Bukkit

Version 3.3

WAYPOINT EDITOR

Waypoint editor expansion. Complementing the recent /move command facilitating mid route moving of waypoints, out of sequence, are two new commands: /insert and /remove. As they imply, these commands may be used anywhere on a route. A good example of where /insert is very valuable is a long, detailed route where the point between door pairs was forgotten. In previous versions of Postal one would have to sequentially backup until the desired part of the route is reached, and add the waypoint, then do the rest of the route again.

Also added to the route editor is a waypoint inquiry command which is just the ‘/’ (forward slash) alone. Once invoked, left clicking existing waypoints will report the formal sequence number. Dense and complicated routes sometimes get disorienting, this is a good tool to verify sequence. The waypoint editor has basic /first /mid and /last commands to roughly position on a route. Complimenting these is a new ‘/pos <sequence number>’ command facilitating precise positioning, instantly via teleport.

/setroute behavior has been modified. If invoked using the proximity sensing by simply invoking it without parameters, near an address, it will only move the player to the last sequence number if the route is not complete, or new. Invoking /setroute with parameters will only move the player closer to the route if he/she beyond visible range of the nearest waypoint on the route, or if the route is not complete. While the sequence control of waypoints is crucial, the editing methods are now not sequential, thus eliminating the need to start players at the end of a route.

CONFIG.YML

New config file setting Allowed_geo_proximity specifies the maximum distance a player may be away from a Postal object when invoking a command using proximity sensing. Ie: /setroute, /showroute, /setowner….

GENERAL

/setaddr and /setlocal commands changed to enforce placing chest to be the mailbox or mail storage, first. A better practice, and eliminates potential confusion during route definition.

/setroute and /expedite now automatically open the indicated route, if currently closed. Often the dispatcher will close a route while it is being worked on because it is found invalid. Now the finishing of a route or the explicit /expediting of a route implies that the route should be open.

Additional change to /setaddr and /setlocal commands. Sign is placed on the chest immediately upon successful completion of the command. This is another measure designed to further decrease potential confusion about who, or what plugin owns the chest. /setaddr now requires the target chest to be placed in advance, and the player must be within a couple of blocks of the chest. This is the best time for Postal to claim ownership of the chest. There are further restrictions placed on what constitutes a valid chest described below.

In consideration of other plugins that use signs to manage chests, Postal now checks the validity of a target chest before it will attempt to use or manipulate it in any way. if a chest has a sign anywhere on it or adjacent to it, and it does not belong to Postal, Postal will not use it or do anything with it, regardless of what is written on any of the signs. IE: Before using chest, and already known that it is not Postal’s - check N,S,E,W,U, D for a sign and don't use if a sign found. If inventory slots > 27, find other half, and do the same thing.

Added to the /package blacklist is any chest with a sign on it, or adjacent to a sign. This is griefer prevention.

Version 3.25

NAVIGATION

Note: These settings are for those that need special flexibility, or like to experiment. Normally, it is best to leave them at their default values.

Speed This is not a new setting, but it is worth mentioning because the dynamic speed table has been recalibrated to match the latest versions of Citizens, In recent versions of Postal it has been necessary to tweak this scaling factor to compensate for Citizens changes. The default is '1.0' and is what existing config files should be changed back to. Otherwise, NPC's may tend to move too fast.

Alt_central_nav Directs the central postman (Postmaster) to teleport from local post office to post office if set to ‘true’. By default (false), Postal spawns and de-spawns this NPC because it has generally been more reliable, especially when traversing worlds.

Alt_local_nav The default setting is ‘false’, and this directs the NPC’s to use standard Minecraft navigation. If set to ‘true’ the new navigation system recently introduced in Citizens2 is used. It’s called Astar or A* navigation. Postal defaults to Minecraft navigation because, for right now, it is more precise and does a better job of getting the NPC’s through single-block-width doorways and other close-quarter situations. But this is subject to change.

Distancemargin Applicable to Astar navigation only. This floating point number determines the precision of navigation. Currently it needs to be higher than 1.0, and defaults to 1.5

Avoidwater As implied, this directs the NPC to avoid water and defaults to true.

