"RPG" - Azeroth Crossing

Hello, I've got an idea for a new map that should be fun and (hopefully) will have a save/load code feature that works across all map variations.

ORANGE TEXT = UPDATES (btw)

The game is based on (as you may have guessed by the title) Animal Crossing from the GameCube (not it's DS brother because I have yet to play that one! But I'm sure they're highly similar). As I said, it is based on the game, so it will have 1 or 2 features missing (primarily random mapping) and other features added (maybe some sort of mild combat to spice things up a little).

Anyways, here are my plans as of yet:

Objective to the game:

The objective is to collect items and furniture to make yourself and your home look the business. As it's always nice for there to be a more specific objective, I'll add other goals, maybe a sort of story. If you have played Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon (or even LOAP) then you should feel comfortable with this genre of game.

STARTING OUT

The start of game is basically decisions. The first decision is made even before the game is created - the Map Variation! Basically, I will create a few map variations to simulate the random mapping of Animal Crossing. I am aware that it may be possible to actually produce a random mapping trigger, but I would prefer to save the loading/lagging for a more user-friendly experience :)
Next (on game load) the Red player (who is admin) will be asked to type in the name of the town. This will be shown in places such as the town signpost. Now each player can select a character type. Here are my ideas for this:

• Either a race selection e.g. Undead, Night Elf, Naga, Dragon etc..
• Or male/female/generic
• Or none, all characters start out with a basic character (most likely to be used)

Players then have some time to type "!name name" to rename their character.
Now each player is shown to their houses by a narrator. This leads onto the next section.

LANDMARKS AND LOCATIONS

There will be several elements common to each variant, as in the original game. I have chosen to pur forward the following (subject to change):

Animal Crossing - Based:

• Houses: At the moment I am working out triggers to allow 12 players to play, although this seems like alot of players it may be more fun. There will be a house for each player, and a small collection of NPCs and their houses.
• Post Office: Yes! The nifty feature will be used, although there will be limits on the amount of mail available (around 3-5) per player.
• Police Station: Drops will be put here each night into the Lost & Found. Any unclaimed items get replaced when the the Lost & Found it full. I may also add a jail for certain in-game events (story perhaps? and stuff like mass littering, admin commands)
• Tailor: Obviously, you cannot design your own clothes like the original, BUT you can change the colour of your outfit here, as well as buy new ones.
• Peehs' Cranny: Peehs the Flying Sheep will have a shop just like Nook in the original. I will implement the shop upgrade feature here!
• Museum: Instead of having the different showcases, each player can store rare/expensive items here, or any other impressive things to show off!
• Well: For special events.
• Dump: Each day at a set time, the items in the dump will be deleted if not picked up.
• Train Station: Come here to load/save.
• Meolody Board: select a WC3 music track to play (this feature may be disabled by the admin).

New:

• Library: Come here for help, tips and many other helpful material.
• Temple: Train here for friendly duels. Games are tactics-based rather than level-based.
• Hosiptal: You come here if you faint. You will be charged of half your gold for the service.
• Resturant (spelling?): You can pruchase food here.

There will also be a bunch of terrain features common to each map:
Some Woods
A river, with lake and waterfall
Beach (considering adding a holiday island with bonus mini-games on (really small TD or something on it using a Sand Castle theme, tag, CTF etc).
Cliff levels similar to the original

CHARACTERS

Each payer will have 1 character, and later on they can aquire a pet. The pet will be player controlled and there will be a few choices. A pet's main functions will be: carrying items and completing special "Pet Quests" at night. Theya re generally for assisting the player.

Characters will be as customizable as possible. As stated above you can choose your colour (which won't really be confusing because player names are shwon in tool tips, and I may even add floating text, optional for each user).
Characters can change their Appearance by buying the appropriate Soul from a shop. Souls contain the essence that makes up your appearance, so you can equip only 1 at a time. If you use a Soul it will replace your existing one. They have unlimited uses and can be kept in your inventory or shown off in your house.
I am also aiming to replicate the equipment feature of Animal Crossing. This means that you can use various tools to complete various tasks. E.g using a shovel randomly digs up something (depending on the Acre (or area) you are in!), or using the Axe to cut down trees.
Each character will have 2 main stats (unlike the original game). Firstly, they will have Hunger (relpacing HP) and Tiredness (replacing mana). Secondly, if either of these drops to 0 your character faints and you are rushed to hospital! Hunger and Tiredness add a small objective to the game. They are not overly important in the grand design of the game, but they do add a little depth and a real reason to buy food and sleep.
Each character will have a few basic skills:

