Dragons without wings

[meepsa]

I've been trying to make a mod where the wings of the dragons wont load, but so far I have no luck, I know that I have to edit .def files (the one I tried to edit was "dragona_u_geo_wings01_n"), but yeah, no result so far

I've also tried to edit the flapping animation of the dragons ("dragona_u_track_flightflap" im guessing), but I think I found out how to do that (edit float maxDist...could be wrong here, so if I am, someone please correct me)

anyhow, if anyone knows how to do this please help me out lol.

oh btw, if it doesnt load the head too (somehow I think these 2 are linked, due to the dragon ghost mobs near chic appearing without wings AND heads the first time they were put in) I guess thats where I decide not to do it

[Solitaire]

The heads and wings are not linked. But the wings and dorsal fins are. You can get rid of the wings but it would leave gaping holes on the body where they were attached. The resulting appearance would not be pretty.

[meepsa]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone!

*facepalms* should've known the track files were for the sounds...guess I kinda forgot the logic after having been away for roughly a week

The heads and wings are not linked. But the wings and dorsal fins are. You can get rid of the wings but it would leave gaping holes on the body where they were attached. The resulting appearance would not be pretty.

hmm, that doesnt sound pretty at all, but still I'd like to see it (making this for a friend who was wondering what dragons would look like then, so she could switch it on and off if she liked it), so could you please put something like a tutorial up here? *hatchling eyes*

[Solitaire]

I don't have much time to research it and test things out right now because I'm in the beginning stages of moving from Wisconsin to Florida. But most likely what you would need to do is just comment out the line "string itemName = dragon_u_geo_wings01_n.def" in the dragon(a)(j)_u_char.def file. Comment out the { and } before and after it too. This is a best guess by taking a quick look at the def file. It might or might not work.

// is what the client uses for a comment.

FYI the "dragonj"is hatchling (j stands for juvenile). "dragon" is adult. And "dragona" is ancient. Make sure you are modding the correct file.

[Guaran]

This would be an abomination and must not be persued!

Wingless dragon sea monsters are ok tho.

[Solitaire]

This would be an abomination and must not be persued!

Actually, I was kicking this around as a monster idea a while back. A race of dragons that were cursed by Drulkar for defying him. Never got very far with it, though.

[Raptress]

I've also tried to edit the flapping animation of the dragons ("dragona_u_track_flightflap" im guessing), but I think I found out how to do that (edit float maxDist...could be wrong here, so if I am, someone please correct me)

I'm pretty sure the track files are related to sounds. If you're talking about changing the rate at which the dragon flaps, that's been done in this thread.

[Firebrand]

I'm pretty sure the track files are related to sounds.

Right, track files associate animations to their sound effects and set how the sound effects have to be played.

[Shian]

This was considered a new mob:
http://community.istaria.com/gallery/pic.php?id=956
Now look at the date. Combined with the statement to not be looking for new mobs anytime soon implies that making new mobs is too slow to be worth it.

Especially using something as broken as the dragon skeleton.

[meepsa]

This was considered a new mob:
http://community.istaria.com/gallery/pic.php?id=956
Now look at the date. Combined with the statement to not be looking for new mobs anytime soon implies that making new mobs is too slow to be worth it.

Especially using something as broken as the dragon skeleton.

isnt that the thing thats coming in with Helian's Tomb or something?

but yeah, getting new mobs in is propably going to take a while, though I do like the idea of wingless dragons as "cursed/exiled" dragons.

[Solitaire]

The Azular will be part of Helian's Tomb.

Totally new monsters are a little time consuming but not prohibitive. In fact, there are a couple of new ones in the pipe at various stages of concept or completion. New player races I'm going to estimate will take at least 50 times the amount of work to create compared to monsters. With a monster, you create a model and skeleton, a texture to go on it and about 30 animations. With player races there are many many times the number of assets to create in models, textures and animations. If it is a non-bipedal race that uses tools, weapons and clothing/armor then we would need to create a whole new set of assets for those. And this is just on the art side. They also have to be designed and balanced on the server side. It is a huge amount of work.

We are not developing a version of the Wingless or "Da Al'rua" (if I have the Eilert Erdoten translation correct) at the present time though I do poke at the concept from time to time. I have written up a bit of lore for them but I must stress that this is entirely a personal idea at this point. There is no official development going on.

[Frith-Rae]

When we're given nothing apart from a "we don't want to" reasoning for not considering a suggestion, rather than a reasonable, thought-out statement for why it can't be done or why it would mess up the game or something.

Welcome to MMORPGs! =D

Seriously, If you get explanations (that are actually real and not fluff) consider yourself blessed. IStaria devs are better than most (though not the best IMO) devs with offering explanations, but they aren't perfect.

No group is .

And yea it frustrates me too, but its unfortunately par for the course..

[Romirez]

Dragons without wings

absolute blasphemy. :|



(i never heard of anyone even trying this. BTW)

[Clearbrooke]

absolute blasphemy. :|



(i never heard of anyone even trying this. BTW)

I wouldn't say Blasphemy... Look at Chinese dragons... They don't have wings!

