The Big Picture

Discussion in 'General Modification' started by Gaear, Apr 15, 2006.

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  1. Gaear

    Gaear Bastard Maestro Administrator

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    I'd like to start some discussion on what we might like to ultimately achieve here at Co8 as regards The Big Picture. In other words, at what point would we consider our job done? The main point of this exercise would be to generate some goals for us to shoot for, as goals tend to keep people more focused.

    There was some interesting discussion a while back in Darmagon's New Content Rant thread concerning expanding the general level progression of ToEE. The most compelling post I found in there was the following from Lord_Spike:

    Note the portion in red. What does everyone think of the following:

    • We formally declare an intention to eventually make a 3 part series out of what Troika started with ToEE
    • We formally decide to have "Queen of the Spiders" be the third game after KotB

    If given the above:

    • We elect to have a progression of KotB as Part 1, ToEE as Part 2, and QotS as Part 3
    • We adopt the level progression for these games that Spike enumerated, or something similar

    Let's bat this around a little bit. To be clear, I'm not asking for commitments or contracts from anybody, just good intentions. That's the way Co8 has always operated; we're a bunch of casual volunteers essentially, but somehow we do manage to get things done.

    Personally I like the idea of limiting the 'Greyhawk Experience' to 20 levels. 20 levels always seemed workable to me, whereas when you go beyond that you start getting fairly god-like and goofy (like in BG2). I also think three modules would cover 20 levels very nicely. Of course, ToEE would have to be re-engineered to start at level 5 (or whatever) and span 7 levels instead of 10 (or whatever), but we might do well to stop adding to ToEE anymore anyway, with KotB being in need of our attention. And from what I've heard Ted and others say, KotB was designed as a first level adventure.

    Hell, by the time we'd get done with QotS they might have BG3 out. ;)

    Please share your thoughts . . .
     
    Gaear, Apr 15, 2006
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  2. Ugignadl

    Ugignadl Established Member

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    Well.

    Now this is like a dream.

    What do you need help with? In my earlier life I was a network administrator and programmed heavily in python (I love the language). I can most likely nut out the scripts and help with those if that is needed (but it doesn't seem like it). I am attempting to help by testing.

    I hereby volunteer to do anything a n00b modder is capable of, or if not, to continue to test in Lord Spike's rocking legion.
     
    Ugignadl, Apr 15, 2006
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  3. Lord_Spike

    Lord_Spike Senior Member Veteran

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    Count me in the "Whatever it takes" category.
    :tears:
    I'm so happy....

    Ugi...scripting...hmmmm. Ted ought to have some work for you, I should think...in the KotB.
     
    Lord_Spike, Apr 15, 2006
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  4. Shiningted

    Shiningted The Thunder of Justice Administrator

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    Yeah I think we can find something for him... but don't mention KotB to me for at least a week. My brain is ready to explode as it is.

    Gaear, this sounds like a plan. I was at a BBQ last night, some friends were discussing DDO and when I mentioned ToEE one of the old timer AD&D players said, "I remember that, it was meant to b a lead in to Queen of the Spiders wasn't it?"

    Lets give the people what they want.
     
    Shiningted, Apr 15, 2006
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  5. Gaear

    Gaear Bastard Maestro Administrator

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    Then lets get started!

    Ted - finish KotB and make ToEE start at level 5. Spike - write a transition story for KotB to ToEE. Ug - keep hacking at the .dll! You've all got til Wednesday to finish.

    Seriously, I guess this is enough response to sort of say in little letters that we'll sure try to go ahead and do it like it says above. Thanks for the effort, guys. ;) Carry on.
     
    Gaear, Apr 17, 2006
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  6. Lord_Spike

    Lord_Spike Senior Member Veteran

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    I might just ask "Col. Pladoh" for help on that one...if he responds, well then we'll have input from the man who started it all!

    :notworthy
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2006
    Lord_Spike, Apr 17, 2006
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  7. Dragon_Awakened

    Dragon_Awakened Wandering Warrior

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    I was under the impression that the series went The Slavers series, Against the Giants, and then Queen of The Demon Web Pits. I didn't know KotB had anything to do with it. (Getting +3 Mace of Spider Smashing ready for another trip into my storage closet and all the old D&D material there.)
     
    Dragon_Awakened, Apr 17, 2006
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  8. Blair

    Blair Unwanted Construct

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    D_A is correct on this one, according to Gygax's Greyhawk memoirs (and the intro text in said modules, all of which I own). OTOH, the Q series would be loads of fun to mod anyway, and even without the G series, I'm sure we could bulls--t some sort of connecting plotline. I used to specialize in that sort of thing, after all. :lalala:

    The G modules would be fun too, and have the advantage of existing giant models to save some work. Seriously, though, unless we can figure out some way to "chain" maps together people would have to console their characters' stats when they began the "later" module in order to maintain continuity. Or did we already figure out a workaround for that and no one told me?

    --Blair
    "Puny mortals... now you shall face the wrath of--THE SPIDER QUEEN!" *eep*
     
    Blair, Apr 17, 2006
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  9. Ugignadl

    Ugignadl Established Member

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    No need to console anything, we could just have an npc with a script that could fire and kit you up automagically. It could even be gui'd in...all you need is a text file with your character's wotnot in it. Which could be spat out by a similar script. Easy.
     
    Ugignadl, Apr 17, 2006
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  10. Cuchulainn

    Cuchulainn Windmill Tilter

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    Wow!!

    This is exactly what I was hoping might some day come to pass. As far as I can see it's not a huge deal if the modules weren't originaly inteaded to lead one into the other. I shouldn't be that hard to connect them plotwise, and it's not like we're altering the modules themselves. In my humble opionion this seems like and excellent direction to head, finally some actual ingame benefit for all the hard work people have put into the higher levels.

    So to sum up I am completely behind this idea and will of course be happy to continuemaking my somewhat limited skills available. Hell at the rate I'm learning I might be a full fledged contributor by the time we get to the Q series. ;)

    Cuchulainn.
     
    Cuchulainn, Apr 17, 2006
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  11. Shiningted

    Shiningted The Thunder of Justice Administrator

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    Certainly there is no suggestion that B2 was meant to be a prelude to GDQ. We went for B2 (actually, I personally made a command decision to go for B2 ;) ) for various reasons outlined at the time (and after many debates on the Atari forum), primarily the facts that it is doable (no new models needed, except the fire beetles) and widely owned (by everyone who has a Basic set, + others).
     
    Shiningted, Apr 18, 2006
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  12. Cerulean the Blue

    Cerulean the Blue Blue Meanie Veteran

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    My Basic Set came with B1, not B2.
     
    Cerulean the Blue, Apr 18, 2006
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  13. krunch

    krunch moving on in life

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    As long as we have more d&d meaning more gaming, nothing else matters.
     
    krunch, Apr 18, 2006
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  14. Lord_Spike

    Lord_Spike Senior Member Veteran

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    You are of course, correct. I think what he was going for was that it was widely owned by a lot of folks because they bought B2 to continue down the road B1 started; besides, B1 sucked. It left toooo much up to the DM. Might as well make your own adventure from scratch. I bought B1 as an introductory stand alone, and never owned a basic set. My set was (and still is) all 1st Edition AD&D books.
     
    Lord_Spike, Apr 18, 2006
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  15. Shiningted

    Shiningted The Thunder of Justice Administrator

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    Seriously? No joke, my Basic set came with B2. They all did out here at the time. Maybe it was some bizarre Australianian release, or maybe they were running low in the warehouse and just threw in the nearest module.

    Well there goes that idea :yawn:
     
    Shiningted, Apr 19, 2006
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