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BoA BUGS v6.0 in Blades of Avernum Editor
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Saturday, June 24 2006 05:27 Profile #5
It is worth noting that what_day_of_year() always returns a value of 0 if used with force_start_day(). In other words, the value for what_day_of_year fails to increment with each passing day.

The way around it is by using the what_day_of_scenario() call which works correctly in conjunction with force_start_day().

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
BoA BUGS v6.0 in Blades of Avernum
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Saturday, June 24 2006 05:27 Profile #5
It is worth noting that what_day_of_year() always returns a value of 0 if used with force_start_day(). In other words, the value for what_day_of_year fails to increment with each passing day.

The way around it is by using the what_day_of_scenario() call which works correctly in conjunction with force_start_day().

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Nethergate News in Nethergate
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 21 2006 06:43 Profile #49
quote:
Originally written by United States of Tyranica:

I think the best dialogue system would have questions and keywords. That would be more like real life, I believe.
Having complete sentences (or comprehensible phrases) and responded in turn via complete sentences is more like real life.

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Nethergate News in Nethergate
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 21 2006 06:41 Profile #48
quote:
Originally written by *i:


As for the dialogue system, some people liked the keyword system where you could type in your own word. Of course, it can be annoying too. But it's a toss up either way.[/QB]
I harbor an intense dislike of keyword dialogue systems after playing SNES Shadowrun. Plodding through endless lists of keywords one by one hoping to find the right one that would advance the conversation somehow, is not my idea of fun.

They are just atrocious in terms of gameplay. The only reason one would have them is for nostalgic reasons.

[ Wednesday, June 21, 2006 06:56: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Nethergate News in Nethergate
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Tuesday, June 20 2006 13:32 Profile #44
Yes. I am definitely an advocate of change if that change means an improvement in gameplay..

With that said..

Ohh, so get rid of that antiquated keyword dialogue system!

[ Tuesday, June 20, 2006 13:32: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
im new -help me with Bahssikava in Blades of Avernum
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Friday, June 16 2006 18:08 Profile #10
I really enjoyed this part of the scenario. This was easily the funnest part. Very original and technically proficient indeed.

[ Friday, June 16, 2006 18:09: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
I need your help! in Blades of Avernum
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Friday, June 16 2006 18:05 Profile #27
quote:
Originally written by Zeviz:

As Alcritas says in his article, he started with a failed epic himself. What distinguishes good designers is whether they can learn from their (inevitable) mistakes.
:)
This is true. In fact, the Alcritas article that he refers to is this one http://www.geocities.com/blyceum/DForum/006.html

I am new myself to BoA and ran into this recently, which I found interesting to say the least. This may also prove to be of some use to the original poster as well.

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 14 2006 15:33 Profile #43
quote:
And as Jeff has said, formulaic pays the bills.
Fantasy pays the bills. But that fantasy need not be Avernum 10/Geneforge 10.

I'm in favor of a new concept, if not a cyberpunk or post-apocalytpic game than at least a refreshingly new fantasy game with its own flavor different from Geneforge and Avernum.

[ Wednesday, June 14, 2006 15:37: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 14 2006 14:01 Profile #41
quote:
Originally written by Keto-san:

I'm not particularly anxious to see a sci-fi RPG, but considering the direction that E3/A3 and A4 are taking, nevermind GF, it doesn't seem like that great of a leap.

What about a type of game that is truly different, yet still can be written fairly easy using stock fantasy design? How about a Native American game, where magic is replaced with shamanism, and perhaps even prayers from the christian missionaries? What about making a game like Nethergate, but with Aztecs and Conquistadors instead of Celts and Romans? Or what about a game set in the heavens during an apocalypse, where the PCs are demi-gods or angels serving under a god, being sent to a war-ravaged earth to destroy the enemies of their chosen deity?

Man. The possibilities are endless.
I do second TM on this. If not sci-fi then a brand new type of fantasy game. As much as I love Avernum and Geneforge, things will probably get a bit formulaic after the fifth or sixth Geneforge or Avernum game.

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 14 2006 09:42 Profile #33
Well, Star Wars could certainly be viewed as "medieval fantasy in outer space," but there is a lot of sci-fi that isn't modelled after fantasy. I would not consider Deus Ex, System Shock, or Fallout to be modelled after fantasy.

I do definitely agree though that fantasy is just as unbelievable as sci-fi.

