Hi Getting straight to the point. (Sorry, there was a similar thread http://community.playstarbound.com/index.php?threads/programation.10164/ Yet the search func did'nt show me that ;/ ) I think about drones/probes that fly around player and help him. Turrets and robots that defend and repair minor damages of the base. But the biggest fun for me is idea of giving our "children" the ability to be simply programmed. Example (flying ball-shaped drone with 1 slot for equiping: field generators[healing, slowing, etc.], grenades [max 5-15], guns[blasters, handguns, lasers - the basic ones, to avoid overpowering] - with a limit of 1-2 active drones, while process of activation might take IDK 30-50% of maximal possible energy level(?) and also taking constant amount of energy when active) Lets say we want a healing drone. Code example (written by a player in drone edition screen!): mode(agressive) { dist_from_player/team < (5,5) //coordinates that are less than 5 blocks up/down, 5 left/right if player/team_healthamount < 70% use_slot(5 s); //drone has healing field gen. and it uses it for 5 sec energy_lvl = 0 deactivate; //drone turns off and can be collected by player back // but if there is a PvP and we dont want another player to get our well programmed // drone we can write dissasemble; (drone will craft-back to pieces) or autodestr; (boom!) } Of course we can put a few other modes (up to 3?) switching them by pushing a key(?) I dont really know what will be the best if its in the game ( hope so ) Keeping the distance means that drone can fly freely between the values typed in the code Update! It might look a bit 'unreadable', but I decided not to modify the previous shape of this thread. After reconsidering (thanks to WoxandWarf) I'd like to show a different point of view on programming our robots. It's true that scripting might be difficult for some of the players, yet there is another, more simple way to do it. I mean grafical algorythms. ([??] If its needed I can put another thread on algorythms in S I think of a board in drone/robot/turret edition screen where a player can build a 'software' out of pieces and connect them by wires. You'll need just to drag&drop rectangular/triangular/curved parts on the board and do a click-click! on them to edit its functions. (I'd love to draw it for you as an example, but I'm quite busy man) But lets just imagine drag&dropping curved 'START' piece and rectangular 'CHECK' next to it. Now double click/right_click on 'check' part to put in some premade functions ex: check_mode with A,B,C options. Next we choose how many options we need. After that we see that the rectangle has "Check mode" title with (lets say) A and B connecting points at the bottom edge, where from we can put a wire to next 'check' or 'action' parts. As an unexperienced programmer I am, from my point of view it's not so easy to put this kind of feature in the game. What do you think?
Scriptings alright, i just think it would be alot more user friendly and intuitive though if it were more simple, Such as something like a system of editable options you get when you give the drone/robot thingy directions such as Follow player___/ Follow nearest player/ Patrol radius of ____/ Remain where placed/ follow npc ____/ Go to nearest living thing Then an item slot with the option of: Use on player____/ Use on all players/ Use on npc ___/ Use on any npc/ Use on any mob/ Use on mob type___ And finnally some sort of option at the bottom such as: DESTROY EVERYTHING It be alot more user friendly because not everyone want to write script or learn the commands when they could rather have a simple interface like this.
Guys i think it's a good idea to make script language for programmable drones but doing some basic presets and nothing more is mistake i suggest to do some language like EXPRESSION chips in gmod's wiremod its VERY easy 2 learn and very suitable for even more then "drone programming" for new players some presets are acceptable but only like "open file..."->"preset1" in program window if you played garry's mod' wiremod a bit you'll understand my suggestion for starters u can just find "wiremod expression tutorial" on youtube
As much as I'd love a complex system given that I can't really script. People are also going to be playing this game who aren't older than 14. We shouldn't force on them scripting, I also don't want scripting forced on me, but the idea of interface is friendly enough to work with those who want to use it.
You shouldn't force us upon scripting for some awesome items, maybe there should be a more simplified version of programming for those who don't know how to program or code that well. The concept is great and I think it will be one of my favourite ideas but it's just there may be younger players which don't understand this sort of thing. As for the whole idea, I give it around a 8.5/10, it needs some working but it is still good. I'd like robot servants and healing drones to aid me in any situation, yes, but not a whole 1 hour to get it done.
Although... it would still be fun to collect memory cards and hard drives with which to make your drones... I could just imagine someone has 20 drones built, but he has no ram to put in them, so they don't work.
Simple scripting, as my name suggests and advanced scripting would be two different things you have, just like WoxandWarf said. It might be a bit too hard for those of you that are young. I really like this idea, it seems pretty cool to function what your robot does and such, it would add a more kingly feel if you had robot workers. As for some sort of healing robot, you would need the robot made from some uncommon ores so you don't just get an overpowered robot who can just fill up your health bar in a second, that would be something to think about. Maybe you could have worse/better robots and they have more jobs available that they can do as well as doing other jobs that are in worse robots better. My sentences may be a bit complicating but I'm sure you'll get what I mean.
WUT. are u even read my post? i am NOT forcing u 2 script i said, there WILL be some ready presets for using just select it from preset menu, it loading in scripting frame, DON'T EVEN READ THAT IF U DON'T WANT, PRESS OK and ready 2 go or read and learn some new constructions in script lang teh choice is yours
If you typed like you were writing a letter to your someone you actually know, some people, including me, would understand you much better. If you just use shortcut language and don't explain anything well or consider your sentences you won't be understood and people will ask stuff.
