The Release Candidate build for V12.12.0 is now here. That means the new skills are very close to becoming stable, w00t!
Current target release date for a stable build is July 8th. This
will be delayed if an RC update that alters physics becomes necessary (the new stable date will be at least two weeks' from the date of said RC update) - this does
not auto-apply to RC updates that only make visual or UI changes / fixes, though I may still choose to delay it at my discretion.
Download (V12.12.0-RC5, editor V1.39 included):
https://www.neolemmix.com/download.php?id=510This download only includes the Orig and OhNo styles, plus "default", "xmas" and "special". You can use the in-game Style Manager (in the Settings) to download other styles, or you can download styles manually:
- All styles:
https://www.neolemmix.com/download.php?program=52- Any individual style:
https://www.neolemmix.com/styles/12.11/XXXXXXXX.zip (replace XXXXXXXX with the style's name, eg:
https://www.neolemmix.com/styles/12.11/orig_fire.zip for orig_fire - and no, "12.11" in the link is
not a typo)
As always, it is recommended you install the RC build to a new folder, rather than trying to use it in the same folder as your existing version of NeoLemmix. You can copy across your hotkeys file (from the Settings folder) after running the RC build for the first time.
You can find some levels using the new skills here:
https://www.lemmingsforums.net/index.php?topic=5227.0 (Please read the rules of that topic before posting in it!)
Please report any
bugs relating to the new skills on the
New Skills bugs & suggestions board.
A release candidate build could be thought of as a pre-release version of an upcoming release. The idea is that except for bugfixes, or issues that were specifically noted as "should be tested during the RC phase before deciding", there won't be changes between it and the stable version, and thus it can be used to start updating content, as well as for ironing out last-minute bugs. Content specifically targetting it should not be released, though styles targetting it can be submitted for the next styles download.
There are three things that content creators should be aware of with V12.12.X.
1. Lemming sprites for the Laserer and Slider skills
If you have any styles with custom lemming sprites, you will need to add sprites for the Laserer and Slider skills. Please note that the Slider skill has two associated new states - Slider itself of course, as well as Dehoister.
2. Levels that use the "Only On Terrain" feature on objects
"Only On Terrain" is now considered deprecated. It still currently works, but support will be removed in the future. If the object is designed to be used as an only-on-terrain object, it should be changed from "no effect" to the "paint" object type by the style's creator. If it is not designed for this, reconsider whether it should be used as such - there could be valid cases for doing so, but be cautious of creating anything that may be misleading - and if it is definitely suitable, you will need to create a duplicate object with a "paint" instead of "no effect" type. There is no rush to do this - support for old-style only-on-terrain will not be removed until at least NeoLemmix V12.15.0. To be very clear - one-way arrows are not included in this, and no changes are needed to them.
3. General custom levels
As there have been some physics bug fixes, which could potentially have side effects, as always you should run a mass replay check on your levels. If any have broken and it is not clearly due to the bug fix, please report this rather than silently fixing the level, so I can investigate whether the breakage is an unintended side effect. In particular pay attention to levels that use the Jumper, Shimmier or Fencer skills. Additionally, any levels made with the Slider using RC4 or lower, or the Laserer using RC3 or lower, should be re-checked.