I am looking for an offline builder for ROM/ROT. I have MZF but was told another one is better than that. Could anyone recommend one that will read all files but save as ROM?

Hmm not sure about any that will read any file and save it in ROM format. ORB will read any Merc format and save it as Smaug. Not sure if thats what you were thinking of.

I think I can help you there. The editor you seek is called Arcanum. Just do a search on it for the page, it'll come up. I hope that helps you.

Arcanum won't read all files and save them as a ROM area file. I know it won't open circle area files because they're stored in multiple parts.

Arcanum is my favorite offline editor for ROM. You can download a copy here: IT might be easier than searching for it, since the game Arcanum seems to take up a lot of search results.

Personally I have found that the fastest, easiest and most effective method is to work directly in file. I can build a zone about ten times as fast with that method as with traditional OLC.

You just need to be wary of the format, so you don't accidentally remove any ~, or the zone will crash the Port when you put it back in. Apart from that it's an excellent method, combined with a minumum use of OLC. You make
a minimum number of rooms in OLC with the correct room flags, because these are a bit hard to distinguish in file. Then you just copy that room to new vnums, and change the name, descs and exits. Same thing with mobs and objects.

Another advantage with this method is that it makes it so much easier to keep the descs at a reasonably similar length, which makes the zone look nice when you move around in it. Working in file you can easily move blocks of text from one room to another, until the descs look balanced. It also gives you a nice overall view of the zone, much easier than walking around in it or editing one room at a time.

How on earth did this old thread pop up again?
I certainly didn't touch it.
Is this a bug that happened to anyone else but me?

Is it caused by that poll at the front of the thread, which has nothing to do with the subject?