AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

If you have the skill and willingness to work, now's a chance to apply for a job in Amia's design team. Read on...

What's needed?

A person knowledgeable in NWscript and confident enough in his/her skills to embark on experimental projects.

What tasks will I be doing?

Two main jobs for starters: first, scripting DC items as per the DM team's request, and second, aiding the design team assigned to an area expansion project. The latter job consists of various little tasks that will be discussed with the designers. More info of the project will be given at a later point to avoid posting spoilers on the public forums.

How much commitment is required / how many hours per week?

Depends on your programming speed and the current projects' demands, but at least 5 hours a week, often more.

What's in it for me?

Fame and glory, programming experience and happy, thankful players. Depending on your commitment and contribution, more influence and responsibility in Amia's development team.

How do I apply?

Send me a PM with a brief description of yourself as an Amian and your programming history (both NWscript and others). I'm especially interested in your level of commitment and interest, but be realistic with your estimates please. I'll give you a few tasks to work on to show off your skills.

Anything else I should be aware of?

You're expected to know and adhere to good programming practices. In Amia's case, readability and formatting of code, consistency and documentation/comments are especially important. You shouldn't rely on NWVault scripts or generators, but the code must be original. This is because you, the scripter, should have an understanding of the code you're working on in order to meet Amia's high standards and variable needs. Some of the tasks you'll be working on are very demanding (the DMs and designers are sneaky buggers and come up with the weirdest requests) and require plenty of creativity and confidence with NWscript. Knowing the limits of one's skill is a good thing, too. It's better to give up and admit the task is too difficult to finish properly than to settle for gimmicks.

So I applied, what happens next?

Your sample work will be evaluated and I'll chat with you a little more about the expectations. I don't know yet how many applications I'll receive, so I cannot give an estimate of the likelihood of placement in the design team. It's possible that there's not enough work for every applicant right now, but don't let that possibility put you off if you feel your skills would complement Amia's development team and you really want to contribute more.

What happens to my code once's it's been submitted to Amia?

We don't claim ownership to anything you've made, but reserve the right to use or not use it as the development team decides. You are free to use your contributions elsewhere as you desire, naturally.

I've more questions...

Ask away! PM me or post here (but keep spam out, thanks!)

You forgot to add

"If you wish to never ever play NWN ever again" xD

Novice as I am with scripting, if anyone is willing to help me learn, I am more than willing to put in the effort and hours.

Finally have my PC copy up and running on my windows partition so I once more have toolset. (( Thanks on the help there folks!))

*hint hint* I know Gravemaskin has the skills for it.

I got some rudimentary scripting skills from common sense in coding (since the NWN scripts look alot like just about any other scripting language) and gathered from a lot of time using the script generators to the point where I can set that up on my own, really. And Terra of course, him I used even more than the generator

But I'm afraid they stop there, and I'd need some help getting better at it past what I already know.

If someone's willing to do that though ... What Dustspray said.

Wish I had time! DC Items are so fun. Make Grave do it.

I can probably help out a few learners. Just start a topic with a few examples of things you'd like to do but don't know how to do yet.

Selmak wrote:

I can probably help out a few learners. Just start a topic with a few examples of things you'd like to do but don't know how to do yet.

Script, yes. I am pretty much a beginner in all things with them.

My only experience came from when I worked on a design team around 4 years back ((probably a little longer now that I think about it)). The mod was sorta small and dealt with Zhentile keep and surrounds. Thanks to there being no existing ride script, we had an elaborate script that required the area name to check wether or not you were mounted as to auto-dismount you/unsummon your horse if you tried to take it inside a place pegged as 'indoors.' We area designers, in order to free up the one scripter we had, were taught how to use the search command and edit the area name so that it was correct. And so concludes my experience with NWN scripts.

Well, if you got interest, don't be coy. The "exercices" I have planned are real-life examples of scripts we use on Amia, so it's like dipping your toe in the water before taking the plunge to try a few out.

