Alright, here it goes. Once upon a time, I had a RPG module (with the old message board). Well, I can't find my original code. So, that means that I'm going to have to create this from scratch. What I would like from all of you, is ideas and suggestions. Ideas on how it should work (ie should this be a story based RPG or simply a numbers based RPG, or would it be in it's own board/category)?
Some things I had thought of previously were:
Member Combat
Craftable items
Magic (although, I'm still not sure about how to incorperate that with a numbers based RPG)
...
Does anybody else want to be involved in this quest? Let me know, the sooner I can get a general direction, the sooner we'll have RPG here again!
I've done a bit more thinking. Right now I am leaning towards the following system:
The system would be solely experianced based (post based). It is unclear right now if all posts or if only posts from a 'MST (what does that mean anyway?) or a dedicated RPG board be counted.
Members who participiate in the RPG (an option on thier profile screen, disabled by default) would have the option to allocate any experiance points to other stats / skills whenever they would want.
There would be an email modificiation to the board(s) so that when a member is attacked (by either another member or critter) (members decide when enabling RPG), they would get an email describing the battle sequence. Perhaps there may also be emailing of players reactions (story based) to other players--although I'm not sure about that yet).
Members may choose which race (Human, Elf, Orc...), they would like to be and which class they want to play (Fighter, Wizard, Monk...). These initial choices would preset some of the player's stats and skills. In addition players may also choose some extra skills that appeal to them.
Yeah, is there any chance we can go for other mythology type classes rather than just putting in elves, monks, orcs which are pretty much european fantasy based ideas. I mean surely china or japan has its own mythology equivelient we can put on. *It would be great to have a sholin monk class as a extra monk option other than a christian monk status for obvious reasons
If we were to go for a multi cultural mythology option how about adding in a option on which contient u lived.
ie: If you were born in europe under a particlar country than you get all the european mythicology class/race options like elf, knight etc. However if someone put in their were born in asia under a certain country than they get all the asian mythology class/races.
That is a GREAT idea! I never even considered other cultures! That would be easy enough to add, start coming up with suggestions / information. Since it's in a database format, adding addtional classes, races, and skills is easy.
Well for RP there's usually rules and all of course. But classes is a very great idea! And races like :
Demons
Elves
Humans
Half Demons
Angels/God/Goddess
Etc.
How's those sound?
And we will need a character bio section for our original characters. And for those who hasn't experienced much RP I will be more than glad to help out with example posts.
I really don't have too many suggestions...really races, classes, characters and a good storyline is all that's really needed.
Great! Keep the suggestions coming! It's a good think I've already thought about races, classes, and a character bio. The list above is a great start for filling in those selections above.
Oh I forgot: If anybody has a good idea for a story line, let me know--also if you want to host your own story let me know! I'm going to have support for many RPG's at once (a different board for each) so let me know!
Since it's been a while I'd thought I'd give ya'll a progress report.
The RPG mod is coming along very nicely! I've decided to loosly intergrate it in the SMF software, using a function of posts (and data) for XP, money, and maybe other RPG components. I have also decided to base the first RPG system on Asheron's Call since I'm so familiar with the system. Some of the system's features include:
Administration Functions:
Very cusomizeable. A site admin can not only modify the pre-exisiting system, he/she can also create an entire new system (i.e. If you prefer to use the Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition system instead--you CAN!)
All stats, skills, magic, weapons, critters/monsters/beasts, classes, races, regions are defined in the database and are easily created, modified, and deleted from the SMF software.
Easy to switch between systems (provided you haven't deleted any of the ones you want to switch back to )
Stats and skills are customizable. The system comes with 9 predefined stats. If you want to use more or less, CHANGE it! Also all the formulas are defined in the database, so there is no need to modifiy any source code!
Since everything in the RPG is based upon XP (experiance points) the MOD simply "snaps" into place
A site admin can assign a specific message board for Role Playing. This can be very useful for starting new charcters out since everything is based upon XP (and XP is based upon posts) everyone playing will start just like every other player that has started.
A site can have mulitiple Role Playing boards (useful for different campaigns.
A site admin can also choose to strictly use a "numerical-mode" approach to role playing. This means that no boards are dedicated to Role Playing, and all previously existing posts are converted to XP, money, ... . This mode is useful if nobody really cares about a background story and actually Role Playing. The Admin and members only want the "eye candy" and system generated events.
Player Functions:
All "races" and "classes" are initially based upon which "region" a player chooses (there can be different races and classes that are not in one region versus another). This will also affect the types of weapons and other materials you can purchase (NOTE: also handy for trading)
There will be 24/7 game play. This means that the RPG MOD will continue to play even when a player is not around. By this, the system will radomly roll "dice" to determine if significant events occur to a player. The player can also select whether to enable these events, and whether to be notified via (IM / Email) about these events.
