Blizz ABS Method error

[melikeyrpg]

I have been using the RPG Maker trial for approximately 7 days now (I have Windows Vista so you know). I haven't even started making a game yet because I have been constantly running into problems figuring out how to use custom battle scripts. I have been using Chronicles of Sir Lag a lot as a guide as I reverse engineer how to use this battle system. I put the Blizz ABS scripts in the script editor of a fresh project as stated in the manual ( in a row above "main" and below scene something. I made a small map, placed a tent, a npc that says "this is a test" and a ghost enemy with a charset of a fighter. I created a weapon called test gun, assigned it to Aluxes, added it to the script weapon module (boy that was confusing), set its range type as 4, and its actual distance range to about 6. I got an error that weapon_projectile_33 (33 is the gun's ID of course). I wasn't sure how to make a spritesheet of a bullet so I copied the arrow spritesheet from sir lagsalot and named it weapon_projectile_33. I have test played it 4 times and whenever I attack the ghost more than twice or so, I get an error saying "Script Blizz ABS 2 line 5074 No method error occured. undefined method x nil:NilClass." I looked at line 5074 of part 2 of the script and this is what it says:
x, y, r, d = shape.x, shape.y, shape.radius, shape.direction

I have compared it with the exact line in the Sir Lagsalot script and I'm pretty sure they are identical. Also, I think the error occurs on the exact instant I kill the ghost. Lastly, even though I set the range type to 4 and the distance to 6 and assigned a spritesheet for the projectile, when I hit attack, the gun goes off but no projectile comes out aand I have to be right next to the ghost to damage it. I am absolutely stumped on this one and can't find an answer anywhere. Thank you if you can help
     

[AliveDrive]

After looking at the manual, i have read that weapon type 4 is boomerang. try setting it to weapon type 5 and see if things work.

[melikeyrpg]

First of all, thank you, you are the first person to ever answer one of my posts about this. I checked the manual (I can't open the one that came with the blizz abs scripts because I get an "Navigation to the webpage canceled error" when I open it) so I used the one that came with Chronicles of Sir Lagsalot. This is what it says about range types:


      0 - sword / axe / claws / unarmed / etc. (damages in close front)
      1 - spear / lance (damages only in front)
      2 - flail (distant weapon, does not damage close enemies, front)
      3 - boomerang (returning projectile weapon, front)
      4 - bow and arrow / gun / shuriken (non-returning projectile, NO consumption)
      5 - bow and arrow / gun (non-returning projectile, consumes AMMUNITION)
      6 - shuriken (non-returning projectile, consumes ITSELF)

I set it to 4 and the distance range to 5. I am just testing for now and don't want to worry about consuming ammunition for now, that is why I chose 4. I also noticed that some ranges (distances) have decimals such as 5.7 or 4.5. What does this mean, is this my problem?

I'm also wondering if I need all 3 parts of the scripts because Chronicles seems to work with just 2: blizz ABS scripts and Demo config. I copied that script into another fresh game project and am currently playing around with it but I set a ghost and it doesn't attack, just catipillars onto me. I can attack and kill it and everything but it acts like a party member... ?

Thanks if you can help solve this.

[AliveDrive]

(I can't open the one that came with the blizz abs scripts because I get an "Navigation to the webpage canceled error" when I open it)

This may solve the manual problem:

Instructions

The instructions can be found in the User Manual.

If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download a Word Viewer here which will allow you to open the manual file:
http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Alternatively (which I recommend) you can use Foxit Reader to open the PDF files
http://foxit-pdf-reader.softonic.de/

As for your other issue, I would recommend downloading the latest version of BABS, which can be found here: http://forum.chaos-project.com/index.php?topic=106.0

[Blizzard]

You can use decimal numbers for ranges and other things without problems.

Yes, you need all 3 parts. Blizz-ABS used to be a 2 part script. At one point it simply had to be split into 3 parts. The Chronicles of Sir Lag-A-Lot demo is very old, keep that in mind. Most things have not changed since back then, but some did change.

And yes, you should use the latest version.

[melikeyrpg]

I am using version 2.84. I clicked on the link to the manual you provided and it too is in a foreign language that I am unable to read. I am still getting that same error message. How do I fix it so I can continue making my game? Thank you.

[AliveDrive]

I'm not sure how to help with the manual, but if you tell me what sections you are interested in, I can paraphrase that information to you.
Have you tried this? http://blogs.technet.com/b/seanearp/archive/2007/05/28/can-t-read-chm-compiled-help-on-vista-xp-2003.aspx

[melikeyrpg]

Okay I got the manual open, thanks for that link. It doesn't give an example of what a weapon... entry looks like. Here is what I have for my weapon module:

module Weapons
   
    def self.type(id)
case id
      # START set up weapon types (when ID then return TYPE)
      when 33 then return 5 ## Test gun
      # END
      end
      return 0
    en     

 
I looked at Chronicles to see how it is done. I know it is old but II don't know where I can go to find an example of what it is suppose to look like.

The only other thing I did was edit the range. Here is what I have:
# START set up weapon ranges (when ID then return RANGE)
      when 33 then return 6
      # END
      end
      return 1.0
    en 
   
Now when I test play, I get a syntax error at line 272. I go to line 272 in the editor and the line reads "module skill". This doesn't make sense because I did not edit that line or that module. Another thing is that I have a feeling that with the line "return 0" in the weapons module I just posted above, and the "return 1.0" in the range module I just posted, may be doing something. I don't know what these things do, I just copied them from the demo game. Is there a way I can upload this entire script to this topic or my whole game in progress? I want to make a simple gun that fires 6 squares away, what should the weapon module look like? Thank you.

[melikeyrpg]

This issue has been resolved. I discovered the Blizz ABS Config application which generated the correct script for me. I could never open it before and didn't know what it was until an hour ago. The problem why I couldn't open the config application was the same reason why I couldn't open the manual. That link to that tech blog told me to uncheck the box that said "always ask me this" or something similar, so I did and was able to open both.

If anyone is having trouble scripting, or doesn't understand scripting, I highly recommend using the config application that comes with the 3 scripts. You simply choose your options for Blizz ABS with combo boxes and lists and what not and when you are done, you click "generate script". I was attempting to edit the script manually with no experience in scripting and really screwed stuff up.

I would change my topic name to (solved) but I couldn't figure out how but I am pretty sure it is solved. Thanks guys!

[Ryex]

/_\ good god. the noobishnes of this fail made be flashback to the time when I didn't know how to use the event editor. ah the memories.

[Blizzard]

That's kind of the whole point of Blizz-ABS Config.