The Mana World - User contributions [en]

File:Iceland5.png

2008-07-21T19:37:28Z

Pavitra: New directions to the ice land, part 5.

New directions to the ice land, part 5.

File:Iceland4.png

2008-07-21T19:36:50Z

Pavitra: New directions to the ice land, part 4.

New directions to the ice land, part 4.

File:Iceland3.png

2008-07-21T19:35:25Z

Pavitra: New directions to the ice land, part 3.

New directions to the ice land, part 3.

Archive:Keyboard usage

2007-12-21T00:34:51Z

Pavitra: proposal: tab toggles chat

{{Category_playerinfo}}
{{Status_green}}
== Purpose ==

The purpose of this document is to propose a generally new way of handling keyboard input, that streamlines several features we want to introduce in this area like consistent shortcuts, user-definable keys and a nice cooperation with the GUI. The primary problem it tries to solve currently is the conflict between GUI and chatting about the usage of the Enter key.

A brief list of keyboard commands follows: more keyboard info is [[#Table_of_keys|further below]].

<pre>
- Alt + S Toggle sit/stand
- Alt + F Pathfinder Debug indicator
- A Targets the nearest monster (but won't bum-rush with melee weapon)
- F1 Help
- F2 Stats
- F3 Inventory
- F4 Equipment
- F5 Skills
- F6 Mini-Map
- F7 Chat console
- F9 Setup
- F10 Map/etc Debug Window

- Left Ctrl attack
- Alt + 0-9 show emotions
- G or Z pick up item
- Enter focus chat window / send message
- Left Shift hold it when attacking to lock target for auto attack
</pre>

== Chatting ==

At the moment you press Enter to start a chat message. This makes the chat box appear so that you can type your message, until you press Enter again to send it. While typing your message, you can move your cursor with Left and Right, and navigate your chat history with Up and Down.

'''Problems:'''
* Enter is also used for confirming a pop-up dialog.
* People forget about pressing Enter (for example ElvenProgrammer)
* It is not possible to walk while having a message in progress.

Instead of Enter, we could use any valid chat character to immediately start the chat message. Also, we could move cursor and history navigation to be only possible when using the arrow keys in combination with Alt, while without control would still move your character as normal. Now Enter can be used without problems for confirming a dialog, while you could still start typing a chat message while a dialog is active.

== Dialogs ==

I'd propose to move the toggling of dialogs to the function keys.

== World interaction ==

We're using Ctrl for attacking and this seems fine to me. I'd propose to start using this key also for friendly interaction with the world, like initiating a trade with an NPC, picking up an item or opening a door.

World interaction also requires selection of a target. While you can rely on walking up to and facing the thing you want to interact with, this is not always convenient. An NPC could be surrounded, a monster could be approaching diagonally, or the interaction could be meant to be used from a distance. I'm thinking about using either Tab/Shift+Tab to iterate through possible targets, or Shift+Direction. I'm leaning towards the latter now because Tab would already be used for navigating GUI widgets, but then I think that's a bigger problem that needs to be solved differently (see problems still remaining, below).

If there are multiple actions that can apply to a certain object this should be made clear in some way. I think we could use Shift + Ctrl or Alt + Ctrl to make a menu appear with all options.

== Special commands ==

There's a few special commands already in use now and any number could be added in the future. These special commands include using emotions and sitting down / standing up. In this area we could also allow the user to set up a custom key binding for a special command, possible through the use of IRC-like chat messages bound to keys. I think we should use Alt consistently as the modifier key for these commands.

== Problems still remaining ==

It will still be impossible to control the general GUI like your inventory or the trade dialog with your keyboard. In the longer term the plan is to solve this issue, and I think we'll have to do this by turning off control over your character while these dialogs are active. This would make the arrow keys and action key available for GUI control.

