Creature Bank Creator for ERA 3



Thanks to Berseker and his new release of ERA 3 I was able to create a script/mod that allows to turn map objects into creature banks.
The goal of the project was to simulate a fully functional CB with only ERM code. This script will allow modders to easily create new CB and distribute them.
My hope is that creative people will use it and share their work or port creature banks of HotA or Tide of War to ERA, so they are available for everyone.

What is currently possible with this script:
- turn most objects available in the map editor into a CB. Transmuted objects can lose their original functionality, so I recommend to use blank objects for now.
- you can set custom sounds and battlefields
- replace map objects with your new CB, so they will appear on random maps
- fully flexibility by setting type of guards and number of guards
- setting a lot of possible rewards.
- CB can spawn in different sizes (Small,Medium,Large,Huge)
- CB can be revisited
- CB guards can grow over time

Current template version is 1.04. So please report bugs so I can improve it. In theory, this template can be expanded with anything you can imagine. Ofc if you are good with ERM you can even add your own scripts.
How much more time I will invest depends on your feedback and reports.

I made a video that explains how this template should be used:
How to create new creature banks in a few minutes with ERA 3

How to use this template in short:
1) Download Mod and activate in Mod Manager
2) Open Map Editor and look for an object that should become your CB
3) Place that object on your test map
4) Open ERM Editor and load one of the blank templates New_CB_000.erm
5) Make all settings in the erm file. until line 130 *Start of Script*
6) Save and start your map. Test if all settings work by visiting your CB with a hero
7) If you want to use your CB on a random map look for objects that should be replaced. Choose up to 6 different ones. Also, place these on your test map and check if they get replaced correctly. The yellow square should match in the coordinates. If it does not use the x-Offset setting until it does. This will prevent unaccessible CB
8) For new CB use a new template with a different number

Keep in mind that this Mod requires at least ERA 3 to work.

Template version 1.04
Download: Dropbox

I know that the newest ERA is still in development and not widely used but this will change in the future. So please see this as a long term project.
Many thanks to Berserker for his support and ERA!

Edit:
Some fresh impressions from VMaikos Third Upgrade Mod.
Creature Banks from hota are now 1:1 available also for ERA.
Isnt that great

PerryR, congratulations with the first release!

Updated the first post with some fresh images.
Turns out the script really works, who would have thought that
Big thanks to VMaiko for showing the potential of the template!

On the next weekend I will update the templates with some improved functionality.

I didn't waste any of the scripts, it's more, it seems that I fell short, I look forward to the new functions that you will bring us, your script is revolutionary in ERA for allowing us new playable content

Updated and Reuploaded Beta 2



Changelog:

- New: now set up to 4 different Artifacts as a reward
- New: now set all Resources as a possible reward
- New: Set up to two creatures as a possible reward
- New: Set a range x1-x2 as possible creature/artifact as a reward. For example, give only Castle creatures as rewards.
- New: Set custom text when visiting already cleared creature banks
- Removed WoG Scripts dependency by removing all macros
- fix that some CB showed incorrect name after map creation
- fix Gold Reward could be given to the wrong player
- fix Setting the First creature to -1 now does not give erm error
- fix different size option should now work again


Currently, if you set several different rewards they are processed one after each other, after clearing the CB. A multipurpose dialogue can be created were for example Experience and Creatures show up with pictures in one window. To program a flexible dialogue that does all that automatically and covers all possible cases is nearly impossible. It's much easier if you know exactly what your CB should give and script it accordingly. On request so to say.

Hello PerryR, I have got many problems because of the patch in this script... It would be better if you to change it this way:


I have already tested it in my mod, and it works without problems.

Btw, you can also optimize playing of custom sounds:

Quote:!!VRz9:S^MYSTERY.WAV^;
!!VRz8:S^Mystery.wav^;

Omg! use !!FU(StrToLower) instead or check for mystery.wav and mYstery.wav too! )

Oh, I did not know that we have this function in ERM Thank you!

Mods\Era Erm Framework\9999 era - stdlib.erm

Thanks to your help Berserker, Raistlin, this small problem related to the sounds of the objects will surely be solved, there are cases where mystery.wav is played together with the custom sound when you visit the object, other times (eg Warehouses), or default object lacks mystery.wav when visiting

Raistlin,
thanks for the suggestion, I can change the code that disabled the sound, np. To be honest Iam not even sure if it is needed at all, if you use a different trigger to replace objects, you can refrain from using it completely.
Will we see some new creature banks from you ?

V_Maiko, I wasn't aware that there is such an issue, only now I know. The suggestions from R&B could solve the problem I think.

Yes! A cursed chapel, that is guarded by Adepts

Quote:To be honest Iam not even sure if it is needed at all, if you use a different trigger to replace objects, you can refrain from using it completely.

I think, it works faster when you do it in "OnAfterErmInstructions". Using "OnEveryDay" will mean, that the trigger with its first check will be called during the whole game. One creature bank will not influence anything, but if there are many it could cause an overload.

OnAfterErmInstructions is great, because objects replacement occurs even before map is shown. In other cases single trigger checks will no slow down any code significantly. It's a microptiomization.

In my opinion it is better to optimize something when you can optimize it