[PRE-ALPHA] Tales of Middle-Earth - Development Thread

[Tenzhiro]

You give me hope Tenzhiro. I envy your work ethic and dedication to the project. So many times I start and stop because it feels overwhelming but my scope isn't even close to what you're doing here.

Sometimes I wonder myself... but then I hear the voice of Galadriel saying: If you do not find a way Frodo Baggins, no one will.

But in all honesty, planning is everything, I remember starting 2 years ago and was jumping from content to content with no real plan at first just energy and motivation.

Now I have documentation that gives me an overview of all major aspects of the project, including what to map and what to code.
Everything is written out, and creating tables and schemes that you can fill in to eventually see your progression is quite satisfying.

A good example of this would be a document the ArdaCraft team kindly provided to me; they've rebuilt Middle-Earth 1:1 in Minecraft, and it's freaking amazing. They are still building years later. They already have the experience,e and after a talk with one of the creators, they gave me the following tool, which helps me enormously:


I'm sure if you sit for an hour to create some documentation, it will work it's way out, and as you always know exactly what to do, no more thinking of "eeh what should I do today", creates a much less stressful working environment.

Didn't see it earlier, pretty neat idea with those NPC dialogues. I've implemented something similar (just in a pop-up window). Didn't even think it could be done like that

I think I've edited it after your initial like
Eventually I want to release some of the functions I've used for TOME, however they are currently unoptimized and interlinked with other systems therefor spending my time doing that would take away too much time from the project, but I will find some time.. somewhere.. somehow

This is amazing. I know many have asked already, but do you have an estimated time for a beta release?

Even I do not know! It has been a rabbit hole of implementations of systems and features over the past years that I've had to extend the intended Pre-Alpha Release to be unknown at this point.. I feel that it's close, but is still a lot of work.

Last week I thought Oh let's add a few spells to each promotion of the 10 vocations we have, eventually created 759 spells/abilities spread over 210 vocations...

Even a small tweak (each vocation has 5 promotion paths, with each another 3 advancements, which all have around 5 spells each new promotion) will yield a huge amount of configurations and script creations (luckily only for spells so this was a one time gig) but the same "work scaling" goes for many other aspects of the game.

A positive perspective on the slow release is that all work done in the first ACT, which is the region of Eriador, is that any subsequent ACT will require far less work, often just mapping, as all systems and features are already set in place in the first ACT. See any ACT after it as an Expansion on the game, making our way, together to Mordor and Beyond..

The release schedule would look like this:
- Pre-Alpha (two week - four week test) (testing systems and general gameplay)
- Short Offline time for critical bug fixes

• Alpha Release (permanent server)
• Beta Release (full content of ACT I: Eriador complete for testing)

- Offline time for bug fixes and polishing

• Release ACT I: Eriador (Questline: The Lord of the Rings until The Council of Elrond)
• Release Expansion every 8-12 months

One thing is sure, any "release" would start on the 15th.. as Bilbo's and Frodo's Birthday is on the 22th, a week after, which is surely not a coincidence.

 

[Magne]

I'm impressed with your dedication and structure. It must be an absolute nightmare to not create spaghetti code. I do agree with some previous commentors here, when I say you should really focus on launching a beta/test server. Even if it is very rough and unfinished. But I think it will keep you motivated and get a loyal following. This is an enormous project that will still take years to finish. Or rather; it will never be 'finished'.

 

[Tenzhiro]

(as you explore you can choose an ambience to go with it, while discovering unique locational music)


(made by user Vans, Gondorian Swan and Knight armors)


(character traits that may define how your gameplay)


(those elvish cloaks may come in handy!)


(the elements are something to be respected, even in abandoned ruins)​

 

[Sorky]

Probably one of the best incoming servers.
I would change font size in the first image tho, looking weird

 

[Tenzhiro]

Probably one of the best incoming servers.
I would change font size in the first image tho, looking weird

I'm still fooling around with overall font family I want to use
The image quality also blurs out the text if the color is red somehow ...

 

[Tenzhiro]

(Yes, I see the creature offset and description overflow bug )


(First automated game on the event grounds at the Party Tree)

(For now only solo play, able to play together with different instruments, making up for a full instrumental song)


(Each specialization and their advancement stages, adds another tab of spells and abilities to level up)
At a later stage, one character could have multiple specializations enabled at once, for now only one path may be followed. Each specialization has different advancement branches, for example the Warrior Specialization, branches off into more focused abilities for sword/axe/club weapons while the Chef specialization branches off into a variety of culinary focused abilities, some also unique to certain races.
It is up to you to pick the right specializations for your character, with over 30 specializations to choose from, per race.
(A player may also have the chance to gain Free Ability Levels by observing NPC's and Creatures who uses same abilities)


(The starting template of Minas Tirith, the Tower of Guard, formerly known as Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun, the capital city of Gondor)
Squint your eyes and you can see the buildings! ​

 

[Kuzyn]

View attachment 99406
(Yes, I see the creature offset and description overflow bug )

View attachment 99407
(First automated game on the event grounds at the Party Tree)

(For now only solo play, able to play together with different instruments, making up for a full instrumental song)

View attachment 99408
(Each specialization and their advancement stages, adds another tab of spells and abilities to level up)
At a later stage, one character could have multiple specializations enabled at once, for now only one path may be followed. Each specialization has different advancement branches, for example the Warrior Specialization, branches off into more focused abilities for sword/axe/club weapons while the Chef specialization branches off into a variety of culinary focused abilities, some also unique to certain races.
It is up to you to pick the right specializations for your character, with over 30 specializations to choose from, per race.
(A player may also have the chance to gain Free Ability Levels by observing NPC's and Creatures who uses same abilities)

View attachment 99409
(The starting template of Minas Tirith, the Tower of Guard, formerly known as Minas Anor, the Tower of the Sun, the capital city of Gondor)
Squint your eyes and you can see the buildings! ​

What the hell
do you have some zoomed in pics?

