====== Help Out With The Crossfire Gaming Project ======

There are many areas of Crossfire that can virtually anyone can contribute to.

===== Development =====

  * **Project documentation** (like on this wiki)
  * Bug testing ([[http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?atid=113833&group_id=13833&func=browse|Report Bugs Here]] )
  * Graphic development
  * Creating Maps
  * Coding
    * New code, contributions and features
    * Testing or auditing existing code
    * For ideas look at the [[http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=13833|Bug/Feature Tracker]] and the [[dev_todo|TODO list]].


===== Help & Contribute =====

Map and Graphic contributions are much more "free form" then client or server development.  

As long as the maps follow the [[:maps:map_making_guide|Map Guidelines]] and there are no obvious exploits, errors or problems -- many maps  (nearly all..) are added to the official distribution. For more information, see the expanded section on [[:maps:map_making_guide#Map Contributions]]

Graphics have a pretty good track record of being added as well - just make sure the" style" and "look" of the graphics blend nicely with the existing graphic set.  It's best to test new graphics (preview them) in a sample in-game screen shot.  See the [[:arch:Graphics Guide]] for more information  Note: There is more to graphics then a .png file - there's also Archetypes. 

Archetypes are the specifications that determines many aspects and features of graphics.  To name a few; things like the graphic animation sequence, in game features such as how much damage a weapon causes, if an item can be walked on (ex: floor tile) or not walked on (ex: much of the water graphics), and if the object performs a special function (ex: cult altars, money conversion tables) is all determined through archetypes.  While adjusting or creating archetypes can be quite a task, the development team can assist on that.  Graphics however, are always needed and appreciated.

For some ideas of what to work on, consider [[http://crossfire.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/crossfire/arch/trunk/TODO|arch/TODO]] or [[dev_todo:gfx_needing_fixing]].

When you want to submit content, please put it on the ([[http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=13833&atid=313833|patch tracker]]), and optionally leave a note on the discussion mailing list.

FIXME - Adjustments, updates and changes made to the client or server code requirements


===== Project Related =====
  * [[http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=13833&atid=113833|Bug reporting]]
    * [[crossfire_debugging_tips|Debugging tips]] - using Valgrind
  * Map testing
  * Game guides (hints, spoilers, documentation, etc.)
  * IRC channels: #crossfire (Official) and #crossfire-bs (unofficial/OT) on FreeNode
  * Mailing lists
    * [[http://mailman.metalforge.org/mailman/listinfo/crossfire-announce|Crossfire Announcement List]]
    * [[http://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/crossfire-CVS|Crossfire CVS List]]((Name says CVS due to it being difficult/impossible to change on SF.net))  (tells of svn commits)
    * [[http://mailman.metalforge.org/mailman/listinfo/crossfire/|Crossfire Discussion List]] (The Main One)
    * [[http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/crossfire-maps|Crossfire Maps Discussion List]]

  * [[http://forum.metalforge.net|Web forum]]
  * [[Crossfire Traffic]]