The Dink Network

Simon K:

I am deeply impressed by the boating tmod, but I have a request: I would like to see all the knowledge you give away collected in a single, surveyable and printable document, word or pdf, something like "the Rudiments of Scripting doc. In this way it would be so much easier to actually use this knowledge when us newbies try to make our own stuff. I know I could just print every single script, but still, it would be hard to use it... This would probably mean some work for you, as you would need to organize the text differently, or at least I suppose so. But PLEASE, could you do this... It would take your tutorial to a level not seen before in Dink stuff...

That would be a very useful thing indeed! "Dink goes Boating" is very good already, and that would make it even better.

Can you not just look at the graphic files in the dmod directory, or are they FastFile'd? If so, I could convert them to bmp's for you.

How would that make a single, user friendly, printable document? I think our dear friend here wants to have it all printed off, so he can easily read it when in Dinkedit or whatever.

Yeah, and why not ask for a million dollars too.

To create a single, ultimate document would be absolutely time consuming, and would really only benefit a few people. Sure, if one has fun typing up such a book, it would be absolutely useful. I had planned to create one, but never got around to it.

But really, there are enough examples, tutorials, and help around that you should be able to figure things out on your own, which is probably better off in the long run.

Can I have a million pounds please?
And you are, of course correct here Redink, but it could be done to a certain degree. I was considering the idea, not so long ago (and not as a file to be released, but just for myself) to create a nice word document (with a few nice Dinky pictures on it) which included lot's of seemingly trivial, but ultimately important information.

Things that could help save time, such as base_walks for different people, sample commands, explanations as to what number creates what colour in speech etc. This may not be the super-duper all inclusive file that people would like, but would still be an extremely useful resource.

After all, tutorials can still be referred to when needed.

Things that could help save time, such as base_walks for different people, sample commands, explanations as to what number creates what colour in speech etc.

In my humble opinion, that's completely the wrong way to approach such a document. Base walks change. What if the author wants to add a new character? What will the base walk be?

As a fish, you should know that it is better to teach a person how to fish rather than to force-feed them sushi. Tell them to go into DE or WDE to find the sequence they want, note the number, and how to derive the base walk/attack/die by rounding down to the next ten-spot. Don't just give it to them.

As I said, I wouldn't release it to the public. It would be for myself. I was merely suggesting, or trying to suggest, that people could make their own similar file, as I know I'm often wasting time skipping in and out of Dinkedit to check different sequence numbers, and I expect many other Dinkers do to.

I have always wanted a dink.ini reference doc that should example pic of each base walk direction for characters... default...

Now there's an idea for a development file. A program that reads dink.ini - works out those sequences which are characters (based on file name structure similarity...) and then generates a doc with sample pic and base walk accordingly.

Hmmm, not my area of expertise... But as for source and stuff. I'm thinking of doing a doc - html style for PQ source which links to scripts... Plan of attack is to have areas such as story development, enemies, special FX, boats, weapons, magic, Skard (how to make her follow, attack etc) etc.

Not sure how long this will take.. but my second job has finished now (I've been working nights on the new "Farscape" mini series ... hehe), so now that I'm only working a 10 hour day I will try and find more time for PQ source and SOB - the Special Edition.

A program that reads dink.ini - works out those sequences which are characters (based on file name structure similarity...) and then generates a doc with sample pic and base walk accordingly.

Hmm, that actually wouldn't be too hard. I'll throw that on the stack of things I should finish.

I've been working nights on the new "Farscape" mini series ... hehe

That's unimagineably awesome Go Farscape!

Well what seems to be the BIGGEST problem when starting to learn the noble art of making a dmod, is that the knowledge needed is very fragmented, because there are a LOT of different tutorials and reference documents. Some of them are very good, some of them are horrible. Starting to work with DinkC reference, for instance, makes me feel like Sisyphos rolling that stone back on the mountain again.

And redink1: I don't agree that such a document that I requested would benefit only a few. Maybe only a few of the people making dmods and using the forum today. But think of all the people that wants to make a dmod, and simply gives up. If the tutorials were better, and not so fragmented, there would simply be a lot more dmods that were finished.

