MS 3 is so bug-free that I don't think there will be any need of releasing updates for it, so let's start planning MS4. <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc9.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->

Milestone 4: First Beta Includes first half of the main storyline (chapters 1 and 2 with all their locations) NPCs with quests Shopping system Mage and Cleric spellbook systems Inventory

To try something a bit different this time, I'll make a number of reserved topics at the beginning of this thread so that all the latest updates in a short form can be found right at the top of the thread. Feel free to create new posts after the reserved and assigned ones as well as update the content of the ones at top.

[size=150:3jxtpd8y]Quest system[/size:3jxtpd8y] in progress Currently being coded.

[size=150:11y5b3n4]Shopping system[/size:11y5b3n4] to be started

[size=150:1qqxvhwd]Mage spellbook[/size:1qqxvhwd] to be started

[size=150:3g9ftpyl]Cleric spell system[/size:3g9ftpyl] to be started

[size=150:38bh7v2z]Inventory (backpack)[/size:38bh7v2z] finished The current two-dimensional inventory might be even good for the final release, depending on the number and type of items in SE.

[size=150:o5y8bjvj]Storyline elements[/size:o5y8bjvj] to be started Depends on Sahadia, if nothing is done yet during MS4 it's not tragic, but the faster this is started, the more time to polish things.

[size=150:1sm2ntu9]Non-combat maps[/size:1sm2ntu9] in progress I'll continue working on the port city and the desert village, as well as building the other non-combat maps required for the first half of the storyline (small order bases in the forest etc). If you would like to work on any of the non-combat maps listed in the first half of the storyline locations, post here. Update: I've added Taskfreak tasks for each map/hub separately to track their progress individually.

[size=150:2smkodis]Dungeon maps[/size:2smkodis] in progress Unless somebody else would like to, I'll build the first combat map of the main storyline (small clearing in the forest). The other combat maps already exist, they need to be sorted into hubs with exits to the travel map locations, a bit of tuning of monsters, and if there are new placeable items in MS4, those should be placed around the maps as well. Also, outdoor areas of maps should be adjusted to the world location they are at (e.g. Necros starting map will receive desert sand instead of the dirt floor). Update: I've added Taskfreak tasks for each map/hub separately to track their progress individually.

[size=150:2v4bmiwn]Travel map adjustments[/size:2v4bmiwn] in progress If there is a new travel map graphics created with a different style/technology, that should be done first. Afterwards (or if skipping this step), roads and entry points need to be created for the travel locations at their final positions.

[size=150:9kb2qfxr]Other[/size:9kb2qfxr] reserved

Shopping can be done in three ways: 1) by map script: player presses buttons on walls or cross some lines and gets items; 2) by dialog, a la Strife; 3) by the use of some custom window with graphic interface, where player can select items more or less freely; I would vote for 2nd as a temporary solution and 3rd as final implementation.

I think it also depends on the number of items available for purchase in SE. Both regarding inventory and shopping system it might be best to first try to determine the ballpark figure (a dozen, a hundred, some other order of magnitude) and how many of these items you would ever find in a single shop.

I've got a small question, will we base this work on what's already done for MS3, i.e. if saha writes a quest for the MS3, would it benefit MS4 somehow? Or would it be better if he began working on what's defined in the design doc? I want to revise the fighters weapons belt, it doesn't draws the weapon icons correctly, I still look for what's wrong there... once that's done, I'll work on the Inventory additions (navigation up, down, left, right) and then on the journal's quest stuff, so that we can begin writing quests and NPC dialogs, since IMO that would speed up things a bit for working on maps as code is done and help test stuff a bit faster too.

[quote="Firebrand":1209o93f]I've got a small question, will we base this work on what's already done for MS3, i.e. if saha writes a quest for the MS3, would it benefit MS4 somehow? Or would it be better if he began working on what's defined in the design doc? Can you rephrase this question in some other way? I don't think I understand what you mean.

We have a small hub for MS3, but we don't have a quest for it. Sahadia was going to make a quest for this hub, should he continue with that? If not, I remember he began writing some stuff based on the old design document, but it was in a very different setting, based on the map distribution we made then. The question is if he should continue writing the quest for the small hub we have or if that's going to be scrapped for something else. Hope it's more clear now <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc9.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->, if it isn't let me know.

Ah I see what you mean - the main storyline is listed in the latest version of the concept document, that also shows where Necros fits into the story and what happens there. Since in MS4 Necros won't be accessible map by map from the travel map as it is in MS3 (the hub as such is one map location) and all the other map locations up to about Nr. 8 or 10 or so (would have to check exact numbers) will be included at their final places, the story can be written in the final form and the first half of it can be tested in MS4 in-game if finished and implemented.

