Lost Eden development thread

[Kilkakon]

Okay sir I'll see what I can do!

(will edit this post when stuff's done)

EDIT: Made a new post by request.

 

[vyeh]

Okay sir I'll see what I can do!

(will edit this post when stuff's done)

Thanks.

Re Meora: maybe some hint of a mysterious presence. Maybe some talisman.

Re colony pod: I like the idea of wandering nomads making stranger who appears magically its leader.

How about a new post?

 

[Kilkakon]

New post by request:

I got half way through interlude 0, but did manage these two:

One night you were sleeping in your bed. A sharp pain hits your head...
and suddenly you are falling! Now you're naked, alone, and in a new body
unlike anything you've seen before!
^
Soon others find you who are amazed at your incredible appearance. Dubbing
you '$NAME3', they unite together and vow to serve you! So go, $NAME3, and
may your '$<M1:$FACTIONADJ0>' faction endure forever!

You have arrived in Lost Eden; the nearby inhabitants have
rallied under your banner to found your first city, $BASENAME0. You
can use the $UNITNAME1 unit which is now active to explore the
surrounding area. It can also be used for defence if necessary.
^
If this is your first time playing Alpha Centauri, the game on which this TC
is based, and you would like a tour of the interface, click the {TOUR} button.

 

[vyeh]

New post by request:

I got half way through interlude 0, but did manage these two:

The two are very good. They set the tone of the story. What do you think?

Edit: I see the thread has been retitled.

 

[Kilkakon]

Yeah I agree! I've changed the word "appearance" to "arrival" so that the unintended meaning of people deciding to follow the player because of his new found looks is removed.

And here's interlude 0. This is triggered whenever a base is attacked by a carnivine.

Spoiler :

^ Your heart has been moved by the incident that occurred this morning at $BASENAME2. Without warning a band of Carnivines attacked the city risking many lives. Your security advisor, $ADVISOR9, has been debriefing the defenders and assembling a profile of these strange creatures. Normally, you deliberately avoid her meetings for they drone on with little real benefit but today you have made a point to sit in. You better keep awake... don't want a hostile security advisor!
^ "...from what the security at $BASENAME2 have to say it appears that these creatures attack using psychic attacks", $ADVISOR9 drones.
^ "You mean they're telepaths--these 'carnivine' things?" you interject, your curiosity piped.
^ "Somewhat", $ADVISOR9 replies. "It appears that they are unable to read minds, or control them. They merely cause..." She pauses for a moment to choose her words. "Static. They can project illusions and distractions into a victim's mind, allowing them to approach him and destroy him without risk of taking damage. Their plant-like bodies seem to be quite fragile--if it wasn't for this ability they'ld be useless in combat."
^ "Interesting..." you ponder. "If we could bring these creatures into our service, they could prove to be an invaluable asset."
^ "Politics are your area, $TITLE0, not mine", $ADVISOR9 retorts sharply. She looks clearly more interested in attacking these creatures than allying with them. Still, it is an avenue of thought for later. What is more pressing is that these creatures are a threat now, and must be dealt with accordingly.
^ "What do you suggest I do about these carnivines?"
^ "Experienced troops are able to withstand the mental attack for longer periods of time. Deploy such troops in cities located near vines--those plants seem to be linked to the carnivines. I've also been putting together plans for 'outposts'--small fortresses that can spot approaching enemies and warn nearby defenders. These should help us enormously against threats like these."

 

[vyeh]

And here's interlude 0. This is triggered whenever a base is attacked by a carnivine.

"Static. They can project illusions and distractions into a victim's mind, allowing them to approach him and destroy him without risk of taking damage. Their plant-like bodies seem to be quite fragile--if it wasn't for this ability they'ld be useless in combat."

 

[Kilkakon]

Haha it took me two reads to find the correction there.
Fixed.

EDIT: Interlude 3. This is triggered upon first fungal pop. More to come, I hope to knock them all off today.

Spoiler :

#INTERLUDE3
#xs 500
#caption Interlude: Memories
^ Fields of lush green grass. Skies full of white clouds. Oceans of sparkling blue. It seems like so long ago when you were living your ordinary human life back on Earth. Still, no time to live in the past. You have a new life now, and while strange, is very pleasant indeed. This new world is less tainted--it's almost as if it was designed to be somewhat paradisiacal. Sure, the widespread nudity took some getting used to but it seems harmless enough.
^ It's fun to stop and think for a bit. It's a pleasant night to be on the beach with the waves playfully tickling your toes. You lie backwards against the dry sad. Even the stars are unfamiliar and alien to you. Unsurprising, considering you're not on Earth anymore.
^ A noise. Somebody's behind you. "$ADVISOR9?" you sing out. No response--something's grabbed your foot! Struggling to get free, you twist and turn, eventually breaking loose. You stand up and are horrified by what you see: vines have overgrown the entire beach! Quickly you eye out a path and run for your life, narrowing escaping the creeping growth. At a safe distance, you stop and pant for breath. You have never seen such alarmingly explosive vine growth before... nor do you ever want to experience it firsthand again.

 

[vyeh]

EDIT: Interlude 3. This is triggered upon first fungal pop. More to come, I hope to knock them all off today.

Very good!

 

[Kilkakon]

Thanks vyeh!

