[Madrox]

Well, i don't know how much of you has already saw my back story at Fan-fiction thread, but i have a long-term project of a campaign called "The Fall of GTVA", and like the name suggests, it will be the story of the defeat of the GTVa in the hands of a unknown, mysterious enemy, although the Shivans will have a major role in the story, they will be not the main enemy. More details below.

FAQ:

How many missions do you plan to do?
Something between 40 and 50 missions divided in acts of 6 to 10 missions and it will be divided in several parts of 2 or 3 acts, the release will be very alike Blue Planet.

Whats the scope of the campaign?
From the evacuation of Polaris to the end of story (i have a vague idea on what it will be), wich should be at least 6 months to 1 years, depending much on what happen. and i plan to do a "much time later"  on the last missions showing how the humanity survives the holocaust and how the culture adapt to this.

What features your campaign will show?
The main feature i think its the big story-line and a choice-based progression. for example: in the first mission yu will be escorting civ ships on Polaris, you can for example give priority to either scientists or religious institutions, this choice will have profound impacts later on the story and on how the humanity adapt to everything. Another example is choice to save either a warship that could defend better the fleet or save some more civs to have numbers and more pilots. It will be very hard choices (at least i think this shold be possible with heavy SEXP scripting and variables).

I was asking about graphical features and ship models...

Well, the main purpose of this campaign is to give the best story experience to the player, the objetive is to give more acessibility possible to everyone, not showing off graphics that only a little part of the players can play it, i intend to use the Mediavps but not if that cripples too much of the game performance. for the models i intend to make a entire new fleet of warships of the "unkown" race. dont you worry, they will be nice as they will be powerful.

What will be the difficulty of the campaign?

If you can finish Blue Planet or WoD without resorting to invulnerability you will do this one easily, but if you cannot, i think you will have some problems, but you can aways cheat! like me! \o/

obs: i don't away cheat, but when i do, its because i really can´t pass on determined missions without them.
obs²:I don't really care if you will use cheats, my main interest its to give the player a story-driven experience, game play isn´t secondary like graphics, but its not the most improtant part.

Do you need help?

 Of course, not everyone can be a genius like Spoon and do a awesome campaign entirely alone. xD

For now i need talented writers (unlike me) and some grammar nazis. ah, if a FREDer  want to give his counselings on SEXP matters he will be more than welcome.

I don´t need 2D/3D artist for now because im on a really early stage of both graphic and game design, so even if someone applied to this, i still have no idea on what the "Unknown" will be alike, if someone have ideias, i will gladly see them.

Do you have some idea on how much time the project will take?
No, on the best of hypothesis, 2 to 4 years to finish everything. i have no dieia when the first Demo will apear, but i can assure you it will be not be so soon.

Any questions post on this thread, pm me or send a email to [email protected] (i will create a exclusive email soon, but, for the time being, use this one).

Well, that it.
Give me some critisism and feedback please,  i need them to knwo where i should improve on.

At last, thanks to all the Hardlight community who has given me ideas and help when i needed them. thanks.

links:
The backstory: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=82186.0
thats it. xD

[Nemesis6]

You say you need fredders for SEXP stuff, and -- eventually -- 3D artists... what will be your main role in this? Just curious.

You're gonna have to limit the scope of the choice-based stuff if you intend to divide it into several acts. What I mean is, any choices undertaken in, say, ACT 1 will have to be totally detached from ACT 2 for consistency.

[General Battuta]

You have a chance of pulling this off if you do all the mission design yourself and don't need any new assets.

[Madrox]

You say you need fredders for SEXP stuff, and -- eventually -- 3D artists... what will be your main role in this? Just curious.

You're gonna have to limit the scope of the choice-based stuff if you intend to divide it into several acts. What I mean is, any choices undertaken in, say, ACT 1 will have to be totally detached from ACT 2 for consistency.

My role will be as project leader, game designer, FREDer, Writter...
I will do the concepts, mission story scripts (dialogues, what will happen, what should be the choices of the player, if there is choices to be made, the consequences...), stuff like this. and to supervise all the aprts involved in the project.

Did you played the Mass Effect series? it will be very similar, the choices you made will be on several variables on SEXP and they will be camapaign consistent. if thats not possible, i will give the player on the begin of each act, a special mission entirely dedicated to say what did your choices where along the stories, this will maintain the consistency of them, i know it will behard to do, but im quasi-sure it is possible with some heavy SEXP work

You have a chance of pulling this off if you do all the mission design yourself and don't need any new assets.

I didn´t understad what you mean with that...
can you explain this a bit more?

