Project Nostalgia
 

I have mentioned this project to a select few, but never went into much detail. I have come to the decision that in order for it to work I need to open it up to the public, because this project needs a lot of user input for it to be successful.

Some weeks ago I returned to Classic after a year hiatus. In that time little content had been produced. I began thinking of a way I could contribute in a meaningful way. First I made the suggestion thread, to try and organize the Development Team and have them recreate some key Classic themes in hopes it would pull in a few more players. During that thread's short lifespan I mentioned that I wanted to create something myself. Thor PMed me concerning this topic, and after a brief conversation he gave me the green light to start a project. At the time I had no idea what the project would be, but after time it has become crystal clear. We all hate Classic (well some of us) because it lacks most of the content that existed on pre NPC-Server Classic. A complete conversion has been suggested a number of times, but in the end that is too much work for any one person (or even a group). Energy is better spent expanding on what is already there. So how can we please these individuals who stand on the sidelines and criticize the server?

The solution is simple, but has been ignored for the most part. Convert small sections and integrate them into new areas around Classic and I'm not talking about how they're stuffing old content into the back end of the server (Geovanni's house placed in a small, insignificant house in the middle of nowhere). I'm talking about true integration, create new content and pull up some old content and truly make use of both parts. My current project has me tiling a cavern which will eventually lead to Snow Town (or Sylphia, I'm not entirely sure on which piece I'll use). For the most part I will not alter the old levels (an edit to paths, or maybe a modification to the mountain cliffs to fit together with my new content).

This is ultimately a smaller part of a large project. When I finish I hope to have a new continent which will fit into the Classic overworld (like Avalon, or Nimda). The entire continent will consist of old and new. I also hope to include multiple NEW quests (sorry I have no plans on converting quests that existed on the old server, I will leave those levels for Thor and his development team). I'm also hoping that by working with the Development Team near the project's completion it'll be fully accessable to all players and used in the future for new projects.

What content will I include in this project? Ultimately that is up to me, as this is purely a voluntary project, but that doesn't mean I'm not open to suggestions. A nostalgic server based off one persons perspective is selfish, the end project wouldn't satisfy much people, if anyone. If you want to see a particular area return, please provide level names and possibly screenshots (as I am lazy, there is a good chance I'll ignore suggestions that lack either). If you haven't been around long enough to know of Classic pre NPC-Server or you're more interested in creating something new, don't fret, I will also accept new levels.

There are a few restrictions on what I'll accept, so take a quick gander at the guidelines before you make a request:

• All levels (even old ones) must have a certain degree of respectability, meaning; they must be properly tiled with no avoidable errors. If possible the levels should be fully converted to GS2 (but if that is a problem, I will make an attempt to convert for you, but beware, I am a terrible scripter). Levels will also have to reach a certain level of quality (which will be judged by me).
• As mentioned previously, I will not take any quest. New or old.
• Nothing that exists on any other server (including Classic) will be accepted. The only exception is if you remove the level or have someone else remove the level for said server.
• Any submissions maybe reworked to fit with a theme, no level is untouchable.
• When making a submission please post screenshots ONLY. Vultures are always around willing to take what you make if you give them the chance. If I accept the work I will forum PM you an email where you can send the submission.
• Ultimately it is up to my discretion on whether or not I use the level(s). If I don't like it, I leave it.
• These rules are subject to change as I expand on this project.

In closing I'd like to reiterate, this is a purely voluntary, and hasn't been fully approved by staff on Classic (though I fully expect them to approve). If you dislike my idea, keep your comments to yourself as for now none of this affects you. Please feel free to reply/forum PM me if you want to help, or if you have questions relating to the project.

What key areas existed on Classic that are not currently on the server?

Plenty, just take a look around. For example Snow Town now consists of multiple versions of itself (including Sylphia), as well as a few areas which never existed in Snow Town in the first place (to my knowledge). I deem this area "up for grabs", as now it would take time and energy to restore it to any one version, and that effort could be better spent working on a NEW project. Another example is the Singles Bar, if Classic isn't prepared to make use of the level, I'll be sure to "claim" it too.

Maybe key areas isn't the proper term I should be using, maybe areas of importantance (which can vary from person to person, I know). Really anything you feel should exist now but isn't online.