Stationaryticks The amount of time, in MC ticks, the NPC may be stuck before the watchdog intervenes. The default is ’20’, or about a second.

Range The distance, in blocks, the NPC will consider when navigating to the next waypoint. The default value is ‘100’ and seems to deliver the best results, generally. Alternatively, it may be set to ‘auto’ and Postal will calculate the range, dynamically.

Ground_waypoint Postal, before giving the NPC a waypoint, will first check it and make elevation adjustments to it, if needed. This helps keep the NPC’s navigating smoothly, and can compensate for minor terrain changes. This setting directs Postal to ground the waypoint, if ‘true’. Otherwise, by default (false), Postal gives the NPC the first air block above ground.

Strict_door_nav The default value for this setting is ‘true’, and the behavior at this setting matches how Postal has been dealing with doors all along. If set to ‘false’, Postal will be a little more forgiving about waypoints marked on either side of a door. The new door scanner uses the distance between waypoints, and axis alignment to determine if it is going to bother looking for a door. A pair of waypoints for a door are usually less than 5 blocks apart, and aligned on either the X or the Z axis. Turning strict off means Postal will do a little extra scanning for waypoint pairs that are not exactly aligned. So, this is an efficiency mechanism. Previous versions of Postal always scanned for doors, so, with either setting, you are still netting an efficiency gain.

Report_nav_probs Defaults to ‘false’. Set this to ‘true’ to have Postal report, in detail, watchdog assistance to an NPC. The PO/address is displayed along with the specific waypoint number.

COMMANDS

/go A new smart command that consolidates the three commands: /gotocentral, /gotolocal, and /gotoaddr into one command. Used without any parameters infers the central post office. Used with one parameter infers a post office. Used with two parameters infers a residence, subject to ownership or admin permissions, if owned.

/setowner A smart command that replaces /ownerlocal and /owneraddr. It fits better into the /setxxx family of commands. It uses proximity as well as parameter count to minimize the details a user needs to type in. An admin authority may simply walk up to a post office, or address and type /setowner <player> to assign the Postal object to the player, or, type /setowner without any parameters to revert it back to server ownership. Or, it can be used without proximity help by just specifying the parameters. Two parameters sets a PO owner: /setowner <postoffice> <player>, three parameters sets an address owner: /setowner <postoffice> <address> <player>

Postal ptalk A new console monitor that shows permission activity on the console, as it occurs. It is very helpful in determining how a particular player obtained the Postal access acquired. All the relevant information is displayed showing who permitted it ie: Bukkit, Vault, Towny or Postal-ownership permissions.

SECURITY

Private_mailboxes A new configuration setting that defaults to ‘false’. By default, Postal allows the viewing of any mailbox or postal chest a player has access to. This is access only to the mail addresses shown outside of written books when hovered over with the mouse. Access to the mail contents is always under strict control. This makes it possible to have public mailboxes or drop and pickup points.

To prevent general access to all mailboxes, this setting may be set to ‘true’ In this private mode, players may only open a chest if it has mail addressed to them, or if it is owned by them. Post office chests may still be opened, so players that don’t own an address have a place to drop mail off, but it is one-way only. Such mail may be deposited, but once in the post office chest, it not accessible anymore, nor is anything else that might be in the post office chest.

WAYPOINT EDITOR

New command /move makes it possible to move a mid-route point, out of sequence. This eliminates the need to sequentially back up or /undo until the desired point is reached.

The HUD reporter now displays the elevation of the target address to help maintain orientation in 3D situations such as caves or large structures.

All editor commands now have one letter aliases ie: /e = /exit, /u = /undo, /m = /move.... See waypoint editor page.

GENERAL

New_mail_secs The amount of time, in seconds, between updating players with new, unopened mail. Set to 0 to disable. Players that own addresses are notified of new mail when they join, and immediately when mail is delivered if online. This is a general reminder that defaults to every 5 minutes (300 seconds).