Observer:Profiles

Transcript: An Interview With Sapient

Hi, Sapient, and welcome to The Observer. We have five questions we would like to ask you, today.

1) How did you find wesnoth, and why have you stayed with the project for two years? What pull keeps you here, Sapient?

I found wesnoth from a long and winding path. I used to hang out a lot on Radio Rivendell forums, then one day a guy posted a link in there to some video game music. The website led over to some free video game reviews, then that led over to Wesnoth. I was a Wesnoth player a long time before I touched the source code. I played around a lot with WML and had a lot of fun with it, As you can see from my old map pack, which still gets a lot of downloads I see. Then my relationship with Wesnoth changed a lot when I started getting into the C++. At first I just wanted to improve the MP Timer controls, then Soliton talked me into doing some UI improvements. He's a real good proponent for the project. I never read a book on C++ or officially studied it in a class, but I knew a lot about C and Java. It was fun learning the new language and I enjoyed it a lot; Xan was a good tutor when I had a question. I've never actually completed an official campaign to this day, unless you count the tutorial, So I guess you could say I'm a bit odd in that I like coding more than playing. I used to actually be addicted to video games such as MMORPGS so I try to keep a tight tab on how much time I play

2) You dedicated to improving the WML. Are you coding in any new features at this moment? Is it difficult to manipulate WML at the source level?

Yes, as you have noticed improving WML is one of the areas that I find the most fun. I have more plans for improving the language as well. Currently, I'd like to give the WML author a way to store all locations that are reachable by certain unit(s), and a way to use the pathfinding algorithm to store the path a unit would take if it can go from A to B. As for crazy ideas, maybe WML should have support for functions/calling. I recently refactored the Standard Location Filter code, but that was an internal change. The WML authors won't notice it, just C++ coders. Before that I made the C++ for WML variable lookups / modifications much cleaner. Again, an internal change; but one that will help future coders. These were difficult changes, yes, but they will make future work easier. As for creating WML events/additions, some of them are very very simple. But it requires a lot of foresight and planning so that you are adding value to the language and you don't have to go back later to change the way something works. I remember from my days as a WML Author that losing backwards compatibility is a real nuisance and a deterrent to development.

3) Have you ever been tempted to misuse your power? (even if you have not, in the end)

Honestly, no; I'm a pretty humble soul. I never wanted to give myself uber powers through manipulations. Although I do try to think up such scenarios sometimes. I think like a criminal mastermind sometimes, but this is more to put myself in someone else's frame of mind. Then you can anticipate their moves.

4) What sort of computer do you use, and what OS? Why do you use it?

That's an interesting question. Maxy used to be the dev with the lowest end computer, but now I'm pretty sure I have that distinction. I'm running Windows XP Professional, on a Pentium 4 with 256 MB Ram. I have a 16MB video card. I intentionally had them downgrade it from a 32MB video card when I ordered the laptop just so I could get more work done in college and graduate. (Let that be a lesson to you college students, heh!) As for why I use this OS, well I'm a creature of habit I guess. I got everything set up the way I want it over a process of many years and I don't have enough drive space or spare computers or backup devices to really experiment too much with it. One of these days, I'll do that, at least, that's what I keep telling myself anyways.

5) Sapient, does your dodging ninja avatar on the forums have any deeper meaning? What does it represent, symbolically?

Yes, my avatar does have a deeper meaning. I'm not sure I want to give it away, though! I used to play a lot as Northerners and I would have some really lucky assassin strategies sometimes - I developed the saying "You can't kill a true ninja!" I have an appreciation for bounty hunter fiction stories, too. I was once contemplating creating a campaign based on the story of a bounty hunter during the beginning of Ashveire's reign. He would basically be tasked with rounding up dissidents who were still loyal to the previous ruler. And the game play would be focused on using the fewest number of units possible, rather than the usual bonuses.