Suggestion for a CoreRPG extension

[lachancery]

A small extension that would look for two graphics files in the campaign directory (ie: desktop.png & chatwindow.png), and if they are found, they would be layered (centered) on top of the desktop and in the chat window.

This extension would be especially useful to theme one-shot games like Pathfinder Society games.

[Trenloe]

Nice idea. But... I don't know if this is possible in an extension. The desktop is defined in the <desktopframe> definition: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/refdoc/desktopframe.xcp which points to a framedef of the desktop. For example, CoreRPG has:

<!-- Desktop background -->
<framedef name="desktop">
	<bitmap file="graphics/frames/desktop.png" />
	<top rect="0,1,324,151" />
	<middle rect="1,154,200,200" />
	<right rect="450,0,100,144" />
	<bottomright rect="450,0,100,144" />
	<bottom rect="219,437,567,132" />
	<decal rect="830,0,510,510" />
</framedef>

This is pretty much a static graphics file whose components for the desktop are all composed in the same .png file with the above listed dimensions. https://www.fantasygrounds.com/refdoc/framedef.xcp

Essentially, if you want a different decal in the middle of the desktop then you need to include a whole new desktop.png file - but just change the 830,0,510,510 dimensions of the file for the new decal. Of course, this makes it very difficult to just change the decal within a desktop theme.

Similarly, the main section of the chat window is defined in a single file chatbox.png and the framedef is:

<framedef name="chatbox">
	<bitmap file="graphics/frames/chatbox.png" />
	<topleft rect="0,0,18,15" />
	<top rect="18,0,487,15" />
	<topright rect="505,0,18,15" />
	<left rect="0,15,18,476" />
	<middle rect="18,15,487,476" />
	<right rect="505,15,18,476" />
	<bottomleft rect="0,491,18,39" />
	<bottom rect="18,491,487,39" />
	<bottomright rect="505,491,18,39" />
</framedef>

So, you'd have to change the whole chatbox.png file, but only the middle rectangle coordinates: 18,15,487,476. The problem is that these wouldn't be centered if the user resized the chat window.

These changes would have to be done to the .png file before being loaded in Fantasy Grounds, so you're essentially doing just what a theme does - provide a new .png file for the whole frame (desktop or chatbox) not layering on top an interchangeable image.

[damned]

So a theme is basically an extension... and you wouldnt do it for CoreRPG you would have to do it for the particular ruleset - but as you are doing it for Pathfinder that wouldnt be a big deal?
I just tried a couple of things out - it would be a bit of fun to have these themes for Pathfinder and for FG Con <weg>

[damned]

Ok - Here is a super quick and small FG Con theme that should work with most CoreRPG rulesets.
You only have to edit the desktop.png file - changing only layers 1 and 2 and staying with those dimensions and teh name/description in the extension.xml file...

FG Con Fantasy
FG Con Numenera
FG Con Cthulhu
and one Easter Egg for you Resire - You will have to download it to see it

Gimp File for Ease of Making New Images

Sreenshot

[damned]

Added a couple of extras... just desktop changes nothing else.

back to lachancery's post...
what order are things loaded?
CoreRPG+CoreRPGRuleset+Extensions and THEN Campaign?
If loaded in that order there is probably no way for an extension to get the Campaign folder path?

[Blackfoot]

They aren't that hard to do... I did a bunch of theme ones for my FGCon games last time. It was pretty cool.. I just basically dropped the cover art in as a decal. The one I added a curtain for a theater feel (it was that kinda game).

[RTFallen]

Little late seeing this, but thanks damned!

Resire

[Trenloe]

CoreRPG+CoreRPGRuleset+Extensions and THEN Campaign?
If loaded in that order there is probably no way for an extension to get the Campaign folder path?

The campaign doesn't contain code, it contains data in the campaign database (DB.XML file). The data from the database is available during Code initialisation and after.

There are some things in the campaign folder that can't be accessed through FG code - e.g. Desktop graphics files that aren't stored as images.

[Trenloe]

CoreRPG+CoreRPGRuleset+Extensions

As far as I understand it, the following process occurs. Taking loading a 3.5E campaign with one or more extensions as an example:

1. The 3.5E ruleset starts to load. base.xml is used as the main specificaion/declaration and load order of the ruleset XML and LUA code.
2. The first action that happens in base.xml is: <importruleset source="CoreRPG" /> This pauses the load of the 3.5e ruleset at this point and starts to load up CoreRPG.
3. The base.xml file in CoreRPG is used to load up the CoreRPG ruleset.
4. Once the CoreRPG ruleset has been loaded (base.xml has been processed all the way through) then control will be passed back to the paused base.xml in the 3.5E ruleset (step 2 above).
5. The 3.5E base.xml file is processed through, merging/replacing XML definitions and replacing LUA scripts as defined in the 3.5E ruleset.
6. Once the 3.5E ruleset has been loaded, any extensions will be loaded. The load order of extensions is not guaranteed unless the extensions have a <loadorder> defined in extension.xml. Extensions usually overwrite underlying ruleset code - although they can merge XML if the merge tags are used.

[damned]

Ive updated three of those theme extensions...



SF Theme
Fantasy Theme
Fantasy Mage Theme

Depending on your ruleset you may have to tweak the extension.xml if its not showing as available....