• Run: Uses energy but move 2x normal speed
• Interact: Talk to villagers, enter buildings, read books/signs etc
• Fall Asleep: Regain some Tiredness in exchange for a little Hunger.
• Hide: Hide from people when playing Tag

HOUSES

As mentioned above, each player will have a house. Houses can be upgraded to get: larger, a basement, a top floor. When you enter your house all your items will have different uses. E.g clothes don't equip; they are placed on show. Furniture can also be placed. Each house always contains the following:

A bed to sleep on (moved to top floor when built)
A diary that serves as an options menu
A creature outside that serves as a Gyroid (a "thing" in Animal Crossing that greets players)

Players can only enter basements that belong to them. In this way, items can be safely stored (dropped).

NPCs

There will be a variety of NPCs (with random appearances/names) on each variant. There will be 3 NPCs starting out, which will bulk up to 10 as the game plays out. Note that each variant will come with the same number of NPCs. As for preset NPCs (not random) the following list should be useful:

Peehs - The Flying Sheep that owns the general-store in the game


OTHER SYSTEMS

The day/night cycle will be extended so that the days and nights will be used as a main feature. There will even be seasons consiting of a small amount of days! NPCs will follow different routines depending on the time/season.

Seasons: As a few days pass the seasons will rotate, and years clocked. Each character will have an "Age" that will be used as a prerequisite for certain items/events. Season affect NPCs' daily activities and interactions, as well as the look of the terrain and items on offer (for instance, on one day in the Winter it will be Christmas day, so Christmas Trees will be on-sale).

Quests: Quests are given as rewarded tasks by NPCs. Upon completing a Quest you will receive items/gold. Your pet can also undertake Quests at Night. This often involves sneaking around and finding hidden items, or even stealing! (though not from players).

Sending Mail: You can send letters to other players. This is done by typing "!letter message" in Allied Chat. There will be no allies so in this way, others cannot read your letter. Your letter will be stored until you write another one. You can visit the post office and choose a player to post it too. You can even add an item to the letter whilst at the post office. Your inbox will be 3 letters, and if it becomes over-filled, older letters are replaced, even if unread! Chekc your inbox regularly (you are pinged anyway).

Saving/Loading: When you save, your house is saved, along with all items inside it. Your current outfit is saved along with the colour and name. Also, the 3 items on show in the museum are saved.
Please note that there will be a maximum item limit to prevent having HUGE save codes.

Music: Music items can be bought to play certain WC3 tracks in your house. When someone enters/leaves the music is changed accordingly.

Admin Commands:

"!kick player" to kick indecent players
"!music on/off" to enable/disable changing the soundtrack of outside at the Medlody Board.
"!jail player" to send players who attempt to steal and/or do something that players don't like, but you don't want to kick them. You have to pay to get out of jail.
"!hunger on/off" enable/disable the hunger system
"!tiredness on/off" enable/disable the tiredness system

FOR MAP MAKERS

I will leave the map unprotected (obviously) so that it is possible to make "unofficial" map variants. I will post a guide explaining how to edit triggers related to NPC activities, what regions are needed and any other important stuff.

Let me know what you guys think! And if you have any requests/ideas/want to help or if I have missed something please say so! There's a good chance they'll be included in the final version.

Sounds cool, looks like it's well thought out. Hope this project goes far

Yeah this does sound pretty awsome, but complex, i do hope it goes far

I've got no problem with the complexity - I'm fairly independant when it comes to making Triggers, and the terraining won't have to be too perfect.
My only problems will lie in the save/load system whereby I might need a little help.

Well, it's been nearly a week, but sorry for double post anyways.

It seems that there is not much interest in the project, so I am thinking of discontinuing it. I will continue development for a few days, but if no-one seems interested I will halt the project. :(

Thanks for the support so far though guys! I appreciate it alot!

I am interrested! :D The amount of shitty maps out there is growing rapidly... From now on I'm trying to follow only the big and good-looking projects, and this looks like one of them. If you are sure it wont be another one of those uncompleted huge projects, and that it will be done within a reasonable amount of time, I'll be wating patiently for this map :) One thing worried me though. Well, good thing about terrain is that it can always be remade quite easily over and over again, but when you say "don't have to be perfect", how close to perfect are you aiming then? ;)

Well, hope my post has encouraged you to give life to your idea. If there's anything I can do to help (quests, ideas, playtesting, items... can also do terrain, but I started with that about a week ago ^^ In training now :P so I don't think I'm the best suited for a job like that, but I can do simple things, and sketch-like terrain...). Get up, stay up!