HQ Quest Maker

[Nephew of Mentor]

I am excited about this as I am in the process of making quest packs from video games and other boardgames. Is this available yet? If not, how is it coming along? Would there be any reason I couldn't import jpg or similar image files from photoshop? Lett me know, thanks.

[Patroclus]

The first version is already completed and I could share it. I give some time, if anyone could find a solution about the “grey squares” and the “black grid” of HeroScribe… Give me one more weekend and I will publish it on Monday. If we have no solution until then I’ll try to do it programmatically.

About photoshop, yes you can do that, but it is a lot better if you don’t spend a second for the formatting. “HQ Quest Maker” is created for this reason. Even the label of the quest (the papyrus) is stretched automatically when you write a long narrative. You upload the png exported file from HeroScribe and it is done.

[Nephew of Mentor]

Oh, no hurries. I know it is hard to let something out into the public sphere when you aren't certain it is ready. Well, the image I am referring to is actually maps for other games. I know HeroScribe has maps for Dragon Strike, but I already have a map and a half of my Dragonstrike conversion done in photoshop and it won't be long before more is done.

[drathe]

I fooled around with the HeroScribe US board to try and match the original colours. There's good news and bad news.

Bad News:
Exporting in PNG still shows the shades of grey for corridors and solid rock areas.

test.png

Good News:
Exporting in PDF and EPS results in the colours I changed them to.

test.pdf

test2.png

I will consult with Derfel Link on the matter to see if there's a solution for the PNG export problem.

[Patroclus]

Nice work drathe! The brown grid is a big problem for me because if I change the black color to brown by myself I will destroy every black color on the image, so it is not an option.

But about the textures of the dark squares, they are nice but still flat I think it is better to do it with the program...

This is my first quest with the quest maker...

[Patroclus]

I have update the first post with the link. When drathe finds a solution for the brown grid I'll post another version.

[drathe]

I have update the first post with the link. When drathe finds a solution for the brown grid I'll post another version.

If all you need is the brown grid, then the PNG test in my post above should work. It exports the brown grid in PNG already.

The altered corridor and dark areas require additional code files in order to export to PNG. Those functions are beyond my skills and require help from Derfel Link. I'm still awaiting his consult on the issue. I myself prefer the corridor and dark colours as they export in EPS and PDF. They are flat because it's a solid colour, whereas the original is a mix of different shades. When printed on paper, I think it looks great as-is. But if you feel that changing them within the program to something else, then the current files should work for you as the Grid will export properly in Brown.

[Patroclus]

About the dark areas I’ve fixed my algorithm and I believe it won’t bug. So the only problem is the black grid.

The program has two basic functions the one is the text editor, where all your texts are drawn in the picture with the original formatting and the other function is the uploading of the HeroScribe’s map. Whatever you upload as a map it will be printed in the screen (except the grey color of the dark areas which I transform to the original texture). If a user of HeroSribe can’t produce maps with brown grids I can’t do anything to make them brown, because if I change the black color to brown, it will change all the black colors of the map to brown. If I draw brown lines by myself on the map, some big images (as the gargoyle or the furniture) will have brown lines upon them...

So the only solution is to fix the American version of HeroScribe to have brown lines for all users or no one. Because if some of us change the color and others don’t, half of the quests will be brown and the other half will be black which is worst than just black.

Also, the black grids are not so bad and I think we can live with that.

[Nephew of Mentor]

I don't think it is a problem. After you have finished a map what format does it save as? If it is any form of image file whatsoever then we can bite the bullet and load it into photoshop(or the free version, GIMP) use color select, and fix it manually in about 3 seconds. The program sounds, and looks, awesome. Well done.

[Maike05]

Can't wait to get the final version! I'll try to post then quests on the blog on a regular basis! And you guys too will share home made quests