Woe Without End

[Deathsong12]

HELL YES!!! WOOHOO!!!...PARTY!!!
I am calm agin.
In related news, I was thinking of wholesale adopting Apothem/Solar's RPG system, but I felt that turn-based just didn't feel right. I hear Tormentor is doing something RPG-like, and I'm sure he would put it to good use. I would, however, like to adopt some concepts from the idea and I'd like to know if they are feasable and/or popular:
1. Experience Levels: Since WWE is nonlinear, the player can pretty much go where he chooses. The only way to stop him going into the "Temple of the Holy Grail" or whatever is to fill it full of monsters too tough for him to fight. I'd like to have more subtle options for restricting the player, however, and an experience system that increases maximum health, movment speed (The player should start out as fast as Hexen's wizard, and end up more like the fighter) and jump height. I don't think this would be too tough, as we can just adopt Strife's health/accuracy upgrades, and combine them with a little ACS or Fragglescript. XP would be earned not by killing things, but by completing quests and overcoming challanges.
2. Increasing Monster Power Levels: I like the idea of several versions of the same monster, each with more powerful abilities than the last. Thus, I've changed my monster system a little to account for this. The design docs (out later today) will explain more. Just rest assured that as few recolors as possible will be used.
3. Increasing Magic Power Levles: For magic, I was thinking that we could allow the player to charge it (similar to the Multi-Projectile weapon in the WRW), and that the ability to charge to any particualr level would have
to be earned.
4. Moddability: While I've hinted at it in a couple of places, I'll come out and say it right now. WWE is a game, and I want people to at least be able to make maps for it. Where's the fun in creating all these new beasties if mappers cannot play with them? Thus, WWE will come packaged with it's own DoomBuilder config, and if anyone else knows how to make something similiar with Deep and WadEd, that would be very nice. In the same vein, WWE's monsters, weapons and systems will be free for all to use in their projects (with a few exeptions, perhaps).

[Deathsong12]

This is the first of my design docs to be released-the suggested weapons list. They are broken down by realm, and have a power level like those found in the WRW next to the names. I would like both weapon designers to alter this as they see fit.

---

Note: This document is by no means a definitive list of all the weapons in WWE. Inuyasha and Froon are in charge of weapons, and this is provided as a set of suggestions to them. They may disregard or alter this document as they see fit.

Basic Kit:
Kick (1): Just a slower version of the standard punch, with more kickback. Stunner upgrade allows secondary fire, which does more damage and has massive kickback.

Lighter (0): Tool that acts as a light source as long as either fire button is held down.

Rifle (2): Antique weapon that fires single bullets. Upgraded by a gunsmith, it has a rapid secondary fire. (Thanks, Inuyasha)

Sawed-Off Shotgun (3): Antique weapon that fires a large spread of buckshot. Secondary fires both barrels at once. (Thanks, Froon)

Dynamite (3): All-purpose explosive. Primary fire lobs it like a grenade, which explodes on contact, while secondary fire is a bouncing time bomb.

Remote Dynamite (3): Altered dynamite. Explodes when shot or when secondary fire is used.

Proximity Dynamite (3): Altered dynamite. Explodes when a foe gets near it. Primary fire is “Trap” mode, which activates when the monster steps upon it. Secondary is “Defense” mode, which activates at greater distances.

Eden:
Pistol (1): Standard issue marine sidearm. Secondary fire hurls a sun pulse that does little damage, but leaves foes vulnerable.

Combat Shotgun (4): More modern shotgun, with a tighter spread and more damage. Secondary fires both barrels.

Minigun (4): Powerful bullet hose. Primary is antipersonnel rounds. Secondary is anti-vehicle rounds, which rip through foes and do more damage.

Fission Cannon (5): The handheld equivalent of a nuclear weapon. Primary is a stream of deadly projectiles. Secondary is a powerful, BFG-style blast. Both leave painful radiation that lingers for some time in their wake.

