Use template tileset in template challenges

[wjt]

In #1080 we added a template tileset to scenes/quests/story_quests/template/template_tileset. But it is not used in the template challenges.

Should we change that, and rebuild those levels to use the template tileset? Then, perhaps as a follow-up, make the template instantiation tool update the duplicated scenes to use the duplicate?

[manuq]

I remember asking the Learning team and the answer was no. But maybe we want to revisit it?

[wjt]

@jgbourque any thoughts here? Should we convert the template scenes to use the template tileset? Or, if not, shouldn't we remove it from the folder that we ask learners to duplicate?

[jgbourque]

@wjt @manuq Currently, we’ve designed the template scenes to look and feel like a basic version of the original game. The character is simplified, but the overall aesthetic was meant to carry over from the original tileset. We can keep a grayed‑out tileset in the file system as an example, but the actual scenes should point to a full copy of the original tileset renamed with NOEDIT. Redesigning an entire tileset can take significant time and isn’t something we expect learners to have to do - an option but not required.
So to keep the template scenes visually consistent with the base game, while still giving learners the same clear signal as with the other resources, I’d suggest:

• Make an exact copy of the base game’s tileset resource.
• Put it in the template folder, renamed with NOEDIT.
• Update the template scenes so their TileMap layers point to this copy.

That way, nothing changes visually, but the naming matches the rest of the system and helps discourage accidental edits.

[manuq]

@jgbourque interesting, in my opinion adding the gray tileset will make the template scenes visually consistent. Making an exact copy of the base game's tileset will probably lead to confusion and we'll have to keep the 2 files in sync when we update the tileset. Also the base game's tileset is not exemplary, it has custom variations like floor rips, 3 tiles for water, etc.

I opened #1010 and did the gray tileset template in #1080 upon your requirement. So it looks like I did misunderstood you, ouch :(

[jgbourque]

I agree that there will still be quite a challenge here for learners to set themselves up with all their own files etc. This is just to be consistent with our NO_EDIT_ temporary solution on all folders and files , without overly redesigning the template scenes , visually.

I think the gray tileset is still a nice to have (down in the file system), though, because if I wanted to redraw a few new tiles (maybe not a whole elaborate tileset) I would definitely import that gray tileset into aesprite or piskel or wherever, and then design within the lines! So thank you for adding that to overall offerings for learners in the file system!

It will be nice to say goodbye to this method when there is a full automation for StoryQuest folders and files, though.

[wjt]

I filed an issue to have TileSet(s) be duplicated together with the NO_EDIT template:

• Duplicate TileSet for NO_EDIT template #1348

but I would like to prune the tileset first by splitting it into several tilesets, so we don't have to copy quite so much in the NO_EDIT template and hence each StoryQuest:

• Split tileset by kind of tile #1336