Wrote an article on why I went with a chapter system for Warlordocracy instead of making it true open world: https://blancaster45.blogspot.com/2023/09/chapter-system-vs.html
Been almost a month since I cross-posted for Warlordocracy. Did tons of work on the pathfinding recently. Still not perfect, but improving. Also made AI scripts have archers change to melee weapons when close to target, added a couple new abilities (Analyze Character, Leadership), status effects (Inspired, Resist Pierce), and reputations (Krug Slayer, Smuggler).
Also, there's a new character screen that displays all stats+inventory at once, and you can now drop an item on a party member to give it to them. There is now a centralized encyclopedia so the save files don't have to repeat object descriptions over and over for each instance. Tons of other fixes.
I've been distracted by other shit, but Chapter 2 should be out by Halloween. Here are some videos on the progress, followed by a complete list of changes:
Pathfinding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_RB_ZKOgHk
Catacombs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx8_gasgNN8
Giving Items: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoifECbp51U
Character Screen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49_D0Wsf6wA
EARLY ACCESS 8.8:
-Improved pathfinding checks for cutting corners across blocked tiles.
-Fixed combat checks for travel and rest, beds now also check for combat.
-Interacting with a hostile now automatically attacks.
-Fixed music repeatedly restarting when changing maps.
-Fixed bug where AI would attack massive bones.
-Fixed sound effect when dropping/giving items.
-Fixed pathfinding around blocking map tiles.
EARLY ACCESS 8.7:
-Doorways are no longer automatic AI waypoints (fixes double door pathfinding bug).
-Added waypoints over every door in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, and some extras in narrow corridors.
-Fixed bug where waypoints wouldn't work if destination is immediately south of blocked tile.
-Fixed bug where crates did not have a proper use script (now useExam).
-Improved a couple maps in Chapter 1.
-Updated manuals.
EARLY ACCESS 8.6:
-Improved waypoint AI (doorways and invisible waypoint markers).
-AI path check now also checks to make sure mobile can't cut across impassible corners.
-AI now checks two paths: diagonal movement first and diagonal movement last (greatly improving pathfinding).
-You can now set objBlock to 4 to make blocking object ignore pathfining checks (unlocked doors).
-New script commands: "objMobEquipMelee" and "objMobEquipRanged" to switch weapons.
-AIUseItems.wsl script now switches between melee and ranged weapons.
-Gave melee weapons to most archers and hunters in Chapter 1.
-Max movement speed is now 6 (up from 4).
EARLY ACCESS 8.5:
-Fixed bug where party members would auto-switch targets when attacked, even if they already had a target.
-Two new reputations in Chapter 1: Smuggler (do Brayna's quests), and Krug Slayer (kill Gug).
-Increased max encyclopedia entries from 999 to 9999 (currently over 650 entries).
-Updated Mr. Beaves tutorial text, improved some Ch.1 dialogue.
-Updated Player's and Builder's Manual.
EARLY ACCESS 8.4:
-Added status effects: Inspired, Resist Pierce.
-Added abilities: Analyze Character, Leadership.
-Confused status effect now prevents characters from using abilities.
-Looms now let you craft with fabrics using the Naturalism ability (and only looms).
-Encyclopedia searches now automatically remove articles and "bottle of" prefixes to entry titles.
-New achievement script commands: "achieveTag", "achieveName", and "achieveDesc".
-Changed "steam" script command to "achieve" and added in-game achievement list.
-New objects: dungeonB3+4 (catacomb inlets), doorAncient (Hargate), sarcophagus.
-Character screen now displays encyclopedia entry and equipped item.
-Improved lots of encyclopedia entries, added main characters.
-Fixed Pocket Sand ability script.
EARLY ACCESS 8.3:
-Dropping an item on a party member now gives it to them (tooltip now "Drop/Give").
-Inventory and character windows don't show unless you also have a character selected.
-New script command: "objMobCharScreen" to show full character screen of current mobile object.
-New script command: "storyDemo" to delete all maps after given map ID (to easily make demo versions).
-Command resets to Interact after using abilities or dropping items (so you can see the game messages).
-Fixed bug with leftover text after closing character screen, removed arrow buttons if character is not in party.
-Fixed bug where changing volume in journal settings wouldn't immediately change volume.
-Fixed major bug with "objPos" command fucking up object positions when changing maps.
-"ObjMobPlayer" script command must now be set to 0 or 1 (0 cancels player).
-Added inventory load info to character screen.
-Added dog bark sounds to AI script.
-Updated Chapter 2 Demo.
EARLY ACCESS 8.2:
-New complete character info screen, accessible from the journal settings menu.
-New encyclopeida feature and script so object descriptions don't repeat and inflate save file size.
-Added script commands: "encycTitle", "encycTopic", and "encycText" to edit encyclopedia entries.
-Gave bonuses to certain weapons in Throw Object and Whirlwind abilities.
-Fixed bug where weather text wouldn't appear in journal window.
-Improved INI file and included labels for each setting.
-Added settings option to adjust HUD transparency.
-Invisible AIBlock2 objects now have separate name.
-Party no longer has to be gathered to travel.
-Updated Player's Manual.
EARLY ACCESS 8.1:
-AI now prioritizes closer hostile mobiles when looking for targets, also optimized AI framerate.
-If Party AI is set to advanced, party now targets hostiles up to 4 paces away (first checks 2 paces away).
-Closed doors are now excluded from obstacle avoidance checks (so pathfinding will open closed doors).
-New invisible AIBlock object that blocks non-combat pathfinding checks (behind windows, etc).
-Fixed waypoint detection along the wall while south of doorways (all doorways are waypoints).
-Empty bottles are now throwable like stones, vases, and plates (glass now deals less damage).
-Properly fixed priority of world editor item selection (items on tables vs. in containers).
-Option to forget an ability and regain 2 Karma if you already have 10 abilities.
-Shop window now displays merchant respect at top.
-Fixed minor flaw in obstacle avoidance function.
-Fixed bug with Confusion wandering effects.
-Fixed script bug with wagon scene art.
EARLY ACCESS 8.0:
-Leaving quantity blank when getting/dropping items now means all.
-Accuracy decreases when shooting targets moving at normal speed or higher.
-Now impossible to position objects out of map bounds with "objPos" command.
-Fixed bug in alchemy script from previous guano patch with brewing major bombs.
-Fixed error messages about "hostile" faction in globals script (must start new game).
-Fixed major bug from last patch where giving/recieving items in dialogue would fuck up.
-Fixed problem in scripts and code where concealed mobiles would reset status every time map is loaded.
-Updated Chapter 2 demo map (Foreign District), further separating bandits and militia HQs.
-Changed some confusing Feluco dialogue about faction respect and joining the party.
-Doorways now have blockFly=1 to stop birds from entering houses.