Project Ragnarok is back!

Targon · Post by **Targon** » 20 Jan 2006, 01:04

will line of site be realistic "as far as the eye can see" (extreme los range) or will it be handled like most RTS games where units can only see a short distance around them? (+ general los questions and how do these races sense their world?)

TA 3D · Post by **TA 3D** » 20 Jan 2006, 01:42

Great idea and I am looking forward to it, however theres something you might not be aware of. There is a game in development right now called Machinations. Not to ruin anything, but you probaly ought to change the name of the faction Machination to something else so this mod remains GPL. That way you can keep yourself clean of any copyright infringments.

One other thing, 2000 polys per unit is a lot if you plan on having tons of units on the field at once. Those 2000 poly models work in FPS games because of the lack of models in places. You might want to try for a more resonable number, and save the high count for special/super units.

Doomweaver · Post by **Doomweaver** » 20 Jan 2006, 01:59

TA, they did say that battle's won't be as big as TA battles normally are. Anyway, the extra detail will look awsome, especially with reflective textures...!

Flint · Post by **Flint** » 20 Jan 2006, 03:53

How long do you think it will take for a first version to come out?

How many people are working on this mod?

Mesafina · Post by **Mesafina** » 20 Jan 2006, 05:38

As far as LOS goes, that will remain to be determined.

We hope to have a playable beta released within 4 months, but that is a subject of much speculation. It would be cool if we could get it out sooner.

And for the record, our team size is currently 2 members, each of us putting in a goodly number of hours. I am the programmer, scripter, 2d graphic artist and Rukk is the 3d modeler and 2d graphic artist.

As for build times and balance issues, the concerns put forth will likely be irrelevent as we are reinventing the wheel and attempting to come up with creative new ways of doing construction all together. For example, the Machinations of Fenris will feature a tech tree based around something called a Von Neuman Device, which was a concept developed by Von Neuman regarding machines which can self replicate. A Machination Monolith will be able to produce other monoliths without need of a factory at all, and other units will function the same way, with a sort of central machine mind which brings it all together and acts as the connecting point between the different self replicating variations.

As for the name Machinations of Fenris, I believe we are fine leaving it at that, but I will look into it.

Keep it coming guys =D

Maelstrom · Post by **Maelstrom** » 20 Jan 2006, 06:16

Von Neuman Machines are cool. Definatley an interesting way of doing things. What about the other faction/team/race/clan?

I wouldnt mind helping out with the mod. I have no experience whatsoever, but i can always learn. I can also make random tools for you, like the FBI editor I made a while ago. Im interested in trying to make sounds as well, as it is an area I have had basically no experience in. But, if all else fails, I can make a website for your mod. Im good at them.

Mesafina · Post by **Mesafina** » 20 Jan 2006, 07:27

The United Tribes will be based around a massive flying structure which at this point we are just referring to as the mobile command center. It will be used to construct almost everything and will be an integral, nay all important part of Tribe production. We are thinking that for the Tribes, there will be no actual structures, but rather large units with no movement which can be moved around the field at will using the Tribe's massive air transport, creating an array of semi-mobile structures. This is all of course in concept stage at the moment but gives you an idea of our aims.

Min3mat · Post by **Min3mat** » 20 Jan 2006, 10:05

that will be very difficult to balance but make it oh so worthwhile in terms of gameplay :) good luck

SwiftSpear · Post by **SwiftSpear** » 20 Jan 2006, 15:00

2000 poly units lag rediculously with shadows on... Please at least keep your models optimized. Extra polies are useless if all they are there for is to say you have a higher poly count.

PauloMorfeo · Post by **PauloMorfeo** » 20 Jan 2006, 15:25

Mesafina wrote:... we are reinventing the wheel and attempting to come up with creative new ways of doing ...

All right! Keep it going. Something original will be most welcome!
And don't explain too much or it will ruin the surprise (or keep on wetting our apetite!? It's arguable which one is best. <- and i'm a proper intj).

Chocapic · Post by **Chocapic** » 20 Jan 2006, 17:54

SwiftSpear wrote:2000 poly units lag rediculously with shadows on... Please at least keep your models optimized. Extra polies are useless if all they are there for is to say you have a higher poly count.

play with shadows off then

, they dont make all that diference!

Guessmyname · Post by **Guessmyname** » 20 Jan 2006, 18:00

Mesafina wrote:We are thinking that for the Tribes, there will be no actual structures, but rather large units with no movement which can be moved around the field at will using the Tribe's massive air transport, creating an array of semi-mobile structures.

Just so that you know, buildings can be transported using a special kind of transport (not sure what it is though)

AF · Post by AF » 20 Jan 2006, 21:17

What are your race designs then? As in philosophy, what sort of a race ti is, what they prefer, their rpeferred art styles, architecture and so on.

If you dont have any i have a link to a hefty thread on HW races that explains the sheer urgency you need it if you want a brilliant game. From what I've read you have an excellent ground basis to jump off here.

Just look at how in Supcom they're now exagerating the differences compared to what they where in arm/core, look at the harshness of cybran, the sleek aeon, the futuristic inspired technology of the terrans (as in it looks mroe like what's we've portrayed ourselves to be in the future)

Mesafina · Post by **Mesafina** » 20 Jan 2006, 23:00

More info on the races themselves will be released in good time. We are holding off on more fluff information until the website is up and we have a few models ready to post, so look for that within the next week. In the meantime, i will continue to take suggestions and answer any non-fluff related questions.

AF · Post by AF » 21 Jan 2006, 17:58

Designing Alien races and ships for HW by Crobato

Dont be fooled into thinking it doesnt apply and it's all about spaceships and HW, it talks about other games and balancing and is very detailed.

As for fluff, I got sent a piece of fluff by my old bank, a big wad in a white letter.

Zoombie · Post by **Zoombie** » 21 Jan 2006, 18:07

wOW....My head is spinning from that rant.

Very long, well thought out and should be tacked to the heads of all new RTS desingers!

AF · Post by AF » 21 Jan 2006, 18:14

You've read it already? I read it slightly faster than I usually read, but it took me at least an hour to fully digest the entire thing....

Am I the only one who gets fluff in the mail?

Zoombie · Post by **Zoombie** » 21 Jan 2006, 20:11

Ah...i can remember way back in fourth grade....

"teacher: <insert my name> would you please read the next paragraph?"

"Me: Where are we again?"

"teacher: <rolls eyes> Now, now <insert my name> where you not paying attention? We are on page fifty"

"Me: What? I read that five times now! I'm on page 120!"

True story!

j5mello · Post by **j5mello** » 22 Jan 2006, 00:04

Guessmyname · Post by **Guessmyname** » 22 Jan 2006, 00:19

That happens to me, all the frigging time

Spring RTS Engine

Project Ragnarok is back!