Haha looks like there won't be any more tonight--but I didn't waste most of today though! My mission today was to get something done for the channel, but all my normal screen capture programs failed me and I wasn't able to get much going for several hours. I eventually decided to colour in a sketch I drew-- that video took 3 hours to make overall.

 

[vyeh]

I didn't waste most of today though!

I'd like to think about how the story of Meora is conveyed through the game. Besides the intro texts that we have covered, are there any other events that can give some more info about Meora, e.g. in the fungal pop interlude above, could we get in some info about Meora. Maybe the character's reminiscence?

 

[Kilkakon]

Well we have the following events remaining with which to play:

1. First fungal pop after interlude 3, or if a Vine Preserve if built first.
2. Second fungal pop after interlude 3, or first if a Vine Preserve was built first.
3. First (or second) Vine Preserve built.
4. JH24 discovered and reported that discovering the technology Realisation of Values triggers an interlude.

I am also yet to write the cooperative victory. I have some time tonight so I might be able to squeeze something in.

 

[vyeh]

JH24 discovered and reported that discovering the technology Realisation of Values triggers an interlude.

Weren't you having trouble getting a tech to trigger an interlude?

Did JH24 report which interlude was triggered?

 

[Kilkakon]

Yes I was--perhaps it's triggered by discovery of a certain building or something? I'm not sure. Either way, I was able to identity that it is Interlude 1 (I editted the text temporarily to put numbers at the start of all of them etc.)

Fortunately, my first day of Uni is in fact Wednesday, this is because my first day is just a lab by itself and they don't have labs until one's had a lecture first. So I have more time to get all my stuff done and sorted.

 

[vyeh]

Yes I was--perhaps it's triggered by discovery of a certain building or something? I'm not sure. Either way, I was able to identity that it is Interlude 1 (I editted the text temporarily to put numbers at the start of all of them etc.)

So you will be able to use Interlude 1.

 

[Kilkakon]

That is correct, yes. I will post some interludes today after I finish my recordings (should only take a few hours).

Hehe I'm a prince!

 

[vyeh]

That is correct, yes. I will post some interludes today after I finish my recordings (should only take a few hours).

I look forward to it. I hope you can weave in the story of Meora.

Hehe I'm a prince!

Congratulations!

 

[Kilkakon]

I will post them as I finish them, so here goes the cooperative victory:

Spoiler :

^ Eden. Together with your allies you have forged a bright future for this place. Finally the wars are over, the arguing has ceased, and peace prevails. Those who couldn't embrace the way this world was meant to operate have been silenced and now life can truly flourish.
^ Still you have doubts. It's been ages since you last seen or heard from or about Meora. You have expected him to have resurfaced by now and his absence is concerning. Who knows what sorts of devious plans and horrible crimes he is hatching in the shadows? While he is at large there can never be true peace.
^ Your thoughts are disturbed by $ADVISOR9 bursting into the room. "Look, out there!" she points nervously. Squinting, you can just make out a ball of fire, suspended in mid-air, in the distance. Moments later a second fireball appears close to the first. Your heart drops. Suddenly you realise what is going on... it's Meora... and he's performing some kind of ritual in one of your allies' cities!
^ Acting quickly, you run to the closest workshop and commandeer a Clockwork Supertank and head straight for that city. You can only hope you make it in time.

 

[vyeh]

I will post them as I finish them, so here goes the cooperative victory:

Good.

 

[Kilkakon]

Hehe thanks, quick on the draw there so you got in before I finished them all! Foiled by having dinner.

Geniunely good story is harder to write than it looks. Still, here's Interlude 1. It is triggered when Realisation of Values is discovered.

^ $ADVISOR9 bursts through the door. Peace in your personal quarters never lasts long. "What is it, $ADVISOR9?" you demand impatiently.
^ "It’s that dig $TITLE0", $ADVISOR9 responds. She’s obviously run a long distance as she's panting heavily. She continues, "We’ve found something. You better come and see for yourself".
^ After a few hours journey you arrive at the archaeological dig. Instantly you are shocked by what you see: a large and glorious temple, several kilometres across, has been discovered. The team there are confident that far greater discoveries still await them underground and eagerly continue digging. As there's no harm in looking through what's been uncovered so far, you decide to stroll through the surface passageways.
^ There are images carved into these walls. This place is so old yet a surprising amount of colour and detail has been retained. This seems to be a story of some kind--there are panels with hieroglyphics underneath. The images vary greatly; there's a naked boy with a small demon on his shoulder, an angel, the depths of space, lands rising out of the ocean, and a purple and olive male dragon.
^ What do these pictures mean? Unfortunately the hieroglyphics are completely alien to you. But whoever these people were they were very powerful. That last image--the purple dragon--disturbs you. Even this ancient carving of this dragon holds so much... evil... hatred... want... you have to look away. The hieroglyphics beneath the image have been stretched away. Even when your team is able to decipher the rest of this wall they will never be able to learn this dragon's name.

EDIT: I'll keep going on interludes of course today. I'm thinking of what I'm should do website wise for Lost Eden too.

 

[vyeh]

Still, here's Interlude 1. It is triggered when Realisation of Values is discovered.

Good.

I'm thinking of what I'm should do website wise for Lost Eden too.

Maybe some more background on Meora.