So I have an idea that is not very hard to implement and that would revolutionize map making forever.

Basically it means making krrios' client able to receive a "maptile" packet, that would substitute a tile of the map file by the one in the packet. The packet would consist of the following:
(packet id) (x) (y) (tileid) (height)
Whenever the client got "on-screen" with a position that was sent by one of these packets, it would change that coordinate's tile by the one on the packet. This is a fairly simple process AFAIK, but we still need a way to send the packets, and here comes the server side implementation (on RunUO):
First a class deriving Item would be created and it would look like a little gem or the spawner graphic. It would be placed on the tile map that needs to be modifyed and would contain the information of the modification to that tile: tileid and height. When height gets changed it auto sets the z of that item accordingly. The item would be invisible, but whenever someone gets in "update range" of it, it would send the packet (maybe a GM-only-can-see setting here?) so the client would show up the new map tile instead of the old one. Maybe we should show this tile differently to GMs so that they know they edited it.. perhaps recolored or with a wireframe around it? This could be an optional boolean on the packet (RecolorForStaff).
At least, these items would be serialized just like the rest of the items on the shard, but maybe to a different file (MapTiles.bin?). There would also need to be a command [freezemaptiles that would work just like freeze does on statics, but on the map so you can send the new files for your players.

This opens a new range of cool stuff:
-Using the [tile command and [global to modify the map in big regions at once, like lowering the z level of all Britannia to Ilshenar-like level so we could have some 10-floor bouldings :P
-Easy tile-by-tile editing, no more need for worldforge
-New effects, like explosions that create craters, or fast modifications for quests (these would obviously need all player to be using krrios' client)
-A lot more that i just can't think of right now

Hope I didn't forget anything, it shouldn't be a hard implementation, so I thought I should post it here (oops, one last thing: real time static editing would also be cool, it could be made with more-or-less the same implementation)


EDIT:
Just thought of a good way to implement real time statics edition :P
Make a DisableStatic packet:
(packetid) (x) (y) (z) (itemid) (hue)
Then make a [disablestatic command server side, target a static and an item is created in the place it was (just a small ball), this item will only be visible to GMs and can be double clicked to bring the static back. When you do [freeze all statics that are disable this way will be permanently removed (or maybe add a RemoveFromFie boolean in the placeholder item?)
The disablestatic packet would be sent to everyone that got in range of it, so the client would ignore the static that corresponds and not show it. Would be nice to make a city destruction quest or something where people can rebuild it later without having to [freeze and [unfreeze
I dont think there is need for a packet to send statics to client as yu can either mark items unmovable or freeze them..

[Dipset]

Creative idea, but I don't think enough people use PlayUO for this to be implented. Also just changing how the map looked wouldn't be enough, you'd need to change how the client interacted with the new look also.

[Atomic]

Perhaps not many people use it for the quest suggestion, but it would definately be good for map editing, even if it was done and then frozen to the map file.

And by changing the way it looks you would change the ways its interpreted also

[bzk90]

why would you use such a heavy program to edit the map? the client would take huge amounts of resources compared to dragon or worldforge

[Dipset]

Originally Posted by bzk90

why would you use such a heavy program to edit the map? the client would take huge amounts of resources compared to dragon or worldforge

Heavy program? PlayUO uses not even 10% of my CPU, and no there inst a memory leak, its called having everything you ever see on your screen minus statics cached in different arrays which arent cleaned untill you close the client.

[Atomic]

Not heavy at all, it would take like 10 krrios' clients to create the lag one of the old worldforge does... (the new seems a bit faster, but still slower than the client)

[Barn Hermit]

I would personally love this, it would make my map editing MUCH easier.

[Atomic]

Sorry to bump this, but I'd really like input from krrios or one of the dev's, it's been more than one week already and no one seems to care should I also post in Core Mods so that the other dev's can see it?

[Dipset]

They'll see it, don't worrie.

[irro]

Use the god client. You can find it at tanjiers.