FAangband 0.3.2

[Nick]

After a frenzy of compiling, FAangband 0.3.2 is now available for download as source, or compiled for Windows, OSX or Windows CE from here.

Thanks as usual to Pav for hosting, and to all the people who gave me feedback on 0.3.1 (you know who you are).

This is purely a bugfix and UI update. Main changes are the use of proper menu code wherever there is a list to select from (with the sole exception of shops, where I couldn't decide what to do and chickened out); improved mouse interface; and NPP-style ego-squelching, but retaining the V interface and object hiding rather than destroying.

Anyone interested in UI issues is encouraged to look at how this all works (particularly the mouse interface and item selection).

Detailed change list below.



Features
-------

The following selections from a list now use Pete Mack's menus:

- item selection

- spellcasting

- specialty browsing and selection

- player and object mouse menus

- store ordering

Removed haggling

Added mouse buttons to message recall

Added NPP-style ego item squelching, but retaining V menus and hiding rather
than destroying squelched objects

Added context-sensitive mouse buttons for stairs and pickup

Added NPP fast string concatenation to support ego squelching

Bugfixes
--------

Minor errors in player histories

Error placing wilderness vaults which was causing crashes (fixed by Si Griffin)

Vampire shapechanges in light work correctly

Pre-030 savefiles were giving all imported objects 100% resistance to
everything (found by Seany Clayton)

Some randart rings still showing AC pre ID; some others were too shallow and
common (Si Griffin)

'p' and 's' now work for buying and selling in stores

Hidden squelchable things still appeared in the floor menu, despite not being
'l'ookable at

[Seany C]

Woohoo - that was quick. Nice work - I'll check out how it works on XP tonight...

[Seany C]

Early feedback:

It's crash-proof on Windows XP (hurrah) - as long as you keep NumLock on, anyway.

Stores are a lot more generous when buying than before although buying prices seem unchanged - in fact, having checked the messages, a Grey-Elf will charge 126 for Dark Initiation and also pay 126 for the same book.

When identifying an item, the available letters on the Inv window don't appear as they did in previous versions (although "*" will bring up the correct list of items available to identify).

Something seems to have changed in store ordering mechanics, although I'm too under-caffinated to work out what it is - is FAA now using the new(ish) V shops interface?

Finally, 0.2.3 savefiles don't have inv items with 100% resistance but items (e.g. a Doriath weapon) in inv or the home now don't display any resistances (I wouldn't fret - can't be many people upgrading from 0.2.3 files).

Well done on the fixes - now for uberdragons next time around...

[Nick]

It's crash-proof on Windows XP (hurrah) - as long as you keep NumLock on, anyway.

That's a relief.

Stores are a lot more generous when buying than before although buying prices seem unchanged - in fact, having checked the messages, a Grey-Elf will charge 126 for Dark Initiation and also pay 126 for the same book.

Removing haggling changed the way that worked in a way that I didn't really think about very much. That may change again in future, or it may not.

When identifying an item, the available letters on the Inv window don't appear as they did in previous versions (although "*" will bring up the correct list of items available to identify).

Yes, I didn't give much attention to the subwindows. The response to failed item selection has been accidentally turned off, too, and there is some other weirdness with identifying; annoying, but workable around at this point. I may do a fix soon.

Something seems to have changed in store ordering mechanics, although I'm too under-caffinated to work out what it is - is FAA now using the new(ish) V shops interface?

No, it isn't, and you'll notice that you can use 'p' and 's' again in shops now. The ordering (like everything else except the actual shop item list) is now a scrollable menu where you can choose an item by clicking, scrolling or typing the appropriate letter. And it looks a little different.

Finally, 0.2.3 savefiles don't have inv items with 100% resistance but items (e.g. a Doriath weapon) in inv or the home now don't display any resistances (I wouldn't fret - can't be many people upgrading from 0.2.3 files).

That's amusing.

Well done on the fixes - now for uberdragons next time around...

Yes, I'm rather looking forward to coding that

[HallucinationMushroom]

Super-Hardcore Dragons!!!!!!!! I want to slash their windpipes! I wonder what delicious malady Nick has cooking in the stew-pot for an Uber-Dragon... I think I'm going to fall asleep now, very happily, imagining all the wonderful horror in store. I'm going to start looking for Calris first thing tomorrow.

[Seany C]

>>Stores are a lot more generous when buying than before although buying >>prices seem unchanged - in fact, having checked the messages, a Grey-Elf >>will charge 126 for Dark Initiation and also pay 126 for the same book.

>Removing haggling changed the way that worked in a way that I didn't >really think about very much. That may change again in future, or it may >not.

So it's safe to regard generous store purchase prices as a feature rather than an exploit for now? Go on, twist my arm then...

[Nick]

So it's safe to regard generous store purchase prices as a feature rather than an exploit for now? Go on, twist my arm then...

Having just looked at the Black Market, it's an exploit

I've fixed a few little buglets, and will upload patched versions probably tomorrow; I'll be trying to include a fix for this too.

[Psi]

Some randart rings still showing AC pre ID; some others were too shallow and common (Si Griffin)

Does that mean I won't find any more randart +10 speed rings at DL11

Hidden squelchable things still appeared in the floor menu, despite not being 'l'ookable at

Do you still get the 'something rolling under your feet' message when an invisible squelched item drops?

[Nick]

Does that mean I won't find any more randart +10 speed rings at DL11

It should be less likely.

Do you still get the 'something rolling under your feet' message when an invisible squelched item drops?

Hm, not sure. And I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, so I'll just define it to be a feature whichever way it goes.

Store exploit fixed now, BTW.

[Psi]

Just as a warning to others before it gets fixed. If you order something in the travelling merchants, it seems to get automatically added to your squelch list.

[HallucinationMushroom]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but I haven't been keeping a close eye. I sold my High Elf's starting weapon for 40,000 and some change. I noticed something about selling generosity above but thought I'd mention the shopkeep's upper boundary appears absent.

[Nick]

Just as a warning to others before it gets fixed. If you order something in the travelling merchants, it seems to get automatically added to your squelch list.

This is fixed in my version now; I'll post here again when the site is updated.

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but I haven't been keeping a close eye. I sold my High Elf's starting weapon for 40,000 and some change. I noticed something about selling generosity above but thought I'd mention the shopkeep's upper boundary appears absent.

Thanks, I didn't have that one. Fixed now.

[Nick]

OK, the final version of 0.3.2 is on the site now. All the bugs mentioned on this thread are fixed. There is some slight weirdness with inscriptions interacting with menu scrolling, but for the most part it's not a problem.

[Psi]

Having just looked at the Black Market, it's an exploit

LOL I see what you mean. This is the one time a starting CHA of 3 would be a good thing!

[Nick]

There is a slight bug in specialty choosing when you choose two specialties from the menu at the same time (as a starting warrior mostly will) If the first you choose is earlier on the list than the second, you will end up with the one in the list before the second one you chose. Workaround - either make sure you choose the lower down specialty first, or exit the menu after choosing one and come back in to choose the second.