[ Wednesday, June 14, 2006 09:45: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 14 2006 08:16 Profile #29
quote:
Originally written by Enraged Slith:

If future sci-fi is what you want, Jeff could simply remake Geneforge... with robots.
Don't forget lightsabers.... and spaceships. :)

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 14 2006 05:15 Profile #27
quote:
Originally written by Mr.Bookworm:

This is from the other topic for this. However, I think most of Spiderweb's fans would buy anything he put out. Spiderweb's more of a niche game company. It doesn't sell they're games to the masses.
This is exactly what I told Jeff in an email.

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 14 2006 05:11 Profile #26
quote:
Originally written by Drew:

The Phantasy Star series
Earthbound
System Shock (had some RPG elements)
Shadowrun
Xenogears & the Xenosaga games
The StarOcean series
I was going to stick just to PC-style occidental RPGs, but yeah The Phantasy Star series (particularly I and IV) were pretty good. Xenogears was downright excellent ,however, with the best story in a JRPG I ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Earthbound was too cutesy for me although a lot of people liked it.

quote:

EDIT: For the record, I have enjoyed playing KOTOR 1 & 2, but they're pretty limited, story-wise - they're both set around a messiah-like Jedi character. Perhaps someone clever could create a compelling story about a scoundrel character, but would the market buy it?
I could agree that KOTOR2 was somewhat limited storywise towards the last third of the game which was obviously rushed. I would, however, disagree with you about the first. KOTOR1 had the most compelling story and interesting plot twist in at least a few years.

[ Wednesday, June 14, 2006 05:16: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Wednesday, June 14 2006 05:01 Profile #25
quote:
Originally written by Spidweb:



RPGs are already ludicrous. It's ridiculous that your character gets hit in the chest with a sword 50 times and still lives. But having the same thing with guns exceeds my ability to suspend disbelief. If I shoot you 50 times, you're dead, no matter how many "first aid kit" you found in a crate somewhere.

- Jeff Vogel
Yeah. I have heard this realism argument many, many times. It is actually for this very reason that many veteran gamers ditch D&D/AD&D for other "better" systems like GURPS or Rolemaster. Ironically, it is this meticulous attention to detail/realism in these other systems that ultimately make those games far less enjoyable than say AD&D, D6 or Feng Shui etc., IMHO.

But roleplaying games are just that games. Nothing more or less. Maybe it is just me, but I personally could care less about simulating reality as closely as possible in a game.
Perhaps, it is because I grew up playing video games and RPGs on the computer/consoles (where strict realism is eschewed in favor of gameplay) before moving on to tabletop. But I guess you could say I am desensitized to those particular nuances of realism and can enjoy an RPG as long as it has two critical elements: Great gameplay and storyline.

Many people suspend the veil of disbelief playing the Fallouts, for instance, and those are undoubtedly some of the most respected RPGS ever made. The lack of realism there didn't seem to be a showstopper in the least. In fact, they proved that realism issues are irrelevant in the face of gameplay in a game.

EDIT: And getting shot by a gun several times and still surviving is no more unbelievable than getting toasted by a searing Fireball spell followed by magic missiles and shrugging them off.

[ Wednesday, June 14, 2006 05:40: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Tuesday, June 13 2006 16:50 Profile #6
quote:
Quoted by Jeff:I've done my best to stretch the genre a little. Nethergate and Geneforge aren't your boilerplate fantasy games. But trying to expand the audience for these games that much is just too terrifying for our little company. RPGs that aren't fantasy tend to get punished.
I know. And I know your reasons are very valid. We have all definitely enjoyed your games and will continue to do so fantasy or not.

But as for a Spiderweb Sci-Fi RPG..we can always dream!

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Tuesday, June 13 2006 16:39 Profile #5
quote:
Originally written by Slarty:

Successful SF RPGs on the computer are rare. I don't know if that's just because designers default to the fantasy genre, or if it's because the technical aspects of SF lend themselves to game-style "realism" less easily than magic does.

I mean really, name one besides Fallout.
I believe that you would have to go back to the roots of roleplaying to discover why designers default to the fantasy genre. I think it has to do with the fact that the grandaddy of all RPGs, D&D , was fantasy. It was merely a tried and true formula that worked and others simply followed suit.

Besides, Fallout, I'd point you to KOTOR. Yes Star Wars does have fantasy elements but I'd still firmly place it as sci-fi.

If you consider hybrids to be RPGS, Deus Ex and System Shock 2 are two very well-respected bona-fide sci-fi RPGS.

EDIT: And don't forget the old Gold Box game Buck Rogers!!!

And how can I forget Shadowrun? It is on the Genesis and SNES. But still. It is a PC-style RPG (at least the Genny version) pretty faithful to the PnP game and it is sci-fi. What more could you want?

[ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 17:05: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Tuesday, June 13 2006 16:27 Profile #3
I hope not. I already edited my previous topic saying it was ok to lock THAT one in favor of this poll.

Simple newbie mistake.

[ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 16:27: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci fi RPG: THE POLL in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Tuesday, June 13 2006 16:19 Profile #0
I was just curious to know on these boards how attached you are to the fantasy genre. Let's imagine, hypothetically, that Jeff were to make a sci-fi RPG but with the same great gameplay/ story elements that the Avernum and Geneforge games are known for...

Would you be interested in such a game? Or are you unequivocally attached to fantasy games only?

For me, personally, Jeff's games have been about the wonderful gameplay, character creation and storyline irrespective of genre. I would personally love to see a new post-apocalyptic or even cyberpunk RPG.
What do you guys think?

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 39 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci-fi RPG? in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Tuesday, June 13 2006 16:14 Profile #2
In fact, you are right. Let me make a poll.

EDIT: This one may be locked since I made a poll.

[ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 16:26: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Would you be interested in a sci-fi RPG? in General
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Tuesday, June 13 2006 15:59 Profile #0
I was just curious to know on these boards how attached you are to the fantasy genre. Let's imagine, hypothetically, that Jeff were to make a sci-fi RPG but with the same great gameplay/ story elements that the Avernum and Geneforge games are known for...

Would you be interested in such a game? Or are you unequivocally attached to fantasy games only?

For me, personally, Jeff's games have been about the wonderful gameplay, character creation and storyline irrespective of genre. I would personally love to see a new post-apocalyptic or even cyberpunk RPG.
What do you guys think?

NOTE: This thread may be locked or deleted since I decided to make a poll instead

[ Tuesday, June 13, 2006 16:29: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Reputation system in BoA? in Blades of Avernum Editor
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Monday, June 12 2006 13:06 Profile #28
quote:
Originally written by Spidweb:



Man, I hope Fallout 3 actually becomes reality.

- Jeff Vogel
Jeff, same here. Same here. I haven't been keeping up with the latest on FO3 but from what I know it is still a go.

I am not counting Bethesda out as some are.. I am genuinely interested in what their final product will be like.

Another game I would desperately love to see is another Planescape game.. Or something else as brilliant.

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Reputation system in BoA? in Blades of Avernum
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Monday, June 12 2006 13:06 Profile #28
quote:
Originally written by Spidweb:



Man, I hope Fallout 3 actually becomes reality.

- Jeff Vogel
Jeff, same here. Same here. I haven't been keeping up with the latest on FO3 but from what I know it is still a go.

I am not counting Bethesda out as some are.. I am genuinely interested in what their final product will be like.

Another game I would desperately love to see is another Planescape game.. Or something else as brilliant.

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Reputation system in BoA? in Blades of Avernum Editor
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Monday, June 12 2006 00:12 Profile #25
Another way to deal with reputation is to have two types: A General Reputation which reflects what the world in general thinks about your PCs and a Town Reputation which mirrors how a given town in your world views your characters.

These town reputations would differ from town to town since some side quests the PCs may go on may be only directly relevant to the town at hand and have no global or regional significance. Divvied up in this way, it is very possible to have a scenario in which one town may hate your guts whereas in another your PCs are beloved.

The Fallouts (particularly 2, IIRC) which undoubtedly inspired many gameplay and character creation elements in the Avernum series, approached reputations in this way more or less.

[ Monday, June 12, 2006 00:14: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
Reputation system in BoA? in Blades of Avernum
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Monday, June 12 2006 00:12 Profile #25
Another way to deal with reputation is to have two types: A General Reputation which reflects what the world in general thinks about your PCs and a Town Reputation which mirrors how a given town in your world views your characters.

These town reputations would differ from town to town since some side quests the PCs may go on may be only directly relevant to the town at hand and have no global or regional significance. Divvied up in this way, it is very possible to have a scenario in which one town may hate your guts whereas in another your PCs are beloved.

The Fallouts (particularly 2, IIRC) which undoubtedly inspired many gameplay and character creation elements in the Avernum series, approached reputations in this way more or less.

[ Monday, June 12, 2006 00:14: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00
How do you script in events occurring on specific days? in Blades of Avernum Editor
Lancer
Warrior
Member # 6682
 written Sunday, June 11 2006 12:22 Profile #14
So, the question that remains is the following: Is there any way to print the string "Month:Nuwmont" only on the first tick of the day called rather than after every tick?

[ Sunday, June 11, 2006 12:23: Message edited by: Lancer ]

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Lancer
Posts: 73 | Registered: Friday, January 13 2006 08:00

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