Tutorial Frequently Asked Questions

[BlackRose]

Frequently Asked Questions
By BlackRose and WolfieNoCT​

A quick foreword from Blackrose:
I'm not exactly the best person in World Editor, but there is a lot of questions that are quite frequently asked. I've decided to put together this FAQ so that people can find answers to their questions quickly, and efficiently.


INDEX:
In progress...


NOTE: I expect you will have The Frozen Throne, patched to at least 1.21. I am not sure if some of these below are compatible with previous versions.


Here we go!

What is the maximum movement speed?
The maximum movement speed is 522 while the default is 400.
To make it 522, you must go to:
Advanced -> Gameplay Constants -> Tick "Use Custom Gameplay Constants" -> Movement - Unit Speed - Maximum

Spoiler

What is a trigger?
Introduction To Triggers by WolfieNoCT

How do I make a unit look like a ghost? Transparent?

• Animation - Change <span style="color: blue">[/u]Unit&#039;s[/u]</span> vertex coloring to (100.00%, 100.00%, 100.00%) with 50.00% transparency

50% is good enough to make a unit look ghostly.

What is MUI?
Multi-Unit Instancability.
This means a trigger that can be run two or more times at the same time.
This is very important for multiplayer spells.

What is MPI?
Multi-Player Instancability.
A trigger that can be run by two or more players at the same time.
Always try to achieve MUI though as MUI > MPI.
If your trigger is MUI it is automatically MPI however if your trigger is MPI it is not automatically MUI.

How do I show an effect/do something to one player only?

• Actions
  • Custom script: if GetLocalPlayer() == Player(#) then
  • ...Do actions here...
  • Custom script: endif

Player(#) is the player you want to show.
In JASS the player's number is minus 1 of what it is in JASS.
So 'Player 1 (Red)' is "0" in JASS, 'Player 2 (Blue)' is "1" in JASS, and so on.
The things that you want done to that certain player only go between the 'if...' and 'endif'.
Using GetLocalPlayer() can be dangerous however if you don't know what you're doing;
Read this for more information about GetLocalPlayer().

How do I make DotA Allstars' Mortred's Blur skill?
The base of it:

• Actions
  • Custom script: if IsUnitEnemy(Mortred, GetLocalPlayer()) then
  • Animation - Change (Picked unit)&#039;s vertex coloring to (100.00%, 100.00%, 100.00%) with (24.5 * (Level of Blur for Morted)) transparency
  • Custom script: endif

100.00% being the amount. I believe it is 24.5/49/73.5/98%. I am not sure.

Why is it, when I open a map like DotA Allstars or Element TD, World Editor crashes?
The map has been "protected".
All the stuff in the map has been removed and stored into files which is then attached to the map so when you open it, there is nothing to load.
Why? Read the next question.

Why do people protect their maps?
Generally people protect their map to prevent people from hacking their map and adding in hacks or cheats or to just claim the map as their own.

What is a memory leak?
Memory Leaks and Custom Script by emjlr3
An example:
If you kept making pies, but you didn't eat them or get rid of them, they will keep stacking, taking up space until there is no more space (Or everything is so dirty).
A memory leak is like that.
If the memory in your map keeps 'leaking', the leaks will pile up and eventually use up all the your memory, making Warcraft lag or even crash.

How can I make a unit unselectable?
Add the Locust(Aloc) ability to a unit in: Abilities - Normal section.
Be careful though; Locust renders a unit unselectable, invulnerable, ignores player orders, and hides HP and MP bar, as well as preventing them from being picked in most cases of unit groups.

What are dialogs and how can I make them?
Dialog Boxes by AceHart

What are Leaderboards and how can I get about making them?
Leaderboard by SD_Ryoko

How can I create a Multiboard?
Multiboard Tutorial by Senkin
How to Create Multiboards by Andrewgosu

What is the Game Interface and how can I modify them?
Game Interface - Basics by jonadrian619

How do I make a Map Preview for my map?
Minimap Images by Darg

How do I make item recipes/combinations like in DotA Allstars?
Item - Recipes by ReVolver

How do I use color codes, and how can I make colored text in Warcraft 3?
Using Color Codes by Pineapple

How do I make a custom loading screen?
How to Make a Loading Screen by SFilip

What is JASS?
The scripting program that Warcraft III uses.
Just Another Scripting Syntax.
JASS - Wikipedia, the free encylopedia

What is GUI?
Graphical User Interface.
Generally the first step to your mapping career.

