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SingSong Guru Member

SingSong

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On 4/3/2017 at 10:13 PM, Sparren said:

On one hand I need the gameplay for the feature to stay 'generic' enough that tying new creatures, npc's, landmarks, ect. into it doesn't become prohibitively expensive or time intensive (what's the point of having the feature if I can't roll out enough new 'discoverables' to keep it relevant?). On the other hand, I still want it to be fun. Ideally something more than just a button click and skill check...

That's the same kind of dilemma I'm dealing with myself for a new project. There has to be a balance to it, because making each situation entirely unique is unrealistic, but you also don't want users to become bored and unchallenged.

 

On 4/3/2017 at 10:13 PM, Sparren said:

If an investigation is successful new information is revealed, exp and reputation points are awarded, and the player may choose whom to reveal the discovery to (the world, their clan, or no one at all). If they tell all they get a larger rep boost, the information is added to the global bestiary with the player credited for its discovery, and other researchers will no longer be required to investigate that category. If they reveal it only to their clan only the secret clan bestiary is updated, a lesser reward is given, and other players can still make the same discovery with the first to choose to make it global receiving final credit. Choosing to reveal it to no one works similarly.

What is the benefit of not telling anyone about a discovery?

 

On 4/3/2017 at 10:13 PM, Sparren said:

When the skill fails players will usually just get a failure message, however occasionally they will instead make erroneous discoveries. At face value these appear no different than legitimate discoveries and are treated and rewarded exactly the same. Players will only know that an error has been made if they run into problems or contradictions trying to apply the information learned somehow or if discoveries for all of the categories available have been made but the investigation symbol still appears by the creature's name.

I would like to see this in action. It sounds interesting.

 

On 4/3/2017 at 10:13 PM, Sparren said:

Researchers of the appropriate rank can use the validation skill on revealed discoveries within the bestiary to test their accuracy. It is an expensive skill with high cooldown, but required to officially detect and remove false entries and allow the true information to be discovered. When it succeeds it tells the user whether or not the information is accurate. If the information is inaccurate they may choose to refute it which costs them nothing, grants a boost in exp and rep, removes the entry, and deals a rep penalty to whomever discovered the falsehood. If they choose not to refute it nothing happens and another successful verify will be needed for the chance to refute again.

I like this. But why would they choose not to refute it?

 

On 4/3/2017 at 10:13 PM, Sparren said:

I'm sure a lot will be changed and I could still wind up scrapping the idea entirely, but right now I'm having fun attempting it at least. ^^

Haha, such is the process of game design.

 

What's the point of reputation in your game currently?

On 4/3/2017 at 10:13 PM, Sparren said:

That's a shame. I'd really liked where you seemed to be taking it with the art and lore you'd shown so far. :( I guess stuff happens though... Glad to hear you have something else in the works in the meantime. I'll have to keep an eye out.

It's okay. I was sad about it for a while, but now I feel so relieved. I think working on a smaller-scale game with someone that can create the features I want in a short period of time will be much better for me in the long run. And in letting that game go, I also realized that I don't really like doing the HK art style. It looks nice as a final product, but it's not for me. I don't have fun creating it. I want to do a style that's a little more messy. But anyway, now I'll be putting the same effort into this new game, and hopefully people can start playing it in the near future.

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SingSong Guru Member

SingSong

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Haha, welcome! I know you from around VPL, but I don't know much about you other than that you're an artist. Is there anything else you'd like to share? Like, what is your favorite household pet, for example or maybe whether you prefer sunny days or rainy ones? >_>

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jakdacrowe Explorer

jakdacrowe

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Not really much else to share I guess?
I just like doing what I'm doing, which is mostly art.
Partially setting some time aside for little projects. And maybe picking up some game development.

 

I own a cat, actually! His name is Schrodinger.
20140610_123200.jpg

And I definitely like rainy days better. A good reason to sleep in, and everything just gets cold cold cold~

Edited by jakdacrowe
Figuring out image insertion. Does BBCode work? //dies
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SkullPuppy Growing Member

SkullPuppy

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Thanks so much! If I have to wager a guess:

The typical four neopets, about 30 Flight Rising dragons (there were at least 70 but I cleaned them out recently), 12 Furvilla pets, 7 Dynasty dogs, 9 Sylesti pets and probably loads of others that I haven't been active on for a long time. I wonder if nintendogs count, haha.

