Author Topic: A WoD dev blog  (Read 422510 times)

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Offline Droid803

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Speaking of just the Aestival, it has weaknesses. You just need practice and the proper strategies to exploit them. I'm sure that is true of all other CSA ships as well, "nerf" notwithstanding.
Sure. Now get the AI to understand that.

I believe therein lies the issue.
(´・ω・`)
=============================================================

 

Offline Legate Damar

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That's why if you want AI fighters to defeat them with any sort of regularity, you either have to do a lot of subtle tricks in FRED, or just mod stronger ships... or is it possible to tweak the AI to perform certain strategies? I have never heard much about how the Freespace AI code works. I know it can be modded, such as "Fury AI" but I don't know how that works.

Can you program the AI so when it is facing a certain ship with certain weapons, it will do a certain action? That would be useful... I honestly do not know if this is possible.

 
Spoon, you can't reboot Wings of Dawn.  It came out not even three years ago! :P

More seriously, best of luck with this and I look forwards to a better-balanced WoD with a better story.  Please don't retcon any of the minor characters too much though.  Kunoichi is already an excellent ninja. :lol:
17:37:02   Quanto: I want to have sexual intercourse with every space elf in existence
17:37:11   SpardaSon21: even the males?
17:37:22   Quanto: its not gay if its an elf

[21:51] <@Droid803> I now realize
[21:51] <@Droid803> this will be SLIIIIIGHTLY awkward
[21:51] <@Droid803> as this rich psychic girl will now be tsundere for a loli.
[21:51] <@Droid803> OH WELLL.

See what you're missing in #WoD and #Fsquest?

[07:57:32] <Caiaphas> inspired by HerraTohtori i built a supermaneuverable plane in ksp
[07:57:43] <Caiaphas> i just killed my pilots with a high-g maneuver
[07:58:19] <Caiaphas> apparently people can't take 20 gees for 5 continuous seconds
[08:00:11] <Caiaphas> the plane however performed admirably, and only crashed because it no longer had any guidance systems

 

Offline Lorric

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Hi Spoon. I’ve been thinking about your big post. And now I have one for you  :D

   Overall I’m warming to the idea now. The idea that you can make Wings of Dawn 1 be the best it can be with the new skills you’ve learned. I expect then you’ll go back to WoD2, but I would hope if not you would release anything that would not be seen, artwork, story work, ships, etc. Maybe you could even merge the two and the JGASF suddenly gets a load of new Cyrvans. It seems the Cyrvan females seem to be the warlike ones, doesn’t it. One Cyrvan male to 11 Cyrvan females seen so far.

   At first I wondered if you could just pull off a quick and dirty fix by hitting the Aestivals with the nerf bat, but I can see you’ve got bigger plans than that, and especially if you built the campaign to pretty much revolve around the Ray III, that would still, even if the Cyrvan nerf took care of the immediate problems, have the potential to rear it’s head as a problem later, so root and branch rebalancing is for the best if you want to fulfil your ambitions.

   I have recently been looking at the Diaspora stuff, and it sounds like you might be doing similar to them. And really that seems a great way to go for a standalone. It’s not good for a normal campaign, because it means cluttering up your limited space with many pilots, I’ve already had to make a folder to store excess pilots because I’ve maxed out my pilot limit. But for a standalone, that probably won’t be a problem even if we have to create double digits of pilots because the pilot folder is clean and you get to start over. And back to my original point it allows the creator to get instalments of praise and motivation to keep going, and also feedback to potentially discover flaws or perhaps agree with and implement suggestions which otherwise would be missed. And of course, we also get to get our hands on stuff earlier.

