H-Mode7

[themeguy]

Hello, I am new to this forum, but have been getting familiar with the RPG Makers over a fair amount of time, however understanding the scripting involved with RPG Maker XP, VX, and VX Ace has always been my cryptonite. I'm reduced to a toddler struggling to figure out why the block with three sides doesn't fit in the round hole, my point, I'm illiterate when it comes to this, so my understanding is vague, and while I can understand things, in essence I cannot begin to devise a way to create or understand the scripts i would need.

Anyway, I have known about H-Mode 7 for a while but have never seen it taken to such lengths, and it has me drooling, albeit, confused. I wish to use the script in my game, and I know a little but I just want to be sure I'm getting this right, and I have a few questions. If I wanted to use my own tilesets, but didn't have any that fit the "Bird's Eye" perspective required for creating maps in a similar manner to the Demo, I would have to edit or create my own in the manner I please, than also, if I wanted those elements to be raised (Turned 3D) I would have to create a height-map using using only gray-scale, to define the high points with the low points, but the Height-map has to be the same dimensions, and each piece has to be lined up precisely or else it's looks messed up?

(I apologize for the length of the post)


Question 2) When placing objects made with said tileset, Is it that each layer cannot exceed 32 pixels? Or that the 3 layers RM XP offers cannot be higher than 32 pixels(Forgive me if pixel isn't the right term)

Question 3) If I wanted to place an object, using the tileset, that represented an object like a dead tree, or a statue, but also have it rendered height, would I have to create 3 separate tiles with different height-map shapes? Like, the base of the tree up to 32 pixels, than the next segment? or is there some other way?

Last Question) The cut-off at the edge of the screen where the map is rendered, is there a way to orient the camera so that there is no cut off? or will I just have to make do?

I'm sorry for the length, I'm excited and want to be as thorough as possible.

[penguwin]

Just try it out, and once you have specific screen shots or questions I'll try to answer them!
Have you heard of "neo mode7" by the way?

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Has anyone heard from him outside of here?

The most recent Youtube video he uploaded was 5 months ago.
http://youtu.be/LpCw_h-o7Os

[themeguy]

Alright, I'm currently working on making my own tile-set to use, and I have heard of Neo Mode7 but I don't really know what it is? Care to explain?

[penguwin]

Alright, I'm currently working on making my own tile-set to use, and I have heard of Neo Mode7 but I don't really know what it is? Care to explain?

It's basically a better version of H-MODE 7, I just upgraded it in my game the other day. It does everything H-MODE 7 does but you can change camera angles, rotate the angles, zoom in and more. It's wonderful and can add lots of depth to 2D games.

Check it out, towards the end of the video I use the tilting and zooming in feature.

http://youtu.be/12VZZF6oA7A

[themeguy]

Wow, that is pretty cool, I think I am using that though haha, I downloaded the demo on the first page and it seems to do all those things. I copied the code from that. but I like the style of art you're using in your game, it's cool, it honestly seems professional, if not very close to it. I'm impressed.

[themeguy]

Okay so here's a problem I am running into... As you can see I have some height map editing to do on the tiles themselves, but my problem is the fact that the height effect only carries to the next layer if there is a tile with height directly underneath it, see the trees? I want them to be elevated. Is there any way to get this to happen? I'm assuming it's going to be more difficult than I want it to be...

[MechanicalPen]

Height maps don't work that way, unfortunately. You can only displace the 'ground' up a certain amount. You can't make a tree shape, with leaves over the ground.

[JayRay]

But what you CAN do in H-Mode 7 is create the foliage of the trees as Event Graphics (a charset of nothing but tree foliage) build your "Trunk" out of tiles, and then add the event graphics in tthose spaces at different angles for a tree. I believe you can even move event locations to flesh that out. It's not Minecraft, but it'll work in a pinch. Alternatively, Paper cutouts of 3d rendered "tree graphics that change depending on the angle, can still give that same feeling of 3d by using a billboard system.

This is usually only good for basic things like Trees and Signposts, stuff like this that can't be displayed correctly. For buildings and terain, you might want to stick with the tiles.

[penguwin]

http://www.mediafire.com/download/ndwtzy...290310.exe

[themeguy]

Thank you MechanicalPen, JayRay, and Penguwin for your help and input!

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Okay, I'm currently using HMode07, not Neo, I have copied the script from the Demo file but for some reason my character doesn't walk, he can't move at all. He rotates when I hit the directional keys but nothing more... Anyone?