Flames:
Pitchfork (2): This ancient tool was used to murder an angel. Primary fire stabs foes and keeps them at a distance, while secondary sacrifices a little health to let loose small splats of holy blood.

Chainsaw (3): This gas-powered beauty is all about rip and tear. Primary fire is a normal chainsaw attack; secondary is “Texas Mode” which has poor gas mileage and emits annoying black smoke, but kills things very fast

Hunting Rifle (4): This single-shot rifle fires slugs that are so high-caliber that it boggles the mind. Primary is a slug that rips through foes, while secondary fire’s slug fragments into shrapnel upon impact.

Rocket Launcher (4): This device fires an awesomely powerful explosive missile, which has enough recoil to tear your arm off. Secondary is an incendiary version, which fills a large area with napalm.

City:
Flaregun (2): This launchers either a painful, burning flare that hangs in the air upon impact and continues to do damage, or uses a rare red flare to unleash a spread of flares.

Assault Rifle (3): A more modern version of the standard rifle. Primary fire is a five-round burst, while secondary is full-auto.

Pipebombs (4): These crude explosives are packed with nails for maximum tragedy. Primary fire is a grenade-like toss, while secondary tosses a proxy version. Unlike proxy dynamite, this device does not distinguish between friend and foe.

Antipersonnel Cannon (5): If the super-shotgun and the rocket launcher had a love child addicted to steroids, it would look something like this baby. Primary fire is a massive spray of explosive rounds. Secondary fire is a stream of white-hot napalm.

Shadows:
Crossbow (1): A simple weapon for simple people. Primary is a standard bolt, secondary the poisoned version.

Moon Wand (2): This useful little artifact’s best feature is that it recharges as long as it is not firing. Primary is a beam of pale light that does a little damage. Secondary is a more potent spreading attack.

Ice Rod (3): Primary fire on this frigid bit of magical coolness is a fast-moving icy blast that can take down a whole column of enemies. Secondary is a stream of artic wind that can deflect projectiles.

Enlightning Staff (4): A relic from the days when El ruled the gods, this sacred device emits blasts of energy that seek out foes. Secondary fire is the “Nova” blast, which lets loose a ring of deadly lightning. (Thanks, Froon!)

Love:
Shield Gun (0): This neat little tool allows you to negate the attacks of those who would harm you. Primary fire holds the shield up as long as the fire button is held down. Secondary fire is a projectile that does little or no damage, but sends foes flying.

Stormsword (5): Another relic of El’s reign, this is the most potent melee weapon in the game. Primary fire is a simple slash. While secondary is a series of attacks that builds up, each slash more powerful that the last, until it ends in a massive thrust.

Greed:
Seeker Launcher (3): Another marvel of death-dealing technology. Primary launches a Hunter-Killer drone that unerringly finds what you aim it at and explodes. Secondary launches a patrol drone that wanders about, zapping foes with lasers.

PAMD (3): The “Personal Acidic Mining Device” is a small version of the massive acid pumps used to carve caverns in the hardest rock. Primary fire is a stream of acid, while secondary is a spray of acid mist.

Secrets:
Teleport Staff: Used to transport matter. Primary fire is a projectile that teleports foes away. Secondary fire teleports the player to the place from which he entered the current area.

Screamer (2): This device useful as a decoy, and to keep foes at bay. Primary fire launches a projectile that emits a sonic field painful to most creatures, usually causing them to attack it instead of you. Secondary fire emits a wave of energy that knocks foes back and damages them.

Death:
Scythe of the Reaper (3): Taken directly from the terrible beings known as Reapers, this farming implement delivers a potent slash, or, with secondary fire, hurls a spiritual projectile that homes in on your target.

Rod of Death (0): This strange artifact is used by Death himself to create the undead. Primary fire resurrects fallen Undead around you. Secondary releases a dead soul who seeks out corpses and inhabits them.

