Just a question
 

How long would you recommend practicing scripting a day? I mean so that it doesn't become like a really boring task, but the practice is still useful.

I really want to get good at scripting, but I have many time constraints that disallow the use of the computer. Does writing in scribblers and some such help any?

o.O I've never ever heard of 'practicing' scripting... usually you just chose something to script and... script it

Yes, or you can learn a new concept and then try to make something you have previously made, but more efficiently or using the new things you have learned.

Pick a new command, and try to fit it into a script?

The problem for most people is that they try and script somthing with a little bit of complexity for thier first script. If you pic somthing truly basic, then slowly work your way up you'll find that learning to script is very easy. I learn all my scripting and theory from npcprogramming.doc, which can be found in you Graal folder. The only other thing I can say is that you need good maths skills to solve problems, and optimize scripts, although this does not become an issue until your scripts become more complex.

I can't do anything mathmatical, sin and cos is an exception. I havn't had a maths teacher for around 3 years... So.. well :\

Practice all the time, even if just by thinking about how scripting works while doing other things :P

to expand on this, Think about how things work in your daily life, and just think of ways to recreate them in script. I seem to do that alot. It's the same as drawing or any other art, you look at the world around you and you get inspirations and ideas. The hard part is just understanding things enough to adapt them into Gscript, then to debug x_x (unless you just happen to get it right the first time, that's the best)

You can do 3D rotation using just sin and cos. Ok, so you might have to know how to do matrix multiplication, but if you specifically only want 3D rotation, then someone can always expand it out. What i'm saying is its not how much maths you know, its how you think logically and how you try and apply methods to solve problems.

Whoever suggested taking an everyday object and thinking about how youd script it is right, but I feel the most useful suggestion in this thread is to pick a new command, make a test script so that you can learn how to use it backwards, then pick a new command and repeat. By taking things one step at a time, and by focussing on just one new command at a time, you'll learn things pretty quickly.

Time is a good friend too, you'll be getting knowledge with the time.

Yea, even though you won't get a lot smarter if you stare at the screen for 1 month without doing anything :p

Actually, that's what this is all about, isn't it?

As you practice scripting, you develop new methods and techniques over time. If, as Vex_Rat_Boy (forgot the real nick) already pointed out, you don't script for a long period, it won't make your knowledge go any level higher. It's far more obvious it will go down.

It helps to look at good scripts too, but only if you understand what happens there. You will eventually find nice patterns and idioms that you would not have thought of but that make life easier.
Guess it helps to have been staff on 2k1 and 2k2... :D

Algorithims above coding, i cannot stress this enough!

You need to understand the basic concepts of scripting, then expand your horizions to more advanced things. Master a command before you challenge another one.:)

Well, hmm, learning the commands would be a good start, if you don't know them already. Since you say you don't have a ton of computer time, I'd say to just develop your problem solving skills by creating algorithms on scratch paper. Then when you have time, translate them into script.

Just like anything else, time isn't everything in scripting. You can spend months to years coding, just to find out you've been developing bad habits. So it's generally a good idea to atleast talk with other scripters and the like.

Ah I see.


So maybe starting a 2d style mario thingy would be a good place to start?

thats funny you said that, I just started a project like that not too long ago :cool: But, I would say don't get in over your head, only go as complex as what you can figure out how to do before getting into it. For example, don't try to make a complete mario engine including a level editor that a player can take with them in a weapon and play as a mini game (what I plan on doing) if you're not even sure how to handle showimgs with a custom tile system.

hey the thread is stickied, cool

ph34r the mods. :cool:
What Dach said, otherwise.

So he's said. I don't think that was relevant.

Good idea, I want to do it too :(

I bet I suck at scripting more than you though :P!

If you mean a gravity script, sure, i could help you with questions on it if you AIM me.

Mario didnt have gravity, there was no acceleration, constant velocity ; )

The power of physics.

Mario had a low terminal speed, thus gravity ;)

wait he was chunky... ohwell, atleast they fixed the crummy jumping from the atari version (even though atari owns) *cough*OhIAlreadyForgotWhereISawThatOnGraal..*coug h*