   On making it easier, since I had to scrape through the last few missions on very easy, I’m not going to complain. However, there’s a way you could do both. There’s a game on PS2 I have called Battle Engine Aquila that has a great concept I’ve only seen in that game, you can unlock “Evo” (Evolution) missions, which are essentially rebalanced versions of existing missions. Basically there’ll be a lot more enemies on the battlefield, they’ll probably have taken some of your allies out as well, and might even have tweaked the mission objectives in some, I can’t remember. So if you did that, you’d have the best of both Worlds. If the way you made WoD is the level you like to play at, you wouldn’t have to lose that experience that way. Great game by the way people, I’d recommend checking it out.

   I will certainly be glad to see the back of that final mission! :)

   On the Ray III’s single primary bank, I always thought that was precisely because of the armour types! I figured you had to choose, figure out which gun would be most useful, and take it into battle. That the armour types were precisely why you couldn’t have two guns. And also the fact some guns chew shields way better than hull and vice versa. There were some missions where I did plenty of deliberating over which gun to take.

   I basically thought the Kaze and Caliburn sucked. I didn’t take either of them. Pretty much for the reasons you say.

   Maybe you can also get that Hazel bomber into the game. I did some testing with that and I see why you left it out, it just obliterates everything. Kit out the JGASF with Hazel bombers and the game would be a cakewalk.

   So you’re going to redesign all the missions. Will there be any new ones? Or will they be redesigned so much that they actually feel new?

   I am looking forward to the development of the minor characters. I actually preferred from what information I had, the personalities of both Kunoichi and Axe to any of the main characters. So I’m looking forward to seeing them the most. I will certainly jump enthusiastically into the visual novel sequences. There will be no skipping from me there. Yet at the same time, in a repeat play through, the skipping may become welcome.

   Unique opponents is something that can especially spice things up. I take it you mean aces and commanders to contend with who have faces and talk to you?

   Fun. I like fun. Games should be fun above all else. WoD is fun :)

   I’m not so keen on branching storylines in FS2, because of the inflexibility of the pilot system. In order to see everything and replay changed missions/new missions I’d have to keep creating new pilots in order to do so. If you could fix that somehow, bring it on. If not, you might want to think about it a bit. I would normally favour branching paths if not for the reasons I stated.

   Morale system, if you implement it I hope you would let us know what state of morale the people are in, rather than leave us to guess. I really don’t like hidden stats like that.

   The stuff for WoD2 that you showed us really makes me want to play it… :(

   Could you tell us anything about the Cyrvans? At least what their names are if nothing else. It looks like you would have played as Isa, is that right? Or might you have played as several, as in WoD1?

   On the wiki and Tvtropes, that doesn’t have to be overwritten. Treat the current WoD as a separate game to the new one. Maybe give it a tweaked name, to separate it from it’s predecessor. A bit like how the Dynasty Warriors games use the same story every game but are a different game.

   Well there we go. I’ve said my piece. Good luck with it Spoon. I hope it goes well for you and becomes everything you want it to be.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2012, 06:47:55 pm by Lorric »

 

Offline Legate Damar

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I prefer the Kaze to most LSF fighters (glide is very useful).

 

Offline Lorric

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I prefer the Kaze to most LSF fighters (glide is very useful).

I never used the glide function (didn't know I could actually, I did before you posted this, though I still don't know how though.) So I'm not in a position to judge on that. The Kaze is paper thin though. I've yet to experience the glide function in any game yet, even Wing Commander Saga which has plenty of it.

You know the name of that fighter makes me think "kamikaze". Suicide to fly in it!  :lol:

 

Offline niffiwan

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I found the Kaze quite useful in the mission near the end where you're fighting heaps of Nordera.  Two banks of plasma cannons (IIRC) to do massive damage to the Nordera ships, use snapshot firing as you glide past at high velocity, along with banks of Dragonfires (IIRC, the missiles with the *big* boom :)) to take out the few Fura'ngle that show up.  If you get pounded too much, afterburn away, activate glide while above your normal max speed, and lob a few missiles at your pursuers while flying backwards waiting for your shields to recharge.  Keep moving fast, don't get "low & slow" with those damn Nordera :)  Lots of fun, although still a difficult mission.
Creating a fs2_open.log | Red Alert Bug = Hex Edit | MediaVPs 2014: Bigger HUD gauges | 32bit libs for 64bit Ubuntu
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Debian Packages (testing/unstable): Freespace2 | wxLauncher
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m|m: I think I'm suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Bmpman is starting to make sense and it's actually written reasonably well...

