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| Topic Started: Apr 2 2008, 03:54 PM (204 Views) | |
| The Gunslinger | Apr 2 2008, 03:54 PM Post #1 |
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Administrator
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Time is always against us. I'll try to keep things short and simple, but this is not simple and you’ll have to bear with me if I ramble on. I’ve been somewhat busy lately and haven’t been able to post. In my other time, when I did have time to get on, most of the time I didn’t. However, I've also had time to think about this board, what it is currently and where I want it to go. I wasn't there to oversee much of the PvP last season, and now that I've seen it this season it's definitely different than I had hoped. I wanted to create a fun strategy game that everyone could participate in, one that had a small learning curve. And so at first I modeled this very much after a similar game I had played, Expanse of Empires. After some time though I wanted something different, something with a bit of strategy but a bit of roleplaying as well. And so I remade the board, got everything done in about 12 hours, and opened it up. Thanks to the help of one of my good friends, the board thrived at first. My first thought was 'success!' I had made a board that I not only enjoyed but one that other people enjoyed. But then my internet failed. The Game still carried on; I had picked up a far hardier member group than I had anticipated, ones that did enjoy my game, ones that carried the weight when I wasn't around to carry it. And so I made this board, a new board with a somewhat new system for the second season. I was excited, and put everything up without much thought. Nothing of this had been tested, and I didn't even know how great the stuff from first season worked since I wasn't around to see it. Instead of fine-tuning the old rules, I put some new stuff in for fun, thinking it would make the whole game more complex and entertaining. That, I think, was my first major mistake. You see, while the NPC battles from first season were sluggish and seemed unneeded, Laying Claim, for myself at least, was even worse. It destroyed what little time people interacted on the board; you get on, lay claim to a few cities, then get off without much thought. Sure, there was still PvP action, but that was also a flawed system as I have come to see. Yes, systems have flaws, and some flaws are hard or impossible to work out, but these are glaring flaws that need to be removed. That leads me to the second major mistake (or perhaps I should call it the first). The big mistake. I tried to craft a game like Expanse of Empires; yes, I changed the system, made it manageable with the resources I had readily available. But I made the game in an effort to bring back what I had 'lost' inside. I should have seen this, should have entirely made it my own even if it meant going off course to make a better end product. You see, I wanted to attract a larger community. First season was excellent, we had a lot of players, not all of them stayed but it was great to see how everybody liked the game. Then this season came. I rushed it, and we had all of the old members. Not that I don't like you guys, you guys are great, you guys are what keeps this game moving. But I wanted a universal game, a game accessible to anyone and everyone. So, what am I leading up to? What is my point with all this rambling? Am I going to shut this board down, call it quits and bid you all farewell? Part of me, a small part, wants me to do that, wants to just give up. But I will not give up; I will still attempt to help with this season (I might resign my empire however). But after this season? I don't think it will lead to season three. There will be something on the other side of the bridge, but not what we were expecting, not what I was expecting. I'm going to craft something new, something similar perhaps to this, but something that is in fact its own. I want to make something unique, something for everyone. Whether or not it will be related to George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire I can't say. That is where I will start, but I'm going to shoot for the best thing possible, and if that means setting the Song aside and doing something new so be it. I can't give you an estimated time on how long this board will take to be completed. I don't even have a rough draft, and I'm beginning anew completely with just a keyboard and a word document. You're free to do whatever you wish with this season now; continue if you will and I'll try and help make it a fun experience for you. Once the new board is complete you will all be emailed. I can't guarantee it will be anything like this; if you're here just because this is G.R.R.M then you probably won't be satisfied. I hope you all can understand. I made a product and I wasn't satisfied with it. I will still market that product for what time it has left, but in the end I'm going to shift to my new product. I hope you all will shift with me. I pray the grass will be greener on the other side. Long days and pleasant nights, ~The Gunslinger |
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| Turncloak | Apr 2 2008, 04:58 PM Post #2 |
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Three Words: The Divine Scourge. But it’s your game so it doesn’t really matter. But you’re right, we learned what works and what doesn’t work, but even so it was/is a good experience. And your right, even though most of us this season were veterans, it wasn’t all that fun like season 1. Well mate, good luck in what ever you plan to do. At least you never quit and try Gunz.  |
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| DireWolf | Apr 3 2008, 01:26 AM Post #3 |
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I entirely agree with your decision. Especially the "laying claim" part, was in my eyes a mistake. Last season a lot of people had fun with the NPC battles and got even more excited when it was time for PvP battles. So on a side note I just want you to be aware of the fact that those NPC battles were a big part of the game last season and were a lot of fun, of course I could only be speaking for myself here. I don't know what the other members think on that matter. Also I just wanted to add that the reason why I joined the first season was because the game was based on GRRM's work, but after having played the game and having had so much fun I'd be willing to play any kind of game that you(Gunslinger) make. Sure it has it's few kinks here and there, but tha basic idea that you came up with is just brilliant and I can't wait to see what you'll come up with next, no matter how long it takes. |
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| Chugman | Apr 6 2008, 01:04 AM Post #4 |
House of Black
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Well gunz when you start it up send a mass email to all of us. |
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| Larksmann | Apr 29 2008, 05:30 PM Post #5 |
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Hello, and sincere apologies for my sudden complete dissappearance. College is really knocking the shit out of me right now, and I simply can't do much of anything other than school work. I want to be a programmer. The programming class I'm taking now, Data Structures, requires about 30-40 hours per week outside of class alone, and more now that finals are approaching. Plus I'm spending a lot of time with the girlfriend of a month. I've seen dozens of people leave EOE for exactly the same reasons. I definitely intended to stay for good when I joined this forum, but that's not a possibility anymore. Lately I've been thinking about a lot of shit (college does that to you), and I've come to the realization that at this point in my life, anything I do that requires a significant dedication of time really needs to have a payoff later. Right now the best thing that I can be doing for myself is hitting the books, catching up in classes, getting an internship, etcetera. That doesn't leave time for me to make a commitment to GoT. Gunslinger, I hope that the new game structure will work out. Just realize that no matter how the game is structured, it will always require that you put a lot of work into it even during times you don't want to. Anybody who wishes to stay in touch can add me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1240771202), or AIM me: Macrobs. Goodbye, Larksmann |
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| The Gunslinger | May 2 2008, 03:56 PM Post #6 |
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Was good to have you with us Larks. Anyways, the new site has been going slow; I haven't had a major creative streak in a few weeks, and I really don't want to create something I don't enjoy. I estimate it should be done within the next month, no promises though. |
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