#side note: why don't we call these plugins?

[sagecodex]

My favorite skin-building scripts

Every skin designer has their go-to scripts and codes when building out a new skin. Beneath the cut are the codes that I HAVE to have, aka cannot live without now that they’re out there. 

What are your must have features?

Add labels to form inputs - by kjSage - I didn’t realize how unfriendly jcink can be to the visually impaired until kjSage pointed it out. This script adds labels to the form inputs to help screen readers. We love an accessible web forum!

Add missing bbcode buttons - by FizzyElf - adds line, strikethrough, dice roller bbcode buttons

Arbitrary memberlist filters - by FizzyElf - like the oh-so-popular isotope filtering memberlist but better. Sort the list by whatever parameters you want.

Autocopy permalink - by Yuno - adds a button that auto-copies the link to a post to your clipboard.

Automatic claims - by Essie - pulls info from the memberlist so you never have to submit claims manually again.

Auto claims - by FizzyElf - like essi’s auto claims, but works in webpages as well as posts.

Edit profile section headers - by FizzyElf - add section headers for your custom profile fields in the user control panel!

Increase/Decrease font size - adds buttons to let your users increase/decrease the font size to their reading preference. Uses local storage to save their preferences on the machine.

Main profile thread tracker - by FizzyElf - adds an auto thread tracker to the main profile and shows if the user posted in it last. There are other variations on Fizzy’s site to use in threads and such too.

Move the jcink alerts popup - by Morrigan - you know the alerts popup that was on the jcink default skin? This lets you move it and style it on your custom skin.

Popout profile - by Essie - instead of opening the user profile in a new page, loads it into a popout window.

Quote/code copy to clipboard - by Widowspeak - auto-highlights codes and copies them to your clipboard with one click. Never ctrl+c again. You can also use this for the permalink in posts!

Quote in quick reply - by Cory - when you go to quote a post, a popup asks if you want to quote it in a quick reply so you don’t always have to load a new screen.

Recent topics clip - by Essie - lets you place and style the recent topics list anywhere on the index.

Remove leading comma in topic description - by Em - as the title says lol.

Style tooltips - by Malihu - lets you style the tooltips (the popup titles when you hover over stuff).

Style jcink pages for mobile - by Sage - makes jcink’s default web view pages better to look at on mobile. (not actually a script but I’m plugging it here anyway)

Toggle light/dark mode - by FizzyElf - lets your users toggle between light and dark mode. 

For any FizzyElf codes, please read their Terms of Use before including their codes in your skins that are not personal projects. 

[ridiculous-in-action]

D.B. Questlogs: Set up and Reprogram!

I've found myself over-thinking how to unlock Allura, and I think I've got an idea how to incorporate the events of crystal venom perfectly - also you'll need to swap around between characters a lot for this one.

On a side note, I do try to fill gaps in that we don't get to see on-screen. There might also be a continuity difference between the show and defenders brawl because of that. I'm trying to get this all to make sense as well as being interesting to play.

Set-Up &Reprogram!

Requirements:

First of all - You need to have unlocked all 5 Paladins already, obviously.

You must have finished the previous main story quest arc - "Freedom for the Balmera!"

The quests "A new Plugin" and "Progressive!" must be completed.

The Arc can be started right after "Freedom for the Balmera".

Objective: Reach 60% progress with the plugin Pidge has been working on!

This quest is tied heavily to the crystal venom episode where she's typing something into the laptop. This seems like the continuation of the first plugin side quests that are unlocked right after Pidge becomes aviable as a playable character.

To start the quests, head to the green lion's hangar with Pidge! Interact with her laptop there and choose the option "Continue Plugin".

Pidge makes some progress with the plugin, but a call from Coran interrupts her work.

Coran: Pidge! Please meet me in the detainment room!

Pidge: (Ugh. I barely made any progress...)

[Pidge's Mood has dropped slightly.]

New Objective: Head to the detainment room and find out what Coran wants.

The "detainment room" is a new area that is unlocked during this quest arc. Upon entry, Coran will motion for Pidge to come over to the detainmet unit holding sendak.

Coran: There you are, Number Five. Would you please get me the box from outside? Be careful, it's heavy.

Pidge: Why call me to carry a heavy box?

Coran: I might have forgotten to take it inside. I can't leave my post here as I must keep an eye on our prisoner.

Pidge: Fine.

New Objective: Go get the box!

The box is indeed heavy. While Pidge is carrying it, her walking speed is significantly slower. Pidge gets it to Coran.