 

Offline Spoon

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You were legit going to try and do a VN built into the campaign as well? I'm impressed.
Absolutely.
This is what it looks like in FRED:

Any longer and I'm going to need a third screen.

Heart stopped cold for a few seconds there. :shaking:

But, I suppose this isn't a bad idea at all. If doing this will improve upon the already-awesome WoD1, then I don't think I'm in any sort of position to be complaining. :p

One question though, if I may - Will the characters of WoD1 return? Or will even this aspect be rebuilt?
They will definitely return and better than ever!  :p

Spoon, you can't reboot Wings of Dawn.  It came out not even three years ago! :P

More seriously, best of luck with this and I look forwards to a better-balanced WoD with a better story.  Please don't retcon any of the minor characters too much though.  Kunoichi is already an excellent ninja. :lol:
I wasn't aware there was a minimum time limit on these things :p

I found the Kaze quite useful in the mission near the end where you're fighting heaps of Nordera.  Two banks of plasma cannons (IIRC) to do massive damage to the Nordera ships, use snapshot firing as you glide past at high velocity, along with banks of Dragonfires (IIRC, the missiles with the *big* boom :)) to take out the few Fura'ngle that show up.  If you get pounded too much, afterburn away, activate glide while above your normal max speed, and lob a few missiles at your pursuers while flying backwards waiting for your shields to recharge.  Keep moving fast, don't get "low & slow" with those damn Nordera :)  Lots of fun, although still a difficult mission.
See, this is exactly how you are suppose to use the Kaze  :)



Overall I’m warming to the idea now. The idea that you can make Wings of Dawn 1 be the best it can be with the new skills you’ve learned. I expect then you’ll go back to WoD2
No not quite, WoD 'Rebuild' will follow its own seperate path. It won't replace WoD1 and there (probably) won't be a 'WoD RB 2'. This rebuild will be a continous story that will keep being expanded on with new 'Acts'

I have recently been looking at the Diaspora stuff, and it sounds like you might be doing similar to them. And really that seems a great way to go for a standalone. It’s not good for a normal campaign, because it means cluttering up your limited space with many pilots, I’ve already had to make a folder to store excess pilots because I’ve maxed out my pilot limit. But for a standalone, that probably won’t be a problem even if we have to create double digits of pilots because the pilot folder is clean and you get to start over. And back to my original point it allows the creator to get instalments of praise and motivation to keep going, and also feedback to potentially discover flaws or perhaps agree with and implement suggestions which otherwise would be missed. And of course, we also get to get our hands on stuff earlier.
It's more akin to BP WiH than Diaspora I think ('cept standalone etc) but aside from that: Yes.

Maybe you can also get that Hazel bomber into the game. I did some testing with that and I see why you left it out, it just obliterates everything. Kit out the JGASF with Hazel bombers and the game would be a cakewalk.
The Hazel is actually in the WoD campaign. You can 'unlock' it by completing the planetary blockade mission with Dawn&Infi under a certain time limit, then later on when you fly that scramble mission (in which you bomb enemy ships with the caliburn as the prometheus frame is repairing itself) you can select it from the loadout.


