Quick Guide on how to Customize Signs, Parchment, and Books

[ihmajin]

Edit: Please see the following post for a guide on how to customize signs, parchment, and books.

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Where might I find detailed instructions on how to customize placeable signs? The placeable items thread does not mention how I might take this action. There aren't any obvious signifiers in game, whether or IC or OOC, that I have noticed. I also am having difficulty returning any helpful search results.

As a player I have witnessed customized signs in-game from merchant characters and signs for player driven events. A response in this thread informed me that there is a way to customize them.

Thank you for taking the time to help!

[malclave]

I think there's a "paint brush" you'll need, in addition to the sign and paint. Examining the paint brush should give you the instructions.

I didn't find the commands very intuitive when I've tried them (parchment and character description tool). Unless it's very short text you want to write, I'd suggest writing it out in a text file (with all the !w commands included), including the commands for any blank lines, and then alt-tab between that file and the game so you can just copy and paste each line into your chat box.

[brionikos]

Check out this, from Jorteck - frc.proboards.com/thread/32061/tool-item-description-import

Use to work really good. Not sure if it still does, after updates and such... but worth a shot. I made numerous books "in game", using it.

DM Jorteck

[ihmajin]

I appreciate your help brionikos and malclave. I'll see if I can get my hands on these items in-game. Once I figure out what to do I'll update my post to provide instructions for any other people who may find themselves stumped in the future.

[koffie]

as far as i know, the tool still works

[ShadowCatJen]

*hint* Three items are needed to make it all work.

[ihmajin]

I'll keep that in mind, koffie . The tool looks like it will save people from a lot of frustration.

ShadowCatJen , it is my aim to understand an OOC game mechanic. I'd greatly appreciate if you can please be more direct with your help. Thank you!

So far it is my understanding that a player will need to have a paint brush, paint, and a sign. The instructions on how to use everything will be explained on the paint brush. Signs are available to purchase from Waric in Greatgaunt. Were might one procure the paint and paint brush?

[Munroe]

Mar 16, 2021 9:29:51 GMT -5 ihmajin said:

I'll keep that in mind, koffie . The tool looks like it will save people from a lot of frustration.

ShadowCatJen , it is my aim to understand an OOC game mechanic. I'd greatly appreciate if you can please be more direct with your help. Thank you!

So far it is my understanding that a player will need to have a paint brush, paint, and a sign. The instructions on how to use everything will be explained on the paint brush. Signs are available to purchase from Waric in Greatgaunt. Were might one procure the paint and paint brush?

I think just using a standard quill and ink on signs works too, just like writing on blank parchment. Instructions for using quills used to be on the quills. I think they still are.

I'm pretty sure the paintbrush and paint are alternative appearances and names for those items, so, if my memory serves, you don't need to use a paintbrush, you can just use a quill. Paintbrushes and paints are larger inventory items, so this is worth keeping in mind, though you still may prefer the paint/paintbrushes for the roleplay aspect of painting the sign.

[Ruin]

Yes,  Ink and quills work with the signs.   

Just use the quill (Looks like a feather) on the sign and ready to go.  You must of ink  ( Can buy ink the Mage Shop at Greatgaunt. )

The quill, has a description with how to use the array of commands to make the sign work. 

Lastly,   the sign needs to be in your inventory before you post the sign up.  Don't try to use the quill/paintbrush while the sign is posted. Won't work.   :3

[ShadowCatJen]

SCJen's Far More Exact Hints Tips

As stated, three items are required:
1) the item you'll write on (parchment, sign, painting, book, etc.)
2) an writing utensil (quill, paintbrush)
3) resource writing supplies (ink, paint)

Tip 1: While you don't need the ink to be on the same inventory page (it can even be in a container) it helps to have the sign and writing utensil to be on the same page. As mentioned above, don't place it on the ground yet. Keep it in inventory.

Tip 2: Make sure your writing supply has charges to write available. You can do this by looking at the ink/paint's description and see how many Charges it has. Note: It uses a charge for every command line used so even if it's just to start a new line (using !e) it will use a charge.

Steps

1)"Use" the quill/paintbrush and select the item to write on. This automatically activates the editing function. You only need to use the item once and the edit script will remain "open" until you finalize.

2)Edit the items description and name as desired. Remember to add a space after each command. Example, to change the signs description to "For Sale" in the chat field you would enter:

!n<space>For Sale

Tip 3: If you have multiple lines or paragraphs it helps to put space lines between them. This requires you to use the !e command twice. Once to start a new line and the second time to go one line below that, giving a "break" in the description. Example, if you were to enter the following:

!w This is the first line.<enter>
!e<enter>
!w This is the second line.<enter>

It would look like this:

This is the first line.
This is the second line.

If you were to enter the following:

!w This is the first line.<enter>
!e<enter>
!e<enter>
!w This is the second line.<enter>

It would look like this:

This is the first line.

This is the second line.

It can help to make an easier-to-read description from a visual standpoint.

3) Once done, look at the description to make sure everything reads as you want it. Make any necessary edits.

4) Type the !f command to finalize. Once finalized you can not make further edits to it so make absolutely sure it's the way you want it before that.

Tip 4: While you certainly can leave it "open" by not typing the !f command, if you select the "Use" function on another writing utinsil it will automatically finalize the one you have "open". It will also automatically finalize after a server reset so if you have intentions of "finishing it after the reset", sorry. You will have to buy a new one and start over.

5) "Use" the sign to place it on the ground for everyone to see its gloriousness.

Hope this helps!

[koffie]

Another small tip: If you do not use the item description import, open up a notepad and prepare the lines you need to write for reviewing (including the ! commands), and copy paste it to the Game client. that way, you can archive it for possible use later, and you can review it without the game being open
i tend to make a lot of typing errors, especially in the game client, somehow

[ihmajin]

A Quick Guide on how to Customize Signs, Parchment, and Books

What You Need

1. A medium such as ink or paint. Mediums have charges.
   
   
2. An applicator like a quill pen or brush. Applicators have a unique power.
   
   
3. A surface like a sign, parchment, book, or any other valid item. Surfaces are the objects that will be customized.
   

How To Use

Use the Unique Power of an applicator. The in-game cursor should change from a pointing finger to a compass-like target selector. Select a valid object as a target.

You may now leverage commands to customize the object. Each command must be followed by a blank space and then text. Press the enter keyboard key to submit the command. Each submitted command will consume one charge of your medium. The commands are as follows:

• !n
  This command will change the name of an object. Submitting !n New Name Here will change the name of parchment to New Name Here.
  
  
• !w
  This command will append text to the object description. The object description text will be replaced the first time this command is submitted but not any other time after. Submitting !w Description Text will append the object description with Description Text.
  
  
• !e
  This command will enter a line break when submitted. You may consider entering this command twice in a row to produce a double line break for greater legibility.
  
  
• !r
  This command will revert, or undo, the very last and only the very last command submitted. You will not be able to revert any other changes beyond the most recently submitted command. It is highly encouraged that you draft and then review the entire object description in an external text editor before attempting to customize an object description.
  
  
• !f
  This command will finalize customizing the object. Any commands submitted afterward will be prohibited! An object will automatically finalize if you attempt to customize a new surface item.

Tips and Hints

You may use mediums, applicators, and any surface item interchangeably (i.e. a quill pen, paint, and sign). You may purchase mediums, applicators, and surface items from vendors in Great Gaunt. Server resets will not automatically finalize an object. DM Jorteck has created a wonderful tool to help customize objects.

Special Thanks

brionikos , koffie , malclave , Munroe , ShadowCatJen

[Munroe]

Has there been a change in the behavior or !f? It has been that items were not finalized without !f. Anything else, such as targeting another item, or a server reset, just caused the item to lose focus until it was targeted again.

One of my characters wrote in the same in-game book across multiple sessions, until I hit the text limit on the book (which was way too low, so I gave up my plan to use books that way), but that was a few years ago. It is possible the finalization process may have been expanded since then.

[ihmajin]

Mar 20, 2021 16:03:31 GMT -5 Munroe said:

Has there been a change in the behavior or !f? It has been that items were not finalized without !f. Anything else, such as targeting another item, or a server reset, just caused the item to lose focus until it was targeted again.

One of my characters wrote in the same in-game book across multiple sessions, until I hit the text limit on the book (which was way too low, so I gave up my plan to use books that way), but that was a few years ago. It is possible the finalization process may have been expanded since then.

I recently verified that server resets do not finalize an object. I've updated the guide accordingly. Thanks for pointing this out so that I can look into this!

[Munroe]

Mar 26, 2021 8:47:42 GMT -5 ihmajin said:

Mar 20, 2021 16:03:31 GMT -5 Munroe said:

Has there been a change in the behavior or !f? It has been that items were not finalized without !f. Anything else, such as targeting another item, or a server reset, just caused the item to lose focus until it was targeted again.

One of my characters wrote in the same in-game book across multiple sessions, until I hit the text limit on the book (which was way too low, so I gave up my plan to use books that way), but that was a few years ago. It is possible the finalization process may have been expanded since then.

I recently verified that server resets do not finalize an object. I've updated the guide accordingly. Thanks for pointing this out so that I can look into this!

I'm still thinking only !f finalizes an object. As in you can target and write on another object in the meantime, you can even hand an object to another character and they can also write on it. There's nothing that forces a finalization if you don't manually force one with !f command.  

[koffie]

hmm norah once game me a paper to sign, and the system didn't let me because the paper was owned by somebody else

[Munroe]

Mar 27, 2021 14:00:20 GMT -5 koffie said:

hmm norah once game me a paper to sign, and the system didn't let me because the paper was owned by somebody else

HMm. Might be wrong on that point then. Like I said, that was the "impression" I had. But I can see the benefit of not allowing multiple people to make modifications as well.

[koffie]

I will double check

[tarsiz]

Hi

Quick question regarding this, I used the guide (very well made!) to write on one item and hit a character limit - 1,000 characters exactly for the "rough parchment".

Is the limit a hard limit imposed by NWN or does it depend on the type of item chosen to write on?

[koffie]

i think its limited by nwn