Should prolly do them myself, too, like a good computer science dropout...

lay them on me! *musters up some gusto* If nothing else, I'll see if I can get my girl friend to help me out as she actually does scripting for a living.

I'd love to learn, but I think it might be a bit over my head. Someone tried to show me once... and I didn't really get it. >.>

Make Grave do it? *copies the others.*

DustSpray101 wrote:

lay them on me! *musters up some gusto* If nothing else, I'll see if I can get my girl friend to help me out as she actually does scripting for a living.

Nerd couple, nerd couple! :mrgreen:

o0GuNz_N_RoSeZ0o wrote:

DustSpray101 wrote:

lay them on me! *musters up some gusto* If nothing else, I'll see if I can get my girl friend to help me out as she actually does scripting for a living.

Nerd couple, nerd couple! :mrgreen:

Is the best kind of couple.

Nekhy wrote:

Well, if you got interest, don't be coy. The "exercices" I have planned are real-life examples of scripts we use on Amia, so it's like dipping your toe in the water before taking the plunge to try a few out.

Should prolly do them myself, too, like a good computer science dropout...

*sigh* Give 'em here. I hate coding, but I have done some courses on coding last year and played with NWN code, so I might as well take a look.

Well, she has confirmed what I already knew: I am a novice scripter at best. Still working on the problem though! I refuse to give up!

I'm a programmer but not worked with NW stuff. Can you throw me a few good links for the NW script how-to and I'll get back to ya? I know bioware has some but cannot find them again

If you know any C-languages, you already know a lot of NWscript. Java, too, gives a pretty good understanding of the basics.

Here's a few resources:
http://nwn.bioware.com/developers/
http://www.nwnlexicon.com/

I'll toss you a few exercices, Selvec.

Last edited by Selmak on Thu, Oct 06 2011, 10:48 AM, edited 2 times in total.

*bump*

We need another scripter. Even if we have to train them from scratch. What Nekhy posted at the beginning of the year still holds, but in the time since this thread was started, basically only I have joined the team.

I'm not going to lie to you. This is not an easy job. But it needs doing, and it has to be done right... else you'll end up doing it again.

The code you will be working with is not necessarily going to be straightforward, so you need to be willing to ask for help when you're not sure what to do. It goes without saying that you also need to be trustworthy.

As far as hours go, you need to be available throughout the week. The amount of work varies but as of right now, there is no shortage of things which need fixing. Sometimes you will need to put in a bit of extra time to track a problem back to its source, work with the module in a test environment and so on.

Most especially you must be willing to learn and develop your skills, because it's not enough just to be competent with the toolset. You will need to use other programs to get the job done.

Obviously, you need to be able to get along with others in a team.

If you're interested, post here, or send an application by PM to PaladinOfSune.

I will be sending a PM ASAP, perhaps within the hour. (got to pick up GF)

But to say in shorty i helped develop a few servers in the years i have played NWN i have a fair knowledge of scripting , but i do java and html etc and have had training in c+ c++ and pearl when i was younger. I am willing to put in the time and effort, as i LOVE amia, and i love to see it grow and evolve. I could easily put in 5hrs a week, i sleep with my laptop and travel every-were with it, an could easily fill up spare time with this kind of thing. Ill send over my PM about specifics ASAP and i would love to get these test projects, its bee a while an ill no doubt need a warm up.

I'm quick to pick it up, Selmak. I'll do the job, if you'll show me how. I've got a /shit ton/ of downtime, so I'd be able to do a lot, quickly.

I would love to learn, I've always been interested in Scripting, I have a real passion for these types of things. I've done very basic scripts, But To be honest, It's something i would spend hours learning to do. This to me, Is a once in a life time chance, Amia has some of the best Scripters in NWN.

I know Scripting is complicated, Long and probably stressful, But, I'd love to be considered. I'm fairly sure, Nwn scripting is best learnt by someone teaching you. Anywho, I'd be honoured to be considered as i do have a real passion for this, and love to learn. I'm probably considered a rookie or beginner, But I have played around with the Toolset scripts, Creating Custom Summons and so on. Thanks.

