The Arts of Business

[MarcoFerrigno]

hmmm, im guessing this is going to require some sort of animation, the most obvious choice i think of first is to simply have the hand holding the pick and twisting it around in the key hole, like morrowind.

[Macar]

hm, I hadn't even thought of that. I dunno, I enjoyed lockpicking more in OB (though in MW it was always fun to stick the lockpick in people's faces).

Other opinions?

[MarcoFerrigno]

theres always key combinations, mass effect used to have a thing where a key combo flashed on the screen for a few seconds, you then had to repeat that combo correctly otherwise you couldnt open the door/box/zip

[Macar]

hm, well that method seems rather tied to a scifi setting, doesnt really work for fantasy as well.

Does anyone else have an opinion, or are Marco and I the last ones left on this site?

[dja]

Im confused, how is lockpicking related to business?

Anyway, I think it needs to be something fun but challenging, as long as theres sufficient reward for actually picking a lock rather than just for getting random treasure.

I think something that doesn't detract too much from the setting, and doesn;t take over the whole screen. Perhaps a snake-like game with a lock pick?

--
dja

[Macar]

Well lock picking is an honest trade . More significantly though, this skill will also deal with setting and disarming traps as well, it's more of a mechanical skill. Also, it's more related to making things with your hands than doing back flips and stabbing people in the back.

I'm going to do a little research and learn about how locks are actually picked (maybe try it myself) and see if that experience teaches me anything.

[MarcoFerrigno]

[Macar]

well actually, if we end up going with an engine like c4, with portals, we can make doors destructible- which would be awesome. Though it would damage the crap out of your weapon, but you could always carry a spare weapon just for smashing things.

[MarcoFerrigno]

you'l also have to allow an ability to poke your head through the axe hole and say

'heres jhonny!'

otherwise it will have to be deemed as sacraligious.

[Macar]

Hey remember this thread? There's a lot of cool stuff in here- have a look!

But more importantly, look at this: I've been working on a new concept for our economics- and I'm sure it needs to be tweaked further. The concept is that each settlement will have it's internal economy that will interact with the national and international economies for interesting results. The whole point is that you have a precarious ballance, which the player can affect, or it might just be affected by random events as well.

I've been working on how a town might function. I stared by defining some classes and jobs for citizens:

Highest Class:
Lords- The richest citizens with the most needs for living standards.

Upper Class:
Nobles- Rich citizens by birth with high standards of living.
Business-folk- Rich merchants and traders.

Upper Middle Class:
Wealthy Craftsmen: Craftsmen with high demand trades, such as jewelers.
Academics: People with educated trades such as physicians, lawyers, professors.

Middle Class:
Craftsmen: Name says it all
Public Officials: Guards, Clergy, Ect.
Special Servants: Head butlers, court magicians, and other privileged servants.

Lower Class:
Farmers
Laborers
Servants

Dregs:
Beggars
Thieves
Slaves

MOAR TO COME!

[MarcoFerrigno]

this is a very interesting idea, i like the whole 'linked up to the national economy' idea, i think theres potential in that to make a much more realistic game, just dont do a fallout3 where once a trader runs out of money they never generate new money to trade with.

as for the economy being effected by local and national events i also think thats a very good idea, perhaps almost monsoon like situations were increased rain fall effects crop productivity could mean less money around the effected towns and villages?

and bare with me on this one, the technicalities behind it might make it unfeasible but maybe we could have things like festivals that attract large numbers of tourism to certain villages which would in turn provide a boost to the economy in that area?

[Thogrim]

Hey guys. I just came back from North Carolina on what I suppose you would call a business trip... this is an awesome topic, and while I don't have a lot of time to comment this very moment, I'm completely pumped to get RoR moving again or at least help it along. You guys have done well in my absence, as always. I want to do a lorecast on the topic, too. More from me on this tomorrow.

[Macar]

you realize most of this was posted long before you went on that trip, right?

[MarcoFerrigno]

looking forward to what you have to say mate.