Advanced Bridges

[Icarus Featherfight]

This tutorial explains how you can create bridges that your party can travel both over and under. In addition, it demonstrates the creation of a proper mountain rope bridge and a dungeon of disappearing bridges! To start it all off, here's a complete description of the event options you will need to use.

Spoiler: Event Options

'Through'
When checked, this option ignores the passability data of the event, using the highest edited layer's data instead. It does not, automatically set tile to passable.

'Always on Top'
When checked, this option displays the event graphic over everything including the player. In addition, if the graphics of two events with this option enabled overlap the graphic of the event with the higher event id will be layered on top of those with a lower id.

Second, create a variable and call it height or level. Any time you go up or down a staircase, ladder, ramp etc. use a player touch event to change the variable to your new height. This will allow you to control the passability and visibility status of the bridge events.

Next create the bridge itself. It's simple enough, each event only takes two pages. The first page for when you are under the bridge and the second for when you are on the same level or above the bridge.

Spoiler: Most Bridges

All Pages
Graphic: (Tileset) - Bridge

Page 1 (under the bridge)
No Conditions
Options: 'Through' and 'Always on Top' should both be checked.
Note: If 'Through' is not checked and the tile below is impassable (cliff, crevasse etc.) you will be able to walk right through it.

Page 2 (same level as bridge)
Condition: Variable Height = 1, 2 etc. (height of bridge)
No Options

Spoiler: Horizontal Railing, Rope and Stone Bridges

Bridges Charset

All Pages
Graphic: (Tileset) - Bridge or Bridges
Note: The included Bridges charset in the demo is used to create the front tile of each bridge. Make sure the event id of front piece is greater than those in the rear or else the bridge will not display properly.

Page 1 (under the bridge)
No Conditions
Options: 'Through' and 'Always on Top' should both be checked.
Note: If 'Through' is not checked and the tile below is impassable (cliff, crevasse etc.) you will be able to walk right through it.

Page 2 (same level as bridge)
Condition: Variable Height = 1, 2 etc. (height of bridge)
No Options

Finally, you need to create the ends of the bridge. Once again, it will take 2 pages.

Spoiler: Most Bridges

All Pages
Graphic: (Tileset) - Cliff Edge

Page 1 (under the bridge)
No Conditions
No Options

Page 2 (same level as bridge)
Condition: Variable Height = 1, 2 etc. (height of bridge)
Options: 'Through' should be checked.
Note: Be sure to replace the cliff edge under the event with ground tile (passable)

Spoiler: Horizontal Rope Bridge (overlaps cliff edge)

All Pages
Graphic: (Tileset) - End of Bridge or Bridges

Page 1 (under the bridge)
No Conditions
Options: 'Through' should be checked.

Page 2 (same level as bridge)
Condition: Variable Height = 1, 2 etc. (height of bridge)
No Options
Note: Don't replace the cliff edge under the event with ground tile (passable)

Be sure to add shadows under the bridges. If you are planning on having the bridge appear/disappear they should be in events with through as an option.

As for the invisible part, just use a switch. Add it as a condition to both pages of the bridge event and page 2 of the cliff event with most tilesets. If you are using the rope bridge both pages of the bridge end event should have it as a condition. Additionally, be sure to add it to all shadows.

Spoiler: Bridges in the Editor

Note: I made the lower cliff edge passable.

Spoiler: Bridges Ingame

Note: The statues are switches to make the bridges appear/disappear.

Thank you Kraft for pointing out I needed shadows.

Alternate Methods:
For a full discussion of alternate ways of doing this see link below.
Overpass Bridge Problem

Demo:
Currently unavailable due to SMF switch.

 

[Icarus Featherfight]

I've added a lot to this tutorial recently, including additional content, spoilers, pictures and a link to Ccoa's Tileset Swap. If you read this tutorial when it was first posted please give the new version a glance.

 

[Khengi]

Awesome! I'm using this in my game now that I understand it.

 

[tiduskeegan]

Very nice. Thanks a lot~

 

[Kraft]

Just as a mapping suggestion for the peoeple who use this (and in your in-game screenshot) Try placing the shade tile (it is in the upper left of the tilesets and is grey) on the tile under the bridge (depenging on how high up the bridge is, place it under the bridge on different tiles.

It looks good.

Just a suggestion, you dont have to listen if you dont want to.

I guess.

 

[Icarus Featherfight]

Thanks Kraft. Will do.

Edit: There, I've added shadows and credited Kraft for pointing it out.

 

[BellGoRiiing]

Sorry to bump this...but I PMed Icarus a problem I had when putting in shadows. I don't know if he got it or not, I think its been a while. Anyways let me know if you have a solution for me Icarus.

If anyone is willing to help, please let me know. If so I will try my best to explain the error again, it is hard to explain...

 

[Icarus Featherfight]

Solution PMed to BellGoRiiing

 

[crispychaney]

i never would have thought of this method, suprisingly simple but very effective

 

[brainstorm]

when I use this, I'm using events to create disappearing bridges. But when they appear and you can walk ontop, if you stray away from the bridge you just go straight to bottom level. Is there a way to fix that without screwing everthing up?

 

[Icarus Featherfight]

when I use this, I'm using events to create disappearing bridges. But when they appear and you can walk ontop, if you stray away from the bridge you just go straight to bottom level. Is there a way to fix that without screwing everthing up?

Sasuke, on page 2 of your bridge events, make sure that 'Through' is not checked. If it's not that, it could be a passablity error in the tileset.

 

[mykrme]

I've got a problem too...Everything works just fine, except that the end tile, that cliff edge one, it's always visible over the character, the character is thus hidden. And it shouldn't be. Could you please please help me?Pretty pretty please?

 

[Axerax]

I noticed on some of your bridges that when the top and bottom reach an area, you still have the "blocked" priority tile of the walkable raised grounds. Actually would it not be better, to have the irregular corners carry out under the bridge, it would look more natural and well placed. AS well, the player will actually be able to cross it.

That is just me, I map different than you, the maps actually hurt my eyes cause the depth is off.

 

[Icarus Featherfight]

I've got a problem too...Everything works just fine, except that the end tile, that cliff edge one, it's always visible over the character, the character is thus hidden. And it shouldn't be. Could you please please help me?Pretty pretty please?

Make sure "Always on Top" is not check in your event. If not that, it could be a tileset priority problem.

I noticed on some of your bridges that when the top and bottom reach an area, you still have the "blocked" priority tile of the walkable raised grounds. Actually would it not be better, to have the irregular corners carry out under the bridge, it would look more natural and well placed. AS well, the player will actually be able to cross it.

That is just me, I map different than you, the maps actually hurt my eyes cause the depth is off.

I can't smoothly merge the cliff corners and bridge without editing them. Looking back at my map, I did fix a few mapping errors.

 

[rpgamer_01]

Wow, Thanks Helped A lot!

 

[trizicus]

I did what the thread said and it didnt work...

 

[Icarus Featherfight]

Wow, Thanks Helped A lot!

Your welcome.

I did what the thread said and it didnt work...

Care to elaborate Trizicus?

 

[trizicus]

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[trizicus]

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[Icarus Featherfight]

Maybe actually I have a better idea... Why dont you upload a demo so I can try it hands on...

I've added it a demo as an attachment to the header post.