== Table of keys ==

{| style="background-color: rgb(245,245,245); border: 2px solid rgb(220,220,220);" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" |
! style="width: 400px; background-color: rgb(220,220,220); text-align: left;" |Function
! style="background-color: rgb(220,220,220); text-align: left;" |Key(s)
|-
|| Walk around
|| Left, Right, Up, Down
|-
|| Select target
|| Tab / Shift + Tab ''or'' Shift + Direction
|-
|| Default action (attack, pickup, trade, talk)
|| Ctrl
|-
|| Show menu with all actions
|| Alt + Ctrl
|-
| style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(220,220,220);" |
| style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(220,220,220);" |
|-
|| Start chatting / continue writing chat message
|| a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, Ã¸, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, Ã˜, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, !, @, #, $, %, ^, &, *, (, ), -, _, =, +, {, }, [, ], ;, :, ', ", <, >, /, ?, ~, `, \, |
|-
|| Move cursor in text input field
|| Alt + Left, Alt + Right
|-
|| Navigate history of chat messages
|| Alt + Up, Alt + Down
|-
|| Confirm dialog
|| Enter
|-
| style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(220,220,220);" |
| style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(220,220,220);" |
|-
|| Toggle help window
|| F1
|-
|| Toggle profile window
|| F2
|-
|| Toggle inventory window
|| F3
|-
|| Toggle equipment window
|| F4
|-
|| Toggle skill window
|| F5
|-
|| Toggle map window
|| F6
|-
|| Toggle chat window
|| F7
|-
|| Toggle debug window
|| F8
|-
|| Toggle setup window
|| F9
|-
| style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(220,220,220);" |
| style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(220,220,220);" |
|-
|| Sit down / stand up
|| Alt + S, <code>/sit</code>
|-
|| Use emotion
|| Alt + 0-9, <code>/emot 0-9</code>
|}

== Comments ==

Ok let me be the first one, it is a nice or at least it's a good start on pointing things out in a clearer way. I strongly suggest to use Shift + direction to target since it would be very useful, for example in ranged attacks, a quick way to target the right monster, especially in dangerous situations. I guess with the system you proposed we lost the possibility to have rebindable keys (apart from action keys Shift/Alt/Ctrl and Alt + ...). This is not bad in my opinion because it gives us a confortable and easy control system. Probably there will be to fix something that we will discover only when we will apply such a system. --[[User:ElvenProgrammer|ElvenProgrammer]] 16:31, 20 Sep 2005 (CEST)

:Action keys could be rearranged but not many rebinding is possible as basically all keys are taken. The main area where people could do some key binding would be in the special key zone. I would probably still like most of the keys to be configured dynamically though, and at least allow them to be changed through the config file. I think the main focus should be on a convenient default setup, and have key binding be a feature for power users or people with broken keys on their keyboard. It just occured to be that the special keys could be used for example to bind to a certain weapon, piece of equipment or spell that you'd like to have readily available. --[[User:BjÃ¸rn|BjÃ¸rn]] 16:44, 20 Sep 2005 (CEST)

I would propose binding chat toggle to the tab key. This would not only remove the conflict, but would allow toggling chat off without sending the message. [[User:Pavitra|Pavitra]] 01:34, 21 December 2007 (CET)

FAQ

2007-12-18T23:56:59Z

Pavitra: /* I heard the characters will be deleted when you move to the new server. Is that true? */ style

{{Category_playerinfo}}
This is the FAQ for The Mana World. If you have a question, search for it in the Table of Contents. If you cannot find it, please post it on the forums, previously having searched for similar threads.

== Support questions ==

=== Does TMW have an IRC channel? ===

Yes it does.

* '''Server''': ''irc.freenode.net''
* '''Channel''': ''#themanaworld''

For a direct link: [irc://irc.freenode.net:6667/themanaworld]

=== Is my platform supported? ===

Look in [[Ports]].

=== Where can I look for help? ===

The IRC channel is a good start for solving small problems or doubts. Is usually habited by sane people, ignore everything m[a]tt says. As most people are from Europe (GMT or GMT+1 timezones) you will have more success if you try to contact at a reasonable hour in the day.

For more complex problems (compilations problems, crashes...) is advisable to use the forums as it is a non-volatile way of storing your claims. If you do in IRC some people won't have the oportunity to read them and your oportunity of getting further help will be narrowed. At the same time posting long logs or reports on IRC is not polite.

=== When is this game updated? ===

This has several aswers. The general politics in the dev team is "When it's doneâ„¢". Expect new version to be released in a span of one to two months since the previous release.

