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Questions to a Off-Site GM... (that's me)
HJ-Archaegeo
Hero's Journey GMMember Posts: 45
If you have any questions about HJ or the development software HerosBlade, please ask.
Bear in mind the following though:
1) The game is undergoing rapid and daily changes. So questions about concrete details of how systems will work will not be answered since it will likely change soon.
2) There will be some things I do know the answer to, but am not allowed to answer due to NDA reasons. However, when I can, I will ask on site managers if I can answer some things.
So, keeping in mind that I am just an off-site employee working on the development (scripting) team, what questions do you have?
Comments
I assume there are completed (fully developed) instances currently in the game. I was wondering what the time to complete (from a playing prospective) from start to finish is for the shortest and longest of these instances. Also, if there are exceedingly long instances, are you able to log out and back in at a later time and without having to start over from the beginning.
Do you, Archaegeo, build instances and if so how long does it take you to get something thing of reasonable size implemented? Since "reasonable size" is subjective, how would you define it?
Jonny
Hiya Jonny,
While I cannot give out specifics about existing quest areas, bear in mind a couple of things about the first part of your question...
Instances come in two varietys, common hunting areas (which are quite large) and specific quest instances. There are also of course towns and cities and such. Now when you deal with quests in HJ, the intent is that everything you do has an effect on you and can affect what is available to you in the future, its a pretty dynamic system. There will be short and long instances, and long story lines as well.
And no, I do not build instances, thats the World and Quest teams jobs, though I can if I choose, we arent tied down strictly, its a very flexible job, and a blast to work at. We are just put into teams that our strengths support, and Im a coder type.
Now, that being said, a new instance can be built very quickly with the toolset, its pretty amazing, similiar to the old quake area building tools, but a couple generations improved from there, so its a blast to use. Of course once you build your area, you have to make it interesting for some reason, quests, hunts, small village, whatever, and then of course it has to go through QA to get into the game.
But the speed of development should have you constantly seeing new material added to the game, and old areas of course could be changed either temporarily on the fly for some event, or more permanently as the result of some event.
Hope that answers at least a part of your questions
Thanks for the quick reply.
So what is your history with Simu? Ever play DR or GS3/4? Is HJ shapping up to be on par with the unique greatness of those two titles?
From a coders perspective, do you focus on pathing in critters, interaction with environment, actual critter abilities? Better yet, what are the most common task you perform in your current role?
Jonny
I played GS3 way back in the GEnie days. As far as HJ, it is definitly going to have some very unique and Simu'esque qualities about it.
As far as coding, my most recent projects were working on inventory and items, but we all work on different projects as needed. Its a really nice work environment.
And very fun... including the people.
Royce
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
I would like to become a GM (world creating)
but I only have an teeny little bit of C++ programming that I taught myself a while back under my belt..
Does that matter, since they don't really code anything? Or do I still have a chance..?
I just quit my job because they were messing up my hours REALLY BAD, and I TOLD them to fix it and they wouldn't, so I have about.. oh... 365 days a year to devote to Simu if they would have me..
HJ-Diviana
Hero's Journey GM
Hero's Journey Official Site
Hero's Hall
You do have a chance! Make sure you apply!
http://www.play.net/hj/info/apply/worldgmreqs.asp is the description/link.
And good luck!
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
I need a computer first...
HJ-Diviana
Hero's Journey GM
Hero's Journey Official Site
Hero's Hall
Are we still looking at a Q2 2006 release? Has that estimate been pushed back?
How big is the world of HJ planned to be. Are we talking about on the smaller side (like EQ2) or is it much larger?
What kind of enviromental interaction is there beside combat? Can we sit in chairs normally? Lean on trees? Climb?
What are the chances of us getting a movie preview of the game like the one from E3 anytime soon?
can you recommend to the HJ staff to see if they can't get the character creater as its own model and let us play around with what they have like they did with EQ? *wishful thinking*
Okay, I've come up with enough money to get a good enough computer, submitted an application, now just wish me luck!
I -really- want this..