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Sparren Rookie

Sparren

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8 hours ago, SingSong said:

What is the benefit of not telling anyone about a discovery?

One of the more ambitious goals I have for the game is to make information valuable. I want npc dialogue, quest text, item descriptions, lore, ect. to be more than just passive entertainment or fluff. Obviously not every piece of lore or line of text can be meaningful and stuffed with hidden clues or references... that would be unrealistic. The idea is just to make it so that every once in a while some of them are. Often enough to keep players interested and reward those who choose to follow the lore and look at the game world with an investigative eye.

Any piece of information within the game might be the starting point to a hidden puzzle, quest, progression path, or treasure hunt of sorts. Some of those may be one-time things which can only be completed by a single player or clan (although that will be rare). Discoveries might also provide hints which will help players better survive and traverse the game world. For example perhaps one of the game creatures is a type of bear whose bestiary page includes something along these lines: "Honey is one of their favorite foods. Travelers within the valley are often cautioned not to consume the treat before passing through. Just a hint of it's scent on the breath can be enough to draw the beasts from miles around." In a lot of games that might just be present for the sake of world-building, but in mine it might be a clue to players that if they travel in the map region the bears are native to with honey in their inventory this enemy will be much more likely to spawn.

As a result there will probably be some cases where a player or clan wants to keep a discovery they've made through the research/discovery feature to themselves. Doing so won't stop others from discovering the same eventually, but could give the discoverer or their clan a head-start in unlocking any secrets or hidden meaning that might be tied to it. In other words (assuming the discovery is true) it gives them a temporary informational advantage.

 

8 hours ago, SingSong said:

But why would they choose not to refute it?

When it comes to validating discoveries I wanted to allow for a bit of room for deception. Thought it might be interesting... but it is one of the functionalities of the feature I'm still debating since I think the choice not to refute will rarely be used.

Anyway, say for example a player belongs to a clan which has had a discovery revealed to it (that isn't available to the site as a whole). The clan wants to know if the information is legit so they ask one of their members with a high rank in research to check it for them. The player checks successfully and finds that it is false but for whatever reason doesn't want the clan to know (maybe he's already discovered the true entry for himself and doesn't want competition in some hidden quest it points towards... maybe he's actually a double agent and the false entry will lead the clan into some dangerous situations) something along those lines.

 

8 hours ago, SingSong said:

What's the point of reputation in your game currently?

I was intentionally vague about the reputation earlier because I didn't want to run off on too much of a tangent. Lol. :P I don't mind talking about it though, in essence it's just a special currency.

Right now I actually have three different kinds: faction reputation, clan reputation, and fame. Each is awarded under different circumstances. Clan rep is given to clan members as a reward for doing things that help improve or level up the clan (like participating in raids or donating resources). Faction reputation is specific to key powers within the game (mostly deities and guilds) and added or subtracted for performing certain actions they approve or disapprove of while within their domain or sphere of influence. Fame tracks a players impact on the game world as a whole. It is rarer, and is awarded only for significant achievements like making global discoveries, participating in special events, and solving hidden quests. Each type of reputation has it's own store which offers special talents, items, and cosmetic upgrades to players that cannot be obtained anywhere else.

So for example if you make a global discovery you'll get some fame plus a small amount of clan rep (if you're in a clan) and some faction rep with the Archive. Sharing a discovery only with your clan will grant clan rep (more than you'd get normally) but no fame or faction reputation. Keeping a discovery to yourself grants a small amount of reputation with only a specific faction (that doesn't yet have a name).

 

Anyway... Glad you found the concept so far interesting (sorry for rambling on so much about it). I don't have a production server up for the project at the moment (just developing locally at this point), but when I do I'll have to invite you to test it out. ^_^ 

 

9 hours ago, SingSong said:

It's okay. I was sad about it for a while, but now I feel so relieved. I think working on a smaller-scale game with someone that can create the features I want in a short period of time will be much better for me in the long run. And in letting that game go, I also realized that I don't really like doing the HK art style. It looks nice as a final product, but it's not for me. I don't have fun creating it. I want to do a style that's a little more messy. But anyway, now I'll be putting the same effort into this new game, and hopefully people can start playing it in the near future.

Ah, sounds like it was for the best then. It's never good to box yourself into something you don't really enjoy. In the long-run it would have just been a bunch of extra stress.

If you don't mind my asking, what kind if game is your new project going to be (as far as the genre goes at least)? Another petsite like HK? Adoptables? Something different? Just curious.

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