Generic MG Refit Discussion (renamed)

[Omega]

This and a story would make a "campaign" much easier to create. We could choose a "good" faction and have the campaign play from that perspective. Each level of the campaign would be in a different territory with a different tile set. With the added video feature, we might even add trailers between the levels to help tell the story...

Take for instance, if the Brotherhood were the good guys. In the campaign when they attack the Wizard's Republic, the map would be mountainous and the tileset slightly snowy (maybe frost peak). When they attack Woodsmen, the map would be mostly forest and have a forest tileset... obviously.
Just something I was thinking about

Actually, I was planning to make six different campaigns, one for each faction. The reasoning is that there is no "good" faction. Some are more morally correct from our viewpoint, but morality is relative. Not to mention each faction has its own views, allowing a campaign to be unique for each one, while still following the same basic storyline.

So what's the reason for all this back story? Well, I could argue that the story is the most important part of a game. It binds the game together. It's the glue that holds everything else in place. Also, it makes it possible to have a memorable campaign. You probably noticed all this stuff about a plague in the faction descriptions. That's the basic premise for the scenarios. Every faction would have their own branch of scenarios. It always starts out with "who unleashed this plague?". The factions go to war against each other as they carry out their suspicions or other factions carry out their own. Ultimately, none of the factions were responsible for the plague, but rather the paladins were eradicated by an invader that wished to usurp the thrown. As proven by our own actions, the death of the paladins turned the factions against each other, providing an easy route to conquest. In all six different campaigns, the final scenario is a "boss battle" against a powerful foe capable of producing swarm units against you, unleashing powerful area attacks, etc. This is the only aspect that isn't currently possible with MegaGlest, as there is no way to create a faction that is unique to a scenario (does not appear as a choice in custom games). It would, however, be an incredibly simple feature to add (all that's needed is custom games to not show the faction as an option).

[-Archmage-]

I'm actually gonna push for more historical influence. Things like the dragon and battlemachine stay, they fit, they're part of magitech. Maybe we could change one of the tech upgrades to be steam power?
The flying carpet can maybe stay but there will not be genies and stuff like that. I want to keep that magical mythology of persia, but blend it more realistically with real persia and realistic egypt.

+1 for 6 campaigns idea.

On air units:
Tech:                 Steam Power
Magic:               Dragons, wyverns.
Egypt+Persia:   Maybe flying carpet....
Rome:               None.
Norse:              None most likely? Zoy?
Indians:           No air units, but I was thinking we could get a feature for them which allows most of their units, but none above the size of 1 to walk in the forests. To stop them from being able to just stay in there and shoot all the people outside the forest, it would have to be necessary to come out of the forest before they attack. This would allow actual ambushes. Scout units for the other factions could have this ability as well.

[Zoythrus]

I'm actually gonna push for more historical influence. Things like the dragon and battlemachine stay, they fit, they're part of magitech. Maybe we could change one of the tech upgrades to be steam power?
The flying carpet can maybe stay but there will not be genies and stuff like that. I want to keep that magical mythology of persia, but blend it more realistically with real persia and realistic egypt.

+1 for 6 campaigns idea.

On air units:
Tech:                 Steam Power
Magic:               Dragons, wyverns.
Egypt+Persia:   Maybe flying carpet....
Rome:               None.
Norse:              None most likely? Zoy?
Indians:           No air units, but I was thinking we could get a feature for them which allows most of their units, but none above the size of 1 to walk in the forests. To stop them from being able to just stay in there and shoot all the people outside the forest, it would have to be necessary to come out of the forest before they attack. This would allow actual ambushes. Scout units for the other factions could have this ability as well.

I really think that we should keep the myth aspect intact. Have any of you played "Age of Mythology"? It was an absolutely wonderful game that blended realism and myth flawlessly. I think that we should do something similar.

About air units, I think that what Archmage had said would be fine. Rome and the Norse should not have air units (although the Valkyries are cool, they'll have to stay somehow), but they should get something to compensate. I don't know about the Indians, I really liked the Thunderbird, but I do find the ability to move through trees as pretty cool (I was actually about to suggest that myself).

[Perplesso]

I'm actually gonna push for more historical influence. Things like the dragon and battlemachine stay, they fit, they're part of magitech. Maybe we could change one of the tech upgrades to be steam power?
The flying carpet can maybe stay but there will not be genies and stuff like that. I want to keep that magical mythology of persia, but blend it more realistically with real persia and realistic egypt.

