Just like I said, I'm back with an update before another month has passed. I haven't gotten nearly as much done as I'd like, but considering the circumstances, it's a decent amount anyway.

First, there's that window effect I'd posted last time. Remember how I'd said I wasn't quite satisfied with it? Well, I've pulled out all the stops, used all four graphical layers (outside of Pictures) and made a stained glass window that's about as realistic as RPGMaker will allow.

Ah, but quit listening to me babble, and take a look:

I also decided to map the next town area after that dungeon, Na-koro. I went a little overboard with it, though, and started filling it with a few too many Piraka Mania references... I guess that's what I get for repurposing those graphics... Speaking of which, I'll be re-mapping the entire town portion of the map, since I'm just not happy with the houses. They don't quite fit in with the rest of the gameworld. So, ignore the Toa Town-esque houses in the next screenshot. One thing I will keep, however, is this little cameo.

Yes... it's that band.

Also, if I haven't said it already, I'll be switching my plan up a bit, and I'll be mapping the rest of Act II first before I go back and do all the programming and such. Here's hoping it'll speed things along a bit.

I almost forgot about the staircase! Whoops... Anyway, I first have to explain the logic behind it: When creating this dungeon, I had a thought that it should be bigger than something a Matoran would build (because it was built by a certain faction of Titan-sized characters), which led to the idea of the larger bricks. This, however, led to a slight problem: How does one handle stairs? If I used the Piraka Mania stairs, it wouldn't make sense, because the Titans' feet wouldn't fit on the steps, and that just doesn't work, but... if I went with stair made from the brick tiles I'd made for the dungeon, it would fit the scale of the environment, but then would be too big to climb to other floors. So... compromise--These Titans care about Matoran, and have accomodated them by providing smaller stairs on the edges of the larger ones that they use. Observe:

It's amazing how much thought has to go into something as seemingly simple as a staircase.

Oh, and Happy Halloween! I'm actually watching the Nightmare Before Christmas as I type. They're currently taking Santa to Oogie Boogie's.