How do I reduce lag at the beginning of scenerio.

[Luroch_Delkar]

When my scenario is loaded it goes to the [story] bit like normal.
After the story though there is a huge loading delay before the first turn.
I know that this is common for games that use Bob's_RPG era, but would like to at least reduce the delay a little bit.

The delay is primarily because I place many items during [event]name=start .
These items are on top of what Bob's_RPG era places.

[Anonymissimus]

Don't know Bob's_RPG era, however, such lag can afaik be caused by "wml bloat". That means lots of wml code that needs to be interpreted when loading a scenario, the interpretation process is slow. Working against it is difficult. Try writing with less wml while keeping the functionality. Remember that macros get their code inserted at the target position. Use lua.

[Luroch_Delkar]

It is definitely wml bloating, but I tried to write as little code as possible. I do have a particular macro (one that places items on the map) that I insert many times during [event]name=turn_1 .

Code: Select all

#define JB_PLACE_MATERIAL_VASE X Y MATERIAL SPEAKER MESSAGE
[item]
x={X}
y={Y}
image=items/ornate2.png
[/item]
[event]name=moveto
[filter]
x={X}
y={Y}
[/filter]
{PLAY_SOUND fist.ogg}
{PLAY_SOUND petrified.ogg}
[removeitem]
x={X}
y={Y}
image=items/ornate2.png
[/removeitem]
[message]speaker={SPEAKER}
message= _ "{MESSAGE}"
[/message]
{BOB_PLACE_MATERIAL {MATERIAL} {X} {Y}} 
[/event]
#enddef

I refer to this macro 12 times during the turn 1 event.
I also use other macros like this during the same event.

Also during that event I place several units without using macros.
Their code varies a bit but is always something like:

Code: Select all

	[unit]
		x=12
		y=59
		side=3
		type="Heavy Infantryman"	
		id="hi1"
		name= _ "Grog"	
		role=heavy_infantryman
		hitpoints=22
	[modifications]	
		{TRAIT_LOYAL}
	[/modifications]	
	[/unit]

Now that I look at it I see how the item placing code might be diminished a wee bit, but the unit code seems to be at it's minimal limit.

[Sapient]

You can try using the prestart event instead of the start event.
It occurs before the map is drawn, if I recall correctly, so it may cut down on redraw time.

Also you left out the definition of BOB_PLACE_MATERIAL so we have no way of knowing the total bloat from your item placement code.

[Luroch_Delkar]

Wasn't sure if items could be placed during the prestart, seeing as there is no map yet to place them on. Or is that preload I am thinking of? In any case I will try it.

Also the BOB_PLACE_MATERIAL MATERIAL X Y is a macro defined in Bob's rpg era. I am not sure where he keeps the definition of that macro. Nor do I want to mess with that macro much in case I prevent the Era from working the way it should.

The prestart will help though if it works. Perhaps the wait will not seem so long if all the lag occurs before you start doing anything. (Right now the lag from Bob's_rpg era happens before the objectives are shown and the lag from my scenario happens after.)

Thanks, I think I have now cleaned the code up as much as it is going to be.

[Bob_The_Mighty]

In Bob's RPG Era / files / scenario_macros.cfg you will find this:

Code: Select all

#define BOB_PLACE_MATERIAL VARIABLE X Y
[store_locations]
	x={X}
	y={Y}
	variable={VARIABLE}_xy
	[or]
		find_in={VARIABLE}_xy
	[/or]
[/store_locations]
{FOREACH {VARIABLE}_xy i}
	{PLACE_IMAGE items/{VARIABLE}.png ${VARIABLE}_xy[$i].x ${VARIABLE}_xy[$i].y}
{NEXT i}
#enddef

This macro is meant to only be included once. You can add many locations in one call: {BOB_PLACE_MATERIAL ulox_rock "11,12,32" "3,46,23"}. This will place 3 ulox rocks on the hexes 11,3 12,46 and 32,23.

However, since you want a custom event with a message, etc. Better to make your own version. Something like this would work:

Code: Select all

#define JB_PLACE_MATERIAL_VASE X Y MATERIAL MESSAGE

[store_locations]
	x={X}
	y={Y}
	variable={MATERIAL}_xy
	[or]
		find_in={MATERIAL}_xy
	[/or]
[/store_locations]
{FOREACH {MATERIAL}_xy i}
	{PLACE_IMAGE items/ornate2.png ${MATERIAL}_xy[$i].x ${MATERIAL}_xy[$i].y}
{NEXT i}

[event]
name=moveto
first_time_only=no
[filter]
x={X}
y={Y}
[filter_location]
   find_in={MATERIAL}_xy
  [/filter_location]
[/filter]

{PLAY_SOUND fist.ogg}
{PLAY_SOUND petrified.ogg}

[removeitem]
	x,y=$x1,$y1
[/removeitem]

 [store_locations]
  variable={MATERIAL}_xy
  find_in={MATERIAL}_xy
  [not]
   x,y=$x1,$y1
  [/not]
 [/store_locations]

[message]
speaker=unit
message= _ "{MESSAGE}"
[/message]

[/event]
#enddef

Then all 12 macros calls could be replaced by this one: {JB_PLACE_MATERIAL_VASE "12,3,etc" "56,32,etc" ulox_rock "Hey, this rocks!"}

[Anonymissimus]

Repeated usage of a SLF should also be avoided (if you can), especially with radius= or find_in= since SLF is not so efficiently implemented in the engine.

[Luroch_Delkar]

Hmmm, I have never seen the find_in key before. What roughly does it do?
Oh, and what part of the code id's the item as huanti leaves/ulox rock/etc., since I want your era to recognize it and add {material} to the player's inventory rather than some item I make up myself?

I will save making my own items to later.

Well thanks for the info. I am currently looking up store_location, find_in= , and am browsing Bob's code for how you add items to one's inventory in your era.

[Bob_The_Mighty]

ulox_rock_xy contains co-ordinates for every ulox rock on the map - the code I posted should do that. The macros in the era deal with items getting picked up and added to the inventory.

I cannot explain it further because I don't fully understand it myself.

[Luroch_Delkar]

Oh, Well thanks, that was very helpful. That was my only question for now, but I will come back when I have another. (If I can't solve it myself first that is. )