How do I set a hero's name and person name?
In the Object Editor (for heroes only) :
Text - Names
Text - Proper Names

What is DotA?
DotA-Allstars



NewGen Questions
What is NewGen?
It is a modified World Editor.
It is very useful for map makers, especially JASS users;
Although it's even useful for users of GUI.
Jass NewGen Pack - The Helper Forums
Jass NewGen Pack - Wc3campaigns

What is vJASS?

vJass is a set of user-made extensions to JASS. It introduces object-oriented programming features to the language, such as structs, encapsulation, and polymorphism.[1] Strictly speaking, vJass does not add anything to the JASS library but instead mostly uses JASS's own arrays and type casting to integers. The extension relies on a custom-made compiler that compiles vJass code to strict JASS code. In this manner, no additional mods for either the World Editor program or Warcraft III are required, and maps made using vJass code are fully compatible with any copy of the game, even those without the compiler. The most convenient Tool for Map-Developers which want to use vJass is currently the JassNewGen-Pack, which includes several enhancements for the Warcraft III-World-Editor (including a vJass precompiler). JassNewGen Pack is only fully compatible to Warcraft III 1.21b, however most of its functions work for 1.22 as well.

Spoiler

Maths questions:
What is a parabola?

How do I make a jumping spell?

 

[jonadrian619]

This idea is helpful and useful
It's accurate but not that much..

Since im about to make my last map in a few months, I'll be withdrawing mapmaking soon enough after that
and moving on to something new...

People ask a lot of stuff, here are some of them which I'll give (and add to your FAQ if u want):

How can I make a unit unselectable?
- Add the Locust (Aloc) ability to a unit in its Abilities field.
- Locust renders a unit unselectable, invulnerable, ignores player orders, and hides HP and MP bar.

What are Dialogs, and how can I make them?
Dialog Boxes by AceHart

What are Leaderboards and how can I get about making them?
Leaderboard by SD_Ryoko

How can I create a Multiboard?
Multiboard Tutorial by Senkin
How to Create Multiboards by Andrewgosu

What is the Game Interface, and how can I modify them?
Game Interface - Basics by jonadrian619 (me).

How do I make a Map Preview for my map?
Minimap Images by Darg

How do I make item recipes/combinations?
Item - Recipes by ReVolver

How do I use color codes, and how can I make colored text in Wc3?
Using Color Codes by Pineapple

How do I make a loading screen?
How to Make a Loading Screen by SFilip

-- Umaku iku yō ni -|- jonadrian619 --​

 

[WolfieeifloW]

1. What is the maximum movespeed?
522 movespeed. Default is 400.
To make it 522, you must go to: Advanced > Gameplay Constants > (Tick Use Custom Gameplay Constants) > Movement - Unit Speed - Maximum

Spoiler

Another picture of the actual box you're supposed to tick would be nice.

3. How do you make a map?

Too broad, take this question out;
Unless you mean actually making the map (as in New -> Map sort of thing) .

4. How do I make a unit look like a ghost? Transparent?

• Animation - Change (Picked unit)&#039;s vertex coloring to (100.00%, 100.00%, 100.00%) with 50.00% transparency

Explain.

5. What is MUI?
Multiple-Unit-Instance, basically, a trigger that works when it is fired twice. Important for spells.

Multi-Unit Instancability.
And a better description:
"A trigger that will work when run two or more times at the same time."
Or something like that.

6. What is MPI?
Multiple-Player-Instance, a trigger that works for all players. More than 1 player can activate the trigger without it bugging. Generally uses arrays for each variable. But, MUI > MPI. If something is MUI, it is already MPI.

Multi-Player Instancability.
"A trigger that will work when two or more players run it at the same time."

7a. How do I show an effect/do something to one player only?

• Actions
  • Custom script: if GetLocalPlayer() == Player(0) then
  • ...Do actions here.
  • Custom script: endif

Anything within the 2 custom scripts, will only work with Player 1.... careful using, as it may cause desyncs....
JASS: GetLocalPlayer() by PurgeandFire

What's a custom script?
What's a desync?

7b. How do I make DotA Allstars's Mortred's Blur skill?
The base of it:

• Actions
  • Custom script: if IsUnitEnemy(Mortred, GetLocalPlayer ()) then
  • Animation - Change (Picked unit)&#039;s vertex coloring to (100.00%, 100.00%, 100.00%) with 98.00% transparency
  • Custom script: endif

"Mortred"?
And it's not a flat out 98%.
It increases per level.

8a. Why is it, when I open a map like DotA Allstars or Element TD, World Editor crashes?
The map has been protected.

Explain more.