+1 for 6 campaigns idea.

On air units:
Tech:                 Steam Power
Magic:               Dragons, wyverns.
Egypt+Persia:   Maybe flying carpet....
Rome:               None.
Norse:              None most likely? Zoy?
Indians:           No air units, but I was thinking we could get a feature for them which allows most of their units, but none above the size of 1 to walk in the forests. To stop them from being able to just stay in there and shoot all the people outside the forest, it would have to be necessary to come out of the forest before they attack. This would allow actual ambushes. Scout units for the other factions could have this ability as well.

In my opinion "robotics" is a very good candidate to be replaced by "steam power". Also transforming "magic" into "legend" is a good idea, but I would retain the existing concept or "real magic", as a peculiarity of Magic faction. Of course, Tech and Romans should not have neither magic nor legend elements, unless it's seen as, for example, as "protection of the gods", like a technology, or something similar.

For Indians, not having an air unit could be a good idea, but air defense should always be possible for them...

P.S. The idea of 6 campaigns is a GREAT idea.

[MuwuM]

I really liked Omega's map so I improved it a bit. ( ... and put it into my personal graphic-style)

[ElimiNator]

I must say I don't like the names you chose, the brother hood and the legion...

We should stick with more known historic names I think.

[MuwuM]

I don't mind names ... changing them would be easy.

[-Archmage-]

I mean to keep the myth intact. Just a lot less of it. And no Zoy, Glest is the only RTS I play.

Names I don't like:
Wizards Republic - I'm in favor of Society of Magic. I highly doubt they are a 'republic' and wizard sounds goofy.
Norsemen - Good name, but it specifically means you are from norway, and Meria is not Norway. How about Northern Horde?? Or Njord?
Desert Tenacity/Cathartene - Tenacity doesn't fit in a title like this. Desert determination? No. Actaeus, land of the Actaens/Actaei?
Meria - Just makes me think of the hot brazilian girl that I used to know.. How about...Magni? That happens to be a male Norse name.
Olmas - Just sounds weird, how about Orphae? Orphaens.
AtLand - How about Adonia? Adonians.
Ebum -  How about Einar? It means lone warrior, which fits perfectly.

The rest of the names I love, and the Legion is a good nickname, but what is the actual name?

[Omega]

I must say I don't like the names you chose, the brother hood and the legion...

We should stick with more known historic names I think.

As mentioned, the names are "working names". Most of the names were from a random name generator with some of the others being a couple of minutes of thought. Didn't want to spend a large amount of time thinking up names for a concept that may or may not be used. They could be changed to pretty much anything. I like some of the ideas that Arch suggested, but even then, it's open to "whatever sounds coolest". I wouldn't really fret about the names, much, though. We'll have a long artistic stage to go through, at which time the names could be changed as often as wanted.

[Psychedelic_hands]

Do you really expect a historical techtree when the factions contain giant death robots powered by steam, dragons, and flying carpets? I do agree, though, that there needs to be an in-game universe tying all the factions together, rather than just a bunch of random factions. I proposed my concept already.

I concur, Fantasy is good. Just maybe not the way other mods have handled it. Look at games like the witcher and TV shows like Game of Thrones. Both are set in fantasy universes, yet are really mature and don't feel lame. That is the kind of fiction we should write. We should still take lots of inspiration from history, but have our own more mature mythology.

For Magic, I was thinking they could be run by a bunch of old, reclusive, powerful, and extremely crazy mages. The kind that sits in their towers all day spawning warring hordes of undead and mythical creatures at eachother... Then discuss the results of said battle together over tea.


Anyway, I was actually going to start a viking style faction... Sort of inspired by Skyrim and Game of Thrones... I'm kinda considering donating to this instead. If it fits in with your ideas.
Heres what I have so far:

I made this WIP logo the other day for banners and things, you like yes? any suggestions?

(click to show/hide)

Here's the Logo on a Banner: ( I need to learn how to use cloth physics better)

(click to show/hide)

Here's a long house model I've got, it's just a working texture BTW, still needs a fair bit of work.

(click to show/hide)

And I know we probably can't use them for this, but I made some wall models too: ( again working texture)

(click to show/hide)

I was hoping to make units like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47857688@N08/6877540165/in/photostream/lightbox/

If you guys are happy with this, I wouldn't mind spear-heading the art in the Norse faction.
I was thinking just calling them The Northmen. But, maybe that's too simple.

