Is this possible with Torque?
by Rhonda Smith · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 08/02/2002 (1:00 pm) · 8 replies
It's me again, your friendly neighbourhood newbie. I have mentioned before that I have, what I think, is a really good idea. The problem is, I don't know if it is possible at all, let alone with Torque. I am taking to a couple programmers already, but I'd like to hear what the masses have to say.
Resurrections would be a multi-player online roleplaying game. I've been a GM on one such game and am basing alot of the technical parts of this game on it. The game I envision would have the following:
-2 dimensional graphics and game world
-3/4 top-down view
-monsters for players to kill for various exp points. These monsters would also drop items upon their death. You would have to be able to set a % chance for them to drop each item. IE: If a goblin is killed there is a 2% chance it will drop a ring of power, and a 40% chance it will drop a light heal pot. Players would also have to automatically gain a preset ammount of gold upon the monsters death.
-NPC's which would respond to certain keywords. Sending players off on quests, and helping complete the quests. IE: If the player Fred goes to see the NPC George and says 'quest' George will send him to kill goblins until he gets a ring of power. If Fred brings back the ring of power to George along with a staff of light, George will forge the two into one item with the qualities of both. Or whatever....
-There must be three levels of access to the game. IE: The sysop, the GM and the player. Players will have no special abilities, however, GM's will. They will be able to remove the players right to speak in the main channel if they are being abusive, have the power to teleport to specific players or co ordinants in the game, etc. The sysop would have all the powers of GM's plus the power to grant these powers to players to make them GM's. They would also have additional powers, such as being able to summon monsters or items to specific co ords in the game, or to their own inventory for example.
I -do- realise what a momentous undertaking this game will be if it's possible. What I need to know, is...is it possible?
Resurrections would be a multi-player online roleplaying game. I've been a GM on one such game and am basing alot of the technical parts of this game on it. The game I envision would have the following:
-2 dimensional graphics and game world
-3/4 top-down view
-monsters for players to kill for various exp points. These monsters would also drop items upon their death. You would have to be able to set a % chance for them to drop each item. IE: If a goblin is killed there is a 2% chance it will drop a ring of power, and a 40% chance it will drop a light heal pot. Players would also have to automatically gain a preset ammount of gold upon the monsters death.
-NPC's which would respond to certain keywords. Sending players off on quests, and helping complete the quests. IE: If the player Fred goes to see the NPC George and says 'quest' George will send him to kill goblins until he gets a ring of power. If Fred brings back the ring of power to George along with a staff of light, George will forge the two into one item with the qualities of both. Or whatever....
-There must be three levels of access to the game. IE: The sysop, the GM and the player. Players will have no special abilities, however, GM's will. They will be able to remove the players right to speak in the main channel if they are being abusive, have the power to teleport to specific players or co ordinants in the game, etc. The sysop would have all the powers of GM's plus the power to grant these powers to players to make them GM's. They would also have additional powers, such as being able to summon monsters or items to specific co ords in the game, or to their own inventory for example.
I -do- realise what a momentous undertaking this game will be if it's possible. What I need to know, is...is it possible?
About the author
#2
Anyway, the only thing I see that is problematic is the 2 dimensional aspect. Torque is really a 3D engine. If you are fixed on the 2D aspect, perhaps a search on 2D engines will turn up something. I'm not really sure.
However, if you are going for the "Balders Gate" look, (isometric 3D), I'm pretty sure Torque could swing that with some code manipulation.
Torque is great at pushing 3D polys and a good programmer can handle the rest of your requirements.
08/02/2002 (1:40 pm)
"Baldy" here, LOL. That was an old joke and I forgot to change it in my MSN email, hehe.Anyway, the only thing I see that is problematic is the 2 dimensional aspect. Torque is really a 3D engine. If you are fixed on the 2D aspect, perhaps a search on 2D engines will turn up something. I'm not really sure.
However, if you are going for the "Balders Gate" look, (isometric 3D), I'm pretty sure Torque could swing that with some code manipulation.
Torque is great at pushing 3D polys and a good programmer can handle the rest of your requirements.
#3
We would like to release the generic framework as a Torque add-on to help other devs build their own online RPGs, be it as a community contribution, or a standalone commercial product that you could plug-in into TGE. (we'll see, what is possible, etc. As far as we're concerned, this is just a "back burner" idea at the moment ;)
The important feature for me in this, is the ability to have a DM, like in a paper RPG, hence making the TGE based RPG more like a way to play RPGs in a virtual online world, allowing you to concentrate on the aspects of roleplaying you like, be it combat or more theater-like incarnation of your characters...
This would go well alongside the various content packs that are planned for release later on (there is a thread somewhere where Jeff Tunnell mentions those packs ;))
But first, this a long way off, as we don't plan on releasing our first game, the Truth (working title) before Halloween 2003, and second, at this point, our priority will not be the framework per se, but rather the computer RPG that will be built on it...
