Author Topic: How do you explore an area?  (Read 9933 times)

Offline Finelines

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How do you explore an area?
« on: March 15, 2005, 12:04:09 PM »
Okay, another new thought.  This one occurred to me because I'm playing Tutu at the moment but it applies to BG2 as well.

How do you explore an area?  How do you uncover all the "black" bits?  Randomly?  Following a set pattern?

I've found that I follow a set pattern.  I start at the edges and work in ever decreasing circles/squares where possible untill I've covered (or uncovered as the case may be) the whole area.

(I wonder if this also gives some insight into how your mind works? Regimented? Random? Artistic? etc...)


Oh, and how annoyed do you get by the areas you can't uncover?
« Last Edit: March 15, 2005, 12:30:16 PM by Finelines »
"Some say that our destinies may be read in the stars, that the plans of the gods are revealed to those who but know where to look.  They speak it true but their location is false, for I have seen my destiny shining in your eyes"

Offline Ashara

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2005, 04:22:19 PM »
I use ExploreArea()/Ctrl+J a lot nowadays, but when I used to play, I did the concentric square walking, yes.
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Offline Eral

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2005, 04:32:48 PM »
As I long ago came to terms with my obsessive/compulsiveness, I have no qualms about responding in this thread.
Up an down in lines.
Hate the bits you can't uncover. I have been known to walk my parties all the way around the edges of lakes and cliffs to uncover as much area as I can. Even when I know what's there. My least favourite map is the Pass in BG2. It was designed to frustrate map-uncoverers.

If you see anything mysterious or unusual, just enjoy it while you can.  - Michael Leunig.

Offline Ghreyfain

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2005, 04:48:02 PM »
I tend to use ExploreArea() in games where you'd expect a wide horizon.  At least after I've explored the area.  The Friendly Arm Inn is a good example.  (What, you mean I can't look up to see this giant tower in front of me?  Just the bottom ten feet or so?  Huh.)

As for exploration, I can't remember.  Usually just following geography features at random, not because I'm random, but because I don't think my characters would spend all their time exploring the entire Sword Coast, inch by inch.  I'm a Non-completist Roleplayer.
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Offline SeanFan

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2005, 07:31:47 PM »
As I long ago came to terms with my obsessive/compulsiveness, I have no qualms about responding in this thread.
Up an down in lines.
Hate the bits you can't uncover. I have been known to walk my parties all the way around the edges of lakes and cliffs to uncover as much area as I can. Even when I know what's there. My least favourite map is the Pass in BG2. It was designed to frustrate map-uncoverers.

Small Teeth Pass? Urrgh. You can't uncover at least half of the frickin' thing. Drives me nuts.

I'm not quite as organized as you guys about exploring the maps. I'll do the interesting bits and then systematically uncover the rest.

Ghreyfain, I take it ExploreArea is a CLUA command? Do you just insert the area number in the parentheses?

(Small Teeth Pass, you're for it now, heh, heh...)

Offline Xiao

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2005, 07:47:48 PM »
Ghreyfain, I take it ExploreArea is a CLUA command? Do you just insert the area number in the parentheses?
No number needed.  Just enter: CLUAConsole:ExploreArea()

Offline Veloxyll

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2005, 08:05:00 PM »
Left to right is how I go through generally. (or well...horizontal lines. I don't go back to the start to do every line)
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Offline SeanFan

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2005, 09:02:15 PM »
No number needed.  Just enter: CLUAConsole:ExploreArea()

Thanks! I'll give it a try. Though I suspect that some of the more dedicated map explorers might consider it cheating.  :)

Offline Eral

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2005, 11:31:04 PM »
The obsessives will approve (must uncover whole map)
The compulsives will disapprove (must walk every centimetre)
As an ob/com I love the idea but cannot use it.  ;D
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Offline Finelines

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2005, 02:42:34 AM »
Okay, I love this.  After walking the entire game 4 or 5 times and being annoyed about the areas that I couldn't get to, I can now see them.  I love being able to thumb my nose at the game when it won't let you see various parts of the map.

I still walk 90% of each map but there are sometimes annoying bits, like when there's a tiny patch of black on the opposite side of the map from your party. Grrrr.  Oh, and the svart village map, which seems to be 70% black cause you can't get to it.  I like looking at a completed map, the maps are entertaining when complete.

So using CluaConsole combines the usual foot slogging of completeing a whole map with the added bonus of seeing the bits you couldn't see in the past.  I don't consider that cheating.

(When I get back to BG2, Small Teeth Pass is in for it.)
"Some say that our destinies may be read in the stars, that the plans of the gods are revealed to those who but know where to look.  They speak it true but their location is false, for I have seen my destiny shining in your eyes"

Offline Ashara

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2005, 11:42:48 AM »
I was trying to convince Remixers guys, that adding a Bird's Eye ability to Ranmger or Druid to legitimately uncover the whole map would be a good idea. Maybe I will smuggle it as Kivan's Special ability or something...
Hang in there. I'll try to make you glad you did.
—George R.R. Martin

There is nothing better than imagining other worlds [...] to forget the painful one we live in. At least so I thought then. I hadn't yet realized that, imagining other worlds, you end up changing this one.
-Umberto Eco, Baudolino

Three mods you shall make - one too bad and one to dread and one to love.

