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Fharron · 10-18-2003, 01:51 PM

Another way to do a scripted maze is to dispense with the notion that players can solve the maze by finding a room path.

Create a scripted object with a value, and have movement – enter room – update this value via room scripts. Another way would be to set the value to the player instead of using an object. Moving north = +3, south = -3, east = +2, west = -1, up = +1, down = -1. As the player moves the value is changed and when it reaches a specified value the object transports the player out of the maze. The formula can be made as mathematically complex as the builder wishes, for example north = x2, south = reset to 0 and so on.

In this way the players aren’t attempting to find a specified path they are trying to attain a pre-defined number. Obviously they need some help in doing this, so it is necessary to scatter clues throughout the maze, such as room extra descriptions that provide details of the various movement affects. The strange scratches upon the north wall form an identifiable pattern, + 1. If you wish to add a random element then you can simply make the value for the object random with each load.

A second trick is to create two virtually identical mazes, but with something different in the second. Perhaps a disguised exit, perhaps a mobile, perhaps an object. Within the first maze is something that permits transference to the second and obviously within the second is something that returns the player to the first. It is an extension of the looped maze principle on a grander scale. From the players perspective they are in a single maze but in reality they are being transferred between two mazes, or more.

Both of these maze variants can be extremely taxing on the trial and error type of players, they could easily wander forever. However, with room extra clues or mob given clues – things players need to look for, their solutions can be fairly straight forward and simple. The hallmark of a good maze is when a player wanders aimlessly for ages, getting more and more frustrated, and then when they find the solution their first groaning thought is – #### that was so simple to solve.

10-18-2003, 01:51 PM	#28
Fharron New Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 26	Another way to do a scripted maze is to dispense with the notion that players can solve the maze by finding a room path. Create a scripted object with a value, and have movement – enter room – update this value via room scripts. Another way would be to set the value to the player instead of using an object. Moving north = +3, south = -3, east = +2, west = -1, up = +1, down = -1. As the player moves the value is changed and when it reaches a specified value the object transports the player out of the maze. The formula can be made as mathematically complex as the builder wishes, for example north = x2, south = reset to 0 and so on. In this way the players aren’t attempting to find a specified path they are trying to attain a pre-defined number. Obviously they need some help in doing this, so it is necessary to scatter clues throughout the maze, such as room extra descriptions that provide details of the various movement affects. The strange scratches upon the north wall form an identifiable pattern, + 1. If you wish to add a random element then you can simply make the value for the object random with each load. A second trick is to create two virtually identical mazes, but with something different in the second. Perhaps a disguised exit, perhaps a mobile, perhaps an object. Within the first maze is something that permits transference to the second and obviously within the second is something that returns the player to the first. It is an extension of the looped maze principle on a grander scale. From the players perspective they are in a single maze but in reality they are being transferred between two mazes, or more. Both of these maze variants can be extremely taxing on the trial and error type of players, they could easily wander forever. However, with room extra clues or mob given clues – things players need to look for, their solutions can be fairly straight forward and simple. The hallmark of a good maze is when a player wanders aimlessly for ages, getting more and more frustrated, and then when they find the solution their first groaning thought is – #### that was so simple to solve.