Linking Book "rules"

[D'Lanor]

errr... what exactly is a "sub-age" ... and how would I go about making one?

You are already making one by linking there with the PtLinkingRules.kSubAgeBook rule. OOC server linkingrules are even more powerful than the IC variety. You create an instance by the action of linking.

Other examples of a sub ages are Eder Delin and Eder Tsogal. They are sub ages of the neighborhood. IMO the sub age was a reasonably successful implementation of instancing. Sub ages are clean, they don't leave traces in Nexus, KI or Relto. They can be explored together without the need for book sharing and you can return together, again without book sharing. The return link uses the same linkingrule kSubAgeBook, but the server "knows" whether you are linking to or from a sub age.

There is one snag though. Never use any other linkingrule to link to an age intended as a sub age. That reverses the roles of the main age and sub age. If for example you would link to Delin as a personal age (PtLinkingRules.kOriginalBook) and then use the book that links to the neighborhood, you would create a new neighborhood instance as sub age of Delin.

[Robert The Rebuilder]

Another example is Ahra Pahts. The "nexus", or Prin Pahts, is IC located on another world, but OOC is located several meters below the city. We did this so that the load times would be minimal.

You could do the same thing, Bob, without a separate sub age.

[EDIT] Oh yeah - and I use PtFakeLinkAvatarToObject() to do the link within the age, so I don't have to fuss with the various Python linking rules.

[boblishman]

ok ... now I am getting even more confused ... so, is this a purely "cosmetic" job ... or does it HAVE to be another Age (or Sub Age) ?

The reason I ask is that ... will be obvious when linking in MO:RE ... if you ARE going to a different age ...

I don't remember now if the loading screen actually told you which Age you were loading or not. If it DOES, then I would HAVE to create an separate "nexus" Age (or sub-Age) ...
If it doesn't, then how would people know (without looking at the game files) that it was the same age (if I do it Robert's way) ...

(to be honest, I've already started working on a nexus as a separate Age - which I will probably use - but I think this needs clarifyinig for people starting on Ages that require a way to move locations within the Age via a book (which at the moment, apart from the (horrible, IMHO) warping, is the only way we can currently do this)

[Robert The Rebuilder]

Yes - you're right. In URU and in MO:RE, you can tell it is the same age because you don't see the loading bar at the bottom. But the load bar is an OOC construct.

There is a Cyan precedent to using another place inside of an age to represent a different age - K'veer/Releeshahn in Myst V. When the Bahro puts its hand over your eyes to whisk you away to Releeshahn, you are just doing a link within the same age.

The PtFakeLinkAvatarToObject() command is what you use instead of warping. You give it a spawn point within the age to link to, and it will make the sound and make your character transparent. However, you would have to add the fade to black effect.

[Grogyan]

Another example is Ahra Pahts. The "nexus", or Prin Pahts, is IC located on another world, but OOC is located several meters below the city. We did this so that the load times would be minimal.

You could do the same thing, Bob, without a separate sub age.

[EDIT] Oh yeah - and I use PtFakeLinkAvatarToObject() to do the link within the age, so I don't have to fuss with the various Python linking rules.

Wow, I was going to ask you about Prin, as its an effect that i'll need to use in my shell, right after my python project

[D'Lanor]

You will never get away with faking a link to another age in MORE. The age players list has no mercy for cheaters.

But Robert is right, Cyan has created precedents. The alternative vault in Kadish and the maintainers nexus in Gahreesen (part of the wall game).

[boblishman]

OK... well, thanks for all the input guys, ... I decided to make a Nexus Age for Sonavio ... it just seemed easier ...

As usual, you can download the latest Sonavio (zipped together with the new Nexus Age) HERE ... full installation instructions are included in the zip file ( the "Installation Instrucions.txt" file).

You only need a Sonavio book in your Relto ... you don't need the Nexus book on your bookshelf

Bob

[Kato]

Wow Bob, Sonavio is looking amazing!

Puzzle's still got me stumped, but uh, very nice job!

-Kato

[Nadnerb]

Another example of the "multiple ages in one age" trick (this time really from uru) is the maintainer's nexus. It was usable during UU, and involved linking people from the top of the wall game into a small nexus like room, which contained a link back to the Gahreesen team rooms.

[Tweek]

True however there is still some debate whether that was supposed to be in Gahreesen or another Age, given the linking mechanism used to get there wasn't the usual D'ni fare.