Offline Eral

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2005, 05:34:00 PM »
But now there will be nowhere mysterious or unattainable in your game.  :(
If you see anything mysterious or unusual, just enjoy it while you can.  - Michael Leunig.

Offline Ashara

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #12 on: March 16, 2005, 06:17:56 PM »
yes, but there will be someone mysterious and unattainable :)
Hang in there. I'll try to make you glad you did.
—George R.R. Martin

There is nothing better than imagining other worlds [...] to forget the painful one we live in. At least so I thought then. I hadn't yet realized that, imagining other worlds, you end up changing this one.
-Umberto Eco, Baudolino

Three mods you shall make - one too bad and one to dread and one to love.

Offline jester

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #13 on: March 16, 2005, 06:43:48 PM »
:D  ;)

I usually CLUA the area and then CTRL+J to the spots. All the years have made me impatient with the game. Perhaps I missed out on some nice trigger spots that way. :-\
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Offline Caswallon

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2005, 03:16:28 AM »
In BG1, I walk horizontally - left to right, one sight radus down, right to left.
ExploreArea() isn't really an option, as I can't tell where I've been anymore. Defeating any spawns on the map at least once is part of uncovering the area.
Which sadly means that I now find the large open areas of BG1 frustratingly boring. :(

I never developed the same compulsiveness in BG2 - I never found it necessary to explore all of the De'Arnise castle outdoors, or of the Temple Ruins forest; don't know, BG2 has another feel, is more focused on getting things done, I guess.
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Offline Marauder

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #15 on: March 23, 2005, 05:30:13 AM »

Which sadly means that I now find the large open areas of BG1 frustratingly boring. :(

I never developed the same compulsiveness in BG2 - I never found it necessary to explore all of the De'Arnise castle outdoors, or of the Temple Ruins forest; don't know, BG2 has another feel, is more focused on getting things done, I guess.

I always liked the freedom of being able to go somewhere you didn't need to go at all(and with that ambient music...)

But then again, i just got SOA+TOB a month ago after playing BG 5 years. Some things seem so forced... like when you try to leave Waukeen's promenade the first time, the only option is the slums. Why? just so you can get a quest gathering money? What is the chance of not going to the slums atleast once before you got 20000? and the fact there are no transition areas between Athkatla and De'Arnise hold? Or Windspear Hills....

Anyway, another thing that took some of the fun out of the few wilderness areas was the TAB butten. Yes, its handy when you need to find everything on the ground, but it also kills the "easter eggs"!!!

Oh, and sorry for going a bit off topic ::)
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Offline Ghreyfain

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #16 on: March 23, 2005, 05:57:11 AM »
You need to go through the Gate District to get out of Athkatla.  I think that's partly a convenience feature for the developers who had to make the worldmap, and a nifty addition its own self.
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Offline Gay Lord

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #17 on: March 23, 2005, 08:49:46 AM »
Quote
As I long ago came to terms with my obsessive/compulsiveness, I have no qualms about responding in this thread.
Up an down in lines.
Hate the bits you can't uncover. I have been known to walk my parties all the way around the edges of lakes and cliffs to uncover as much area as I can. Even when I know what's there. My least favourite map is the Pass in BG2. It was designed to frustrate map-uncoverers.

YES!  After all these long years of searching, I have found you my sister!   ;D

I would finish a map and sit back, basking in the pleasure of another job well done.  Then I'd see it.  My joyous face would crumble.  Like an insane maid, I would see a filthy black stain on my lovely map and growl!  My party would be immediately dispatched to circle the lake in order to get every little last bit of shadow out.  Then I'd be frustrated at the clumsiness of using my party in bulk, so I'd select one char, in order to fine tune his movements and so get maximum black-removing ability.

Of course, I should point out that this was only needed indoors.  You guys do realize that the Clairvoyance spell gives a lovely full map reveal on any outdoor map?  I ALWAYS had a copy memorized.  8)

Offline Ghreyfain

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #18 on: March 23, 2005, 01:07:30 PM »
Huh.  And there I was toting around a spellbook full of fireballs and hastes.  That'll teach me, I guess.
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Offline jester

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #19 on: March 23, 2005, 01:24:24 PM »
I never walk to edges of maps that do not display the wheel as this takes away my suspension of disbelieve.
Waddaya mean there is no other map to the east? :(
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Offline irenicus

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #20 on: March 23, 2005, 02:56:12 PM »
i still do square walking  :-\ its sort of an obssesion of mine now

Offline Da_venom

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #21 on: March 23, 2005, 05:41:04 PM »
i just walk in and spread all my part members to each thing and when there is a monster all come to the ALARM Fase :P

but it used to be explore every inch of the map :)

Offline Veloxyll

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #22 on: March 23, 2005, 10:40:12 PM »
I am impressed by the adventurers stamina however. Usually my legs get sore after exploring half of the city map.
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Offline Ghreyfain

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #23 on: March 24, 2005, 12:16:32 AM »
You can explore half a city before getting sore?  Hell, it's been 23 years and I haven't uncovered most of the fog-of-war in Calgary.

Then again, I generally just hang around monster respawn points or click the rest button repeatedly.
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Offline Veloxyll

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Re: How do you explore an area?
« Reply #24 on: March 24, 2005, 12:42:16 AM »
Central city only. Unless someone throws me a job I will likely start working as a pizza delivery person, so start uncovering the city that way.
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