RPGs in QB: The NEW Tutorials.
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Issue 3, Volume 2: 3D RPG Engine
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Note: This tutorial was originally written in 1999.  There are no plans
to write new tutorials at this time.

Hail!

Welcome to the third installment of my new RPG tutorials.  This time
around... The major chunk of the tutorial is in the 3drpg.bas file.
But, I still reccommend that you read this, so that you may familiarize
yourself with what we'll be disscussing.

1. A 3D Engine?
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Well, not a TRUE 3D engine.  If you've ever played Legend of Lith II, or
any of the AD&D Eye of the Beholder games, then you'll know what this is
about.

This engine allows you to create a first person 3D view, where moving is a
character is limited to cell-by-cell movement.  What do I mean when I say
cell-by-cell? Picture a normal 2d tile engine, moving tile-by-tile, only in
a first person perspective.

Don't let that fool you though.  With this kind of an engine, it is possible
to create a very nice game.  Just take a look at Shining the Holy Ark for
the Sega Saturn system if you don't belive me.

2. The code
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The Qbasic code is fairly simple to learn.  Not as easy as a tile engine,
mind you, but I've kept it as simple as possible.  If you wish, you can fire
up QB and run the code now.  Take a look at it, and play around with it.
I've added a lot of comments into the code, especially in the important
parts.  The main thing that you may wish to look at, is the DrawLocation sub.
This is the meat of the code, and the part that is used to determine what
to draw on the screen.

Okay... That's enough chatter here.  Go look at the code!

3. Final words
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Well... These tutorials are written for YOU.  So tell me what you want to
read about next.  I'm almost out of ideas here, so I need YOU to tell me
what you want to know.  How about an explanation of shops and inns? Does that
sound good? Or maybe something else... Let me know!

E-mail me (darkdread@funeralart.net) and let me know what you want!

Cheers!

DarkDread

4. Licence
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THIS TUTORIAL AND ITS ACCOMPANYING FILES, MAY BE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE
BY ANY MEANS, SO LONG AS ALL FILES ARE INCLUDED AND NOTHING IS MODIFIED.  THE
AUTHOR SHOULD BE GIVEN CREDIT IN YOUR PROGRAMS IF YOU USE ANY OF THE CODE OR
GRAPHICS CONTAINED WITHIN THESE FILES.  THE AUTHOR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
USE OR MISUSE OF THESE TUTORIALS.  USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