Coran: Wonderful! Thank you, Number 5!

Pidge: What is all this for?

Coran: I'll show you in a minute. The others should be here any tick now...

Coran bends down and opens the box to reveal circular devices inside. He pulls two out and eyes them critically.

Coran: Oh Quiznak, it looks like these sensors are in worse shape than I thought. This one looks fine, but I need two more. Pidge, I'll be right back, I must go get another box from the storage units. Please watch the pod while I'm gone. Be careful though, the tech has been acting up.

He places the sensor he deemed okay on top of the box, while he takes the broken one with himself. He leaves the room. Pidge furrows her brows.

Pidge: I wonder if he missed a working one...?

New objective: Check the contents of the box for another working sensor.

To move on, interact with the box on the floor next to the pod.

The next objective is a small minigame/puzzle where the player has to compare a few sensors with the working one, trying to find an identical one.

It's bacically a game of spot the difference, with a deadly twist: There's the possibility that Sendak's memory/detainment pod malfunctions and releases him, resulting in a game-over. The player must check on the pod periodically if they don't want to get jumpscared by Sendak. That would cause an immediate game over.

Pidge eventually finds another working sensor without any Sendak-incident.

Pidge has found a sensor that matches the working one.

[Pidge's mood has risen. She has gained a small amount of skill points.]

The minigame ends, Pidge is still in the detainment room.

Coran returns with a defeated expression on his space, followed by Hunk. Pidge nodds at the fellow Paladins.

Hunk: Hey Pidge!

Lance: What's up, Pidgeon?

Pidge turns around to check the pod, only to notice it acting up again. She groans, temporarily overriding the programming again to secure Sendak.

Pidge: Sendak. Well, almost.

Pidge adjusts her glasses with a smile.

Coran: I'm back. Bad news, I only found one more working sensor, so we're one short-

He notices the second sensor that Pidge dug out from the box. His eyes light up.

Coran: Where'd that one come from? Never mind, it's not important now. Thanks for watching the pod while I went looking for more sensors. I hope you didn't have too much trouble.

Pidge: No big deal. Now, what exactly are we doing with Sendak?

Coran: We're trying to interogate him.

Keith arrives alongside Shiro.

Shiro: Great to see everybody is already here. Coran, how are things coming along?

Coran: Give me a minute. These sensors should stabilize the pod... You see, this is quite old tech. I have to warn you, this might not work out like we intend it to. It was used to keep alteans' memories alive, not to interogate prisoners.

Coran installs the first two sensors without a problem while explaining his worries. Before he can place the third one, the pod begins to malfunction again.

Pidge: Not again! Ugh, Coran, he doesn't seem to be too cooperative!

Coran: I doubt he'll give up any time soon. There's no way around it, we have to seal the pod by reprogramming it completely.

[Pidge is now stressed.]

New Objective: Reprogram the containment pod.

To start with this task, the player has to interact with the pod.

Pidge reaches for the panel on the right side of the pod. She tugs at the metal, but it doesn't budge. It's held in position by two screws.

Pidge: I need a screwdriver.

Keith: I saw one on the way here in the common room.

Pidge: Hunk, cover for me with Coran! I'll go get it!

New Objective: Retrieve a screwdriver from the common room.

The screwdriver Pidge can use to open the hatch is laying on the couch in the common room. Interact with it to pick it up.

Pidge picks up the screwdriver while shaking her head.

Pidge: This one belongs to Coran. Quite the odd place to leave a screwdriver.

Objective: Reprogram the containment pod.

Pidge returns to the detainment room with Coran's screwdriver. To proceed, interact with the pod. Pull the screwdriver from Pidges inventory and drag it to the first screw. Repeat the step for the second screw.

Another minigame commences, this time Pidge is trying to stop Sendak from getting out of the pod for good.

There's two steps in this puzzle.

She has to plug out three wires with Coran's help. It's important to pull the right wires in the right order, or Pidge risks getting shocked.

Pidge re-plugs the wires in a new order. The only help that Coran gets her is "We don't want him to get out right? So, we have to plug them in opposite from before. They're colour-coded, so this should be easy!"

The solution to the second one is in fact very easy, unless a colourblind person decides to play it. In that case... Lance will help pointing out the colours when the cursor roams over the wires. (Nice solution, eh?)

The Pod is now secure. Sendak can't get out anymore. The whole team sighs in relief.

[Pidge is no longer stressed. She has gained a medium amount of Skill Points.]

Hunk: Well, that was surprisingly stressful.

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MISSION COMPLETE.

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