NeoLemmix V12.12.0-RC Released [RC5 update released]

[namida]

The Release Candidate build for V12.12.0 is now here. That means the new skills are very close to becoming stable, w00t!

Current target release date for a stable build is July 8th. This will be delayed if an RC update that alters physics becomes necessary (the new stable date will be at least two weeks' from the date of said RC update) - this does not auto-apply to RC updates that only make visual or UI changes / fixes, though I may still choose to delay it at my discretion.

Known issues

- Bug: Lemmings do not lose permanent skills when assigned a Stoner
- Editor does not support paint objects

Download (V12.12.0-RC5, editor V1.39 included): https://www.neolemmix.com/download.php?id=510

This download only includes the Orig and OhNo styles, plus "default", "xmas" and "special". You can use the in-game Style Manager (in the Settings) to download other styles, or you can download styles manually:
- All styles: https://www.neolemmix.com/download.php?program=52
- Any individual style: https://www.neolemmix.com/styles/12.11/XXXXXXXX.zip (replace XXXXXXXX with the style's name, eg: https://www.neolemmix.com/styles/12.11/orig_fire.zip for orig_fire - and no, "12.11" in the link is not a typo)

As always, it is recommended you install the RC build to a new folder, rather than trying to use it in the same folder as your existing version of NeoLemmix. You can copy across your hotkeys file (from the Settings folder) after running the RC build for the first time.

You can find some levels using the new skills here: https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=5227.0 (Please read the rules of that topic before posting in it!)

Please report any bugs relating to the new skills on the New Skills bugs & suggestions board.

What is a Release Candidate build in the context of NeoLemmix?

A release candidate build could be thought of as a pre-release version of an upcoming release. The idea is that except for bugfixes, or issues that were specifically noted as "should be tested during the RC phase before deciding", there won't be changes between it and the stable version, and thus it can be used to start updating content, as well as for ironing out last-minute bugs. Content specifically targetting it should not be released, though styles targetting it can be submitted for the next styles download.

What do I need to do with my existing content?

There are three things that content creators should be aware of with V12.12.X.

1. Lemming sprites for the Laserer and Slider skills
If you have any styles with custom lemming sprites, you will need to add sprites for the Laserer and Slider skills. Please note that the Slider skill has two associated new states - Slider itself of course, as well as Dehoister.

2. Levels that use the "Only On Terrain" feature on objects
"Only On Terrain" is now considered deprecated. It still currently works, but support will be removed in the future. If the object is designed to be used as an only-on-terrain object, it should be changed from "no effect" to the "paint" object type by the style's creator. If it is not designed for this, reconsider whether it should be used as such - there could be valid cases for doing so, but be cautious of creating anything that may be misleading - and if it is definitely suitable, you will need to create a duplicate object with a "paint" instead of "no effect" type. There is no rush to do this - support for old-style only-on-terrain will not be removed until at least NeoLemmix V12.15.0. To be very clear - one-way arrows are not included in this, and no changes are needed to them.

3. General custom levels
As there have been some physics bug fixes, which could potentially have side effects, as always you should run a mass replay check on your levels. If any have broken and it is not clearly due to the bug fix, please report this rather than silently fixing the level, so I can investigate whether the breakage is an unintended side effect. In particular pay attention to levels that use the Jumper, Shimmier or Fencer skills. Additionally, any levels made with the Slider using RC4 or lower, or the Laserer using RC3 or lower, should be re-checked.

[namida]

Overall changelog, V12.11.3 -> V12.12.0-RC5

################
# New Features #
################
> Added two new skills: Slider and Laserer.
> Added support for automatic screen start position in levels.
> Added support for a hotkey to show used skill counts (rather than remaining).
> Added a general records for levels (like the user records, but includes results from other users' replays).
> Implemented a "Paint" object. This is a no-effect object with "only on terrain" drawing always enabled.
> Reimplemented the triggered animation object, along with a single-use counterpart. These will not be shown if the user has Hide Backgrounds on.

##################
# User Interface #
##################
> Multiple trigger areas overlapping each other will be a darker color in clear physics mode than a single object's trigger area.
> Replay editor displays newest action in bold, and actions added in insert mode in blue. Also, it has a placeholder item added to mark the current frame.
> When a dropdown box for a replay naming pattern is clicked into, the human-friendly text will be replaced with the actual pattern to allow for using the defaults as a base.

#################
# Other Changes #
#################
> Minor fix to the Xmas style ascender sprite.
> The "Functional" hotkey layout has been slightly revised - some skills no longer have hotkeys, and "Previous Skill" / "Next Skill" now do.
> The "Only On Terrain" feature (except as an inherent attribute of Paint objects) is considered deprecated (but is not yet culled).

#######################
# Bug Fixes - Physics #
#######################
> Fixed Fencers sometimes turning around when fencing near the top of the level.
> Fixed Jumpers sometimes being able to bounce off a zombie-blocker without becoming infected.
> Fixed Reachers and Jumpers being able to exit.
> Fixed Shimmiers being able to pass under the bottom of the level.

#####################
# Bug Fixes - Other #
#####################
> Fixed bug where objects' primary animations (and sometimes physics) behave glitchy if the user pauses while the level is loading, then immediately loads a replay without pausing or frame advancing.
> Fixed lack of a default hotkey for Jumper.

Changelog, V12.11.3 -> V12.12.0-RC1

################
# New Features #
################
> Added two new skills: Slider and Laserer.
> Added support for automatic screen start position in levels.
> Added support for a hotkey to show used skill counts (rather than remaining).
> Added a general records for levels (like the user records, but includes results from other users' replays).
> Implemented a "Paint" object. This is a no-effect object with "only on terrain" drawing always enabled.
> Reimplemented the triggered animation object, along with a single-use counterpart. These will not be shown if the user has Hide Backgrounds on.

