Over and Under Bridges
An advanced tutorial by rocksfan13.
note: this tutorial requires the author to have a good working knowledge of triggers and layers.
Here is something that a lot of authors look for help on. The over/under bridge.
It's really quite simple so I'll explain it for you.
This requires you to create 3 screens. One for the main dmap screen, the others for layers.
Lets say you want the bridge to be seen over top of other things, say walls or water(quite popular).
1. You create the initial screen with all the features and designs on map 1. Water, walls, rocks, trees, etc.
*This/these screen(s) will be the walk over part of the bridge.*
2. You copy and paste the screen to another map, map 2. Then draw the location of the bridge on top of it. The only thing you are worried about on this screen is the bridge.
3. After you have drawn the bridge, select the tile that is completely transparent (usually black) and replace everything else with it. Leave just the bridge.
*If you are not sure what a transparent tile is, go to Quest->Graphics->Tiles and select an empty tile. Select EDIT. If it is transparent, all of the little boxes will have a (x) in them. This is the tile I am refering to. One of your combos has to be using this tile. It must be completely walkable.(No Red) Create a combo using that tile and designate it as a type. As seen here:
4. Go to Data->Secret Combos, Misc tab. Click the secret combos that are going to represent the pieces of the bridge. Select the parts of the bridge for each tile. Fill in the whole bridge. 16-23 are the only ones you can use for this layer. 24-31 must be left available. (If you need to use more than 8 secret tiles, separate your bridge into 2 screens.)
Fill in any empty spots with the transparent combo.
Next hold the CTRL key and select the secret bridge combo and select one of the secret tile numbers that is a transparent combo. You cannot use the same secret tile tile numbers for every secret combo. This is called Tiering. For more on Tiering SEE Flags and Secrets (Tiering).
Now, you're gonna do the same thing with the transparent secrets. Except you're gonna select the bridge piece that was originally assigned to change to that particular combo. If you're confused, I'll supply a sample attachment.
What's gonna happen is when you place the triggers, it will cause the bridge to trigger back and forth between secrets.
5. Assign the correct secret combo numbers to the bridge. The transparent ones.
Make sure that you chose the right ones that change back to the right section.
If you needed to use 2 screens for the bridge, do the same to the second screen.
*This/these screen(s) will be the walk under part of the bridge.*
6. Copy and paste the screen to another area on map 2.
7. You will do the reverse on this screen. So that the screen will start blank and the bridge itself will be triggered first. Where as the other the transparent combos trigger first.
8. You won't need to replace the secret flags on this screen because upon copying and pasting from the other screen, they are already there. Just designate the bridge combos to the correct secret flags and tier them like you did on the other screen. The same process will occur. Replace the bridge that is there with transparent combos. This screen will be all black.
9. Go back to the original screen on map 1. Now go to Data->Layers. Assign the map and screen number that is the walk over part of the bridge to either layer 1 or 2. Or both if you used 2 screens. Assign the map and screen number that is the walk under part of the bridge to either layer 3 or 4. 5 and 6 will work too, but that is only if you want the flying enemies to go under it too. Now you have it set up for the layers to toggle between under Link and over Link.
10. Assign the trigger combos to the proper areas around the bridge. You will need to tier these too. Depending on where Link will come in first, you will set up the triggers. If you have link walking under the bridge first, you want the triggers to be right in front of the actual bridge so whe Link steps on it, it triggers the bridge to appear on layer 3 or 4 or where ever you placed it.
If you have Link come out from under the bridge to go back over it, have the tiered secrets set up for the triggers so the tier back and forth to each other depending on where Link is. Place the tiered secret in front of the walk over section of the bridge so that when Link steps on the first one when he walks under it, it triggers the tiered secret in front of the over bridge. When Link steps on that one, it'll trigger the bridge back to layer 1 or 2 or both and Link will now walk over the bridge.
Your finished product should look like this:
The important thing to remember after doing all of this is to check the walkability of the area over and under the bridge when it is triggered. That is fixed by simply selecting the correct combos that will be placed and triggered.
Make sure you trigger the walls that the bridge is attached to change to a walkable edge using the secret flag method as well. You will need to tier those as well.
This sample quest to should allow you to follow along with these steps.
It was created in ZQuest 2.10 so use that or higher to view it. Hope it helps.
