The Official Holowan Dictionary Suggestion.

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

Here's a suggestion going out to all the moderators and top notch modders.

 

How about a sticky "dictionary of terms, prefixes, suffixes, filetypes, etc. of KotOR"

 

It could help clear up a little confusion for newbies,

for example, Archon just explained to me that the reason I couldn't find a star map model was because it was labeled plc_starmap, and that plc stood for placeable.

 

So how about a thread that defines those kinds of terms and maybe gives a short explanation?

 

Thanks for your time:)

[Nur Ab Sal]

Sounds great. Online KotOR Modding Encyclopedia would be a vast improvement of starwarsknights.com

[stoffe]

H

How about a sticky "dictionary of terms, prefixes, suffixes, filetypes, etc. of KotOR"

(snip)

So how about a thread that defines those kinds of terms and maybe gives a short explanation?

 

If you are wondering about something just ask, and I'm sure someone will know the answer. What terms and abbreviations are you wondering about?

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

"If you are wondering about something just ask, and I'm sure someone will know the answer"

Then why even bother with organizing a bunch of tutorials?

Simply to save time, if everyone had to ask how to edit a texture without the ability to read a tut, the forum would be full of threads containing the simple questions answered there, (yes, I admit being guilty of that as well:D)

It would be efficient, because modders wouldn't have to answer every one of those questions.

Basically what I'm proposing is a thread that will help noobs learn the jargon more quickly, and see other definitions that they wouldn't have thought of asking about, and possibly more if anyone has improvement ideas.

And if something isn't answered there, THEN we can annoy you:D

and then have a mod edit in the missing definition in it's appropriate alphabetical order.

 

So basically anytime confusion pops up, it will be cleared up, but others will benefit without having to stumble onto the explanation, or start a new thread.

 

You would simply put everything in the first post, maybe posting several "blanks" for editing expansion, following posts can be simply submissions, or even a paragraph or two on more complicated terms, those posts could be linked to in their original definition, as well as having links to related tutorials etc.

 

example: first post,

______________________________________________________________

1. .2DA: a file with a bunch of words and numbers viewed through K-Tool in spreadsheet form (continued explanation, or link to lower post with more details)

[link to post #5]

 

2. .uti: a file containing information about an object (expl or link)

 

(more defs)

______________________________________________________

p2:

______________________________________________________

for future expansion.

______________________________________________________

p3:

______________________________________________________

ffe

______________________________________________________

p4:

______________________________________________________

ffe

_______________________________________________________

p5: first linked to post containing definition,

________________________________________________________

2DA, here's how they work, what you do with them and where they go

blah blah blah, yada yada yada (details)

__________________________________________________________

p6: first submission,

_______________________________________________________

Hey this noob just asked me what "placeable" means, I explained it to him,

could you edit the definition in because I don't want them annoying me any more,

oh and thx.

_______________________________________________________________

current end of dictionary until more posts..................

 

Kinda like that.

Does that seem like it would help?

[T7nowhere]

Its a good idea, However you can find all the gff file type descriptions at Bioware's NWN Developer section.http://nwn.bioware.com/developers/

 

There some are differences in the files, but its pretty good if ya know nothing about the file types. Its all we had in the early days.

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

Cool, I'll have to read it in-depth when I'm not so...*rubs eyes and yawns*

 

But I still think it would be useful, not just for filetypes, but all the jargon involved, even words and phrases that were introduced later with new editing tools and modding methods:)

[CDRSeadog]

Indeed, my friend...ahhh, the memories that brings:-)

 

Hard to believe it really wasn't all that long ago that the Holowan was a fledgling organization with a very few core "Mod Engineers", and even fewer mod fans...in fact (as I recall) we often had to ask each other to help out by testing each other's mods and/or mod ideas because we just didn't have anyone else we could ask - membership at the Holowan being what it was back then *chuckles*

 

I can even remember when Fred first introduced his KotOR tool - which was back then (as it still is today) the "swiss knife of KotOR modding" as either you, or tk-102 (I can't remember which) coined it:-)

 

Anyway - you are absolutely correct about our working our way blindly through KotOR modding without the benefit of any help, support, or even dictionary of terms from either BioWare or from LucasArts - excepting when that Admin from LucasArts stepped in and eradicated the first "Nude Bastila" from the Holowan (rotflmao & still remembering that moment as I watched him do it:-)

[T7nowhere]

That was actually Boba Rhett, I remember it clearly because I thought it was pretty funny. It was actually Lil' Jawa the posts are still there. The KT thread is an orginal, its pretty much where modding started to really take off, atleast it did for me. My first post in that thread was I think my first in this forum.

 

Edit: oh, btw REDJOHNNYMIKE I do like the idea and I will look into it, just don't expect it right away.

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

Thanks T7:D

 

It wouldn't need to be something that has to be compiled all at once anyway,

All you'd have to do is start the official thread,

put in a few entries,

and just edit in suggestions as people post them or ask about them,

kinda like the tutorial thread section,

I'm sure you only started with a few and grouped them together,

and if it needs expansion (as the above mentioned area appears to have needed, judging from some of it's included posts) it would only require new posts.

 

The concept is similar to one of those WIKI's, with the exception that entries must be requested for a mod to edit in:D

 

*pretends like he's ol' school too* Ahh yes those days, they definitely were those good old days, I remember those old days, they were old and good.

 

I think there still is a Bastila mod there,

it might have slipped under the radar because there was no descripton,

I DLed it and was like HOLD ON NOW!!! HOW'D THAT GET IN HERE!!!?

 

edit: oh T7, did you reconsider because of my post in the "sticky" thread XP

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

Try here.

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

SWEET!!!, I need that:D

But one tailor made by-knights for-knights would still be a great help, in the first section I looked at I noticed that some stuff is definitely different from kotor,

but some of that could be used to start it:)

[T7nowhere]

edit: oh T7, did you reconsider because of my post in the "sticky" thread XP

 

Nope, I liked the idea from the start, I'm not crazy about your example though . I just wanted to talk it over with a couple of our other Moderator/Modders before starting it so that we can get something that will work best.

[General Kenobi]

I like the idea as well T7 for "some" topics BUT not for ALL of them. Meaning I would like to see some of the harder stuff done this way like terms for modeling programs like Gmax and some of the advanced stuff for photoshop.

 

I'd hate to see someone have to explain what a .tga, or .jpg is though since you can just google it to get your answers

 

I think helpful stuff like "What is a 2da?" Then it explains what each row is meant to change or do. (my own HeAdShOp Thread contains a very good description of 2da's from Stoffe) The terms for modeling and advanced photoshop type stuff would be great!

 

I'm glad to see you think its a good idea man, I bet if a good listing goes up we'll see even more new modders in Holowan

 

If I can help with some of the Photoshop type terms PM me sometime

 

Regardless Good Idea JohnnyRedMike!!!

 

General Kenobi

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

@T7, Huh?

Do you mean my usual humor, and complete lack of understanding for my subject matter,

or the structure and mechanics?