Nevertheless, you can use SVN to fetch latest code from sourceforge's repository. That code usually has all of the bleeding-edge additions but it could also be broken and don't even compile. Althought usually it does work, is a fair warning to be done. Anyways, it doesn't imply any risk of breaking your system in any way or form.

A third update way are the automated updates. As the name says, the user doesn't have to do anything, just start the game and in the log-in screen the updates will be fetch. As a general rule it is advisable to fetch them but if you don't want to or you feel that such updates are conflicting with the (more up-to-date) data taken from SVN (like display of old maps or graphics when you're sure the ones in SVN has been already updated), you can parse the '-u' switch to the tmw executable. This will avoid any automatic update.

=== I want to help, how do I join the team? ===

First, if you are a developer read this: [[Joining the project]].

If you're a graphic artist is suggested you read the [[Guidelines]] and take a look at the '''Graphics''' section on the front page.

If you want to help coding some scripts or managing server content, read [http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewforum.php?f=9 this].

If you just want to suggest something, use the '''Suggestions/Feedback''' subforum.

=== I don't want to be rude but... I'm fed up with maggots!!! ===

One thing you'll notice if you invest hours every day into the game, is that you'll eventually run out of things to do. While we're constantly adding to the game with maps, quests, NPCs... we really can't keep up with demand. If you'd like to help this though, just join the project! It's as simple as that; you play the games, not us, so we don't know what you'd like to see and your opinion matters to us.

== Game-related questions ==

=== I'm a bit lost... How do I start? ===

There is an article specifically about this: [[Getting started]].

=== What are the keyboard shortcuts? ===

See the README file that came with your install for the list or press F1 while in game to see the help. The keys are currently non-configurable.

=== How do skills work? ===

* '''Strength''': Makes you hit harder with melee weapons.
* '''Agility''': Makes your enemies hit you less often and increases your attack speed.
* '''Vitality''': Increases your maximum HP and your HP recovery rate. Decreases the amount of damage you receive from hits.
* '''Intelligence''': Increases your maximum MP and your MP recovery rate. this stat isn't that important yet because there isn't a way to spend your MP yet.
* '''Dexterity''': Makes you hit harder with bows. Makes you miss your enemies less often with both melee and bow weapons.
* '''Luck''': Makes you do critical hits from time to time.
For further reading see [[Stats]].

=== What are MP for? ===

MP stands for "Magic Points", thus are points used in magic spells. Currently they can't be used in the game, this is because we will be moving to our own server with its own protocol and coding stuff for our current server (eAthena) would be a waste of time.

== Common problems ==

=== When I try to login using the account that usually works, I get following message: Disconnected from server ===

The message is misleading. It means that the game server is not online at the moment. Try again later.

If you really want to make sure, make sure you're trying to connect to <code>server.themanaworld.org</code> and that the port in your <code>config.xml</code> is set to 6901.

If that is the case and you still are not convinced it really is down, run "ping -c1 <host>" to check if the server's machine is up at or run "telnet <host> <port>" to also check if the server software is listening on the port you specified. Telnet should timeout after a while if it cannot connect to the specific port on the host.

== Problems with compiling or running ==

=== Strange errors when running 0.0.22.1 ===

When running version 0.0.22.1 against Guichan 0.5.0, you should see the following error:
<pre>
tmw: Symbol `_ZTVN3gcn12FocusHandlerE' has different size in shared object, onsider re-linking
tmw: symbol lookup error: tmw: undefined symbol: _ZN3gcn6Widget19removeDeathListenerEPNS_13DeathListenerE
</pre>
The solution is to make sure that you uninstall any Guichan 0.5.0 library files from your system, and install Guichan 0.6.0 properly.

== Misc questions ==

=== I heard the characters will be deleted when you move to the new server. Is that true? ===

Yes, it is. There is no appeal. The way the two servers work are too different to make a migration of the player database reasonably possible. However, we think that this change will make many additions to the game possible that are not feasible with the current server. Thus, the problem is unavoidable. The developers have not yet stated whether long-time players will be given some bonus or advantage on the new server after the transition.