Rocks'n'Diamonds

Hi folks,

I think it's time for a R'n'D FAQ to, well, answer frequently asked questions!
(Probably both linked at the R'n'D site and packaged with the game.)

Which questions do you think are really *frequent* and *relevant* (important) to new users?

For now, I have the following questions -- please add more which you had by yourself or which you think should be clarified!

- how to snap ;-)
- how to place dynamite (also EMC dynamite!)
- how to submit/release levels (-> Zomis' RND archive)
- how to find my own levels/tapes (Windows, Linux, Mac OS X)
- how to extract zip/7z archives

There could also be more specific or advanced questions (like the "Ctrl-Mouseclick" thing as a pipette tool shortcut in the editor), which could be put to further FAQ sections, but maybe I should start with the "newbie style" questions first! :-)

- where to put downloaded levels
- how to play in network mode/internet
- levelinfo.conf (how to remove readonly; how to create a new levelinfo.conf to play a single *.level file)

Another very frequent one:
- Help! I can't finish a level! Do you know how to solve it?

- How to make & use CEs
- Level editor use
- How to use the tape funtions (like save, load, fast forward)
- How to use the tricks from Supaplex and Boulderdash (If you know what I mean...)

BTW: My brother had problems making CEs and wanted to know what to put
in them for the funtions...

Ryan P. wrote:My brother had problems making CEs and wanted to know what to put
in them for the funtions...

I don't understand what you are saying here.

- How to make & use CEs
- Level editor use

I think these two issues are a bit too much for a FAQ. I mean that they should be included, but they could hardly find a short answer (as FAQ's answers usually are).

At the moment, you could take a look to my CEs Walkaround, which gives some kind of introduction to the Level Editor about CE's creation. It has been written for 3.1.1, but it should be still valid

I am planning to make an HTML version of that document, and I'll take the occasion to update it to 3.2.0, as the new version has a lot of new features.

Daniel H. wrote:

Ryan P. wrote:My brother had problems making CEs and wanted to know what to put
in them for the funtions...

I don't understand what you are saying here.

Oh I'm sorry, I was meant to say is that my brother Alex does'nt had exp. for creating
CEs; I helped him on his stuff like that simple fake diamond and other stuff
like RAP's MM (Multiplayer Mini) games ideas... (check on his levels and
problemly RAP's MM Games...)

I see. Thank you for the clarification.

That doesn't seem like a very important point though...

The FAQ should have sections. For example, "Newbie questions" (please rename it somehow), "A bit more advanced questions" (e.g. how to play via network), "Frequently unsolved levels" (how to solve harder levels from the tutorial), "Advanced level editing" (e.g. the "Ctrl+mouseclick" in the editor).

The "Advanced level editing" section should also contain a tutorial for creating a really basic CE, just to find out what are CEs about, for example: how to make an indestructible nut which changes to diamond when pressed.

Those sound like good ideas!

Tomi wrote:For example, "Newbie questions" (please rename it somehow)

How about "Beginners' Questions?"

The problem with naming sections like "Beginner's Questions" or "More advanced questions" is to decide which questions is beginner or which are advanced? I think it would be better to organize the FAQ in another way, for example: Playing RND, Level Editor, RND Files on your disk, Multiplayer

I started a little faq on the rndwiki (which doesn't seem to be used often...), anyways... in case anyone would like to use it or change it:
http://www2.semisane.de/rndwiki/FAQ

Zomis wrote:I think it would be better to organize the FAQ in another way, for example: Playing RND, Level Editor, RND Files on your disk, Multiplayer

I agree. That way, it would be easier for people to figure out where to look, too.

"How can I play tapes recorded by someone else?"
(it's actually a slightly altered quote from this forum)

Also useful would be a Bestiary for the classic games (BD/EM/SP) - or maybe it's already done? If so, forgive my ignorance. But on the other hand, part of the newbie fun is finding out "what this button does", so it shouldn't be immediately available, just as a reference somewhere.

[edit] Of course wherever two or more different answers apply, depending on the OS (as is the case with questions about playing tapes), both/all should be provided and it should be clearly marked which one applies where.

Zomis:
> I think it would be better to organize the FAQ in another way, for example:
> Playing RND, Level Editor, RND Files on your disk, Multiplayer

Yep, also think so...

> Also useful would be a Bestiary for the classic games (BD/EM/SP) - or
> maybe it's already done?

Only partly -- in the still incomplete "elements info" on the "info screen".

> Of course wherever two or more different answers apply, depending on
> the OS (as is the case with questions about playing tapes), both/all
> should be provided and it should be clearly marked which one applies
> where.

Yeah, right.