Valandil - New HL2 Mod

[Bill]

I'm currently designing and slowly (it's summer) working on a mod for HL2, the basic idea is a medieval team warfare multiplayer mod, with an open ended class based system, and lots of different types of gameplay, including your normal modes or takes on those modes (CTF, KOT etc) and some gamemodes that I'm designing myself, one of which will be a co-op mode which gives players the oppurtunity to work together in single player like senarios e.g. defending a position (tower, castle, town, bridge) or attacking one, against large numbers of AI monsters/opponents.

Website - here

Mod DB Profile - here

Just looking for some general feedback and mainly just getting the mod noticed, I've posted in the help wanted section too, sorry if this counts as a double post, I wasn't sure if it would

Thanks!

 

[Synthos]

ummmmmm... I think this is already being done by at least 2 mods
HL2 Medeival and Vikings, Pirates and Knights...

 

[Morlock]

I'm currently designing and slowly (it's summer) working on a mod for HL2, the basic idea is a medieval team warfare multiplayer mod, with an open ended class based system, and lots of different types of gameplay, including your normal modes or takes on those modes (CTF, KOT etc) and some gamemodes that I'm designing myself, one of which will be a co-op mode which gives players the oppurtunity to work together in single player like senarios e.g. defending a position (tower, castle, town, bridge) or attacking one, against large numbers of AI monsters/opponents.

Just looking for some general feedback and mainly just getting the mod noticed, I've posted in the help wanted section too, sorry if this counts as a double post, I wasn't sure if it would

Have you talked to the folks at www.blindgoblingames.com ? They're working on an interesting concept called Realms.

I've been dreaming about a game like this for years, well an rpg version of it anyways. I'm tired of waiting for devs to stumble onto the idea (they seem to have waaaay to big a hard-on for MMORPGS to make the game I want to play anyways), so I've decided to make a HL mod instead. I'm working up my docs right now. I need to get in touch with some of the exisiting mods and see if I can pick their brains, maybe cooperate, or even join a team if the project is right. I don't really have any mod skills beyond design and a traditional art background, but I plan to learn SoftImage enough to do the animation end of things.

Regarding your ideas: I'd like to argue for a sec against classes. I've always been interested in pen-and-paper RPGs, and I've collected them for years and studied their mechanics, though I've basically never played them. One thing I've found is that although PNP RPGs have generally LONG since moved past the class concept, CRPGs seem to be enamored with them. Classes really do more to restrict players than to empower them. Why don't you go with a point system instead, where players get a number of points and they can spend them on abilities, skills, weapons, talents, powers, whatever? With a system like this you can still have your cake and eat it too - a point system can easily encompass a class system (sometimes called archetypes or packages or such when implemented in a point system), but the reverse isn't true. This way you present classes as packages bought with points (usually the idea is to offer a modest discount in point cost because the aspects of the class are bought as a bundle), so newbies or those who don't want to dither around tweaking their characters can still jump right into classes, yet those who don't want to be pigeonholed don't have to be (a perfect example here is the D&D-Gandalf syndrome; a player wants a wizard like Gandalf who isn't a wuss in melee like the standard D&D magic-user, but with the D&D class system it just isn't possible for a MU to even use a sword proficiently, much less kick a little butt with it).

Anyways, just a bit of food for thought (you might have already thought of this, given your "open-ended" bit, so if I'm wrong I'd love to hear more about your ideas). References on point systems include the Hero System/Champions RPG and many others.

I'll give your Website a gander, and I'd love to shoot the breeze about this subject here or by PM or email. As I wrote above, I'm fascinated with this game concept I have that just won't leave me alone. Basically, it's Neverwinter Nights but in a true 3d environment with realtime combat like an improved version of the Jedi Knight series. I think game devs might be avoiding making such a game because they know I'd never buy or play anything else.

ummmmmm... I think this is already being done by at least 2 mods
HL2 Medeival and Vikings, Pirates and Knights...

Links?

 

[Morlock]

No editing posts here? Anyhoo, I hadn't gathered from your post that your Website was as far along as it was. I've read a bit on your forum and I see all my questions and comments addressed there, so disregard them.