HJ-Diviana
Hero's Journey GM
Hero's Journey Official Site
Hero's Hall
1) Q2 of 2006 is still the plan as listed. (but always subject to change)
2) Huge, and with the army of world builders, it will continue to grow and grow and grow forever basicly. This should be at a pace much faster than most people are use to with MMO's.
3) I can say it's for sure in there, but you'll have to wait to see exactly what all is. If you've seen the e3 video, you've seen on a grand scale the enviromental interaction.
4 and 5) These are questions that the producers and other onsite folks can answer.
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
1. I've read a little about your system where instead of loot/use/discard weapons (and armour too maybe) like in most MMOs, we can actually 'grow' our weapons with us with skills or some-such? Are you able to expand on how weaponry management will work please?
2. And on the topic of weaponry and armour, will we be able to get nice upgrades etc off of mobs' corpses? Or in chests or quest rewards? How will loot be handled please?
3. Just as an official recap, are you able to list what classes will be available to choose from at the start of play please? And we still choose two classes?
4. If you could list one or two concepts about the game that truly excites you, what would they be?
5. Will there be a thorough Guild management system in-game? In game mail/forums etc even perhaps? I know from running a Guild in EQ2 that Guild management is severely lacking; do you have ideas in place for running Guilds yet please?
I could go on and on... but I won't
Oh.. 6. Can you work out how to manipulate Time itself so that we can be playing Q2 2006's HJ like, tomorrow please? Thanks.
"(The) Iraqi people owe the American people a huge debt of gratitude." - George W Bush.
Oh. My. God.
Ok, here we go... I'm going to post links to some of these questions. If any of you have not had a chance to see the "unofficial FAQ" please do at ... http://www.kmtdesigns.com/hjfaq/.
1) "Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen, because in Hero's Journey, your items are like sub-characters in their own right. They can have abilities, which you enhance over time. The items go up in level, just like a character, and you customize and hone their exact nature as you go!"
-David Whatley, June 13, 2005
Now, as for "exact" details.. I can't give those myself. But make sure you read what David posted closely. Please click the link for question 3 as well to help explain more of this in detail.
Also, read this as well... http://www.kmtdesigns.com/hjfaq/index.php?action=artikel&cat=22&id=76&artlang=en
2) All I can say is "Yes". (and then some.. sorry to be vague)
3) Before I list them, please read this... http://www.kmtdesigns.com/hjfaq/index.php?action=artikel&cat=9&id=24&artlang=en
Warrior
Archer
Monk
Rogue
Wizard
Necromancer
Bard
Gearmage
Healer
Cleric
Druid
Alchemist
4) Anyone that knows me, it's anything dealing with Rogues. (But I can't go into that so...).
I'm very excited about the interaction with things that players will be able to see on a GRAND scale. If you've seen the e3 video, you'll know what I mean.
5) Yes, yes and oh yes. And it's still being worked on and modified to better suit the needs of the leaders. You can thank Skippy and few others in the office for the wonderful designs and ideas about it. They did a great job sorting out what "had" to be in it.
6) Sure, let me go get my modified Delorian real quick...
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
Less than 40mins for a Dev/CS to respond with a 6 answer post on a non-official forum? Have to be a world record!
And thankyou muchly for the Unofficial FAQ link, will be my new home!
I think most of the rest of my questions are answered there, but I have to ask:
1. Will there be official support/server for Australia/Oceania?
Thanks again!
*wanders off cackling like a maniac about an Archer Necromancer hybrid.. no a Warrior Druid.. no.. no a.. mutter mutter*
PS. Got the Delorian started yet?
"(The) Iraqi people owe the American people a huge debt of gratitude." - George W Bush.
Oh. My. God.
1) I can honestly not answer that one yet. Sorry about that one. I can say we are looking forward to the game being worldwide.
And you're welcome! Tell your friends.
I'm going to be here on these forums now.... ALOT. So if I can answer it or get it answered, I will!
Oh, tell your friends.
P.S. Roads are iced over (N.E. Ohio) I dare not take the Delorian out just yet.
P.S.S. A new record again?
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
Let me first say I'm sorry that my forum title doesn't say "Hero's Journey GM"... yet. I'm trying to get the right buttons pushed to get that taken care of.
Until then, my forum sig is it.