##################
# User Interface #
##################
> Multiple trigger areas overlapping each other will be a darker color in clear physics mode than a single object's trigger area.
> Replay editor displays newest action in bold, and actions added in insert mode in blue. Also, it has a placeholder item added to mark the current frame.
> When a dropdown box for a replay naming pattern is clicked into, the human-friendly text will be replaced with the actual pattern to allow for using the defaults as a base.

#################
# Other Changes #
#################
> The "Only On Terrain" feature (except as an inherent attribute of Paint objects) is considered deprecated (but is not yet culled).

#######################
# Bug Fixes - Physics #
#######################
> Fixed Jumpers sometimes being able to bounce off a zombie-blocker without becoming infected.
> Fixed Reachers and Jumpers being able to exit.
> Fixed Shimmiers being able to pass under the bottom of the level.

#####################
# Bug Fixes - Other #
#####################
> Objects' primary animations behave glitchy if the user pauses while the level is loading, then immediately loads a replay without pausing or frame advancing.

Changelog, V12.12.0-RC1 -> V12.12.0-RC2

> Dehoister sprite has been replaced.
> The new skills have proper high-res sprites.
> Fixed bug: Jumper-Hoister transition has wrong timing / positioning at certain heights.
> Fixed bug: No sound plays when a slider slides into water.

Changelog, V12.12.0-RC2 -> V12.12.0-RC3

> New skill sprites added to the Xmas style
> Slight tweak to the high-res Xmas ascender sprite

Changelog, V12.12.0-RC3 -> V12.12.0-RC4

> Added hotkeys for Jumper, Slider and Laserer to both layouts.
> Tweaked the Functional hotkey layout slightly.
> Laserer physics change: The laser now ignores any pixels behind / below the lemming when removing terrain, even if they would otherwise be within the blast's radius.
> Fixed bug: Timer bypass nuke would be written to the replay but not actually activate, causing a replay/physics desync.
> Fixed physics bug: Fencer would sometimes turn around if fencing near the top of the level.

Changelog, V12.12.0-RC4 -> V12.12.0-RC5

> Physics change to prevent an edge case with the Slider interacting with a digger.
> Appearance of the Laserer's laser is changed to be less harsh.

Editor changelog, V1.37 -> V1.39

> Fixed a bug where skill counts are erased (or set to the previously-open level's) when opening a level (V1.38 was a failed attempt to fix this bug with no other changes)

[WillLem]

Exciting stuff! I'll get some sprites done over weekend

[NieSch]

Keep up the great work, namida.

[namida]

Uploaded V12.12.0-RC2 update. This fixes a couple of bugs (one physics, one UI), has a new dehoister sprite, and has proper high-res sprites for the new skills (no Xmas sprites yet).

You can update from V12.12.0-RC1 using the attached ZIP. Full download link is in the first post.

(EDIT: Removed. See below for RC3.)

[namida]

Uploaded V12.12.0-RC3 update. This has an updated editor which fixes a fairly critical bug, and also adds Xmas sprites for the new skills (as well as a slight tweak to an existing high-res xmas sprite).

Attached ZIP can be used to update from V12.12.0-RC1 or RC2; otherwise the full download is in the first post.

(EDIT: Reuploaded with Editor V1.39.)

[namida]

Uploaded Editor V1.39: https://www.neolemmix.com/download.php?id=508

V1.38 only fixed the skillset reset bug in some cases, so this is just a re-fix which should now fix it in all cases.

I have also reuploaded the RC3 update ZIP to contain this updated editor (but not the full download ZIP - so if you've downloaded RC3 via the full zip, please download the updated V1.39 editor as well).

[namida]

Haven't received any new bug reports / etc for a while now. I'm not going to bring the stable date forward regardless, but this is a promising sign. (This doesn't mean "no point testing, it'll still come at the same time" - if bugs only start to surface very close to release, I'd have to delay the stable date to have time to fix them.)

[namida]

Uploaded RC4 update. A few fixes, and some hotkey-related tweaks.

As always, attached ZIP can be used to update from any earlier V12.12.0-RC build. If you need the full download, it's in the first post. Both ZIPs also contain RC Editor V1.39 (which has been out for a while as a standalone download, but V12.12.0-RC3's zip contained V1.38).

[namida]

I've set a new standard re: moving to stable. I'll look at launching this as stable once two weeks have passed without any physics-changing RC updates (and of course, assuming nothing major's on the "to fix" list at that time). RC updates that only affect UI aren't subject to this.

I know this RC phase is turning out to be really long - I just want to avoid, as much as possible, having to modify the skills again after they go stable.

[Crane]

I haven't had a chance to check yet, but I know of at least one level that uses "only on terrain" on the Christmas lights object in the Xmas tileset, namely "Christmas Cavern" (level 15 of Holiday Lemmings '16) that uses them to make a very effective Christmas tree. Will it be permissible to have a 'paint' version of this object for the Xmas tileset?

[namida]

RC5 released. This has a physics tweak to the Slider and a visual tweak to the Laserer.

As usual - attached ZIP can be used to update from any previous V12.12.0-RC build, otherwise full download is in the first post.

[Proxima]

Please post things like that in this topic. If someone doesn't download it now and wants to find it later, that's a much more helpful place for it to be.

[namida]

All is looking good for a stable release in a few days. I did find one massive oversight in the editor (namely that I never got around to implementing support for paint objects), but this is not something that will need an extended testing period - it's the kind of feature that's not too likely to have bugs in the first place, and if it does, it's the editor, it's far less of a big deal to release an update for that.

(To be clear, I have not yet released any editor update to address this.)