-Jennifer

I would not go so far as to call myself a scripter, but I've dabbled in it a bit in the 7 years I've been playing. I can write simple scripts and can read/follow more complex ones, but have no experience writing them. Where I can see problems stemming for me is the originality, I don't know enough currently to be given a concept and asked to script it, I am willing to be taught though. Free time, well that I have in abundance. I have worked on a few modules as a builder and minor scripter, some of them were my own. My most notable work on scripts have been writing a module reload script and fixing and editing a broken XP scaling script and editing a divine caster script requiring the presence of a deity and the use of a holy symbol dedicated to that deity for spell casting... All that was about 2 years ago last I worked on it and I'd need to refresh my memory with the language.

Wow, I would absolutely love to do this. At the moment I do this sort of thing for a living, it'd be wicked cool to be able to do it to help Amia grow. I'm comfortable with Java and have some experience with Python. I've done some exploring with NW script and it doesn't feel too overwhelming, simple stuff like intelligent weapons and polymorphing widgets but I'm eager to learn more. I'd have between five and ten hours a week to write script, more on good weeks. At the moment it seems like we have a ton of interested people so maybe it's worth it if more than one person takes on the role?

Having more than one join is something to consider. It's not like we're operating the Rule of Two or something. On the other hand, I'm not sure there is enough work at the moment for more than two extra scripters. We'll see how it goes anyway.

I am planning to have resources available if you need to learn scripting and other toolset tasks and tricks, even if you aren't one of the ones that makes it. There are resources out there already of course, it would just be nice to add to them.

I've never scripted anything for NWN, but I'm a relatively experienced college student (and now Intern to Ponte Technologies) and I know a variety of programming languages, including but not limited to: Java, C, C++, Python, Perl, MIPS Assembly language, Flexx and Bison, Prolog, and Forth.

I won't need to send in a resume, will I?
I'd be up for helping if needed.

Like some, I have -some- experience with NWN scripting. ..but more so webby type languages. The most I can say is I get the thought process and trouble shooting but mostly..

this would be great:

Selmak wrote:

I am planning to have resources available if you need to learn scripting and other toolset tasks and tricks, even if you aren't one of the ones that makes it. There are resources out there already of course, it would just be nice to add to them.

I'm all kinds of free come Nov-June.

Hm, I'd love to help. Personally haven't worked alot with NwN scripts, however when I did, it seemed clear enough. However admitted, as far as programming goes I'm still on the noob level. I've made some complex stuff already, including databases and the stuff needed to keep everything clean and safe. But I just lack the knowledge and skill of OOP aswell as making decent documentation.

Ah well... Working on that though! May join the team when I have more skill ( And time D= ).

For those of us new to it:
The NWN LEXICON is an -amazing- resource. I'll post the link when I'm not phoned up. Get it!

NWScript is a perfect place to start a programming career as after you know nwscript you can move on to C++ and from there infinity. Not to mention nwn itself is coded in C++.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NWScript

Nekhy's got it up already

Nekhy wrote:

If you know any C-languages, you already know a lot of NWscript. Java, too, gives a pretty good understanding of the basics.

Here's a few resources:
http://nwn.bioware.com/developers/
http://www.nwnlexicon.com/

Just so you know, this has not been forgotten about. However I have been trying to take things easy over the past couple of weeks, so the tests that have been planned are not yet done. Almost though!

The team has narrowed it down quite a bit and if you PM Sune he can tell you whether you are in the next stage or not. Because I'm not a DM, I can't really discuss the reasoning behind these decisions, but what I will say is that it's great that any of you are willing to step forward and give up some of your time to do this kind of work, so to have as many applications as we have, well it does make me smile a bit.

Necrobump
Is this thread still relevant?

Don't see why not! Can never have enough good scripters.