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
I understand there is a lot of environmental interaction, but how much character-character interaction will there be?
HJ-Diviana
Hero's Journey GM
Hero's Journey Official Site
Hero's Hall
You mean like... waving and hugging and tackling and such? If so... in any MMORPG worth it's salt, that's built in.
With HJ though and the "Army of GM's" creating content daily, it will grow and grow and grow as the game evolves.
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
Can you talk about the requirements of making a guild, and what kind of guild housing we'll have?
Can you have friends join your clan, or is that only for your characters?
You said you were working on the inventory system, can you talk to us about it and equiping stuff? Will we have things like a helmet, chest, arms, gloves, rings, boots, etc... or will we only have two or three slots for stuff per character?
Is inventory unlimited, or limited?
How important will gold/money be? Will we find most of the things we need, or buy them?
Ranulfson asked this in another thread, but I thought I'd copy it in here to keep the information in one place:
Ranulfson
"I am an out of work SWG Creature Handler (lol...) and was wondering if this game had any taming. No games out right now have a good taming engine like SWG USED to have. What does this game have?"
My questions:
I read about how anyone can wear any type of armour regardless of your class (I think?) which could mean a Mage could run around in silver plate?
Is there going to be limitations to wearing certain armour for certain classes? Or is it entirely about look - meaning even if you wear plate you only get the same protection as wearing cloth or something?
Am a bit confused about that one.
Will we be able to submit ideas to GMs during the running of the full game to get content created specifically for guild/alliance events? (within reason of course).
Is day/night and weather in game and/or a factor?
"(The) Iraqi people owe the American people a huge debt of gratitude." - George W Bush.
Oh. My. God.
I was a long time player of GS3 and a little GS4...but between a lot of old friends leaving, and being hooked on graphical games now, I no longer play.
One thing I absolutely loved about GS3 was the GM interaction, the storylines, the fact that individual players, and groups of players could shape the world and history, and that within the GM run storylines you were free to play to the "good" side, or the "evil" side, depending on your character. I love MMO's, but I miss actually being able to be evil, or neutral, or good, rather than following a cookie cutter mold.
Will there be this kind of interaction with this game? Will there be merchant events etc. like GS3 and dragon realms had?
Another question, or more of a plea...
I have always loved creating the stories and watching how others interact with them. It has always been a dream of mine to be able to be the GM that runs the story lines, or drops in on an unsuspecting player to liven up their day in an unexpected manner. If this kind of interaction will be in the game, what is Simu really looking for in this type of GM, what type of skill set is required, or desired? ( I would do this voluntarily if it wasn't a paid position..it is just plain fun!)
Thanks for your time and response
Formerly Great Lord Daelnor of Icemule Trace.
1) (Subject to change) The most basic reg to form a guild is... two or more clans that decide to unite to form a larger "group". The clans thenselves still maintain some degree of individualism but work together toward common goals.
2) If you are a clan leader, or have been given the right to induct new members into a clan, you can invite anyone you wish.
3 and 4) Archaegeo can answer these best, but I can say I liked what I saw
5) Everyone loves loot. It doesn't matter if that loot is items or currency so both are always important and it's something we are going to watch close. So, as for the "scale" of how much loot you will get and how useful/important it is, I don't think we can answer that yet. (as off-site GM's)
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
1) Those poor poor CH's. A Class that went from insane power to extinct in 2 years. Currently, I'm not aware of creature taming in HJ but, maybe we can see what we can do to find a home for those poor CH's. (this does not include spells and such for wizards that "control" creatures)
2) In a nutshell, wear what "you" want and you are still effective in combat. It's all about what you want to look like. Why should we as GM's force you to wear items that everyone else is. We want you to be yourself.
3) Player ideas are always welcome and we always listen. So yes, you will be able to submit ideas for events.
4) If a GM wants them to be, they can be. That's a general answer but very accuracte.
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/
1) Oh yes!
2) That kind of interaction will for SURE be in the game. We love it. As for skills... read this and good luck!
http://www.play.net/hj/info/apply/cegmreqs.asp
HJ-Royce
Simutronics Staff (GM)
http://www.play.net/hj/