Orb is available for smaug area building

Just thought I'd let everyone know that Orb is available for downloading and is compatible with smaug mud code bases. Before I begin my rant on how great it is, I know that this forum isn't meant for chat, but I just wanted to let everyone know what is available. Now on with the rant:

I've been useing Orb now for the past three weeks, and let me tell you, it's easier than most area building software out there. Cost? None what so ever, 100% free!!! I could tell you all the stuff that is in Orb, and what's comeing, but I think I'll let the creator's website do that instead. If anyone is interested in checking it out, the addie is:

http://www.shadow-lands.com/orb/

I had trouble dling it the first and second time around, so I just emailed the coder responsible for it, and he emailed it to me. Again, get it, and see for yourself if you like it.

Yep, I've had that on my computers for a year or two, although I don't tend to build much.

The trouble with Orb is that it doesn't give you a feel of what's happening. It's all well and good to walk around the area in it's preview thingy, but it doesn't support anything you might want to use to test - ie, you can't test your exits (because you can unlock doors without the key, dig/search/hidden/secret exits are shown anyway, and teleport rooms won't activate), your mobs won't do anything, you can't pick up items, and any progs you might have won't run either.

Also, it's very vague about room/mob/object attributes, especially for objects. Every object has 5 generic attribute values, the meaning of which varies depending on the object type. Orb just gives you the boxes to put these values into; it doesn't give any indication what the values might mean in any context, except for armour and weapons I believe.

Orb is useful for laying out your area and quickly seeing how things interact with each other, but the best way to really build a good area (IMO) is to use the online building commands while connected to your mud.

ORB is fine, but our area editor adds some features that you may find useful when doing a big area, for example the "area check" that checks that everything is cross-referenced (and also warns you of unused items), and the extensive cross-reference, so that if you are in a room you see what exits lead TO it.

I suggest trying ORB, and also our Area Editor. If you think the extra features are worth paying for, well and good.

You can download and try the Area Editor without having to pay, however certain features (like customising bit meanings) are disabled for unregistered copies.

There is no time limit for unregistered copies.