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                   NornPose 2.02
         by Lee Gaiteri (LummoxJR@aol.com)

            Visit the Norn Underground
   http://www.dreamscape.com/lummoxjr/creatures
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Requires:
    Visual Basic 3.0 runtime file (VBRUN300.DLL)
    Common Dialogs Control (CMDIALOG.VBX)

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INTRODUCTION

    NornPose assembles graphics of Norns from the individual body parts, in
    whatever pose you set. Version 2.01 can even put together a graphic of a
    Norn you already have, with mixed body parts and all. The completed file
    can be saved as either an SPR file or a Windows bitmap (BMP).


GETTING STARTED

    When you're setting up your image for the first time, it's important to
    know what kind of creature you want to make. First of all, you must
    select the species. (Currently, only Norns and Grendels exist.) Then,
    select the creature's age and sex.

    The text box labeled "Breed/Moniker" requires either a single digit
    representing the creature's breed (which determines its appearance), or a
    four-character genetic moniker. (Breeds are listed in APPENDIX B below.)
    If you enter a genetic moniker, the creature with that moniker (assuming
    you have its .GEN and .SPR files in the right places) will be assembled
    for you from its existing sprites; however, you must enter the correct
    age and sex information for it to look right, since NornPose can't tell
    from the creature's DNA what age and sex it is supposed to be.

    Finally, the text box labeled "Game Path" specifies the path for
    Creatures. (This is a 16-bit app, so you have to use the path as DOS
    would see it.) The default is "C:\PROGRA~1\CREATU~1", which is DOS's way
    of saying "C:\Program Files\Creatures". If your version of Creatures is
    installed elsewhere, change this value.
    THIS PART IS VERY IMPORTANT. If NornPose doesn't know where to look for
    the files it needs, it can't do anything, so it's important to let the
    program know where to find Creatures on your system.


POSING THE CREATURE

    There are 12 body parts to every creature. Each has 10 possible poses,
    numbered 0-9 (except for the head, which has 26 poses--check APPENDIX A
    for more information on poses). By choosing the pose for each body part,
    you can assemble the image in a great variety of ways.

    You can pose each individual body part by selecting that part in the
    drop-down list box, then changing the value in the Pose box below. There
    are also boxes for adjusting the X and Y coordinates of the part, just in
    case they're not aligned correctly to begin with. Choosing -2 for X, for
    example, moves that particular body part two pixels to the left.

    The poses can also be changed by using some of the menu commands.
    Selecting the option to change all parts to the current part's pose will
    do just that. You can also change the poses of sub-parts for the
    individual limbs.

    You can make some body parts invisible, so that you can add in special
    effects or overlap body parts later. There are several menu commands for
    this feature, all of which are self-explanatory.

    One other feature, which is usually unimportant to new users but useful
    to the experienced, is the Trim Color. If a Norn's sprite wasn't finished
    correctly (many aren't), so that it has some weird colors left at its
    edges, you can fix that by finding out what that color is (move the mouse
    pointer over that pixel in the image--below you will see the color's
    number) and then using that color as a trim color. That color will be
    trimmed off.
    For example, some Norns have ugly green corners that shouldn't be there.
    That particular green is color 81, so if you select 81 as the trim color
    for that body part, the green will disappear. The default Trim Color is
    0.

    Now that you've set up the image, click the "Create" button on the left
    side of the window to see it. If you want, you can save the image by
    clicking "Save".

    If you have further changes to make, you can have them shown to you
    automatically by turning on the check box that says "Update image as
    changes are made". That way, you don't have to click "Create" each time.


VERSION HISTORY

    This utility is in a constant state of flux. There are always features
    I'd like to add, and there's so much more I can do with it. But for now,
    it's in good shape.

    Version 2.02 (1/15/97)

        - There was a minor error in the way NornPose was looking for the
          Creatures directory. If the default directory
          ("C:\Program Files\Creatures") was incorrect, it would display an
          error message and then quit. The problem has been fixed.

    Version 2.01 (12/31/97)

        - I made a really stupid mistake when making NornPose 2.0, and due to
          insufficient testing I didn't catch it. NornPose 2.0 couldn't work
          with female Norns. I've fixed this.

    Version 2.0 (12/29/97)

        - Improved interface makes it easier for technophobes to assemble
          Norn graphics.
        - An image of an existing Norn (pigments and all!) can be assembled
          by entering its genetic moniker instead of the breed. You must
          specify the age and sex of this creature, however, as there is no
          way to tell that from the creature's genetic code.
        - The algorithm that searches for SPR/ATT files if an appropriate one
          is not found has been fixed. Now NornPose searches for these files
          the same way the game does, so you're less likely to run across
          something unusual happening if the expected file (like Santa's
          adult sprites, for example) is not found.

    Version 1.2 (10/6/97)

        - Images can now be saved in Windows Bitmap (.BMP) format.
        - If one body part has an odd color here and there, a problem in some
          of the Norns' SPR files, you can get rid of it by selecting a Trim
          Color. Move your mouse cursor over the offending color and remember
          its number, then enter that into the Trim Color box. That color will
          now be trimmed off if it appears at an edge of that body part.

Version 1.1 (9/22/97)

    - Body parts can now be made invisible, to make it possible to overlap
      graphics in later editing.
    - The image can be updated as changes are made. This isn't always
      helpful, but it is good for small adjustments.


APPENDIX A -- POSES

    All body parts except the head:

        Pose #      Description
        ------      -----------
          0         Facing right, downward
          1         Right, slightly downward
          2         Directly right
          3         Right, upward
          4         Left, downward
          5         Left, slightly downward
          6         Directly left
          7         Left, upward
          8         Forward
          9         Backward

    Head poses:

        Pose #      Description
        ------      -----------
         0-9        Same as above; eyes open
          10        Happy, eyes open
          11        Sad, eyes open
          12        Angry, eyes open
        13-22       Same as 0-9; eyes closed
          23        Happy, eyes closed
          24        Sad, eyes closed
          25        Angry, eyes closed


APPENDIX B -- BREEDS

    Breed #         Name or Description
    -------         -------------------
       0            (no name) Bald, big ears, smooth skin
       1            (no name) White hair, light skin
       2            (no name) Dark brown skin, brown or blonde hair
       3            Santa 1996
       4            Purple Mountain Norns
       5            Forest Norns
       6            Ron Norns
       7            Santa 1997


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       LummoxJR@aol.com
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