All in all, nice to see some people are considering the same concepts and ideas !! :)
But as Phil kinda implied, this is going to take a lot of ressources and work in man hours, etc. Hence, why we decided not to do this as our first project...
Nonetheless, I will watch your venture with much attention if you decide to tackle this in the not too distant future. :)
Best of luck !!
N.
08/02/2002 (1:48 pm)
Our second project, to be started after completion of this one, will be using a generic RPG framework built on Torque really close to what you're talking about : with a GM being able to create his own stories or campaigns, etc. We would like to release the generic framework as a Torque add-on to help other devs build their own online RPGs, be it as a community contribution, or a standalone commercial product that you could plug-in into TGE. (we'll see, what is possible, etc. As far as we're concerned, this is just a "back burner" idea at the moment ;)
The important feature for me in this, is the ability to have a DM, like in a paper RPG, hence making the TGE based RPG more like a way to play RPGs in a virtual online world, allowing you to concentrate on the aspects of roleplaying you like, be it combat or more theater-like incarnation of your characters...
This would go well alongside the various content packs that are planned for release later on (there is a thread somewhere where Jeff Tunnell mentions those packs ;))
But first, this a long way off, as we don't plan on releasing our first game, the Truth (working title) before Halloween 2003, and second, at this point, our priority will not be the framework per se, but rather the computer RPG that will be built on it...
All in all, nice to see some people are considering the same concepts and ideas !! :)
But as Phil kinda implied, this is going to take a lot of ressources and work in man hours, etc. Hence, why we decided not to do this as our first project...
Nonetheless, I will watch your venture with much attention if you decide to tackle this in the not too distant future. :)
Best of luck !!
N.
#4
Like Phil said, its possible. The basic game shouldnt be too hard at all (the experience points, quests, etc). The real problem comes in with the GM powers: the more control you give him, the more code you will need.
Have you taken a look at the game Neverwinter Nights? I think this is basically what you are going for, no?
08/02/2002 (1:49 pm)
I think it would probably be best just to go with a fully 3d game. It isnt really going to be much harder from an artistic perspective, and yet it will look alot nicer (thus making more people interested in it, etc)Like Phil said, its possible. The basic game shouldnt be too hard at all (the experience points, quests, etc). The real problem comes in with the GM powers: the more control you give him, the more code you will need.
Have you taken a look at the game Neverwinter Nights? I think this is basically what you are going for, no?
#5
Baldy, since you are the primary programmer I've spoken to, I find it especially encouraging that you aren't daunted to much by the task :).
Now that I know it's possible, I need to figure out the next step is....
08/02/2002 (1:54 pm)
I prefer 2d, but I'm not totally set on it. It's the game play and functionality that I am more worried about right now. If it's easier to program it in 3d, then 3d wins. I don't want to make a pile more work for the programmers based on my own preferance for 2d games. So long as I know it's possible, I'm happy. I'm not afraid of hard work, long hours or what not if I can realistically expect to be successful. I've even recieved an email, which I think (but remember I'm a jargon moron) implied someones willingness to create a mod for the engine.Baldy, since you are the primary programmer I've spoken to, I find it especially encouraging that you aren't daunted to much by the task :).
Now that I know it's possible, I need to figure out the next step is....
#6
Sounds like 3d is going to be the way to go. I prefer the estetics of 2d worlds (I have no idea why), and thought they would be easier to program, seems I was wrong on that aspect, so I'm flexible.
08/02/2002 (1:58 pm)
I have looked at NeverWinter Nights actually...and it's very similar to what I'm looking for, but not quite -it-. NeverWinter Nights still has, from what I understand, alot of restrictions on what is and isn't possible, even with the game editor. For example, NWN is 3rd Edition D&D rules and classes. I don't want players to be restricted to a class....I would prefer that they be able to develop their character over time as they level, and not be boxed in by rules like 'mages cannot wear armour' or what not.Sounds like 3d is going to be the way to go. I prefer the estetics of 2d worlds (I have no idea why), and thought they would be easier to program, seems I was wrong on that aspect, so I'm flexible.
#7
Also, in NWN (NeverWinter Nights), you should be able to work around most of those rules. The armor one for example: you could simply change the "Spell Failure" rate to 0 for all armor, thus allowing mages to wear whatever armor they wanted. Most of the rules can be worked around like that, since I believe you have access to almost everything with the editor.
08/02/2002 (3:51 pm)
The more flexibility you try to put into the game, the harder you make it on the programmer.Also, in NWN (NeverWinter Nights), you should be able to work around most of those rules. The armor one for example: you could simply change the "Spell Failure" rate to 0 for all armor, thus allowing mages to wear whatever armor they wanted. Most of the rules can be worked around like that, since I believe you have access to almost everything with the editor.
#8
08/04/2002 (8:05 pm)
Your likely right after all, but where's the fun in that? :) 
Torque 3D Owner Phil Carlisle
Phil.