The Codexian

[SymbolicFrank]

So, a codex is a book. Story faggots With PS:T as our best game ever, that is no surprise.

The other game that is rarely mentioned, except as the inspiration for most of the games in our Top 100, is Darklands. This defined what people call CRPG.

And they have a lot in common. Story comes first, character development second, and combat is what you slog through to do that. And they have a great and consistent world, with the artwork to bring it alive.

I would like to give a honorable mention to Fallout Tactics, for having one of the best combat models ever.


We're in the Kickstarter age now. Where is The Codexian, our game?


First, let's set some goals:

1. It has to be the game we, the Codexian people want to play most. If that is possible within time and budget.

2. We define a set of leads for each of the disciplines, that come up with a functional list of requirements and how to implement them. They do have the last word, but can be replaced by majority vote.

3. Everything that generates too much discussion is either scrapped or configurable.

4. It should be a personal story, no "Chosen to Save The World".

5. As a first goal, I would set the definition of what game it is going to be on one month from now.

6. Second, the election of the leads on at last two months from now.

7. And the Kickstarter on at most three months from now.


I expect the artwork to be the main problem. I can do the programming and project management, if required.

Thoughts?

 

[octavius]

Uh...have you played Darklands? It's definitely much more about character development than story. And the game world is not that consistent since the program only remember your six or so latest quests.
What Darklands had was an interesting setting.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

Well, Darklands presented most events as a screen with a nice picture, a piece of story and some choices. Which did have consequences. I call that story-rich.

 

[Mr. Pink]

I like fallout tictacs

 

[Mr. Pink]

also this is doomed to fail.

design-by-committee is the ultimate decline

 

[zwanzig_zwoelf]

1. It has to be the game we, the Codexian people wants to play most. If that is possible within time and budget.

2. We define a set of leads for each of the disciplines, that come up with a functional list of requirements and how to implement them. They do have the last word, but can be replaced by majority vote.

3. Everything that generates too much discussion is either scrapped or configurable.

4. It should be a personal story, no "Chosen to Save The World".

5. As a first goal, I would set the definition of what game it is going to be on one month from now.

6. Second, the election of the leads on at last two months from now.

7. And the Kickstarter on at most three months from now.

8. Cyberpunk/sci-fi setting and turn-based combat or GTFO.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

also this is doomed to fail.

design-by-committee is the ultimate decline

That's where I come in

 

[SymbolicFrank]

9. (Obviously) We hire Chris Avellone as our story creator, if the Kickstarter allows it.

If you want him to have the overall story lead: make him tell us in this thread. That's also probably the best thing we can do for this game.

Alternatively, ask me to pester the rpgcodex management for his phone number, so I can call him.

 

[Mr. Pink]

Will it be released before or after Grimoire? I need to know so I can plan my schedule around it.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

That would depend on who you guys vote to be in charge.

I'm pretty pragmatic: it has to work. Within time and budget. Or be replaced.

Then again, the same goes for me as well.

We need an overall lead.

A story lead.

An Art director.

A programmer.

And, last but not least: a marketing manager.

Perhaps more, depending.


If you think you would do that best, post here. Tell us what you are going to do, and make it happen. If you do so, you're automatically hired.

It will take about four months before there is any money, (when the Kickstarter finishes), but after that, anyone participating should get paid.


To get a successful kickstarter, the overall goal, a team that can make a slick presentation and youtube video and a lot of social media publicity are the most important. That would be the task of the marketing manager.

 

[Grimwulf]

Well, Darklands presented most events as a screen with a nice picture, a piece of story and some choices. Which did have consequences. I call that story-rich.

That's not how it works. A game that has text windows does not automatically become "story-rich".

Spoiler

What Darklands had was an interesting setting.

This.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

Well, if you think you can do it better, or have a great idea about it: post it here.

Anyway, if it's only me, it won't happen. We need multiple, strong-willed people with vision. Who hopefully don't leave all the managing and encouraging to me by being assholes.