I've implemented the rendering of the inventory as described in the design docs, I'll work on the logic for implementing the left/right/down/up keys for navigating it now <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc2.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->. Janis hasn't answered about the problem I was getting with arsenal screens, so I'll wait for him to check it out before trying to implement it for good. EDIT: Sahadia is already working on something story wise, he says he'll post progress ASAP.

Updated the post with the inventory progress.

I think the way the story locations are currently set up is probably too confusing, sending the player from more or less the middle of the game world first to the far western edge, then to the far eastern edge, then back to more or less where he started. So I was thinking about more or less swapping the 2nd and 3rd chapters. For comparison, here is the current version:

Chapter 1 1.starting map in forest, you get attacked then go home to nearby base 2.small order base in forest, you get the starter quest that takes you to an underground location in the forest 3.Underground location in the forest (hexquak2, hexquake, agility with boss fight). After this, you return to the small order base from where you get sent to the big port city Chapter 2 4.big port city, rumors lead you to the desert in the east 5.small settlement at the edge of the desert, you get directions to the ancient burial grounds nearby 6.necros (5 maps), after the end boss you find a tablet you can't translate, you take it to the nearby city 7.big city in the plains, you deliver the tablets to your order's headquarters there and they see that it pertains to Korax. For a full translation, they send you to Daedalon, the only survivor of the three heroes who fought Korax' minions (original Hexen story) 8.Daedalon's tower in the northern forest, you talk to him and he tells you he found out about a cult of Korax worshippers lead by an unknown fiend who is rumored to be much stronger than any Heresiarch before, and he has a couple of places in mind where you might find traces of them. So you go and visit all three. Chapter 3 9.The first place is to the north in the hills (chaossrh, leading to octarena with a boss fight) 10.The second place is to the west in the swamps (gnosis, which exits to swamp ledges with a boss fight there) 11.The third place is to the east, in the mountains (hexquake3, leading to hexsoul with a boss fight) 12.From the clues these places provide, Daedalon pieces some more infos together and sends you to the mountain city in the southern mountains. 13.From there, you get directions to a huge cultist base (zowehex, 6 maps). You kill their leader and return to Daedalon. He translated the tablet in the meantime and founds out about a huge army coming from the southeast, so he sends you to the plains city to warn them. Chapter 4 14.The plains southeast of the city, the epic battle where the heroes of all three orders fight together (the other two are AI controlled). After the battle, you return to the plains city and with the information you gathered from the slain enemies you can determine a headquarters of the cult in the eastern mountains. 15.chuxen (6 maps), the headquarters of the order, it exits into the last map 16.very special awesome map with awesome architecture, the uber heresiarch as end boss fight with lots of special gimmicks. the end.

And here is the suggested new version:

Chapter 1 1.starting map in the southern forest, you get attacked then go home to nearby base 2.small order base in the southern forest, you get the starter quest that takes you to an underground location in the forest 3.Underground location in the southern forest (hexquak2, hexquake, agility with boss fight). After this, you return to the small order base from where you get sent to the largest town in the forest (the one with the T-crossroads on the travel map) Chapter 2 4.after talking to some people in the forest town, you are tasked to find Daedalon, the only survivor of the three heroes who fought Korax' minions (original Hexen story) 5.Daedalon's tower in the northern forest, you talk to him and he tells you he found out about a cult of Korax worshippers lead by an unknown fiend who is rumored to be much stronger than any Heresiarch before. He sends you to search for clues at several locations. 6.The first place is to the north in the hills (chaossrh, leading to octarena with a boss fight) 7.The second place is to the west in the swamps (gnosis, which exits to swamp ledges with a boss fight there) 8.The third place is to the east, in the mountains (hexquake3, leading to hexsoul with a boss fight) Chapter 3 9.Daedalon sends you to the big port city in the west to someone he knows, from where (a chain of) rumors lead you to the desert in the east 10.small settlement at the edge of the desert, you get directions to the ancient burial grounds nearby 11.necros (5 maps), after the end boss you find a tablet you can't translate, you take it to the nearby city 12.big city in the plains, you deliver the tablets to your order's headquarters there and they see that it pertains to Korax. For a full translation, they send you to Daedalon. 13.While he translates the table, Daedalon sends you to the mountain city in the southern mountains. 14.From there, you get directions to a huge cultist base (zowehex, 6 maps). You kill their leader and return to Daedalon. He translated the tablet in the meantime and tells you about a huge army coming from the southeast, so he sends you to the plains city to warn them. Chapter 4 15.The plains southeast of the city, the epic battle where the heroes of all three orders fight together (the other two are AI controlled). After the battle, you return to the plains city and with the information you gathered from the slain enemies you can determine a headquarters of the cult in the eastern mountains. 16.chuxen (6 maps), the headquarters of the order, it exits into the last map 17.very special awesome map with awesome architecture, the uber heresiarch as end boss fight with lots of special gimmicks. the end.

Milestone 4 would include the first two chapters as before, just with different maps in chapter 2.

I think it's better this way too <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/orc2.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->.

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