So you’re going to redesign all the missions. Will there be any new ones? Or will they be redesigned so much that they actually feel new?
It'll be 95% new

Morale system, if you implement it I hope you would let us know what state of morale the people are in, rather than leave us to guess. I really don’t like hidden stats like that.
It was going to be a super transparant system

Could you tell us anything about the Cyrvans? At least what their names are if nothing else. It looks like you would have played as Isa, is that right? Or might you have played as several, as in WoD1?
Correct, Isa was going to be the player character. No flipflopping around like in WoD1.
If you open that picture with VN portraits; starting from the top left
Akyha Celbrat, very serious and military minded
Celise Spellweaver, minor role, the person giving Isa the mission
Yaiceca m'es Vera, sub captain, effectively being the little devil on Isa's shoulder. Only flies a fighter on special occasions. Old friend of Isa
Isa'emarl Dertanya, player character, commander of the taskforce
Wynter Cellbrat, unlike her twin sister she doesn't care much about military discipline. Likes getting attention. Awacs pilot.
Rubyica Meerara, hybrid, was probably going to be the weakest pilot overal out of them all. Insecure.
Sera Hanaha, can look a few seconds into the future, flies blind folded. Weakest pilot at low morale. An absolute unmatched killing machine on high morale.
Kaguya Dessler, telepath, likes being alone and dislikes aliens.
Esron Dertanya, minor character, father of Isa&Crystal
Other characters that had a face but aren't on that picture
Emizer Kerducy, sub captain, the little angel on the other shoulder of Isa
Ken Stormchaser, captain of one of the escort ships.
Aira Stormchaser, captain of one of the other escort ships. A married couple.
Atlas, mysterious man that always wears a helmet. Old friend of Isa. Only pilot not affected by morale.

Well there we go. I’ve said my piece. Good luck with it Spoon. I hope it goes well for you and becomes everything you want it to be.
Thanks, I hope so too  :p
Urutorahappī!!

[02:42] <@Axem> spoon somethings wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> critically wrong
[02:42] <@Axem> im happy with these missions now
[02:44] <@Axem> well
[02:44] <@Axem> with 2 of them

 

Offline Jellyfish

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Will Misuzu still be MC? And will any of those characters appear in WoDR?

It's more akin to BP WiH than Diaspora I think ('cept standalone etc) but aside from that: Yes.
Or like ASW.
Actually, I think it's more like Inferno.

Either way, best of luck!
"A weapon is only as powerful as its wielder. With this weapon, you'll be but an annoyance, which would greatly dishonor it. With this weapon, I can change history. With me, this weapon can shape the universe."

 

Offline Flak

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Those 'faceless' pilots on the GA that has almost no speaking lines, perhaps they can have more spotlight, so far as I see, they only appear when there are not enough fighters to fill up the slots.
Oh, and I think the LSF Rance and probably the accompanying ships too should be some limited edition destroyer/cruiser or a heavily modified one instead of a standard Skirmisher.

 

Offline Legate Damar

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Alt-G to glide on standard setup

 

Offline Rodo

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wow, such dedication.

this is why I love HLP, kudos Spoon, Axem and everyone working on WoD. I'll be waiting for the re-release eagerly :yes:
el hombre vicio...

 

Offline AndrewofDoom

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You were legit going to try and do a VN built into the campaign as well? I'm impressed.
Absolutely.
This is what it looks like in FRED:

Any longer and I'm going to need a third screen.

It's this stuff that bothers me enough to possibly make a script-based solution instead of SEXPs. It seems such a daunting task though, like another certain thing a very specific person is trying to make me create.  :shaking:
My Efforts:
SF Knight

20:08:19   AndrewofDoom: Though I find it mildly disturbing that a loli is giggling to mass destruction.
20:10:01   Spoon: I find it mildly arrousing
20:10:07   AndrewofDoom: Woah
20:10:15   Spoon: sound like my kind of loli
20:10:21   Spoon: and im not even a lolicon

 
I just read the Big Epic Post from a few pages back.

Sorry to hear that WOD2 is cancelled, but it sounds like you're going to be taking the WOD universe in interesting new directions, so... that's good. I'll be looking forward to the "rerelease" of Wings of Dawn.