 

[Mr. Pink]

i can draw i guess. i dont expect to ever see any money but i need some kind of objective to motivate me to pick up the pen again.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

Do you have vision? Show us how you want it to be.

 

[mck]

Nice

 

[Space Insect]

I can write reasonably well if I have direction.

 

[orcinator]

What Darklands had was an interesting setting

Setting's pretty important, you can get away with a lot if you have a good one.


We can just go the SRR route


Setting: License something cool like that Polish Degensis game or the Necrololi RPG

Gameplay: who cares, just copy NeoXcom

Writing: Get some writer with a following or whatever, make sure to tell them they have to create some waifus.

Choices and RPG elements and all that shit: ????

 

[Mr. Pink]

Do you have vision? Show us how you want it to be.

not my job

I just wanna LARP as a game dev like all my San Fran hipster clique buddies.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

Ok. First, the setting.

If we go plain sci-fi, it might become boring. There is not much character improvement if everyone has a spaceship and a desintegrator or Kill-O-Zap gun. It also offers less options for itemization.

Much more interesting are a poor population and high-tech artifacts. How about this:

Somewhere, in a corner of the galaxy, there is this planet, that was first used as a prison planet, and later as a garbage dump for a long time. The people that live there are descendants from those former criminals.

At some point, something happened with the garbage in the largest dump, which exploded and disappeared. And a large, intelligent "something" appeared. It is completely unique, and many rich and curious beings have come to the planet to investigate it. They have build a large dome around it.

That gives us a hub with wonderful, alien buildings, with a small city and some slums around them. A countryside filled with farmers, and the occasional garbage dump, crime lord or alien installation. And a spaceport and some colorful moons, of course.

As it is the trash from many strange civilizations, there are curious artifacts hidden in that garbage. And, of course, some of those rich researchers carried interesting stuff with them.

So, the people are mostly poor, but they might have interesting and powerful artifacts, most of which are unique.


All this on a world map like Darklands / Fallout / Arcanum.

 

[Space Insect]

We need an insane AI to copy/paste prosper sayings into. Also, if we were to liscense, what sort of idiot would let the Codex get ahold of his creation?

 

[SymbolicFrank]

We could make our own character system. We just have to keep it simple. We can have variety through interesting perks and items.

As for a game engine: if we keep things simple, we can build our own. We can ask Larian for how much we can use their D:OS engine. Or another company with a good RPG engine. Or use Unity, of course.

And I'm in favor of insane things. Think Douglas Adams, but done like it's all completely normal and obvious.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

The character system first requires us to see what weaponry is available in our game.

I would suggest, that lethal violence on the street in the city is not a good idea (some alien doesn't like it and zaps you or something), and that generic weapons are knives, staves, tasers, small pulse lasers, immobilizers and various things to throw.

Knives and staves are for melee, and is what the farmers use. The tasers, pulse lasers and immobilizers are what the enforcers (like private police) use. An immobilizer is like a large, one-shot shotgun, that fires sticky stuff. And the small pulse lasers aren't very lethal, either.

For the military stuff, I suggest large lasers, drones and missiles.

And then there are various artifacts, all with unique effects.

And there are various protections against the weapons. And some artifacts with unique protections, of course.

But the idea is, that it either isn't very lethal or kills you fast. It's turn based, so play smart. No bullet sponges.


Also, some kind of not-magic is possible as well: if you want the lightning to strike, there is probably some alien that will do that for you, for payment. Or laser strikes from satellites. Or robots by instant mail order. Etc. Good communications are vital.

But I would like it if all those things have to be unlocked by talking to the right people and such.

 

[SymbolicFrank]

Too radical?

 

[SymbolicFrank]

Well, I wanted one of the starting options (like a starting "class") for the protagonist be: "Power". And mean it. Think: Black Mage. You would become extremely destructive during the game, as long as you nuke everything and everyone you don't like (or who don't like you doing that).

Also, everyone and everything that values life or order, would be out to get you. In force.

You can make amends and stop doing it, and you should, if you don't want to end the game by blowing up half the planet

The other options would be a lot less radical

 

[Piety]