I'm starting a thread for this, as it seems like it'd be good to move off of the main thread. It's a good organization point.

I'm not exactly a good manager either, so if someone wants to be a project manager that would be good.

So far, a few people have expressed interest in taking this online, possibly with the Crystal Space 3D engine, if any of us can figure it out.

Suggestions, thoughts, volunteers are all welcome here.

Welcome to the RLCCC, or RLC^3, or RLC3!

Don't look at me, all I could do is make magic cards of everyone. Here's me, albeit low quality for faster download speed.

I know it's off-topic, but I'd be intrigued to see the full set.

hence the whole reason - basically, we're talking about making an online representation where people can create an avatar and walk around in our big giant castle. It's how us computer geeks like to waste time.

Precisely. That would be a kind of fun IRC. Go to the pub, see who's there, go to the towers put your avatar to bed, etc. Just another way for geeks to have another virtual life. And I really like it. w00t!!

Well, you already know my opinion, but in case anyone else doesn't, I guess I'll say it again:

Over the course of today I have become somewhat interested in the idea of modelling for this. I use 3DS Max, and can't quite get myself to work on my demo reel 'cause I've got no motivation, but a project like this could be just what I need, if I can find the time to work on it.

I've used the Crystal Space engine on Planeshift before, and I think that if we get a few good coders in on this we could get something quite impressive done. The engine supports fairly high quality graphics, and it seems that it supports a fair amount of physics as well. It was a little slow at first, but I've seen the netcode improve, so it can be done if it doesn't come default with the engine.

I'm thinking that we should start with making it like a 3D chatroom of sorts, where people can just wander around represented by a 3D character, or avatar... maybe if we can get that working well and people show some interest in it, we could expand it to include some roleplaying elements, and world interactivity... though that would again require some serious coding.

What we'd need to start with would be just the basic engine... we'd need to figure out how it works, and how to do the basics of what we want and expand from there, I think. It'd probably be best to just start with the castle courtyard area, and expand outwards, and inwards once we can get it working half decently.

The project, once it gets past the "we're trying to get the engine to work at all above all else" stage will need a number of people working on it. We'll need someone to do concept sketches, blueprints, textures, I could probably use a hand with modelling, we could definitely use more coders, and once we get the world set up we can get into character design.

I'm not sure which would be easier though: individual character models for each person, or a character creation system which you could use to customize the look of your character, plus clothes and stuff that could be changed to really add to the customization. The former would require a lot more work on the modelers end and would help add to the individuality of everyone, while the latter would require a lot more work on the programmers end but make it a lot easier for someone new to get into it, in case the modelers aren't around to create a custom character.

Again with the thinking big. =P

I'd say we could probably put MC in charge to some effect, since it was her idea in the first place...

And anything I've left out I'll come back and put in later when I think about it.

I'd really like to work on this project... I just hope there's enough interest to justify it.

In terms of the level of interest - in my mind, this would be good résumé work. Even if ten people only ever log in and say "Neat" and never come back, it's good to be able to say you've worked on something of that scale. I got a job once due to MUD coding experience, it helps.

Oh definitely. Like I said, I never get around to working on my demo reel. Even if many people don't use it, it would look good.

But the project itself has to continue if I'm going to be motivated to do anything. If interest dies before it's complete, then there's no real reason for me to continue and I'll wind up lazy.

Then again, if this goes well and then stops I could alwasy look into joining the Planeshift team. =P

I wish I could do something to help. I have no programming skills whatsoever. But I am very interested. It could be very fun. If there is any part a person with no coding skills and no artistic talent whatsoever can play in this project, I'd love to help.

A courtyard would be a great place to start. just to get the engine running.

Building it on NWN would probably go a lot quicker, though the amazement wouldn't be nearly as high... Morrowind on the other hand...

As I stated in the other thread, I will work on a blueprint based on MC's web page. I hope to have a workable image by Thursday and will detail from there. You guys code and I will help, where I can, on the design.

I can scan images and such but have no hosting yet. Have not gotten motivated to send Martin money yet. Guess I should do that, eh? I will probably mail him the stuff I have been putting off for a while now. I need to make a list for myself.

Oh yeah, and I have a midterm tonight. Doh! Guess I should read my notes too. :/

Beta testing most likely. =P

Unfortunately the download when complete would probably be fairly large... Planeshift was around 80mb if I recall correctly. We wouldn't want people on dialup to be doing beta testing, most likely, since they'd have to download a LOT of patches just to keep up, if it's patchable at all. More likely the engine would have to be rereleased several times...

Though while we're trying to get it to work I guess we could keep it small... one area, one character model, something like that...

That sounds like a REALLY cool idea.

But.. I'm afraid I know nothing so I wouldn't be able to help much in the actual programming of it.

While I may not run RLH these days, I can offer us up some hosting space for this project on my personal website.

Soth is right in that NWN or Morrowind would be nice and fast alternatives. However, Morrowind doesn't have the multiplayer element (as far as I know, please correct me if I'm wrong) and neither one is free. Sure, they're cheap now, but I think free is one of the initial goals.

Well beta-testing is one thing I CAN help with. I have a good connection. Other than that I have what everyone else has, a cable modem, a scanner, and limited webspace.

Another thing. Are there going to be hosting issues?

EDIT: Concerning NWN and Morrowind. Will there be compatibility issues with expansions, etc? If not, NWN would be a great alternative. I prefer the engine. And the editing is so much easier on NWN. Morrowind seems difficult. Not to a coder I suppose... Anyway...

And NWN doesn't have quite the engine that we're looking for... it's more suited for a top-down view. Doesn't shift into close up third person or first person very well, nor is is suited for terribly large spaces. Plus the interface is overly complex for what we'd want, I think, and it would probably be easier to do it from scratch than tweak an already existing engine to our liking... there's a lot of quirks that would have to be worked out for it to work at all. I also think that characters are handled in a more complicated manner than I'd like to work on(to much physics, not enough animation), which makes a lot of clothing types rather difficult. No robes, cloaks or capes for example.

And Fixer, all you need to do is ask and I'm sure there are a number of people who would offer you hosting for the project.