Forums: Developer Talk

EDIT: I’ve had a number of responses to this thread and we have established a pretty well-rounded team. We’re probably set for a while, but if want to respond to this thread, feel free. I might not invite you to join the team right away but we’ll be ready to grow more in the future.

How can you help Aethora grow? If you’re interested in any of the following, please reply to this thread:

Mission Writing
Artwork/Graphics – background, interface, tile, etc
Area Design (examples: layout of a town; layout of roads and paths in a forest)
NPC Template Design (minor math skills)
Item Design (minor math skills)

I’d appreciate it if anyone who is interested has at least played the game for a bit, maybe completed a couple of missions, understands both the game mechanics and the setting somewhat. I wrote this a while ago, please give it a read: The Aethorian Natural World. If you think you have good ideas, but are concerned about your writing skills, please don’t be intimidated. Any contributions can be edited by me for grammar, spelling, arrangement, consistency, etc, as necessary.

Please note that this game does not make any money at the moment. It’s free to play, and the server hosting comes out of my pocket (not to mention the coding and writing is all done on my free time). I cannot offer monetary compensation for any help in these areas. We can, however, negotiate some creative in-game compensation (items, gold, whatever). If you would like to donate artwork or writing and feel the need to retain some rights, we can probably figure that out. In the future, there will be some kind of profit model, but for the time being we really need to create a larger, deeper world and story for Aethora so we can attract more players.

Hopilus is just one continent. We can add as many as we need. The possibilities really are endless. Just by playing the game, reporting bugs, asking questions, and contributing to the wiki, players have helped this game out tremendously. Now I’m just asking for a few people to step up and push Aethora to the next level.

Well… I would be interested in Mission Writing, as well as NPC Template/Item Design (possibly Skill design as well, if we’re talking about expanding Aethora) and most likely Area Design as well. I’m not that much of a graphics/artwork person, but I have been told that I’m a rather decent writer, my maths aren’t nobel-prize, but solid, and I’ve played Pioneers of Aethora for a while now. (And, to be so frank and honest, I have asked myself when the expansion of the world would happen.)

Biggest problem: I do have a lot to read and write at the moment for my studies, so I don’t know if I can contribute at a steady rate, but I have been thinking about doing something creative aside from my studies, and this would give me the opportunity to focus some of that energy somewhere without having to start a new project of my own. I’d appreciate that chance.

I do have to read The Aethorian Natural World (guess I already read it, back then, but refreshing never hurts, and I know how ugly it can get if some upstart “helper” comes with a lot of ideas that are foreign… nay, alien, to the world he’s “helping” in) still/again, but that should be a matter of some free minutes.

Another thing: As anyone who is as curious about his fellow players as I am might have guessed, I’m German. I can write english, although it might sound awkward at some times, quaint at others, and I understand english quite well (need it for the studies anyways) and although I usually find myself missing some of the easiest pieces of vocabulary in everyday life, I have read some good fantasy in english, so I guess I won’t have too many problems finding words (although my writing skills, as much as they have been praised by my friends, are likely to suffer from having to translate. At least… at times.) I am also very much influenced by stuff I am reading, so don’t worry about my mental health if I start writing like a late 18th century enlightenment essayist… I’m likely just reading something like that for my studies.
Another thing about my nationality: Germany is one of the biggest (non-english) markets for browserbased mmos. I don’t know why, but many well-known games originate from Germany, while others have huge player-bases in Germany. While I don’t know how you think about expanding the World of Aethora into the area of (non-english-speaking) Germans, I still humbly offer you my bilingual skills as a translator.

So… consider this me stepping up, offering any assistance I can lend. I’d also appreciate some sort of quick contact possibility (Instant Messaging, something like that, in case of questions, quick talk) if you choose to make use of whatever skills I may possess.