8b. Why do people protect their maps?
To prevent people from stealing their ideas, also, it's not always for that, it's so the map runs faster.

Spoiler

How does it make it run faster?

9. What is a memory leak?
Triggers - Memory Leaks and Custom Script by emjlr3
Basically, if you read above. If you kept making pies, but you didn't eat them or get rid of them, they will keep stacking, taking up space.... until there is no more space (Or everything is so dirty). Memory Leak is like that.

A pretty nice analogy;
But try for something better maybe.
Also, check your grammar.

10. What is NewGen?
11. What is JASS?
12. What is vJASS?

I hope to see more questions later on .

 

[Igor_Z]

I like to mention some very useful links...

How do i create custom lighning effects?
-Custom Lightning Effects by hell_knight

What is spellbook ability and how can I use it?
-Spellbook tutorial by Andrewgosu

How can I improve my map?
-17 steps to Greatness by Shadowy Fear

How can I make some dotA abilities?
-DotA Abilities Explained

Where can I get WoW icons without searching on different sites?
-WoW icons

I have many other links but i can't find them sry... I hope my links help people to solve their problems. BEST WISHES

 

[BlackRose]

Ok, I've added more questions (thanks jonadrian619), I'll try think of more questions that I had when I new to map-making. I'll add those questions the next time I on (tired ) Igor_Z. I do hope this becomes a useful guide. After we got a lot of questions, I'll organize it into groups, like.... JASS FAQ's, GUI FAQ's, DotA FAQ's, etc.

 

[Romek]

A link to the Systems, Demo Maps, Tutorials and 'Search' page would be about as useful as this.

 

[Sim]

You might want to make an index at the beginning.

At least the categories.

 

[Furby]

You should add here a link to this thread.

 

[elmstfreddie]

A link to the Systems, Demo Maps, Tutorials and 'Search' page would be about as useful as this.

Cause we've noticed how effective telling people to use the search button is

At least it's a place to start for some people.

 

[black.sheep]

Heres a good maths one.
How do I make a wild axes type spell?
Just the general maths system that is used for it, and maybe a simple trigger too.

 

[BlackRose]

Ok.... does anyone know how to make it so you can link to the same post, like below. EG: In large manuals (JassHelperManual), at the beginning is the index.... you click for example structs, it instantly goes to struct area.... how to do this?

 

[Romek]

You can't on these forums.
You could make a little search feature though.

(At the top)
Structs - [STRCT]

(In the tutorial)
Structs - [STRCT]

 

[WolfieeifloW]

Do what Romek said.
If you need help with it I can do it/help with it.

 

[wraithseeker]

Use better fonts and layout.

Currently it doesn't really look very appealing to the eyes.

 

[wraithseeker]

I think working on the title and colours of the code could seriously help.

My eye almost bleeded to death when I seen that wall of text that are not appealing -.-.

Red colour isn't very good and remember to leave more spacing so it looks neater.

 

[WolfieeifloW]

I'm waiting for BlackRose to respond to me and send me a *.txt file of the post so I can format it to look nice.

 

[BlackRose]

Well, it is a "IN-PROGRESS", thanks for feedback.

Attached for yoursake WolfieNoCT. Maybe this forum should implement some 'post sharing feature', that lets 2 users modify a post.

 

[WolfieeifloW]

Edited version (*.txt attached):

Spoiler

Frequently Asked Questions
By BlackRose and WolfieNoCT​

A quick foreword from Blackrose:
I'm not exactly the best person in World Editor, but there is a lot of questions that are quite frequently asked. I've decided to put together this FAQ so that people can find answers to their questions quickly, and efficiently.


INDEX:
In progress...


NOTE: I expect you will have The Frozen Throne, patched to at least 1.21. I am not sure if some of these below are compatible with previous versions.


Here we go!

What is the maximum movement speed?
The maximum movement speed is 522 while the default is 400.
To make it 522, you must go to:
Advanced -> Gameplay Constants -> Tick "Use Custom Gameplay Constants" -> Movement - Unit Speed - Maximum

Spoiler

What is a trigger?
Introduction To Triggers by WolfieNoCT

How do I make a unit look like a ghost? Transparent?

• Animation - Change <span style="color: blue">[/u]Unit&#039;s[/u]</span> vertex coloring to (100.00%, 100.00%, 100.00%) with 50.00% transparency

50% is good enough to make a unit look ghostly.

What is MUI?
Multi-Unit Instancability.
This means a trigger that can be run two or more times at the same time.
This is very important for multiplayer spells.

