Interactive Worldmap Screen Tutorial
demo:
http://legendsofchaotica.googlepages.com/Worldmapscreendemo.exeBasic ExplanationThis tutorial teaches you how to make an interactive map screen that enables players to scroll through a world map with certain markers, such as dungeons, and towns placed.
This part uses eventing and graphics. It also requires a screenshot program and a graphics editing program (more than just Paint. Something like photoshop.)
Basic ApproachThe interactive map screen will be made using a new map with an transparent tileset. The background will be made by setting an image as a panorama. A parallel process event will be used for fog.
Step 1: Creating the "Worldmap" tilesetThis part requires the use of a graphics program, such as paint.
Make a new document that is 256 pixels wide and 128 pixels tall. Make sure the background is either transparent or a solid color. Color in one 32x32 square (I reccomend the bottom right one) gray of black and save it. If it's background is transparent, copy it into your project's Tileset folder. If it is a solid color, import it into your project with the wizard and make sure the background is transparent.
Now, go into your project's database and under the tileset section, find the one your just made. Make a fully passable tile, a fully impassable tile, and any other combinations in between.
Step 2: Creating the "Worldmap" mapCreate a new map. Name it "Worldmap", and give it the "worldmap" tileset you just created. The size doesn't matter for now. Tile the whole map with fully passable tiles.
Step 3: Making the "Worldmap" imageNow you must create the "worldmap" image. You can do this by making a graphical representation of the maps, or whatever you wish (i used a screenshot program and scaled down the maps). It should be at least 640x480 (one screen). Save it as Worldmap, then import/paste it into your projects Pictures section.
Step 4: Set the "Worldmap" image as the backgroundGo back into the database of your project and under the "Worldmap" tileset that you created, set the "worldmap" image you just made as the Panorama.
Step 5: Setup of the "Worldmap" mapThis is where that gray/black tile comes in handy. Tile the whole second layer of the map with this tile, which will enable you to see you events better.
Next, create events at each of the places of interest (these can be towns, dungeons, etc.). They can be either player touch events or action events, depending on what you want to do with them. These can be used for description, graphics, or exiting the map screen.
Now, you must decide how you want your player to interact with the screen. Should the pointer/player/icon that they control be able to move anywhere they want, or should it be limited to passable areas, or limited only to places of interest.
If you want it to be able to move anywhere, skip to step 6.
If you want it to be able to move in passable areas:
Go back to the "worldmap" map you made earlier. Using your image as a reference, setup the passability of the map as needed (note: one rpgxp tile = 32x32 pixels).
Skip to the step 6.
If you want it to only move between places of interest:
Go back to the "worldmap" map you made earlier. Using your image as a reference, setup the passability of the map so that theres is a clear passable path connected the places of interest as you wish (note: one rpgxp tile = 32x32 pixels).
Setup player touch events on all passable tiles adjacent to places of interest so that they move the player to the next place of interest upon contact. (Note: use the "Set Move Route" command and the "Wait for Move's completion" command.)
Go to step 6.
Step 6: Setting up fog (OPTIONAL) If your game is linear (there is a set order in which your character moves through the maps. There are no sideroutes.)
setup a variable called "maprevealed"
If your game in nonlinear (you can visit maps in different orders:)
Setup a bunch of switches called "fog1", "fog2", etc.
In your game, each time you enter a new map, turn one of the switches on. It is easiest if the number after "fog" corresponds to the map ID that it reveals.
For both:
Make a parallel process event somewhere on your worldmap map.
Make black rectangles in a graphics program that have just enough area to cover up the sections you don't want to be seen at certain points. Put them in your pictures folder.
Have the event check the variable/switches to see what parts have not been revealed, and display the black rectangles at the appropriate locations.
NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU NUMBER THE PICTURES DIFFERENTLY, OR ELSE ONLY 1 WILL APPEAR!!!!
Step 7: entering and exiting the "Worldmap" screen Setup a switch called "Worldmap"
Setup a variable called "XPosition"
Setup a variable called "YPosition"
Setup a variable called "MapID"
To enter/exit the worldmap screen, have an event that calls the following common event.
Entering the screen:
Setup a common event. Start out with a conditional branch with the condition of the "worldmap" switch off (check the handling when conditions do not apply box). "Control Variable" XPosition to the character's MapX, YPosition to the character's MapY, and MapID to the Map's ID (under 'other'). "Change actor graphic" to an empty set, an icon, or whatever you want. Or, you can just leave it if you want your character to appear on the map screen. Then, "Transfer Player" to the new map, basing the position off of the map ID (use a LOT of conditional branches. Or use a case structure if you know scripting). Finally, turn the "worldmap" switch on.
Exiting the screen:
In the same common event, in the same conditional branch as earlier, under the else branch,
Change the actor's graphic back to normal. Transfer the player to the map and position stored in the variables. Then, turn the "worldmap" switch off.
Credits:Winkio