Information gathering request

[GooRoo]

As part of the effort of converting the Gruntz Level Editor Manual from UBBC to HTML, I have been combining information from several different threadz relating to Gruntz Toolz into the revelant Tool descriptionz. For example, I have the speed of each Grunt in moving from one Tile to the next adjacent one (without and with the SuperSpeed Powerup) as a note in the description. For those Gruntz with 'ranged' weaponz, I have the time it takez for the projectile to travel one Tile.

What I do not have (and would like assistance in providing in the GLE manual) is the time it takez a Grunt to 'recharge' in order to use the Tool it carriez ... for fighting, and for its other use. BattlezM created information about two Gruntz fighting (Tool vs Tool) which givez an idea of which Grunt recoverz more quickly than another ... but not the actual time it takez to be able to strike again. I am relatively certain that the fighting recharge time may be measured in tenthz of a second (100 millisecondz=one-tenth of a second), so a measurement to the closest tenth of a second will be suifficient.

Similarly, the time it takez for a Grunt (Shovel, for instance) to use his Tool again for its non-fighting purpose should be measured in tenthz of a second.

If you have the time (and incentive!) to participate in this project, reply in this thread with the Tool you are planning to test (so we do not duplicate effortz), and modify your post with the resultz you find, as :

Shovel	Normal	with Roidz
fighting:	??00 millisecondz	??00 millisecondz
digging:	4000 millisecondz	??00 millisecondz
dig again:	7000 millisecondz	??00 millisecondz
recharge:	3000 millisecondz	1200 millisecondz

Quote this post, and copy the table into your clipboard, and paste it into the reply you make, changing the partz in Goldenrod as they apply to what you are working with, and what you find.

Note: Some Gruntz, such as Bare-handed and Wingz (and otherz) will only have a 'fighting' entry, because all they can do is move from place to place ... or fight! (We don't have an ironworkz, so a Gruntz with a Welder's Kit doesn't have much else to do. )

[BattlezM]

The best thing I suggest for calculating the time of recharge is to use a RB timer.
A RB timer workz with having an RB set to a certain time (1000 millisecondz) and having it transverse a path alternating in colorz of spikez. Then you count the numberr of tilez the RB travelz while a grunt regainz stamina. Then you multiply the # of tilez by the RB speed to get the recharge time.
This is what I used to develop the ranged tool stamina regain.

[GooRoo]

Excellent idea!

I am relatively certain that fighting/other timez will be a multiple of 200 millisecondz. Bricklayer is probably the slowest to 'recharge', likely 20 secondz (20000 millisecondz) to lay the next Brick.

Do you think it might be possible to have a Yellow Hold Switch control starting that Rolling Rock on itz way, so that Shovel (for instance) stepz onto the Switch and beginz digging while the Rolling Rock approachez him on the adjacent (Spikez) Tilez (and possibly passez him)?

><23456789V
_^98765432<

Where > is a "permanent" Arrow, and the < next to it is a Two-Way Arrow that startz out facing in. Each Arrow (of course) consumez one increment of time.

[GooRoo]

Using the Rolling Rock (speed 200 millisecondz per Tile) idea, and the arrangement shown above, I quickly got a timing for how long it takez a Shovel Grunt to dig up a Mound ... 4000 millisecondz (4 secondz). I made every other Tile (that isn't an Arrow) either Spikez or Moundz, and dug up a Mound while standing on the Yellow Hold Switch. The Rock made a complete circuit before the Hole was created. Now it has occurred to me that there are three timez we should be concerned about:

• fighting (all Gruntz)
  
• digging (breaking, bricklaying placing a TimeBomb, etc.)
  
• recovery (being able to do it all over again)
  

So I am modifying my test CL.
_____mSf___
><smsfsmsmV
_^msmsmsms<

Where:

• s=spikez
  
• m=mound
  
• f=foundation
  
• S=Yellow Hold Switch
  

So I can stand on the Yellow Hold Switch and dig up the Mound that is not in the path of the Rolling Rock, then dig up the Mound that is in its path.

With the Foundation Tilez also in the map, I can use Bricklaying Toolz instead of a Shovel, and test those timez very easily (I have lotz of Toolz laying around ... I just pick whichever one up I want to test.)

So if anyone wantz to participate in this project, I can e-mail the testing CL to you ... so you may have a head start on the data gathering.

[GooRoo]

I keep coming up with modificationz to the description of "Tool" in the Gruntz Level Editor Manual.

So I am no longer trusting myself to make the description of "Gauntletz Grunt" (for instance) complete, as well as accurate. So I want to know if anyone can add to this list:

Start with it	GruntStartingPoint
Uncover it	CoveredPowerup
In plain sight	InGameIcon
Break something big	GiantRock
Call for it	Megaphone
Steal it (back)	Tool Thief

In effect, breaking a Giant Rock is little different than either a CoveredPowerup or an InGameIcon ... but neither of those Object logicz is required, so I am calling it a separate method of acquiring a Tool.

Many timez, a Custom Level has a Grunt teleporting into the map Bare-handed, and landing on a Tool (InGameIcon), so there is (IMNSHO) no way to rank the methodz I have listed in order of frequency of the method being used ... but it is probably pretty close. It is also a "toss up" about "Calling for it" and "breaking something big" as far as frequency of the method happening. But is there yet another way of acquiring a Tool that I am just too blind to see ... and too dumb to think of, after pounding away at manual componentz for well over a week?

[Gaby]

IMHO those are the only 6 wayz of acquiring a Tool...