Its a different style of dragons some like... Some don't... Western have wings, Wyverns have two legs with wings BEING their second set of legs (Personally my least favorite of the dragons, but they're still mythology.. I love Penguins and they look funky!!) Chinese are dragons that fly using the magic given to them by the 'gods' or whatnot, I don't know exact legends of them.. but I know I <3 how they fly *circles!!!*

now if Meeps is talking about just a grounded dragon like a Lizard or something.. Then yes, thats a lil degrading to dragons.. Thats a monster not an intelligent and magical creature or in Istaria's case, godlike...


Now what would look nice, is either a Chinese styled dragon (Which No thats not possible from a mod, that'd be stretching the dragon textures and body structure into a COMPLETELY different creature altogether) or simply a dragon that runs in the air or has sparklies behind it, then you have the complaints as you did the dryads 'Too much lag!!' Though I personally say screw the lag, its proof of magic in the dragon get over it, and turn the graphics down I have however, and I know others have too, seen my dragon bug out and not have wings (Instead graphical holes where wings should be..) that you might could tweak that bug and make a mod out of it... simply covering the holes with texture... But you'd have to take into consideration the missing head that tends to go along with the wings



Just a lil bit from someone who knows a bit of Dragon Mythology... and slightly agreeing with Meepsa... dragons are a species of their own, having from little cat-sized dragons that fly, all the way to the Chinese that're hundreds of feet long with no wings! None should be exiled or criticized because of their appearance or lack thereof... They are what they are ^.^ and should be respected as who and what they are

[meepsa]

I wouldn't say Blasphemy... Look at Chinese dragons... They don't have wings!

Its a different style of dragons some like... Some don't... Western have wings, Wyverns have two legs with wings BEING their second set of legs (Personally my least favorite of the dragons, but they're still mythology.. I love Penguins and they look funky!!) Chinese are dragons that fly using the magic given to them by the 'gods' or whatnot, I don't know exact legends of them.. but I know I <3 how they fly *circles!!!*

now if Meeps is talking about just a grounded dragon like a Lizard or something.. Then yes, thats a lil degrading to dragons.. Thats a monster not an intelligent and magical creature or in Istaria's case, godlike...


Now what would look nice, is either a Chinese styled dragon (Which No thats not possible from a mod, that'd be stretching the dragon textures and body structure into a COMPLETELY different creature altogether) or simply a dragon that runs in the air or has sparklies behind it, then you have the complaints as you did the dryads 'Too much lag!!' Though I personally say screw the lag, its proof of magic in the dragon get over it, and turn the graphics down I have however, and I know others have too, seen my dragon bug out and not have wings (Instead graphical holes where wings should be..) that you might could tweak that bug and make a mod out of it... simply covering the holes with texture... But you'd have to take into consideration the missing head that tends to go along with the wings



Just a lil bit from someone who knows a bit of Dragon Mythology... and slightly agreeing with Meepsa... dragons are a species of their own, having from little cat-sized dragons that fly, all the way to the Chinese that're hundreds of feet long with no wings! None should be exiled or criticized because of their appearance or lack thereof... They are what they are ^.^ and should be respected as who and what they are

first of all, I didn't start a thread to start a discussion about "what is a dragon and what isn't", after all, oroborus (AKA god dragon/creation dragon) of mythology is simply a snake biting it's tail, taking your reasoning in consideration, this wouldn't be classed as a dragon. :/

and neither were you right about my intentions, it was just something that sparked from a conversation about glitches.

next, the head and wingless glitch cannot (as far as I know) be triggered on purpose, in fact, simply removing the wing model from the .def file should work fine, and only get rid of the wings and spines.

Now what would look nice, is either a Chinese styled dragon (Which No thats not possible from a mod, that'd be stretching the dragon textures and body structure into a COMPLETELY different creature altogether

yes this is in fact possible from a mod, it would however requier A LOT of work, something which I've been known for not doing.

HOWEVER, I've given up on this for a loooooooong time now.

and a lizard isn't intelligent? you talking about Ssliks or something? *chuckles*

[Raptress]

Um... no, I'm pretty sure making a Chinese Lung-style dragon is not possible in a player-made mod. >.> Players don't have access to the basic files of the game that would be needed in order to do that. Not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars worth of 3D-art-related program that would be necessary.

that you might could tweak that bug and make a mod out of it... simply covering the holes with texture...

Pretty sure that can't be done either. Texture needs to be overlayed onto polygons.. those holes where the wings should be? Missing polygons. Can't texture over what isn't there.

Also.. trying to argue about what is or isn't a dragon is a completely pointless pursuit. :P

[Solitaire]

Pretty sure that can't be done either. Texture needs to be overlayed onto polygons.. those holes where the wings should be? Missing polygons. Can't texture over what isn't there.

That is correct. There is nothing there to put the texture onto. Also, the textures were made taking that hole into account. Without reworking the existing models, texture over those areas would be stretched or broken. There really is no good way for players to make significant modifications to the dragon models that will look good.