I’ll step up as well, especially regarding world and scenario writing; I’ve done a lot of DMing for my particular gaming group, though I don’t do much number-crunching in that regard. I’d be of more use telling tiny little stories of interest or histories of cities and countries than in actually building the actual missions.
I’m well grounded in basic logic and more than a little Zork logic. I’m versed in structured programming, however much that might actually help, and understand object oriented in theory, though not in practice.
I don’t know how much my art skills will be of use here, but I would like to turn my hand to the character art, especially; it’s difficult at this stage to tell your friends from your enemies without a program when the opponents are human.
I am, unfortunately (perhaps), not bilingual. English is my native language.
Another warning- I do tend to be silly, and am a card-carrying Loony.
That is all, and I await a response.

I may be able to write something . . . but only if writer can find a plot bunny or two.

It would help if there were a description of each territory/kingdom/geo-political entity, or at least a list of what is found there (city names, types of terrain, creatures/enemies, etc.). Such a list/description would make it easier to create new locations (a list or map of existing locations would also help us to use current locations). I’ve never travelled outside Volum Forest/Hopitan area (can’t seem to finish the darned mission encounter without being slaughtered!), but I’d like to try creating a mission located somewhere else . . . but without knowing the area and enemies found there, anything I come up with will most likely be completely unusable without a major overhaul. Any players interested in contributing can post entries to the wiki – please help!

I guess that can be done. I’ve been to most of the areas that are available, if not all… and I think I could put in some short descriptions about Chaduk Desert, the Martuso Mountains, the Plateney Woods and the Tiasanian Flatlands. I don’t know if both towns in the Tiasanians are already implemented (one is, for sure, the one more south on the map)… but I guess I can put some stuff in.

Problem is: The wiki, as it is currently, is a sole newbie help station. It requires a main page that does not only have (it should have them as well, definetly, but not only) links to the newbie guides and help mes, but to some sort of knowledge base about missions, monsters, skills, weapons, towns, areas… this means the main page in itself needs a major overhaul… I’ll look into that as soon as possible (kinda busy right now, next week, maybe)… if nobody else is quicker than me, that is.
Edit: … okay, just checked back with the wiki, as I am registered now, and found out the main page is locked for edits… so I’ll hope Ranger Sheck will be so kind as to add another link to it to a “knowledgebase” page – that one would have to be editable then (that way, we don’t need to have an editable main page, and still have a knowledgebase at our fingertips) … I’ll see how I can make that one, then.

Well, I’ll try to help my bit, but this time in the artwork part. Years ago I used to edit graphics for fun from old games that used tiles and character images similar to Aethora ones. This afternoon I had some free time on my hands and I decided to try drawing a miner (because I just finished martuso mines quest). Here is the result:

(Image removed)

Its my first attempt, I tried to mimic the art already in the game so it can fit better in the game. If its good enough I could probably draw some more models or tiles.

P.D: The maximum size is 36×36 right? I took the size of the white ninja for drawing this one, and adjusted it later.

I think this is pretty cool for a first attempt. The pick looks a little crooked to me, but overall I think it’s a nice use of shading and it fits the theme well. I’d definitely like to see some more :)

36×36 is the default tile size. I’d consider going bigger, but I don’t think it’d work out because the maps are too big. I think 36×36 is just about right. In the future, I’d like to create some NPCs that take up multiple tiles, like 2 across or 2 up and down, or even 4×4 for some crazy boss creature. I have to rewrite some of the combat code for that to work, but that’s another story :)

I’ll see what I can do, I may make a new miner or another creature this weekend. By the way, as crooked you mean asymmetric right? (I had to look it in a dictionary since english isnt my first language :p )

I’m noticing I was very careless drawing the image, thats why I just noticed that for example, he has a leg bigger than the other (poor guy). And the pick could get more work, the wooden handle was intentionally twisted; but the metal part, lets just say its weird.

I’ll post again when I get something better, in the meantime I see you have several background-hungry writers to care for.