...someone would have to teach me, I've just done playful things, and mashed pieces of generators into something that worked on trial and error, changing variables in existing scripts to produce slightly different results. Functions that change how something is activated, or other noobish activities. (glowing light-auras my fav). I also have my own custom little mod where I level, de-level, change alignment, and so forth by clicking objects that I put scripts on. (generator mash though)

That all being said I can read them fine to figure out what they're doing usually. -but I don't like, start with a blank page, the format like :shock:

, and knowing certain lines even exist, :shock:

.

Script Kitty, Meow.

If you can find it in a library, check out A Book on C, by Al Kelley and Ira Pohl. There are things you can do in C that you can't do in NWScript, but as a syntax primer it's fine.

I have the second edition from when I was studying computer science. They're now on the fourth edition.

Weren't you a scripter, Selmak?

If if there is enough interest I could try my hand any making a guide/teach basic NWScript starting at hello world. Its not all that hard and if you don't have any prior knowledge in programming you can move on to C as both share paradigm and syntax after mastering NWScript.

I know nothing of scripting, and I am not trying to offer myself to learn either. HOWEVER, I just wanted to know if the staff was aware that there are in-game script generators. I've seen one in particular on BleachX that could create visuals (when people release their powers they go all flashy with several vfx and all that - that widget creates the widget to activate such releases), as well as shape the appearance of a character entirely (on/off), can add/remove wings or vfx, create placeables, etc.

All of that for just selecting through a list of numbers..

This kind of IG script generator would save quite a lot of time for the staff if they manage to find it - it creates custum widgets for all sort of effects. Hope I helped somehow :/

Its a good idea but its not necessary. I've rewritten a lot of nwns hardcoded routines for loading resources so its fully possible for to write a new script from scratch, upload it and simply run it, even if its inside a capsule file (mod, erf etc). In fact the majority of the DC items/spells doesnt exist in the actual module file.

When you feel those 30 second lagspikes it could be me or someone else reloading the module file, any changes to the resources inside the module file at that point would take effect immediately when called upon.

Muspelkvist wrote:

Weren't you a scripter, Selmak?

Yeah. Unfortunately I burned out a couple years back.

Oh, don't let that put you off. I took on a few too many problems and made mistakes like anyone else can under pressure, and then I had to fix them. I'm my own worst enemy sometimes most of the time.

Still, it's exciting when your code actually does what it's supposed to. Which is most of the time almost never.

While I've got a firm C backgorund myself I did alot of reading when I started playing with the Toolset and here's one from the Vault that was a good help along the way to understand the NWNscript flow

http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=other.detail&id=1021

I've been learning a lot of NWN coding stuff since Selmak bumped this, so I thought I'd jump on this thread asking an editing related question.

How do Amia's _plt Wings/Tails work? When added in the toolset they are white, will they automatically colour themselves to something (in fact what defines their colour?) in game or is there a certain script I need to run?

Wings and tails has set textures. There are however a set of wings and tails which textures inherit the color from skin/hair/tattoo channels. Otherwise it could be an issue that your toolset isnt finding the textures, which could happen if you got tails/wings in your override that overrides something in the haks associated with the mod you've got loaded.

Ah I see! Thank you Terra!

If anyone had spare time to maybe teach me I definitely got the commitment, I do work full time so I probably invest about 14 hours a week on amia so I could divide the time.

Ill do my best to research on scripting however an experienced person would make me learn quicker

I'll hat my toss in, but I'll need a hand ELSE I'll be a noob

Check out this ancient topic of mine:

How to... (in NWScript)

Not saying that you will ever need to do any of those, but they illustrate some basics which are good to know.

Some C and C++ books here

Just noticed this topic so I looked at the NWNscripting pdf posted earlier. I work with Java, C#, and C++ so I am familiar with the style, though I have not actually done any NWN scripting. If help is still needed send me something and I can try it out. I will be off work for the last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of January, so I should have the time in the near future.

It also would be cool to see examples of what you would like coded if possible?

Just to know the level of expertise required and concentrating on the "important" parts?

Gives me personally a lot of focus knowing my goals a little bit clearer.

Scripters wanted

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