List of differences between orig_pillar and L2 Classicorig_pillar names are used where possible
"Grid compliant" is defined a bit vaguely here: it doesn't need to comply with the default grid, but it SHOULD comply with a grid that is the size of the smallest variation of itself, e.g. if a block appears to be half the size of another block, it should *actually* be half the size, not slightly under half the size (which occurs several times in orig_pillar)
Size differences are noted if and only if they can't be bypassed trivially in NL using components available from orig_pillar. For example, we don't care if the L2 classic horizontal pillar is the same length as the one provided by orig_pillar, since extending or shortening a pillar is very easy to do. We would, however, care if it weren't the same height, because fixing that would be considerably more difficult.
(these affect how the piece can be used with other pieces)
Size modifications that make the block grid compliant:
block_01
block_02
block_03
block_04
block_10
block_11
block_13
block_14
sandblock_01
sandblock_03
steel_01
steel_02
steel_04
Completely missing from L2 Classic:
block_05 (could probably recreate reasonably well using block_09)
block_06 (could probably recreate reasonably well using block_09)
pillar_03
pillar_04
steel_03
block_12
sandblock_02
circle_01
circle_02
wood_25 (I'm not sure where this piece comes from, but it's not in DOS orig_pillar, either)
Completely missing from orig_pillar:
Gray block thing 16x16 (unused)
Steel 8x16
large block_07
large block_13
large sandblock_01
(the size is a little different, but it functions identically)
bump_01 - orig_pillar is larger horizontally by 1 pixel
bump_02 (see bump 01)
bump_03 - orig_pillar is larger vertically by 1 pixel
bump_04 (see bump 02)
pillar_end_06 - top row of pixels from orig_pillar is excluded from L2 classic; possibly an undetected mistake, as the horizontal pillars are unused in and pillar_end_05 doesn't do this.
stairs_01 to stairs_04 - each individual step is one pixel longer in L2 classic, while each step is offset 4 pixels from the previous step instead of 3
I suspect all objects likely belong in this category. All objects are closely related to some object that was in the original game, though some come from other sets.
(the piece is identical to one in orig_pillar in CPM, but not visually)
Replicable in NL orig_pillar with erasers:
pillar_end_01 - graphic for orig_pillar contains 1 extra row of pixels before it becomes identical to a pillar; can be replicated in NL by erasing the bottom part of the graphic
pillar_end_03 - grahpic for orig_pillar contains 1 extra column of pixels before it becomes identical to a pillar; can be replicated in NL by erasing the left part of the graphic
pillar_thin_03 - orig_pillar is 1 pixel larger, but can be made identical to the L2 classic piece by removing the bottom row of pixels with an eraser.
pillar_thin_01/pillar_thin_02 (02 is the same as 01 except 01 is taller) - orig_pillar is 1 pixel larger, but can be made identical to the L2 classic piece by removing the rightmost column of pixels with an eraser
Not replicable in NL orig_pillar:
pillar_end_04 - 1 pixel is shaded differently
pillar_end_07 - shadow is different
(the block is completely identical in both versions)
pillar_01/pillar_05 (05 is the same as 01 except 01 is longer)
pillar_02/pillar_06 (02 is the same as 06 except 06 is taller)
pillar_end_02
pillar_end_05
pillar_end_08
block_09 - This piece may have been derived from L2 classic, as it is absent from the original DOS version of orig_pillar
wood_16 to wood_24 - Derived from unused wood pieces in L2 classic
(I haven't checked if it's completely identical pixel-for-pixel, but it's definitely identical in CPM)
wood_01 to wood_15 - they're all 8 pixels wide and varying lengths, but varying length with erasers is easy.
While block_07 and block_08 look like they're different texture variants of the same block, block_08 is two pixels shorter, which actually makes it grid compliant with block_05 and block_06. There's 3 "sets" of blocks/bricks, and the set that includes these pieces is the only one that features them. This is NOT true of the vertically oriented versions of these blocks (block_10 and block_11), which, like all other blocks from the original set, are two pixels longer than two of their shorter variants placed next to each other. This is also true in DOS.
The horizontal full-size pillars exist in L2 classic, but aren't used in any levels. However, there's actually two different heights, perhaps compensating for the grid and different end types; but a consequence of this is that you can't have a horizontal pillar have a full endcap on one end and a damaged endcap on the other.
The L2 sets currently have up to 5 steel size variations; all the sets that don't have these appear to have a subset. The steel pieces present in L2 classic are also a subset of these 5 sizes, although in L2 Classic levels, only 2 of the available 4 sizes were used. I haven't screened the other tribes to see which steel block sizes they use. Furthermore, L2 classic has 3 variants of the smallest piece, though based on the level screenshots from Lemmings Encyclopedia, it looks like only one of them was ever used.
PROPOSED ACTIONS - All changes should be made as additions to orig_pillar and not as a separate set
- Add all blocks from MAJOR DIFFERENCES::Size modifications that make the block grid compliant and MAJOR DIFFERENCES::Completely missing from orig_pillar
- Add an L2-sized version of the steel block that is missing from L2 classic.
- Add missing steel size variations to L2 sets that don't have them if it is relatively straightforward to do so (so probably everything but Space and Cave) (see OTHER NOTES)
- Recolor the L2 classic steel blocks for use in all orig/oh no sets; having grid-compliant steel blocks is very convenient!
OTHER DISCUSSION TOPICS: - If we decide to make a new style instead of modifying orig_pillar, if anyone has information about how the other L2 sets were created, it would be helpful. I have a method that works for terrain, but it's tedious and doesn't work on objects due to the animations. However, for the number of blocks I've proposed be added to orig_pillar, my current method will be sufficient.
Suggested additions to orig_pillar:Quick correction to that image: one of the blocks has already been added (as block_09).
Marked up version of above image with notes and motivations:
Also correction to this image: The largest two steel blocks (three if you count the one I made by rotating+flipping one of them) are also unused.