I'm not really sure if projects aimed towards adapting the server to (for most of the part) suit its dead previous audience is going to change anything at all, other than entertain people like yourself who are not exactly reliable or consistent players. Would this really be adhering to "meaningful contribution" of the server? I mean, all you're potentially doing besides the addition of old content is contributing to an increase of the already oversized overworld, which has practically nothing of purpose at current anyway. The (now) extremely dated content may hold memories for some, but memories cannot be recreated so I think you're not going to reap as much benefit as you think you will.

The dated quality is a huge part of what Classic is, but I agree, it is dated and players will want something visually pleasing. This is why I am making an effort to collect works that aren't terribly dated as to the point where they'd be deemed an eye sore. Believe it or not Classic isn't full of dinosaur aged levels. There are a few 'diamonds in the rough' as they say. I'll do my best to adjust for quality, and even then I'm hoping the new content that I create is enough to offset the dated quality you mentioned before.

As for increasing the size of the overworld, I don't really see any harm in doing so (other than the obvious spreading out players, but I'm hoping the new content is enough to attract a few more people and offset this). This is 50ccs of new content I am trying to inject into a server on life support. It may kill it, but it could be enough to settle the critics for awhile, and bring in a few more newbies.

Anyways this is purely hypothetical, I am not going to engage in a serious debate on something that may not even succeed.

Just to clarify, it wasn't the state of the content that I was talking about, because I find most of it to be a stylistic choice. The graphics should probably be improved though as they do suck, but 80% of Classic's old content outside of the quest levels existed for the purpose of stock, and therein lies the problem. Classic would probably benefit more from a team that added significance and fun behind the current stock content, making it exist for purposes beyond nostalgia. Perhaps you're trying to incorporate all of that in this project, but there's a lot on the server at current that you could work with and most of it could use a trim.

Did I miss something, or did you say something along the lines of "I want to add old content to a new continent"? Moving it won't exactly keep that kind of nostalgia you seem to be after. I'm curious as to what you would even try to move anyway, as a lot of it wouldn't even fit somewhere else.

what max is trying to say, if i understood him correctly, is that he wants to add new content all around classic, not just a new continent. this new content would incorporate bits and pieces of old levels to satisfy the nostalgia, but would still have a new feel to it.

i believe i talked to you earlier on classic max, and as i said before, i'm willing to donate most, if not ALL of the Rommiel levels if you so wish to use them. i would assume that you would find most use out of the village that we have. if you decide to use it i would let you have almost free reign over the design, the only restriction i would place is if you decide to REMOVE a level, most notably someone's house. in that event it would probably be easily transplanted somewhere else, the most obvious choice is somewhere on the overworld.

I agree with you completely, but I do not possess much skill in terms of GFX creation. I will be making an attempt to 'upgrade' but most of that will be coming from whats currently available in the graphics folder on Classic. I may post in the GFX forum and ask for help when the time comes.

As for 'stock content', I am open to suggestions on what I should do to make each level a little more interactive. I would want the levels I create to be more than filler to get from point A to point B.

As for what exists on Classic right now? I find the quality of work abysmal, even the stuff I contributed. The overworld consists of a number of cliffs pieced together haphazardly and the failures of the guild fort idea. It is impossible to work on these levels as what I do in Level A will have a direct effect on Level B, and an indirect effect on Level C, which would need to be fixed before moving on. In the end it is actually more difficult to work on an existing project than it is to create something new. I'll leave the tedious workings of the current Classic overworld to those actively working on the server.
I'm not even sure on what I'll transplant, as it stands now there is no clear outline for the project outside what I'm working on currently. Usually the idea of what I should add comes to me when I created a new section (as an example I was working on a cavern leading to a mountain top and thought "Zol's Snow Town" would fit here pretty nicely").

I know moving content will detract from the nostalgic feeling, but it won't kill it. And as it stands right now, I believe most of what didn't make it to the current Classic overworld is sitting in the trash can, and most likely won't make it back online, so whats the harm?
Yes and no. I will be focusing most of my energies on my new continent, but I will work with the staff team near the end in the creation of works that'll tie in what I make with the current overworld.

I am open to any contributions. The is a huge project, so I am seeking the help of anyone willing to make meaningful contributions. Now I just got to wrangle up a few more members of the LAT community...