mod for upcoming game

[neonext]

i know this is going to sound strange, but would anyone be interested in making a mod for a game that doesn't even exist yet?

this would be really difficult, because i can only give out the most minimal information about the project. however, creating a game that is modable is a primary goal, and the idea of a dune related mod was the first i had come up with. i need to code mod support as i go along, so knowing modding requirements as they come up is good.

this is a long-term request, with no need for even a reply for quite some time (it would be nice to know if you are interested though).

right now i can say that the project is that it's a turn based strategy game, with standard ways of playing like normal and simultanious (multiplayer). there is also a new mode which will last sometimes months, and this mode already has support for over 70 players (not at the same time). now, i'm not sure how many people we can get playing this kind of dune game, but it would still be nice, and people can always play the other modes.

i'll give more details later. let me know if you're even somewhat interested, and if you have any questions, i'll do my best to answer them.

[Inoculator9]

I'd probably be interested :)

[neonext]

the game won't be out this year, so it's going to be awhile, but it will be nice to get some of this figured out, and i think it will be better to slowly develop a mod for it as i develop it, rather than putting it off and then trying to adapt the code towards the end.

the actual game is a type of historical earth strategy game, so right now the main map is a world map of earth, but the code has already been structured to allow for modding purposes, meaning that you can draw whatever terrain you want with what ever boundaries you want, and the engine will correctly function with it and use text files you make to handle interaction between the regions, as well as other things such as the drawing of units and bases.

for the dune mod, i invision a map that uses rock instead of land, and sand instead of water. that may sound obvious, but i'm just suggesting it because it draws familiarity with the dune games. as for the actual shapping of the rock landmasses, i have no idea. a lot of things have to be figured out for that, because where you place the regions determines a lot of things. one question that definitally has to be answered is: how many houses can we have here?

the engine already supports over a hundred, but i need to know how many actual houses you guys can come up with that would actually be on dune at the same time. hopefully it's a lot

[Inoculator9]

Here I go:

House Corrino

House Atreides

House Harkonnen

House Vernius (Ix, but Vernius is right name)

House Richese

House Hagal

House Ecaz

House Jungler

House Moritani

You could have others groups floating around like these:

Smugglers

Mercenaries

Spacing Guild

CHOAM

Bene Gesserit

Fremen

Bene Tleilaxu

After that, I can't remember much else.

From what I'v heard, this sounds as if it should be a good game and eventually a good mod. I would like to help out however I can.

[neonext]

ok, you can have control over making the mod.

is that how many houses u can think of now, or is it all the houses that u think should be included? i'm just wondering because IIRC, the dune encyclopedia has lots more houses than that.

[Inoculator9]

Yeah, I know there are more, but these are the major ones. And want do you mean "ok, you can have control over making the mod" ? Does this mean you and I will work together? Just to clarify ;)

[neonext]

ya we will work together, but i will be mostly handling technical issues and engine development to support the mod.

by u having control, i mean that u are the official leader of development for the mod, not someone else

[Inoculator9]

Thank you :)

Since the game isn't coming out... How do you want to start?

[Inoculator9]

Okay, I have a few plans:

-the mod will include the groups I listed above, along with a few others.

-I will begin planning out units and turrets (they can all have mostly the same buildings but with different appearances) along with a palace concept for each.

-I will make a board for the mod at my forum, as soon as we determine a name for it.

[neonext]

-I will make a board for the mod at my forum, as soon as we determine a name for it.

good, i was wondering what we would do about this, it will make it a lot easier

[Inoculator9]

Good, but do you have a name in mind?

[neonext]

Good, but do you have a name in mind?

i have obsolutely NO idea :-

i don't even have any idea what to call the actual game ;D

[Inoculator9]

:P How about Landsraad Conversion Mod?

How should we start by the way?

[neonext]

well, none of the art specifications are done yet, so we should start with general design and brainstorming like you've already done.

unfortunately much of the design is still being worked out, but your suggestions for the mod will help define the way the game handles things.

i've been really busy working on the combat engine, but i'll try to make time to think of areas of the mod we can get started on

[Inoculator9]

Ok, I'm brainstorming, and writing down some building ideas.

And, would I be correct in assuming that you want to use the board at my forum for private discussion?

[neonext]

i thought we were going to move all discussions over to there, but i hadn't thought of whether they would be private or not.

now that you mention it though, they probably should be private - i don't see any reason why the public should be able to read in on the discussions, but i do see reasons why they shouldn't be (even tho the discussions will already be limited to what info i can give out).

how is the forum setup now? public?

[neonext]

i don't see the forum at all anymore. i'm assuming you are making changes. let me know when everything is set up

[neonext]

i'm making tons of progress. i assure you that i'm not wasting my time on this project, and you won't be wasting your time making the mod.

[Inoculator9]

I appreciate your reassurance. I made the board only viewable to InocPrime Staff :( But I think I know what the problem is. Check again.

[neonext]

well, it does say my position is InocPrime Staff,

but the forum still doesn't show up at all

[Inoculator9]

Ooops :P I'll fix it now.

[Dunenewt]

Here I go:

House Corrino

House Atreides

House Harkonnen

House Vernius (Ix, but Vernius is right name)

House Richese

House Hagal

House Ecaz

House Jungler

House Moritani

You could have others groups floating around like these:

Smugglers

Mercenaries

Spacing Guild

CHOAM

Bene Gesserit

Fremen

Bene Tleilaxu

After that, I can't remember much else.

From what I'v heard, this sounds as if it should be a good game and eventually a good mod. I would like to help out however I can.

Not house jongler but other than that it sounds good for the houses actually maybe the Bene Tleilaxu and Gesserit would go with the 'houses' and IMHO Fremen should go with Atreides CHOAM wouldn't be a faction but should still be in there as a neutral just like the Spacing Guild. Smugglers and Mercenaries are basically the same

[Inoculator9]

We've already decided on sides.

[Dunenewt]

What are they?

[neonext]

The only problem I have with our current list is that it limits the amount of players allowed to a rather small number. This might end up being a good thing, unless lots of people end up wanting to play on the same online world (in which case more players usually equals more fun).

According to this list,

http://community.the-underdogs.org/smiley/houses.htm

, there are 134 Houses mentioned in the DE, the books, the movies, and the games.

Obviously, not all these Houses would have a place on Dune together. Having only seen the movies and played half of the games (no books), I don't have lots of knowledge of the dune universe. I'm curious, what's a rough estimation of the number of houses in that list that would be found on Dune? (considering an open invitation for each House to go there and control a section of the land)