Your mod looks veeery interesting!

 

[Glo]

Morlock, I always wanted that kind of game too. Sort of combining all the good parts of the existing RPG games.

 

[dassbaba]

this mod is excellent! the valandil mod has great aims and a great team, i especially love the ominous medieval atmosphere they're trying to create

the HL2 engine will suit them well, and bill pwns

and btw their website is www.valandilmod.com

Have you talked to the folks at www.blindgoblingames.com ? They're working on an interesting concept called Realms.

i hope they reconsider their mod idea because there is no more room

Links?

http://www.kingdomlost.net
http://www.pvkmod.com
http://www.pvkii.com/

 

[Morlock]

Morlock, I always wanted that kind of game too. Sort of combining all the good parts of the existing RPG games.

Heh, I'm freakin' obsessed with the idea. It just won't leave me alone.

Two things I hate (but understand perfectly) about CRPGs:

1)the MMORPG model (especially the monthly-fee MMORPG model).

I want to play with a small, tight group of friends/players, like a clan, who I know won't annoy the living **** out of me. MMORPGs are the exact opposite, massive servers crammed full of adolescent fanboys, griefers, and power-gamers. I want a live, intelligent referee (dungeonmaster) to breathe life into the world, not some cookie-cutter world rolled off an assembly line run by lifeless "AI." Again, I want the opposite of an MMORPG. I want to engage in an epic adventure, in high drama, and at the same time be opposed by foes who are intelligent, unpredictable, and above all, have personality. In an MMORPG, the only real way to find such opposition is via PKing, but this kills the epic adventure and high drama part because it reduces me to grist for the respawn mill. If I want that I'll play RtCW (which I used to love before my modem tragedies, I'm not knocking RtCW).

2) Click-to-move and turn-based CRPGs. I want the visceral, realtime style of action like in RtCW, JK2, etc., with real freedom of movement not "click on the enemy and wait for your turn to swing" or "click on a point on the map and wait for your character to run there."

Like I said, I understand the motives behind these things (cash flow for 1 and dev time & dexterity-devoid CRPGers for 2), but I still hate them.

There's more to it of course, but those are the two biggies for me.

edit: btw, Dungeon Lords looks promising along these lines, although it seems DL won't have editing tools or a referree.

 

[Glo]

I used to play Diablo2 a while back.
Annoying players are an issue --;

 

[Glo]

Heh, I'm freakin' obsessed with the idea. It just won't leave me alone.

Two things I hate (but understand perfectly) about CRPGs:

1)the MMORPG model (especially the monthly-fee MMORPG model).

I want to play with a small, tight group of friends/players, like a clan, who I know won't annoy the living **** out of me. MMORPGs are the exact opposite, massive servers crammed full of adolescent fanboys, griefers, and power-gamers. I want a live, intelligent referee (dungeonmaster) to breathe life into the world, not some cookie-cutter world rolled off an assembly line run by lifeless "AI." Again, I want the opposite of an MMORPG. I want to engage in an epic adventure, in high drama, and at the same time be opposed by foes who are intelligent, unpredictable, and above all, have personality. In an MMORPG, the only real way to find such opposition is via PKing, but this kills the epic adventure and high drama part because it reduces me to grist for the respawn mill. If I want that I'll play RtCW (which I used to love before my modem tragedies, I'm not knocking RtCW).

2) Click-to-move and turn-based CRPGs. I want the visceral, realtime style of action like in RtCW, JK2, etc., with real freedom of movement not "click on the enemy and wait for your turn to swing" or "click on a point on the map and wait for your character to run there."

Like I said, I understand the motives behind these things (cash flow for 1 and dev time & dexterity-devoid CRPGers for 2), but I still hate them.

There's more to it of course, but those are the two biggies for me.

edit: btw, Dungeon Lords looks promising along these lines, although it seems DL won't have editing tools or a referree.

Your whole idea sounds appealing, I would love to hear more about it if things get moving

 

[Styloid]

I don't understand, is this mod an RPG or is it a team combat mod?

 

[Morlock]

Valandil is basically TFC in a medieval setting...sorta. Check out the Website.