That’s what Don included in his spiffy sample game for the 1.05 release.

Even if many have learnt to do that, I’ll explain it for those who haven’t understood yet how to create those beloved moving HQs. You just need to know how to create an item and how to change party members (excellent tutorials exist, so read them first). If you’re too lazy, I’ll explain it.

Preparation : You must set a vehicle position on your world map. You must define it as the airship position.
Then create a ap that’ll be your HQs. Do that now.

STEP 1 - The Flying Stone.

First we’ll learn how to create the Flying Stone, a kind of remote control that calls the airship. Press F8 to enter the DataBase. Select « Items », then create an objet called Flying Stone. The classification must be set to « Switch ». Then Enter a brief description of what it does (« Calls the airship » will be perfect). Check the Field box only (or else it’ll be usable in battles and I presume that this will bug the game). Select « ON switch » and define a « Call Airship » switch.

Explanation : when used, this object will simply turn the « Call Airship » switch ON.

STEP 2 - The Board event.

Create a new common event (DataBase [F8] > Common Events) named « bring hero to airship » (I use Don’s names on purpose, so that you can use the sample game to understand what the Flying HQs are, that’s what I did J). That’s the most important step, so read carefully. Set its appearance condition to a ON switch (which is Call Airship). The Event start condition must be Parallel Process.

In that event, insert a fork condition and tick the « Add ELSE Case » box (don’t know what is it ? just think that it is like If… Then… Else : ‘’FORK Optn’’ = If, what is just below = Then, ‘’ELSE Case’’ = Else. That’s much more simple than it seems). The « If » condition must be a ON switch named « hero already aboard ». Create it now. Show a message saying « You’re already aboard ».
Explanation : if you’re in the airship, you can’t call it again.
Now, the ELSE Case :
<>Turn switch « hero already aboard » ON
<>Memory the place (when you’ll leave your HQs, that’ll do you’ll return to the place where you came aboard) by storing the Map ID, map x and map y in 3 different variables.
<>Teleport to airship (you can display things showing your airship arriving but we’ll forget it in this tutorial in order to keep simple.
The FORK ends here.
Now turn « Call Airship » switch OFF.

STEP 3 - The Pilot

Create an event on your airship just as a character. Must look like that :
Event Start condition - Push Key
Position - Same level as Hero
Movement Type - Stay still (that’s simpler).
Choose your favorite Animation Type, it’s not important.

Event :
<>Disable the menu.
<>Setup Vehicle Place : tick « Airship », then select « by variable », and select the variables you defined in step 2 (memory place).
<>Erase Screen
<>Goto Memorized Place (with the same variables)
<>Ride Vehicle
<>Show Screen
<>Turn « Return to Airship » switch ON (define it now).
Explanation : talking to the pilot, you’ll be able to return to world map riding the vehicle. You can enhance this character by showing a choice. Proceed as this :
<>Show Message : « Wanna fly, boss ? »
<>Show Choice : Yes/No
<>[Yes] Case
<>Disable the menu.
<>Setup Vehicle Place : tick « Airship », then select « by variable », and select the variables you defined in step 2 (memory place).
<>Erase Screen
<>Goto Memorized Place (with the same variables)
<>Ride Vehicle
<>Show Screen
<>Turn « Return to Airship » switch ON (define it now).
<>[No] Case
<>
END Case

STEP 4 - Returning inside the Ship.

Here is the most complex step of that tutorial. You’ll now create another common event, named « Wait for key ».
— Parallel Process
— Switch condition : « Return to Airship » is ON.

<>FORK Optn : Airship Riding (select here somewhere).
<>
:ELSE Case
<>Stop All
<>Memory Place (once more stored into your 3 beloved variables).
<>Setup Vehicle Place : place the airship somewhere on your airship map, somewhere you can’t see that (that would be ugly, but that is necessary).
<>Erase Screen
<>Teleport to Airship map
<>Show Screen
<>Turn « Return to Airship » switch OFF.
<>Enable menu
<>Move All
:END Case
Wait 0.1s (to avoid any bug due to a lack of time)

STEP 5 - Landing.

You’ll probably not want to spend your whole life aboard. So will have to create a place you can leave the airship by.
We’ll create a character (just as the Pilot), where you want him to be.
In the event :
<><>Show Message : « Leave your HQs, boss ? »
<>Show Choice : Yes/No
<>[Yes] Case
<>Message : « See ya later, boss ! »
<>Turn « hero already aboard » switch OFF.
<>Goto memorized place (guess which are the variables J)
<>[No] Case
<>Message : « Changed your mind ? »
END Case

OK that’s all.
it’s 4:17 PM and I’m very tired…

Thanks to Don Miguel for his excellent translation and support.

© 2000 TNTz.