[General Battuta]

You have a chance of pulling this off if you do all the FREDding yourself and use only ships that are already finished and available for download.

[Madrox]

You have a chance of pulling this off if you do all the FREDding yourself and use only ships that are already finished and available for download.

Maybe, but i have this "unknown" new race concept that i still need modelers.
not to talk about my little skills on FREDing, i learned a lot with the Diaspora Mission Designer walkthrough, i have still no confidence that i will make things right, even because i have all these "choices" and stuff, i wil not dumb down my project because on how hard it will be, i will even do the 3d models if necessary, but only as last resort if no one applies to help me with this when the time comes.

I can do a lot of the campaign alone, but it will take a lot more time that i can use to improve on mechanics, story and choices.

[General Battuta]

You should check out Wings of Dawn. Spoon did that all himself, and it was probably the only way it could've been done.

e: Also, I would encourage you to first see whether there are existing models that could fit your new race, and (if not), to make these models yourself, as Spoon did. Nothing kills projects like waiting for new models. In fact, I don't think any FreeSpace-related mod that has attempted to build a large set of new, high-detail models has ever succeeded.

[Madrox]

You should check out Wings of Dawn. Spoon did that all himself, and it was probably the only way it could've been done.

e: Also, I would encourage you to first see whether there are existing models that could fit your new race, and (if not), to make these models yourself, as Spoon did. Nothing kills projects like waiting for new models. In fact, I don't think any FreeSpace-related mod that has attempted to build a large set of new, high-detail models has ever succeeded.

It will be not this alrge of a set of new models, just some basic functional to each type of ship that is important for the story, for exam,ple: i will have a new GTVA freghter model called "Emergency Evacuation Ships", they will be huge and have some nice defensive capabilities, but they still at large very dependable of the Battleship Metatron (the flagship) and its fighters to protection, because of the large numbers and power of enemies they will have to handle. but the new models will be simple, i don´t want them to be extremely detailed, that falls of in the concept of "less graphics and more story and then game play".

I think the only models i will need for this is:
GTD Metatron
The EES transports (maybe there is some models i can use)
Some new upgraded fighters (Maybe i can use existing models too)
Unkown Flasgship
Unkown Battleship
Unkown Corvette
Unkown Gunship
and Unkown fighters and bombers

And they all will be very simple.
But im still thinking about it, there may be more thing i will need to add.

But i can´t do everything alone, im certain fo thing, mainly because of my skills on English and SEXPP, but maybe i can ask for help on these matters on the forums, the only problems is to give any spoiler to the people her eon the forums. D:

but that i said, if anyone volunteer themselves to help me with this endeavor, i will be more than happy to accept, but i will be not dependent of them.

You right, i should do this alone. but help is aways welcomed.

[mjn.mixael]

In fact, I don't think any FreeSpace-related mod that has attempted to build a large set of new, high-detail models has ever succeeded.

Didn't ASW succeed in that? But you're right, there are next to none.

[HeadScar]

Sounds to me like you focus on things very detailed. The Backround of the story is interessting. Must be a cool campaign - Keep it up! I will help you with some details if you like.

I have one question: Will you feature Escape Pods? If yes, how will it affect the situation if scientists and religious escape pods survived or match equal amount?

//edit: New ships I wish to see, for DIASPORA e.g., Colonial One a.k.a. Intersun Luxury Liner and that arrow shape thing showed in the latest episodes of the sequels. That arrow ship would be a perfect civil cruiser providing a lot of style and comfort. And well, the old Cylon Raider is the most sexiest thing ever lol.

[Madrox]

Sounds to me like you focus on things very detailed. The Backround of the story is interessting. Must be a cool campaign - Keep it up! I will help you with some details if you like.

I have one question: Will you feature Escape Pods? If yes, how will it affect the situation if scientists and religious escape pods survived or match equal amount?

//edit: New ships I wish to see, for DIASPORA e.g., Colonial One a.k.a. Intersun Luxury Liner and that arrow shape thing showed in the latest episodes of the sequels. That arrow ship would be a perfect civil cruiser providing a lot of style and comfort. And well, the old Cylon Raider is the most sexiest thing ever lol.