A player can set their "unattended" mode in their profile. The significat events a player can perform (run into) depends on what mode they have selected:
Explore: Means you can hunt, gather, fight (attack), random humorus events.
Research: Means you can research new spells, recipies, and fight (defend)
Craft: Means you attempt to create some thing over and over to perfect your skills (you can also fight (defend yourself) too.
... (I'm sure I'll think of more modes in the future--I can always use help thinking up new actions!)
Players can have multiple characters on the system. This is especially helpful if the site admin decides to use a "story-mode" approach and has dedicated boards assigned for Role Playing.
There will be a full "questing system" built where a player can go off on quests (solve puzzles and ...) for huge amounts of XP and money).
Players can combat other players (if they choose to enable that mode).
All actions for the RPG MOD are performed from their Profile screen, so there is no need for a new button to be created. (NOTE: Please do not try to access this yet, I haven't applied it for all members, and you may experiance error and warnings while I'm modifing the HTML code.).
Any more help for the system is very appriciated. Tell me, what do you all think of the new system I've created? Thanks!
I plan to have the following completed by the end of the week:
Display character (by end of day Thursday)
RPG boards (enable / disable specific boards)
Update Stats and Skills for Characters
Role Playing System Creation
Note all this stuff is subdivided by Region:
Region creation
Race creation
Class creation
Weapon creation
Beast / Critter creation
To be done by next Friday (hopefully)
Ability to EDIT and DELETE any information listed above
Enable RPG mod for members (this will be the last peice written
Anything else ya'll want--speak now or forever hold thy peace!
Start of BETA (hopefully by two weeks from Friday)
Any members that wish to participate, please let me know!
These may be lofty goals, but with some hard work (most of the hard part is finished (JavaScript!) YAY!, I think that this could be a working MOD within a month. The RPG MOD will stay BETA until SMF becomes Version 1 Final.
Another suggestion. What about rules for the RP? Basically RPing is kinda like writing a fanfic only letting others add on. Just for those who don't know.
I figured that I'd leave that up to the Board GM's. There will be some built in rules into the system, but other than that, just whatever the GM (Game Master) decides upon.
Well, after talking to some people, I've decided to also include the following features:
A character position map above each topic. Memebers would have the option to update thier location while posting. (This may also have a 'history' feature as well.)
Special position characters: A script would run for only these 'specially defined' characters and would stop whenever the GM decides to restart or stop it.
A 'roll call' function that would keep track of each player / member. Extra XP could be assigned for members that actually attend the RP sessions.
An upgraded calendar function that would act as a schedule for role playing events. This would probably also have a re-occuring function built into it, and would be linked directly to the calendar. It would also have a link to the assigned RP board as well.
Speical abilities / powers: This may be an option that the Admin / GM can turn on / off per board. Think of X-men or Harry Potter.
Members will have the option to purchase pets! Note that they will also have to be taken care of and can die if not fed, walked, groomed...) This could act as an XP modifier.
Does anybody else have suggestions? It's not too late!
Heya. From one SMF user to another, I'd like to say that you're doing a great job so far. When I hosted a PHPBB board, I integrated an RPG mod into it. After using it for awhile, I came to the conclusion that it was somewhat bloated, with too many features which overwhelmed our users. Anyhow, just voicing a minor concern. An addition of a game mod to SMF is much welcome.
Not a problem! Actually, the Character Generator version 2, will be a foundation for the SMF mod. The first phase is to build a sturdy backbone of character generation, leveling, and administration funcitons. After I have this framework built, I'll intergrate the finished code fully into SMF. The origianal RPG Mod, was becoming too bulky with too many individualized features. Instead of creating a "multi-system" framework, this revised mod will be using the popular DnD d20 system. Since this is an anime board, I'll be using the specialized flavor of DnD, Big Eyes, Small Mouth d20 as the core system.
As for features:
Database for character generation, with descriptions available via the Anime Open Source Guide 1.0 by Guardians of Order.
XP is awarded by formula or randomly by Game Master.
Players can advance thier characters by selecting additional skills, abilities and increasing stats.
Players can have more than one character (GM permitting).
Multiple games can be run on the same message board, each game running seperatly with its own character listings
Items can be bought by using in game credits.
Money, XP, and Stats are not based on any functionality given by the message board (no post counts, dates, etc).
Game mechanics can be handled by an automated method, GM, Player, or a combination of the above.
As for the status:
I'm still alpha testing the Character generator. Once all the data has been filled in, and I am convinced that there are no critical issues with the code, I'll release it as a Beta (only a select few can test it, on my boards only) Once we all feel confident, I'll release the code to my gaming cominuty and give it a trial run. If everything works as smoothly as I hope, then I will begin to merge the mod code into the SMF software. Only when this is finished, will I release this code to anybody else.