What is MPI?
Multi-Player Instancability.
A trigger that can be run by two or more players at the same time.
Always try to achieve MUI though as MUI > MPI.
If your trigger is MUI it is automatically MPI however if your trigger is MPI it is not automatically MUI.

How do I show an effect/do something to one player only?

• Actions
  • Custom script: if GetLocalPlayer() == Player(#) then
  • ...Do actions here...
  • Custom script: endif

Player(#) is the player you want to show.
In JASS the player's number is minus 1 of what it is in JASS.
So 'Player 1 (Red)' is "0" in JASS, 'Player 2 (Blue)' is "1" in JASS, and so on.
The things that you want done to that certain player only go between the 'if...' and 'endif'.
Using GetLocalPlayer() can be dangerous however if you don't know what you're doing;
Read this for more information about GetLocalPlayer().

How do I make DotA Allstars' Mortred's Blur skill?
The base of it:

• Actions
  • Custom script: if IsUnitEnemy(Mortred, GetLocalPlayer()) then
  • Animation - Change (Picked unit)&#039;s vertex coloring to (100.00%, 100.00%, 100.00%) with (24.5 * (Level of Blur for Morted)) transparency
  • Custom script: endif

100.00% being the amount. I believe it is 24.5/49/73.5/98%. I am not sure.

Why is it, when I open a map like DotA Allstars or Element TD, World Editor crashes?
The map has been "protected".
All the stuff in the map has been removed and stored into files which is then attached to the map so when you open it, there is nothing to load.
Why? Read the next question.

Why do people protect their maps?
Generally people protect their map to prevent people from hacking their map and adding in hacks or cheats or to just claim the map as their own.

What is a memory leak?
Memory Leaks and Custom Script by emjlr3
An example:
If you kept making pies, but you didn't eat them or get rid of them, they will keep stacking, taking up space until there is no more space (Or everything is so dirty).
A memory leak is like that.
If the memory in your map keeps 'leaking', the leaks will pile up and eventually use up all the your memory, making Warcraft lag or even crash.

How can I make a unit unselectable?
Add the Locust(Aloc) ability to a unit in: Abilities - Normal section.
Be careful though; Locust renders a unit unselectable, invulnerable, ignores player orders, and hides HP and MP bar, as well as preventing them from being picked in most cases of unit groups.

What are dialogs and how can I make them?
Dialog Boxes by AceHart

What are Leaderboards and how can I get about making them?
Leaderboard by SD_Ryoko

How can I create a Multiboard?
Multiboard Tutorial by Senkin
How to Create Multiboards by Andrewgosu

What is the Game Interface and how can I modify them?
Game Interface - Basics by jonadrian619

How do I make a Map Preview for my map?
Minimap Images by Darg

How do I make item recipes/combinations like in DotA Allstars?
Item - Recipes by ReVolver

How do I use color codes, and how can I make colored text in Warcraft 3?
Using Color Codes by Pineapple

How do I make a custom loading screen?
How to Make a Loading Screen by SFilip

What is JASS?
The scripting program that Warcraft III uses.
Just Another Scripting Syntax.
JASS - Wikipedia, the free encylopedia

What is GUI?
Graphical User Interface.
Generally the first step to your mapping career.

How do I set a hero's name and person name?
In the Object Editor (for heroes only) :
Text - Names
Text - Proper Names

What is DotA?
DotA-Allstars



NewGen Questions
What is NewGen?
It is a modified World Editor.
It is very useful for map makers, especially JASS users;
Although it's even useful for users of GUI.
Jass NewGen Pack - The Helper Forums
Jass NewGen Pack - Wc3campaigns

What is vJASS?

vJass is a set of user-made extensions to JASS. It introduces object-oriented programming features to the language, such as structs, encapsulation, and polymorphism.[1] Strictly speaking, vJass does not add anything to the JASS library but instead mostly uses JASS's own arrays and type casting to integers. The extension relies on a custom-made compiler that compiles vJass code to strict JASS code. In this manner, no additional mods for either the World Editor program or Warcraft III are required, and maps made using vJass code are fully compatible with any copy of the game, even those without the compiler. The most convenient Tool for Map-Developers which want to use vJass is currently the JassNewGen-Pack, which includes several enhancements for the Warcraft III-World-Editor (including a vJass precompiler). JassNewGen Pack is only fully compatible to Warcraft III 1.21b, however most of its functions work for 1.22 as well.

Spoiler

Maths questions:
What is a parabola?

How do I make a jumping spell?

 

[Darthfett]

I don't think an FAQ can really replace the search function, and it's not really something to be considered a tutorial. Graveyarded.