Minimap from item tutorial

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Author: Ramza
Posted on 08/02/2004
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I

n this tutorial, I hope to explain the finer points of the creation of a semi transparent minimap, that only appears when you're on the world map, and you turn off and on by using an item.

For this, I assume you know about switches, if you don't, go read my switch tutorial. You can combine this tutorial with the map cursor position tutorial that is also found on this site, to make a map that has a position marker on it.

Now, let's get to it.

First off, you'll need a screen shot of your entire map, or rather, the parts of the map you want the player to see. The easiest way to do this, is to use the rm2k editor, with the "selector" tool selected, so that both second and first layer things are shown, to just scroll around the map and hit the prt scr button on your keyboard. After pushing the key, paste this in MS pain or something. Continue doing this until your entire map has been copied, then paste all of the copied images into one big image.

Now, next you have to set the true size of the minimap. I'd suggest that the map be no bigger then a quarter of the screen (80 x 60). *0 x 60 is actually the ideal size, so I'll use it as an example. Your giant map image, should be resized to 80 x 60 pixels. Save the new resized image, this is where it starts to get a little trickier.

Add a bright yellow dot, to every place that you want to be marked on the map. Towns dungeons etc. Save the image as a different name. Next change the color of the dots to a darker shade of the same yellow. Save it as a different file as well... and lastly, make the dots a brighter yellow, and save it as a different file for a third time. This will allow you to make a map that has flashing dots on it for the special areas on it.

Now, import all three map pictures into rm2k. Don't worry about the transparency color, we're not gonna use it.

In the database, create two items, both of them should be named the same thing. (example: world map) Have both of them set to switch, only to be used on the world mpa, and unlimited number of uses. The first one will turn on a switch called "world map ON" make that now, the other one will turn on a switch called "world map OFF" make those both, and set them to their proper items.

Now we need a common event to determine when to turn certain switches on and off.

Click the common event tab in the database, make a new event, set to parallel process. Make it so that "world Map ON" must be turned on for this event to happen. (check the checkbox next to switch and find that switch).

Make it make you drop the map that turns the switch on, then make it do a check to see if you have the other map, if it finds that you don't have the second map, have it give you one, otherwise, do nothing.

Then make a fork condition to check to see of "world map OFF" switch is on, if it is, have it remove the second map, and give you back the first one. Also have it turn both "world map ON" and "World map OFF" off. And make it erase picture 1... I'll tell you why in a moment. That's all for the common event.

Now, make an event on every map that you want the minimap to show on... (probably just the world map). Make this event a parallel process, and make it need to have "world map ON" turned on to work. Have it show the first minimap picture at the coordinates, (240, 180) or change the coordinates if you want it somewhere else. Make sure to check the "none" thingy for the transparency color.

Make the event wait for 0.1 seconds, then have it show the second picture in the same spot, with the same image number. Wait for 0.1 more seconds, and do the same with the third picture. then wait one last time. Make sure that if the world map ON switch isn't on, this event will not happen.

This will make a flawless minimap similiar to the one in the old Mana Conquest demo, combine it with the minimap position tracker tutorial found on this site, and it will be perfect!

~Ramza

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