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Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Xandu on November 15, 2002, 03:29:40 pm

Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: Xandu on November 15, 2002, 03:29:40 pm
Seeing as we have all of these large, detailed and secretive campaigns, I came up with an idea that I dont think has been discussed before - episodic campaigns, in much the same format as a TV show such as Babylon 5 or S:AAB, where a new mission is released every week, furthering the storyline. This would allow for more plot progression, and for immediate immersion, as well as holding the player's interest. Of course, each mission would have to be fairly action-packed and replayable, as it would need to be playable until next week's mission.

I also have a new campaign to go with this, which is a little different to most in creation. Think back to your first playthrough, what were the best moments, what really got your heart racing, and drew you into the game? From my experience, and from most people I've asked, the answers have been the adrenaline rush of high-speed combat, and, of course, the 'holy ****, that thing's incredible/massive' factor, best epitomised by the appearances put in by the Colossus and the Sathani (sp?). What I plan to do is use the episodic development model to, every week if possible, deliver a mission that combines the awe factor FS2 is known for, the thrill of first contact with a new, and hopefully always very different new race, and climaxes in an exciting attempt to sabotage the plans of whatever threatens the GTVA.

In a nutshell, what i propose is a cross between Star Tek, and Freespace 2, with, of course, the Shivans or some new enemy always lurking in the background.

Well, what do you all think? Worth a shot? Want a go? Please?
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: Su-tehp on November 15, 2002, 03:50:43 pm
Yeah, I'd say it's worth a shot. Just to be safe, you might want to draft an outline of where you want the story to go as it progresses. Otherwise, you run the risk of having a bunch of disjointed missions in the long run.

And can a good mission be done in a week, every week? I'm not that great a FREDder, so I wouldn't know, but it does seems a little ambitious...
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: Sesquipedalian on November 15, 2002, 03:54:13 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Su-tehp
And can a good mission be done in a week, every week?
Only if RL just packs up and moves out.
Title: Re: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: diamondgeezer on November 15, 2002, 03:58:56 pm
Interesting idea. It's both achievable, and offers the oppertunity to pace a campagin differently and go in new directions... hmm... I do believe Xandu has come up with a winning idea here. Nice thinking, pilot :nod:

Except...

Quote
Originally posted by Xandu
...or S:AAB...


:blah: I'm still sulking about the death of the S:AAB TC thread... :sigh:
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: Sesquipedalian on November 15, 2002, 03:59:25 pm
Oh dear, where are my manners?

Fire control, target Xandu.  Activate cannon, and... FIRE!
(http://members.cox.net/~wmcoolmon/images/welcome.gif)
Exits are to the sides and rear, flamethrowers are located beneath your seat in case of emergency.  If any Shivans jump you demanding food, it's probably just Carl.  Enjoy your flight.
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: karajorma on November 15, 2002, 04:26:34 pm
I don`t think it would be easy at all to write and playtest a new episode every week but if you get yourself two or three months ahead before you release the first episode you could get away with it.
Title: Thanks
Post by: Xandu on November 15, 2002, 04:33:38 pm
Thanks for all of your replies, I realise that I might have been being a little optimistic when I say 1 per week. Perhaps 2-3 weeks would be more feasible.I suppose I need more FRED experience before I can really get started, and I'll try and get a plan document worked out, with a reasonably developed story before I try and rope anyone else in. Oh yes, and thanks for having the friendliest welcoming committee I've seen on the web.
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: Zarax on November 15, 2002, 04:48:58 pm
Wanna make some experience with FRED?
Join Rise Of GCA Staff, and you'll make all the experience you need.
If you're interested mail me at [email protected], even better if you use MSN messenger
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: Killfrenzy on November 15, 2002, 06:05:31 pm
It's a good idea, but it does require a lot of time and thought, as each mission has to further the story whilst at the same time leave the player wanting more.........it's difficult to do that.
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: vadar_1 on November 15, 2002, 07:51:25 pm
youd have to make the missions pretty long. Most shows that "further the story each week" are an hour long. The standard mission is about 6 minutes, anything over 10 minutes and the player starts to fear death. You'll have to cram alot of speech into there too... Maybe 5 or 6 missions a week... at least.
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: mikhael on November 15, 2002, 08:05:18 pm
Vadar is correct in spirit but wrong in amount, I think.

You'd want to drop about three or four missions every two weeks, with more complex missions every couple of months, perhaps.
Title: I agree
Post by: Star Dragon on November 15, 2002, 11:13:06 pm
Quality is more important than quantity...

   BTW I tried to upload my 1st chapter to fanfic.com  but it won't accept wordpad or note pad docs. Is there a DL I can get that saves as Ms Word docs? They are picky as to what they accept. The chapter begins the arrival of the SDF-3 to an alternate early Battle Tech Earth...
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: vadar_1 on November 15, 2002, 11:14:56 pm
any format can act as any other format, just force rename the extension, then rename it upon arrival. Thats how i get through those stupid exe/mp3 restrictions on the school network drives.
Title: Re: I agree
Post by: EdrickV on November 16, 2002, 12:46:47 am
Quote
Originally posted by Star Dragon
Quality is more important than quantity...

   BTW I tried to upload my 1st chapter to fanfic.com  but it won't accept wordpad or note pad docs. Is there a DL I can get that saves as Ms Word docs? They are picky as to what they accept. The chapter begins the arrival of the SDF-3 to an alternate early Battle Tech Earth...


WordPad can save Word documents. (The WordPad included with WinME uses Word 6 files by default.) And Notepad doesn't have a format, it uses regular ASCII text files. (Which WordPad can also use.)
Title: Campaigns - a new approach
Post by: LtNarol on November 16, 2002, 08:40:28 am
a good idea, however, I don't believe its the missions that are holding most campaigns back, but the mods; atleast such is the case with Into the Night.  Definitely worth more consideration though