Think of it: What if John Lennon gave up learning how to play the guitar...

Sisyphos? John Lennon? What other kind of mythological creatures do you know off the top of your head?

(I really don't know who/what Sisyphos is, heh.)

Anyway... yeah, I should probably recant that part of my rant. It would probably help a lot, in a vicious cycle of goodness, where more D-Mods were made, which would attract more people, which would in turn create more D-Mods.

You've worked on Farscape eh? That, my friend, is indescribably awe-inspiring

Hey Sabre, how about 1000 Italian Lire? That's $686. I challenge everyone to find a more useless currency.

Beads and trinkets

Sisyphos was a character in Greek Mythology who was severly punished by the gods and was forced to roll a rock up a mountain in the underworld, only to have it roll down when it almost reached the top.

He appears in the Odyessy and the Aenid, and was described as the "craftiest of men". Often spelt "Sisyphus". He was the King of Corinth (Greek City - each city liked to have a King it seems). He ravished Anticlea, mother of Odysseus, and wife of Laetes. He also ravished his niece Tyro (gotta love those Greeks), she in tern killed all her children by him. After his death he insulted Pluto, accused Zeus of raping Aegina (he should talk) and was therefore condemned to roll the stone up the hill in Hades for eternity, as it keeps rolling back down...

For those who like their mythology... what a great source of story stuff for ... other stuff

The ultimate tutorial guide? Ah... nirvana... but then there is something to be said for finding the true path by trial and error.

And that something is... WTFWSTO!!

Everytime I do a DMOD I have to check and recheck DinkC reference... check my spelling and syntax, and then still pull my hair out over the Dink Engine bugs.... ahhhhhhhhh!!

But from now one my DMODs will only use redink.exe or better... he he.

Hey Sabre, how about 1000 Italian Lire? That's $686. I challenge everyone to find a more useless currency.

There IS no more such a thing as the Italian Lire, so, yeah, that's a pretty useless currency.

Well here's something I would like to see more often in Dmods: Inspiration and references to mythology, culture and history in general. You could actually BE Sisyphos, or any mythological person. Those stories are often brilliant! An idea that fell into my head right now would be taking Franz Kafka's history "Metamorphosis" and turning it into a Dmod. Think about it: Dink is turned into a giant pillbug, and can do little about it. Now there's probably not many possabilities for gameplay if one follows the original story, but we are free to break out of the story, right? And, since I mentioned John Lennon earlier: Jamming with the Beatles in a Dmod would be nice! Or playing chess with Garry Kasparov.

I have a reference to Metamorphosis in the in-production Paragon, and if it is ever released people will think I stole your idea

Well now you HAVE to give me a million dollars My bank account number is... All right a million gold in the Dink currency will do...

I once had the idea of making a DMod about Greek Mythology. So on the startup screen, you could choose to play Theseus, Odysseus or Herakles. Too bad I couldn't script as well as I could do now back then. When Odysseus goes to Hades, he might eventually come across Orpheus. Well, if you blend all stories together, THEN it's becoming interesting

Doh, I hate it when the browser doesn't react when I just posted a message... Press refresh and it sends my post again!!

&gold += 1000000;

Done

Working on Farscape... that is pretty dang cool.

farscape, eee? I hope that has nothing to do with that silly tv-programme.....

Uh, yeah it does.

Thanks redink1! I will use that million wisely...

Scratcher: Yes it is the TV programme. The mini-series is the conclusion... the Show was cancelled after series 4, and the heroes/lovers story had not been resolved. Now after securing more finance it is back for a 2 part mini-series to wrap up things. And it does... I can't reveal any more....

I blantantly use Mythology for my DMODs. Most of Stone of Balance is from mythology based stuff.