I may not do much as far as artwork on computers but I do like to make weapons and have a little binder with some I can give you, I dont like to stick with standards like just swords so I have some daggers, spears, glaives, giant swords…yea. I like daggers and such in RL so I like to draw them

I also like to think i’m pretty good at creating images in writing so if you wanted some location descriptions I could give it a try for ya! and in that area could prolly make some back story for monsters and towns and stuff to put some more depth into the game

i’m actually working on my own game( proud to say i’m almost ready for the beta release) and my friends have been wanting an element/enchament system there so I think I have a system I can give to you for this game to allow people to enchant weapons and armour AND includes a monster that i’m putting quiet a lot of time into if you want, and when I say “one” new monster I ment like monster type I actually think that I have almost 36 monster that i’ve made off the one concept…

And while i’m here I have a few races if you want to include some new NPC’s or use them as monsters to…it wouldnt be hard to come up with some background for the wiki either

Hey. XD I’m a novelist. Well, not yet. Aspiring novelist, until I work out the details on this contract…Anyways, I’m a grammar wiz, and I’m really good at coming up with descriptions/mission plots/etc, as well as revising and smoothing over the bumps in other peoples’ work. If you’d like, I’m offering my skills as an editor and a creativity well. I’ve only been playing this game for about 24 hours, but I learn quick and I’ve been thoroughly hooked, so if I can help, I’d be glad to.

More writers is always good. I’m also an aspiring author, and I’d be glad to have you join us. :P

Hey, I’ve got a lot of missions ideas typed up. Where should I send them to?

Ask Sheck. Speaking of which, I think I’ll put a new suggestion in the Suggestions area. We should have a private message system.

PMs already on my to-do list. :)

Timara – I’ll email you.

This may well sound incredibly pretentious of me, but i’ve noticed a shitload of spelling and grammar mistakes and such within the game. Little things like words not capitalised where they should be, consistently misused punctuation etc.

As such, I’d like to (as humbly as possible, and if you feel it needed) offer my services as a proof reader for anything being added to the game – I’m not much for creativity in linguistics nor in imaging, but i can tell a good yarn when i’m reading one and i’ll tell you where (if present at all) any mistakes are.

Really, you’ve seen that many errors? Damn, I thought I was doing good. Anyway, please post the mistakes you’ve found in the Tech Support forum. I really hate having spelling and punctuation errors hanging around (and they take no time to fix once someone points them out).

Thanks. I’ll keep you in mind when we add some new stuff. We’re working on a couple new missions and areas right now, and another pair of eyes to look over the text at the end would probably be helpful.

Penguinmancer Bob said you guys needed an artist?

I’ve taken two years of art in school and have taken art classes during the summer.
I’m very good at painting, drawing and sketching most things.
My best works have been more nature inclined.

If you need a writer, I’m interested.
I read many books and I’m writing my own now.
If you need a wild imagination I’m your girl :)

Hello, first of all let me say you are crafting a pretty interesting game. The interface is super user friendly, the thing that makes or breaks most PBBG for me.

Maybe the art needs some help, so if you like i’ll send you some stuff. I’m currently on my last year at Art School (I don’t know how does it work in your country but here it is a 4 year + 1 year of thesis program), so I can say that i’m pretty good in all things art related.

The worst offender is the overland map (the battle map is pretty decent compared to 99% of the other PBBGs around) so i’ll try to tackle that first.

i’ll come back and check in a day or two when i got the map ready, and we will see if you like it :-)

PD: as usual i got to apologize for my broken english, but it is my second language, so you all will have to live with it haha.

Great! We can always use artwork. I’ve had a few people tell me they want to make a better map, but so far no one has actually stepped up to the plate. I look forward to seeing it.

Glad you’re enjoying the game :)

Awesome, i was waiting to see a response from you :-)

I always wanted to participate in the creation of a game, but i’ve got n00bz0r coding skills, so far i’ve only made a clone of Pong (and a bad pong at that). So i was eager to see if you where actually checking this place.

goes to work on map while characters heal up