So what about all the hard work done by the awesome people that worked on the wiki and tvtropes page? Norbert putting up info found from the ask a character thread and such. Are you ju-[/b]

Sorry people!

Ah well. If you're using the same basic universe and background much of the tvtropes page can still be used.

EDIT: Oy! I didn't mean to change the topic title.
"You need to believe in things that aren't true. How else can they become?" -DEATH, Discworld

"You can fight like a krogan, run like a leopard, but you'll never be better than Commander Shepard!"

 

Offline Axem

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You were legit going to try and do a VN built into the campaign as well? I'm impressed.
Absolutely.
This is what it looks like in FRED:

Any longer and I'm going to need a third screen.

It's this stuff that bothers me enough to possibly make a script-based solution instead of SEXPs. It seems such a daunting task though, like another certain thing a very specific person is trying to make me create.  :shaking:

It's actually not that complex. There are a grand total of 6 events that control the basic structure of the VN system. 90% of the other sexps are just messages (plus character graphic changes plus camera changes). It's no different than if you just made a really really really long message chain/cutscene. For the parts where you need to make a choice, its just 1 more event per choice you need to make.

This is a picture of what most of the events look like: http://imagebin.org/238997

So simple, even a spoon can understand it. :)

  

Offline Alan Bolte

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Looking forward to it!

Quote
-In the WoD Rebuild every character will be much more developed with a face to go with it. In elaborate visual novel sections that will keep a lot of chatter out of the missions (and will be skippable)
I read that as 'shippable'.
Anything worth doing is worth analyzing to death -Iranon

 

Offline AndrewofDoom

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Looking forward to it!

Quote
-In the WoD Rebuild every character will be much more developed with a face to go with it. In elaborate visual novel sections that will keep a lot of chatter out of the missions (and will be skippable)
I read that as 'shippable'.

How did you come to that conclusion from reading it?
CRYSTALXMISUZU HOOAH
My Efforts:
SF Knight

20:08:19   AndrewofDoom: Though I find it mildly disturbing that a loli is giggling to mass destruction.
20:10:01   Spoon: I find it mildly arrousing
20:10:07   AndrewofDoom: Woah
20:10:15   Spoon: sound like my kind of loli
20:10:21   Spoon: and im not even a lolicon

 

Offline NGTM-1R

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It's a VN. Shippable is all but required.
"Load sabot. Target Zaku, direct front!"

A Feddie Story

 
There was a WoD shipping thread right after the release.  Spoon locked it with extreme prejudice. :(

First rule of WoD is apparently: Don't Ship WoD.

That being said, the entire female cast of WoD will end up being shipped with one another and possibly clones of themselves at some point.

I just hope Spoon won't completely rewrite Misuzu into a super-serious psychotic killer who collects yaoi instead of mecha just to see how much rage he can get us to generate.
17:37:02   Quanto: I want to have sexual intercourse with every space elf in existence
17:37:11   SpardaSon21: even the males?
17:37:22   Quanto: its not gay if its an elf

[21:51] <@Droid803> I now realize
[21:51] <@Droid803> this will be SLIIIIIGHTLY awkward
[21:51] <@Droid803> as this rich psychic girl will now be tsundere for a loli.
[21:51] <@Droid803> OH WELLL.

See what you're missing in #WoD and #Fsquest?

[07:57:32] <Caiaphas> inspired by HerraTohtori i built a supermaneuverable plane in ksp
[07:57:43] <Caiaphas> i just killed my pilots with a high-g maneuver
[07:58:19] <Caiaphas> apparently people can't take 20 gees for 5 continuous seconds
[08:00:11] <Caiaphas> the plane however performed admirably, and only crashed because it no longer had any guidance systems

 

Offline An4ximandros

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Spoon could turn Misizu into a psychologically disturbed young girl which has been blessed/cursed with being able to listen to (and speak to) the minds of others...

Nah! Too common an ani-trope... :p