HM3: Neck and neck

OK, just one neck actually -- NeckwearStandard has been added to the HeroMachine 3 Alpha. Note that since this is a whole new top-level slot, it might throw off some of your saved characters. Or it might not, what the heck do I know? Here's a sneak peek at some of the new items:

neckwear

There are 53 Neckwear items at this point, including (I think) all the ones from 2.5 and many of the suggestions you made in the last thread. So thank you for providing those! Conspicuously absent are some of the more elaborate necklaces and pendants. I did include a number of basic chains and a connector so you can basically make your own if you're so inclined. More advanced stuff will probably wait til further down the line and a "NeckwearJewelry" set or somesuch. I tried some funky stuff with the design of these, figuring that the Head would be covering up their backs, let me know if it works or not. You can see it mostly with the high-collared evil overlord thingie and the furry bomber jacket collar.

Also, I slightly updated the Save code, to hopefully prevent the loss of your character if the browser crashes unexpectedly at some point after you saved it but before you manually close your session. I think part of the problem was that I wasn't using the "flush" command to force the data into the saved object. Let me know of any new weirdness you see as a result.

Next up? I need to dive back into the save/load code and figure out why it's misbehaving so badly on layering and forgetting items and that sort of thing. It shouldn't be but sorting out why will take some work. If I can I'll also try to run down the problem with the PNG and JPG options giving you the itty-bitty-guy-in-the-corner when you have any hands selected. That one's blowing my mind.

Anyway, those are the most major problems right now, that I feel like need to be addressed before moving on in good conscience to the next bunch of items. So updates may be a bit slow for the next week as nothing tangible gets done except for behind the scenes.

27 Responses to HM3: Neck and neck

  1. Hammerknight says:

    Looks good Jeff, only 2,985,786 more items to go. About three or four weeks right?

  2. Jeff Hebert says:

    I’m thinkin’ Friday.

  3. Blue Blazer says:

    Why am I not seeing this category? Is neckwear within another category?

  4. Hammerknight says:

    Refresh you page Blue and it should come up.

  5. RJ_McD says:

    jeff thanks for my cyborg cable neck whoooo

  6. Hammerknight says:

    There is one you forgot Jeff, The Italian Necktie.(Throat cut and tongue pulled through it.

  7. I’ve always heard that called a Colombian Necktie.

  8. Hammerknight says:

    I was going from the old mob days, 1920’s and 30’s, way before Colombian.

  9. DJ says:

    You’ve probably already thought of this Jeff but could the masking that you have with the hands be the problem with the saving making it a small image? I don’t know exactly WHY this would happen but it’s the only thing that is different when compared to other items.

  10. Jeff Hebert says:

    That’s definitely one of the things I’ll look into DJ. It does it with the old Zombie hands too, so it’s not the new separate pattern mask I put in a few weeks ago. But it might be that the super-large masking object distorts the expected image size to the point where it gets screwed up, I am not sure. But yeah, that’s the most likely culprit.

  11. paul says:

    Jeff,

    Once your done fixing the save function is it possible for you to start adding more guns?

  12. Jeff Hebert says:

    That’s a good question Paul. On the one hand, a lot of people like guns. On the other hand, there are already a fair number of guns in the app, while other items are completely missing (blunts, miscellaneous ones, etc.).

    What do you all want to see next?

  13. Kaldath says:

    I’d like to see energy blast effects .. Not Aura’s (Although Those would be Nice too ) but some dedicated hand energy effects would be really nice to see.

  14. commandojoe says:

    this update looks great Jeff. i have the same problem has blue and i have cleared my cache and refreshed the page

  15. Jeff Hebert says:

    @commandojoe: Sometimes the file can get saved to the server-side cache and the only thing you can do unfortunately is wait for that to refresh — there’s no way to force it from the user end. I’ve noticed it’s a bit worse on WordPress, but really it depends on the time and settings between your ISP and the one hosting HeroMachine.com.

    I can’t think of any other reason you wouldn’t be seeing it show up on the list.

  16. Abadon says:

    Thanks Jeff! 🙂 I’d like to see some polearms next.

  17. JR says:

    id like to see some guns.

  18. RJ_McD says:

    jeff i was wondering if you can add Heat vision to eyes if you were to work on energy bursts next thanks 😉

  19. Hammerknight says:

    Jeff we want it all next, you don’t need to sleep or eat just work,work, work. lol

  20. Hammerknight says:

    Hey RJ_McD, here is a way that you can do the Heat Vision. I used the light saber blade and made them 3/4 transparent.
    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=59522&d=1245437029

  21. RJ_McD says:

    HammerKnight i can;t look at a ugo page because of there stupied members only page

  22. J says:

    For the body category could you please make some parts that are knees and below. You have full legs and just thighs, etc but no knee, calf, etc.

  23. Jeff Hebert says:

    Yes, lower leg limbs are key. If I forget, poke me.

  24. JR says:

    so jeff, what are u gonna do? i think we should have a consensus by now or maybe later…. but i i’d like to have a agreement or to have something done in the way of items thx.

  25. Jeff Hebert says:

    After the weekend I’m still working on stability issues JR. After that I will see where I am, take stock, and decide what I feel like working on. I’m leaning towards energy effects, currently you have to use something like an insignia to get anything at all in that regard, whereas you still have plenty of guns and other actual items to put in the hands.

  26. David says:

    I like what you do and I think it is awesome. I use HM primarily to craft images of my D&D characters. I like that I am able to custom make some weapons and such now (such as Glaives). I love the ability to make custom belts and bandoleers too. The hardest part is making good armor. It is easy enough to pull off leather, scale or plate but things such as Hide or chain is more difficult.

    I was trying to make a Goliath character the other day and was finding it somewhat difficult. The standard body seemed to small but the large one felt too bulky. I know that this is a bit of a nerd moment but I didn’t feel like I was able to get the tall (7-8′) feel I was looking for with any of the body models. I didn’t see anything that looked good for Hide armor ether.

    I know that’s a bit specific but just a thought.