[MightyMic]

Wow, looks really cool... and so much better than I could have done, I like it

[ElimiNator]

That art looks good but before we get into the art aspect of things we need to plan what factions there are going to be and their style.

However once that is planed Id like to head the roman-ish faction if that alright.

[Psychedelic_hands]

Well, I had that stuff semi-done already. I was just seeing if you guys liked it.

[ElimiNator]

Well, I had that stuff semi-done already. I was just seeing if you guys liked it.

I like it, looks good for the Norse type faction.

Way better than the current Norsemen.

[Zoythrus]

Well, I had that stuff semi-done already. I was just seeing if you guys liked it.

I like it, looks good for the Norse type faction.

Way better than the current Norsemen.

^this

Good job, Hands! I'm very impressed!
So, I'll take Hands and Archmage, and we'll design the new Norsemen. (oh, and who made the old Norse? We should apologize to them that we're discarding their work.)

[ElimiNator]

Well, I had that stuff semi-done already. I was just seeing if you guys liked it.

I like it, looks good for the Norse type faction.

Way better than the current Norsemen.

^this

Good job, Hands! I'm very impressed!
So, I'll take Hands and Archmage, and we'll design the new Norsemen. (oh, and who made the old Norse? We should apologize to them that we're discarding their work.)

I think it was made mainly by Titi.

[Zoythrus]

Well, I had that stuff semi-done already. I was just seeing if you guys liked it.

I like it, looks good for the Norse type faction.

Way better than the current Norsemen.

^this

Good job, Hands! I'm very impressed!
So, I'll take Hands and Archmage, and we'll design the new Norsemen. (oh, and who made the old Norse? We should apologize to them that we're discarding their work.)

I think it was made mainly by Titi.

That's what I thought. Poor Titi....

Well, Hands and Archmage, chat with me on Skype, and we'll get this all established. Everyone else, feel free to pick a faction to design (and don't hesitate to bounce ideas off of me if you wish).

[-Archmage-]

Nice to see you're still making sick art for Glest Hands!

Elim, you already did Romans, back in the day when I didn't have the skills to do it. I love the Romans, have done much research on them. If you don't mind I would like to do most of the art for them.

Zoy: I'm gonna be working on all areas for all factions, and probably going to do all the animations.  But yea I'll focus on Norse first.

[Zoythrus]

Zoy: I'm gonna be working on all areas for all factions, and probably going to do all the animations.  But yea I'll focus on Norse first.

Well, you are the best animator on the forums.

[Psychedelic_hands]

Just a warning, lets not get too ambitious or overly-confident yet. Megapack is awfully large.

Poor Titi....

Titi, was mighty sucessful with MegaGlest and the Megapack... lets not say that just yet  .

[Omega]

Just a warning, lets not get too ambitious or overly-confident yet. Megapack is awfully large.

Perhaps we should do this faction by faction? There's already a topic for the norsemen (or whatever it'll be called) faction. We could start there?

[Zoythrus]

Just a warning, lets not get too ambitious or overly-confident yet. Megapack is awfully large.

Perhaps we should do this faction by faction? There's already a topic for the norsemen (or whatever it'll be called) faction. We could start there?

Unless you want to get another team and thread going, Omega. There could be some benefits if the community split up for different factions, but there's also other benefits for all working on one faction. It's your call, buddy.

[-Archmage-]

Competition would be good! Two faction threads each showcasing something new! Winner would get some pride and would then join the other team and finish that faction. 

Currently we have:
Gameplay dude(zoythrus)
Concepts dude(luisconnelly)
Modellers/Texers(Arch, Hands, MightyMic)
Animator(Arch)

If another team could be formed another faction could be developed simultaneously, with the added benefit of competition!!!!

[MuwuM]

I would work on (the former) Romans but I'd need some Artists and I wound do concept and/or Gameplay.

 

[-Archmage-]

I would work on (the former) Romans but I'd need some Artists and I wound do concept and/or Gameplay.

I plan to do gameplay and graphics for the Romans. Your help is very welcome, but I'm tied up with Norse(blame Zoy) at the current time. I mean you can work on Romans if you want of course, but I'd prefer if you guys wait for me. Woodsmen, and Desert People aren't being worked on though?