Hello Ya'all.
T'is me once anew. I'm sorry I'm using the Graal Forums for these (rather long) informations, however I'm currently in the process of getting a new domain name, as well as webhosting. The old URL (eragraal.com) has been possessed by the former webmaster, and I can't seem to take hold it it again. I'll have to find a way to get a domain. In the meanwhile, I don't intend on posting a lot on these threads, but those I do will be lengthy and complete.
I was recently promoted to Manager (Day of Easter) when Snakeandy7 had decided that his time as Manager was up ( He did not feel that the job was appropiate to himself. ) Since then, a lot has been going on. There was a very quirks in the server, such as G-Man's threats to kill and ddos the servers. I've been in rather a lot of stress due to unforeseen events, such as the VT (PWA) had asked Snakeandy7 to reset the server, causing most major NPCs to disappear entirely from the server.
It's been a difficult time for me. I've improved hack-detection, I've fixed a whole lot of glitches/exploits, and I've, most primarely, been working on Era Dev, a GS2 version of Era. What's GS2? GS2 is a new scripting language recently introduced to Graal that has (in my opinion) revolutionized the way NPCs work.
Sadly enough, GS isn't compatible with Graal 3 (used to run GS2), causing quite a mayhap. I thus decided to delete all unused levels to reduce lag, as well as the converting process of Era. Because I am rescripting Era as a whole, I must admit it won't be totally like Era. There has been a lot of changes, and there will be continuously more changes, on how the system works.
Primarely, a main aspect of Era is items. I'll start with that: Items in Era have been completely and wholesomely replaced by a creation of mine. It's a completely intergrated string-based item system. Breifly, this is an item:
NPC Code:
item3=n,handgun,"Handgun Ammo","Projectile",handgun,"bulletrate",1,"maxammo ",16,"ammolimit",32,"weight",1,damage,3,"volum e",1
The item system works in two faces... First, you have the gun. The gun has most of the functions that depend on the actual formation of the gun... Such as the feedback, the shooting speed, and the accuracy. These are vital parts, however, I put a lot more importance on the actual bullet. Bullets are going to control how much bullets come out at once, how much damage is caused, and how much each cartridge fills up the weapon. This would allow extended clips, as well as enhanced bullets, allowing place for a lot more flexibility.
The item system also allows a lot easier access to new items. Instead of completely rescripting the entire weapon, we just fill in the weapon according to how we want it to shoot. With these parameters, we can make a new weapon within seconds! Mind you, however, that the graphics do need to be done manually, and thus the time requirement.
The second aspect that I would like to bring the attention to is the Party System that will be there. The Party system is pretty much like a gang, in the traditional sense. You can group up with fellow players without needing to ask permission of staff for tags (and the sort). Being in a Party with someone else increases the likelihood of surviving. Being in a Party will enable you to easily see the health and armor of your party members, as well as an easy access to the trading menu with them! Allowing a lot more interrelation activities of happening at your ease.
I was as well thinking of making such Parties to be able to conquor a street gang. This would be done in a controlled enviroment, where each person has a limited amount of health during the conquest. Both the gang and the party will be warned about the conquest two days beforehand. Traitors will be possible, given the circumstancial of the situation.
This would readily increase the entire activity of player killing. However, that isn't all I'm planning on working on. I was thinking of developing a roleplaying (yet gruesome) activity on Era. These plans are set to stone yet, and can vastly change by the time you see the server.
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For current Era, however... I'm planning on working slow and steady on the server. Never leaving, but not doing a whole lot at once. I've been mostly repairing things up, stabilizing the economy, and implementing things that beforehand could not.
I've fixed the protection laming technique, as well as reduced the lag. We deleted hundreds of levels that weren't used at all, and it seems to have cleared a lot of lag. The entering of Gmap has stopped freezing you, as well as the level protection on Graal 3 removed. Graal 3 can now log on Era with Automapping, and work steadily without crashing. I've worked a lot with hackers lately, trying to rid the most. A lot of the hacking has greatly decreased, and I am pleased at that.
Lastly... I'm currently not hiring anything for Era (except perhaps someone who can make sound effects). I have a dreamteam working for me, and frankly, I am running out of things to assign them. There is so much being done every day that I can't think of much more to improve/add without being too dramatic to the system. I have four scripters that while play god, they create miracules of good nature (Ningnong, Rick, Skyld, and myself), three police who do astonishing work with dealing and identifying hackers (Chris, Cassy, and Morg), a gang/business admin, taking three staff positions himself (Morg, as GP, Gang Admin, and FAQ)... Then ou greatly appreciated Developement team, Etrican, Daisetsu, and Nemesis. Finally, but not least, the people who come from the cream of the cream, our graphics people who astonishingly amplifies all the work of the team I manage, Bloo Kat and Muler! And for those paying close attention... (Arne't you bored already?) The Player Representitives, who see all my work, and comments constantly on what I should do to satisfy the players... Smutastic and Minh!
Thank my entire staff for all the updates that are happening on Era. Without them, I'd be drowned in work, and would never meet ends!
I hope that you enjoy Era, and all it's work we've put into.
Manager of Era,
Velox Cruentus
03-31-2005, 09:45 AM
Hybrid Mode