Escape Pod? its an interesting ideia, but this campaign is made inspired in Battlestar Gallactica , many civ ships with a few warships to give support, of course i will change several thing, but the main idea comes from BSG. so, even if they have escape pods, it would be futile, because the GTD Metatron has not much space to take in everyone.aside form its crew of 12000 mens and womans, it has only more 2000 vacancies, and the priority its to get more crew and pilots. and the situation of the choice don´t leave much room for escape.the only way to save them both would be by having 2 or 3 Metatrons oy by make them invulnerable, both are impossible, because i will take out the invulnerability of the ship you didn´t choosed...

did you understand? you will be forced to choose.     

or maybe i didn´t understanded your question...

obs: i want a special Scar model for me battle with. it would be awesome! \o/

[HeadScar]

I understand. Espace Pods are no must have but it would be nice if you could mention them in some of your campaigns missions. But I don't know if even one escape pod has been shown or spoken of in the series. Never mind

[Madrox]

I understand. Espace Pods are no must have but it would be nice if you could mention them in some of your campaigns missions. But I don't know if even one escape pod has been shown or spoken of in the series. Never mind

Oh, another thing! the universe this campaign is in, is a non-canon (by non-canon im saying that somethings on the story isn´t exacly mentioned or simply does not exist on original FS2 story) sequel of FS2, not to BSG universe. and yes there is canon FS 2 escape pod escort missions if im not wrong.

I will mention them yes. it would add some depth to the story.

=)

[Black Wolf]

Sounds to me like you focus on things very detailed. The Backround of the story is interessting. Must be a cool campaign - Keep it up! I will help you with some details if you like.

I have one question: Will you feature Escape Pods? If yes, how will it affect the situation if scientists and religious escape pods survived or match equal amount?

//edit: New ships I wish to see, for DIASPORA e.g., Colonial One a.k.a. Intersun Luxury Liner and that arrow shape thing showed in the latest episodes of the sequels. That arrow ship would be a perfect civil cruiser providing a lot of style and comfort. And well, the old Cylon Raider is the most sexiest thing ever lol.

I think you're confusing a Freespace campaign based on the storyline of BSG with a Diaspora mod. As far as I can tell, Madrox is planning a mod set in the FS2 universe (which definitely does have escape pods).

[Madrox]

Sounds to me like you focus on things very detailed. The Backround of the story is interessting. Must be a cool campaign - Keep it up! I will help you with some details if you like.

I have one question: Will you feature Escape Pods? If yes, how will it affect the situation if scientists and religious escape pods survived or match equal amount?

//edit: New ships I wish to see, for DIASPORA e.g., Colonial One a.k.a. Intersun Luxury Liner and that arrow shape thing showed in the latest episodes of the sequels. That arrow ship would be a perfect civil cruiser providing a lot of style and comfort. And well, the old Cylon Raider is the most sexiest thing ever lol.

I think you're confusing a Freespace campaign based on the storyline of BSG with a Diaspora mod. As far as I can tell, Madrox is planning a mod set in the FS2 universe (which definitely does have escape pods).

Thank you for clarifying everything. xD

[Madrox]

I finished the plans for the first mission.
Sadly, it will use stock ship models until  i get some new ships.
It will take much time to be ready due the complexity involved.

So long!
\o/

[Black Wolf]

I finished the plans for the first mission.
Sadly, it will use stock ship models until  i get some new ships.
It will take much time to be ready due the complexity involved.

Be careful - remember that changing ships after you finish FREDding can have disastrous consequences for balance - in some cases, you practically have to rebuild the entire mission. Instead of doing the first mission, maybe choose another mission that you can do using [V] ships, or use some existing mods instead of custom built ones. That way, you can still start FREDding straightaway without waiting or risking unbalancing your mission.

[Madrox]

I finished the plans for the first mission.
Sadly, it will use stock ship models until  i get some new ships.
It will take much time to be ready due the complexity involved.

Be careful - remember that changing ships after you finish FREDding can have disastrous consequences for balance - in some cases, you practically have to rebuild the entire mission. Instead of doing the first mission, maybe choose another mission that you can do using [V] ships, or use some existing mods instead of custom built ones. That way, you can still start FREDding straightaway without waiting or risking unbalancing your mission.

Im designing the mission that is suposed to e played agains the Shivans.
I will only do the 2° mission when iahve all the models i need.

This is the situation. /spoiler
The GTD Metatron will have to endure multiple shivan atacks until it reaches the Node to Polaris. The Unkown ships are restricted at this system at this time (they are advancing fast, but in this point of the story they they are still devastating the system. the Shivans will play a minor role in all this, but they are suposed to be in this first mission as part of the main mystery.

spoiler/

This is all i can say without spoiling too much...

obs: thank you for directioning me to this wiki page, it will be very useful.

[MatthTheGeek]

( try to use [ spoiler] tags... That's what they're made for )

[Madrox]

( try to use [ spoiler] tags... That's what they're made for )

Spoiler:

Good to know...

D: