Definitive Answer on Map Inclusion/Exclusion by Chuk22
 

In response to some inquiries on the automap on the Typhoon Board, Chuk22 posted the following:

Unfortunately, maps are not currently available. Maps have never been active in any publicly released form. It is a feature that was cut due to time.

Notwithstanding, it is an addition we are heavily considering, once other more relevant issues have been patched.

In the meantime, if you bought the game, you get a map in the box. Between the map, the roadsigns, and the compass, the world is quite navigable.

-CHUK

Lol, I love that last part...the subtle sarcasm is great.

To me the entire automap explanation is pure bull. Take a look at the game directories. In there you'll find maps of the roads in the game and you'l even find a Fargrove map with small icons for quest and player. Sounds more like they failed in getting it ready in time for release then deciding that it would be more fun if players were lost in the wilderness complaining about no knowing where they were in the world.

I suppose they used more time on making the graphic for the buttons on the playstation controller
Program Files\Dreamcatcher\Dungeon Lords\interface/psbutton
There is so much junk in the installation folder which are newer used in the game, if I understand the files correctly the automap was active back in 2003, have a look at these folders :
Program Files\Dreamcatcher\Dungeon Lords\maps *the map of fargrove*
Program Files\Dreamcatcher\Dungeon Lords\terrmap *The main map where all towns are, Fargrove is marked with an F* dated : 21 February 2005 so the automap was in fact being worked on...

Now some thoughts on the engine, the engine is basically an remake of the one used in W&W, if anyone still have the game, have a look in the folder and you will find the DEEP6 file. In Dungeon Lords the Deep6 file is dated 18 May 1998...

It seems like the development for this game was initially aimed at both PC and PS2 audience, somewhere on this road something went terribly wrong and they had both a lack of funds and experienced programmers. Just have a look at the structure of the filesystem and compare it with an modern game, its a really big mess and I believe that may be one of the faults why things doesnæt work as they should.

So probably if we are lucky we will see 1 or 2 patches wich will fix a couple of the problems, as long as they are able to fix the automap for the outside world it will increase gameplay and enjoyment tenfold.

Lol, that DEEP6 thing is absolutely insane. I just checked it out too....there's got to be an explaination for that other than the file being 7 years old. Someone at HD headquarters must have had a wrong PC system date.

No, it looks like the DEEP6 file is the one used in W&W game. I believe that they are using a somewhat modified game engine based on the old W&W one. Many parts of the game seems to suggest this like the 3d environment structure (ground). If you had played W&W you would be able to recognise the geometry easily.

But what makes me really mad is the following rant :
[QUOTE]There has been quite a bit of confusion on the forums about the auto-map feature, therefore I have revised the FAQ on this issue in an effort to help avoid any further misunderstandings:

8. I heard there was an auto-map feature in Dungeon Lords but when playing it, I can’t seem to get it to work?
No auto-map feature has been included in the game. Although mentioned in the manual, the manuals were printed significantly before the final cut of Dungeon Lords was delivered from the developer. Between the time of the manual printing and the final version of Dungeon Lords being delivered and after significant discussion and evaluation, it was determined that the current system was more fun, providing increasing character growth and classic RPG exploring. However, based on user-feedback an auto-mapping feature may be included for a future update.

D@mn, looks like they are lying again, at least they are trying to make us believe that it was an Game design decision so they decided to take out the map of the game to make us enjoy the game more properly? What the heck? Is it just me or does this just not sound good at all? I would rather have the option to enable disable the automap at my leisure to not having it.

Can't you just say for christ sake that you didn't have enough time to finish the automap feature????

Wizards and Warriors.
 

If you've played Wizard and Warriors at any great length, then a lot of the sound samples in Dungeon Lords should be strangely familiar. I've only got as far as the first town, but....well audio wise I keep getting a strange sense of DeJa vu. Lol.

I looked around the game directory and came upon the sub-directory StatusIcons in the Interface directory. There is only ONE icon, for poison. Has anyone actually had any other status on them? Sleep, slow, confused, anything?

If they ran out of time for THAT, then they really must have been under the gun!

Regards,
Michael

Exactly what I also was thinking.
It just seems they ran out of time.
If they now just could be straightforward with that an just say it I suppose most of the people here would calm down including me.

We're not lying about the auto-map - that is what was intended. The auto-map WILL be implemented. However, it won't be included in the first update. The first update is in testing now.

Thanks.