Story 1 - has references to King Arthur, break of oars to attract boatman to get boat to reach other land is from Epic of Gligamesh
Story 2 - maze of Daedalus (Guy who made the maze that had the minatour in, and also made the flying wings for him and his sun)
Story 3 - not much here, pretty much standard fantasy stuff
Story 4 - Hmmm, this was my satire on institutional religion. Simon Magus was a charaleton magician. Mandrake is more pop culture than mythology. Riddle to enter the Treasury is the Sphinx's riddle that Odysessus had to answer (reworked in an attempt to disguise it)
Story 5 - Well the legend of King Midas, Albert Magnus were all pinched from myths/tales.
Story 6 - Fertility quests etc all inspired by Greek stuff, suckling on the teat of a Goddess, finding special food for another one, and killing beasts to be worthy of coupling with the third. Not to mention Myrrdin (or Merlin as he is more commonly known) Plus the Head of the female sect is Medea - also from Greek mythology.
Story 7 - well what adventure is complete without a trip to Hell/Hades/Underworld - and I think the name of the Sorceror is based on an ancient Phoencian magician - I can't quite remember.

Wow! We kinda almost know somebody that actually works in the film industry. That's cool. So what do you do? Do you write script & plot for the show?

Mr. Simon Klaebe's bio at imdb, though it probably isn't complete.

Awesome! Simon is a very, very, nice guy along with being a multi-talented creative person.
Dang! Is he good looking too? lol

Oh yeah, that shadow man is so sexy....

(wide-eyed) Merlin! I didn't know you were that kind of guy! (hip-shot stance)

You wanna know what I look like.. there is an old pic of me here

And a more recent one here

Scary how tired looking I've gotten over the years

To many late nights with Dink, eh? Probably not, as you look better in the most recent picture.

He's not the Sean Connery-looking guy in the first picture with huge glasses; he's the other one. Eheh.

Taking into account that there's only one person in the latter picture, I think that was easy enough to figure out.

Why, you're as pretty as a picture. But isn't it strange how we (or rather, I) get
an idea in our heads how people look and then it's nothing how we thought.
Tal is about 5'10", 140 lbs with dark hair and brown eyes. No glasses, and a slightly crooked smile. Not muscle-bound but definitely not skinny. Approx 18-19 yrs
Merlin is 5' 8", about 120 lbs, still growing into his skin, glasses, ash-blond, 15-16yrs, lightly freckled.
Sabretrout is 5' 11", slender and lanky, loose-limbed, about 135 lbs, dark hair and pale skin tones, almost 17 yrs.
I better stop before I get hate mail.
But you, Simon, hmmm... the berlin moustache and beard slightly surprised me. You're very nice looking tho. Ha! Glad you weren't the guy with the glasses!

What the crap? Lol.

Add about 45 pounds, change the eye color to blue, slap on some glasses, and change the age to 16, and you aren't too far off the mark.

As it stands, though, it's like you aimed for the toilet and struck the shower nozzle.

I'm dead on 6ft. With fairly long blonde hair. And I'm 19 on the 20th, yeah!
And girls tell me I'm pretty. That's just wrong.

Uhm... Odysseus never met a sphinx on his travels, it was Oedipus. And that's the same Oedipus that fell in love with his mother.

And the King Arthur thing... That's Monty Python

whoa, i thought that you said you were alot younger Saber. Wow, now i feel some sort of... respect? I always pinned you as a 13 year old British kid

Nope, that would be Iceman. I just enjoy reliving my childhood, by being a she-dog online.

Long blond hair and 6ft tall... NOOOOOO that just exactly looks like the most irritating guy in my class. Yeah, this guy!

My hair is much nicer.

And if you hate him so much, why are you taking photo's of him?

Hey Sabre, how about 1000 Italian Lire? That's $686. I challenge everyone to find a more useless currency.

Leaves. If only Allikitten were here, she'd understand...(does anyone else?)

Leaves. If only Allikitten were here, she'd understand...(does anyone else?)

Reminds me of little kids playing to be bank managers or something.

Yeah... I need to recover and revise my mythology...

But the sword in stone is definetly King Arthur... average flight of a laden swallow is indeed Monty Python.

This is but a part of a picture of someone else, but he was just on it. Spoils the whole picture, though.

Btw. I dont hate him, he's just so... irritating. Oh, well half the class thinks that way, so it doesn't really matter

Ow... true... sword in stone is Arthur.

Btw. I think quest for the holy grail is a brillian parody of that story. "Thou shallt count to three. Not to four you shall count, nor to two, only to proceed to three."

Or something like that