[Troll] Things To Do

[Dennis Payne <dulsi@identicalsoftware.com>]

[Matt Kimball asked what areas of Troll Bridge could use help.
Since I've been meaning to write something up for a while I probably
went overboard.]

Probably the biggest need for at the moment is levels and a method of
tieing them together.  By tieing them together, I mean clues about the
locations of the other levels and clues about overall goal.  Story
writing is particularly difficult since I don't want to interrupt the
player and force him to click to go to the next screen of text.  (Yes
I want the impossible :)

New ground tiles and monsters images would also be appreciated.  In
particular I've been meaning to code up a Fire Elemental that moves
semi-randomly around the room.  Occassionally it would flare up and
ignite the eight surrounding spaces.  Additionally I still need a
Phoenix that carries the player.  (Not sure how I'm implementing that
yet.)  Currently the Phoenix is only planned for upward and downward
movement.  (I've always pictured the troll being eveloped and hidden
beneath the Phoenix sprite while being carried but I'm not dead set on
that.)  Spiders for the spider tree level.

Speaking of the Spider Tree level, I was thinking about it a little
while ago.  Matt Sullvan's initial design seemed a little platformish
to me.  Instead I thought the first two or three screens could have the
troll climbing up a ladder(s) or spider webs while spiders came down
and attacked him.  On the last screen there would an "exit" at the top
which would put the troll in a tree canopy "dungeon level" which would
be more like a traditional Zelda dungeon.  The two sections would be
part of the same map file.  The overall level (what you will end up
seeing in the little map) could be shaped like a tree.

A level editing howto might help promote the project but I haven't had
the time to put one together.  The level editor should be tossed and
rewritting as well since it is hard to use.

Ideas for monster and item implementions are also needed.

I'm thinking of putting in music and sound in the SDL version as well.
Not sure what to do about the other versions.  Been think an input
recorder and player would be good as well to allow simple demos.

Dennis Payne
dulsi@identicalsoftware.com