Ocean:
Harpoon (2): This nasty device can be used to drag foes to their doom. Primary fire launches the Harpoon, while secondary is a powerful spear-like thrust. (Thanks, Froon)

Wasteland:
Lasiter (3): This ancient laser weapon is a relic of old earth. Primary fire is a rapid, deadly laser, but quickly overheats the weapon. Secondary fire is a more potent beam, but risks breaking the Lasiter until you can find someone to fix it.

If anyone has comments, questions, or complaints, please post them.

EDIT: Whoa! I left AIM running on my other comp! It is now safe to IM me.

[BetaSword]

Ooh, sounds interesting.

Question, though: Are we still using the sewers? And if so, are they going to have exits to various realms, or just exits around the city/wherever it is at?

[Deathsong12]

Yep. The whole of the WWE world is honeycomed with passages, whic home to all manner of strange things. The sewers of Isous connect to the maintaince passages of Eden in general, which connect, via some glass bridges, to the Shadows area's catacombs. They connect to secret tunnels that go almost everywhere.

[Deathsong12]

I was talking with Solar, and he asked me what “Phase” WWE was at. So I hammered out a very basic timeline as to how I expect this project to work:

• Discussion and working out of basic ideas. (DONE!)
• Planning, mostly deciding exactly what is in this game, and gathering of core team (IN PROGRESS!)
• Resource gathering. This means making, modifying, or outright stealing everything we need. Any custom GFX work will be done during this time.
• Inuyasha, Froon and I write DECORATE lump, minus all the quest stuff. They will do the weapons, and I’ll do the monsters and spells.
• I write the MAPINFO lump, minus all the quest stuff, and the Doom Builder config.
• By any means necessary, we hammer out the Teaser. This should be the main incentive to join the real team, and I hope some real talent will sign on.
• Phase one of mapping. All the realms are roughed out in ZTerrain, and we decide what indoor areas we need.
• Phase two of mapping. Functionality is added to the Realms, the indoor maps are roughed out and made functional.
• Phase three of mapping. The detail freaks go through the whole thing and make it as good looking as patience allows.
• Final mapping phase. I, and maybe someone skilled in ACS, add in all the monsters, people, etc. and write all the quest crap.
• Playtesting and bug fixing.
• Marketing campaign. I want to spread some serious rumors!
• First public release.
• More bug fixing and releases as time goes on.
• The team parts ways, and I start my next project, WoeDoom.

A little long-term, but this is how I see it unfolding

[BetaSword]

Definitely sounds good.

So, with Graf's addition of crouching to GZDoom, you think we should incorporate some of that into the various areas, too? Like, air vents or small passageways/tunnels?

[Deathsong12]

@BetaSword: I just noticed this. Good idea.

Alright, here are the spells. The effects of a level 1 spell are right after the name. Subsequent levels are describe as changes to that base template.

---

Note: I’m probably going to be the guy doing the spell subsystem, so you can consider this pretty final. The way it works is pretty cool. Basically, the whole system is one DECORATE weapon. Through a massive series of state jumps and lots of giving and taking, it keeps track of what spells you know and to what level you have mastered them, as well as which you have selected. Primary fire on this weapon casts the spell, and by holding down the button, the player charges the spell. Secondary fire changes what spell is selected.

Power Bolt: Fires a simple magical bolt of energy. It’s a basic, all-purpose damage dealer.
Level 2: Damage increased
Level 3: Damage increased

Fire Bolt: Almost the same as the power bolt, but also sports radius damage.
Level 2: Blast radius increased, leaves a lingering flame upon detonation
Level 3: Blast radius increased, mushrooms level 2 fire bolts upon detonation

Ice Bolt: This bolt is slower, but more deadly than the standard power bolt
Level 2: Creatures around the bolt in flight take damage
Level 3: The bolt leaves a trail of snowflakes that become deadly ice spines upon hitting the ground.

Lighting Bolt: Much faster than the standard power bolt
Level 2: Speed increased, homing capabilities.
Level 3: Speed increased, bounces

Gas Bolt: Slow, but lingers and can effect multiple foes.
Level 2: does lingering damage to those who escape the cloud
Level 3: Bounces

Meteor Swarm: Opens up a black hole that spits meteors at foes for a short time
Level 2: Duration increased. Meteors now home in on foes
Level 3: Duration increased. Meteors break up into swarms of homing mini-meteors.
(Thanks, Solar!)

Death Ray: Extremely powerful black railgun attack.
Level 2: Damage increased.
Level 3: Damage increased.

Mind Control: Bolt that strikes fear into foes, causing them to retreat.
Level 2: Bolt confuses foes, causing them to wander aimlessly.
Level 3: Bolt charms foes, causing them to fight for you.

Polymorph: Bolt that transforms Level 1 foes into farm animals.
Level 2: Bolt is faster and can affect Level 2 foes.
Level 3: Bolt is faster and can affect Level 3 foes.
Heal: Gives yourself a little health.
Level 2: Potency increased, fires a bolt that heals what it hits.
Level 3: Potency increased, no longer fires bolt, creatures around you are healed.

Boon: Creates a random amount of cash in front of you.
Level 2: Creates some random ammo in front of you.
Level 3: Creates a random powerup in front of you.

Summon Demon: Summons a random Level 1 demon.
Level 2: Summons a random Level 2 demon.
Level 3: Summons a random Level 3 demon.

Summon Darkling: Summons a random Level 1 Darkling.
Level 2: Summons a random Level 2 Darkling.
Level 3: Summons a random Level 3 Darkling.

Call Forth The Beast: Summons the Beast for a short period of time.
Level 2: Duration increased.
Level 3: Duration increased.

Would someone mind making a WIP wiki page for this?

[Froon]

Obscurely, about the spell single weapon concept, I have been working on pretty much the exact same idea, I think. I was going to have a book in one hand with a symbol referring to each specific spell, the secondary fire causing a turn the page type animation to select the next spell very similar to that used by the Necromancer in Hexen II when switching between spells 2 and 3. I have not really done much work on this yet, only the animation of summoning the Ice Bolt using hand sprites from Blood and Power Slave. I'll try to whip a demo together of this tonight (only the shooting, not the page changing) and PM it to you soon, maybe you find it interesting, perhaps you had something completely different in mind.

[Belial]

So I guess ' Playtesting and bug fixing. ' will start somewhere in the next century. :/

[Apothem]

I demand a progress report

[Deathsong12]

Fine. First, I'll tell you what everyone on the team is doing:
Me: Writing text files. Wishing this computer could run GZDoom.
BetaSword: Working on the sewer system. (I think)
Froon: Finding graphics for the spells.
Inuyasha: Either creating something awsome he's not telling me about, or slacking (which he has every right to do)

Second, I'll tell you the main reasons nothing is really getting done:
1: We need the next version of ZDoom. Those custom pain and death frames are very important to the project.
2: The next phase is resource gathering, and I'll need some custom sprites for a few things. I'd ask Solar to do them, as he owns, but I don't want to offend him or interrupt his GZDoom tinkering.
3: Team issues. WWE really needs a stronger focus going forward, a better way to communicate, and some new people. As it is, WWE is kinda ferementing is place. But between KDiZD, ZDCMP2, and ZHalloween, as well as several personal projects, there just aren't enough people available to do a project of this magnitude. It's for this reason I frequently consider scrapping the project. The main reason I don't is because these ideas are too good to go unused.

[Apothem]

Worst case scenario, you move your ideas from WWE to the RPG engine and we work together to get it translated into a fun little RPG of your choosing.... I plan on doing a diablo-esque type of RPG engine later down the line.

[Deathsong12]

True. But I really have a vision for this one. I may flip-flop a little, but I'll stay the course. Monsters are coming soon.

[Nmn]

I'd like some screenshots

[BetaSword]

Don't worry, I am indeed working on the sewers still, while also juggling ZHalloween, and hopefully, if I get around to it, ZDCMP2. Oy vey, the things I get myself into...