 

[Tenzhiro]

What the hell
do you have some zoomed in pics?

Haha nothing to see really, this was generated! So what it does for me is create exact outlines for me to build upon.
This helps enormously when creating famous landmarks and also helps me scale things accordingly.

Now I know when to make another layer of the mountain, where certain structures go, and most importantly it allows me to plan districts as I research the city itself as I have a good overview.

What is especially helpfull for this city is the Red Circles, indicating the different levels and city walls which are key in the wars to come.

 

[Tenzhiro]

(item discovery, actively find out about the world around you)


(The Grey Company, commonly known as the Rangers Guild)
These are regional tasks which can form out of multiple kinds of requests, from killing creatures to item requests, and sometimes deliveries.
Some of these tasks are great to regain your honor without turning to PvP.
In a later update, introducing Boasts. Able to take these missions head-on with arrogance! Dare to do these missions without healing? Or perhaps even naked yielding just your bare fists! All for extra rewards ofcourse!




​

 

[Tenzhiro]

​

 

[Marko999x]

I like the stock idea of npcs

 

[Tenzhiro]

(Quest Cutscenes not interfering with other players)


(Some conditions are now build-up instead of being instant, creating for more dangerous Status Effects i.e., poison decays really slow, and accumulating a full curse bar will result in instant death)​

 

[Nottinghster]

DUDE... JUST... WHEN ?!?!?

THIS IS AMAZING!

 

[Tenzhiro]

DUDE... JUST... WHEN ?!?!?

THIS IS AMAZING!

Been quite some time now! But it's an endless venture
Hopefully can start a small test soon, mostly focused on the quest progression of The Lord of the Rings until Weathertop.

 

[JeiDi]

As always, great RPG ideas. Beautiful thread to follow, thanks @Tenzhiro !

 

[Tenzhiro]

(Character Introspection, an imitation of perception and emotion in a game with no visible expression. Very experimental)


(Player Tracking, a revision on Exiva spell, info shown scales depending on Survival skill)


(Building plot for Moria and the road that the Fellowship took)


(Click through dialogue to speed it up, chop chop!)​

 

[Armoni Season]

This is so cool tbh. Great work, looking forward to try it out.

 

[Tenzhiro]

(One depot to rule all items)​

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(Careful in the woods at night..)​

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​

You can start cooking by using a protein on an oven/campfire and it will start a 5 second session, within this session you may add more ingredients into the mix, you may add vegetables to add a buff or just some salt and/or some herbs to enhance the duration/buffs of the dish. Different kinds of proteins focuses on different stats like health/mana and stamina, while a secondary ingredient like a lemon or cucumber would add a buff, which will be enhanced by adding salt or herbs. You can endlessly experiment, only a true chef knows exactly what recipe to follow to create the best of dishes in your region! Players from all around will want to have a taste

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[Tenzhiro]

Owning Land and build your Home
A piece of Middle-Earth can be yours forever.
One may rent a piece of land, for yours to protect and care for at first, these plots are not as safe as a House in or near a big settlement, but it does offer immense freedom in architecture and strategic spawning. Plots are not a full safe zone.
When your hearth isn’t actively protecting the claim, others can trespass, treat your yard like a small outpost, not a bank vault!

In time, when taken care of good enough, a Plot may become a real Home, transforming it into a fully fledged House, with all it's natural protections.This effectively allows long-time players, to settle in most corners of the continent, living their lives in peace, or perhaps you are hiding from someone ..When a Plot becomes a House, the ownership is permanent, the owner can resell his house like any regular house of course.​

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Marriage and Family Name
Two players may share a bond with each other through marriage, with their new marriage comes a new Family name.
This name will be put behind your character name and will identify families from one another.
In time, referrals may join a Family, able to choose their Home as a spawn point, effectively able to spawn outside of the regular spawning points.​

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[Tenzhiro]

https://imgur.com/a/3vc6WR4

Plot Customization with Blueprints

https://imgur.com/a/MhNuQKE

Destroy the fences or walls and destroy plots

https://imgur.com/a/8EGhMCF

Fire now spreads and sets walls on fire



Character Traits
Your journey, how long or short never goes with lasting consequences
I've decided to make the world play you instead by hooking into player events, everything goes through this Trait "Bus" which in turn runs the Trait system.

The Trait system is a long list of traits with conditions a character may obtain during their journey. Some just temporary, some can become permanent. Some traits can only be gained by having a combination of other active traits, some traits can even evolve.Name the event, and there is a good chance you will get affected in time. ​

• Starving too many times? Your stomach might become more resistant.​
• Walking too many miles? You might gain more permanent movement speed.​
• Unlucky in combat? An orc might have carved out your eye, giving you permanent less accuracy.​
• Spending weeks in freezing mountains? Your body may slowly become cold-hardened.​
• Surviving near death repeatedly? Panic may leave you, making you harder to stagger.​
• Eating rotten food often enough? Your stomach could adapt to foul meals others cannot handle.​
• Losing too many allies? You might become emotionally numb over time.​
• Fighting beasts constantly? Their scent and movements may become easier for you to predict.​
• Mining for months underground? Darkness might stop bothering you entirely​
• Spending years in cities? Wilderness travel could begin exhausting you faster.​
• Fishing every day for months? Rivers and currents may become instinctive to you.​
• Spending too long alone? Social interaction may slowly become uncomfortable.​

The list goes on and on.
So next time you decide to Leroy Jenkins into that dungeon, be advised you might lose your sight!​