"The Olde Times"

[Darklux]

My Plans for now:

- Finishing the first Town (with a nice oldskoolish city wall maybe)
- Integration of some Elements of Dusty's former Classic-Style Project (Credits! Thanks for the great work!)
- Further refining the concept of the oldskool world.

Originally Posted by ffcmike

I wish more levels would be made this way. This style creates the impression that town buildings are plotted rather than a mere random collection of buildings. The orderliness is easy on the eye. Not over-detailing as so many levellers do these days also puts more focus on the finer details that do exist.

Thanks! I plan to keep it that way, the main Town won't even grow that much further. I am still now sure, how much bigger it will grow - but it will rather orientate to old. small standards.

Originally Posted by Crono

Yeah, Delteria's overworld in 2002 was a revolution in the way housing was done on Graal. Probably the best example of a large-scale town ever. The levels themselves weren't great in terms of detailing, cliffs, etc, but the streets/housing was great for its time and still holds up imo.

I played some Delteria when it was running back then, but I am myself rather orientating on pre 1999+ Style Playerworlds, yet keeping it nice and simple. But -if you have some nice screenshots, I am always interested

[Crono]

Originally Posted by Darklux

I played some Delteria when it was running back then, but I am myself rather orientating on pre 1999+ Style Playerworlds, yet keeping it nice and simple. But -if you have some nice screenshots, I am always interested

Oh no, it was by no means oldschool. But the buildings felt like they were plotted and the entire city kind of...well, felt like a city. For the time the buildings were large (even bigger when you consider the avg resolution was probably 800x600) and it was a unique feel.

It wasn't the old style you're feeling though, but I know the angle you're coming from. Elven Lands was cute. Sadly I started in 2000, im one of those Bravo trashcan noobs that hopped between EL, Bravo, "Classic", etc. Didn't have a home server until Xone, but that was the summer of 01.

[xXziroXx]

Originally Posted by Crono

Oh no, it was by no means oldschool. But the buildings felt like they were plotted and the entire city kind of...well, felt like a city. For the time the buildings were large (even bigger when you consider the avg resolution was probably 800x600) and it was a unique feel.

It wasn't the old style you're feeling though, but I know the angle you're coming from. Elven Lands was cute.

Are we talking about the Delteria where you could shapeshift into wolves and whatnot? 'Cause I vaguely remember what those buildings looked like.

[Darklux]

Minor Update.

I've got the roof windows from Dusty and slightly modified them, is it okay or slightly too much?

[Ducati_Link]

I really really liked the black roof - I think it was Crono who said he didn't.. but I dunno, it worked really well with the gold.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by xXziroXx

Are we talking about the Delteria where you could shapeshift into wolves and whatnot? 'Cause I vaguely remember what those buildings looked like.

Ya. The tiling wasn't good, but the way the city was setup it actually felt like a city. When you walked down this street it actually felt like street. You constantly had relatively large houses around you etc. Hard to explain that feel.

p.s, the wolf thing you were talking about. oh good times~

The OW was made in early 2002, compare the levels to anything from that era and yeah...complete change from the norm. That's kind of why I like Darklux's large classic buildings, and how they're in close proximity.

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by Ducati_Link

I really really liked the black roof - I think it was Crono who said he didn't.. but I dunno, it worked really well with the gold.

Hey

I will likely add two more roof types - a dark one (maybe I will use the black) and a slated one, I am still looking around to find one.

[Darklux]

I am still unsure which color to add as last roof color, so I've tried out a bit.
Any comments? Which should be added, or generally any idea on interesting color combinations?

(Edit: I think the Colors of the middle roof parts are still a bit odd ideas welcome xD I am sadly no GFX Genius)

[DustyPorViva]

I feel the saturation needs to be dropped a ton. I also feel they should be much lighter. For example in pics1 there is no deep black used; almost all outlines use a black that's more darker gray then black. It's very soft, so having this 100% black on a roof just contrasts way too much against pics1 and makes it look like it doesn't belong.

Also dude, fix the shadow to the house :P

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by DustyPorViva

I feel the saturation needs to be dropped a ton. I also feel they should be much lighter. For example in pics1 there is no deep black used; almost all outlines use a black that's more darker gray then black. It's very soft, so having this 100% black on a roof just contrasts way too much against pics1 and makes it look like it doesn't belong.

Also dude, fix the shadow to the house :P

Thank you will fix that shadow in a moment.

Update:

Working on the tileset at the moment, expect the new roof colors shortly.
I am also adding playerhouses on interest

Should I keep the name? It's not too nice, but maybe the name is already out for too long to change it any ideas?

[Ducati_Link]

Yeah, the house fix Dusty did are prefect. I like the 'gold/brown' roof border on them.. makes it look more like it should be like that, rather than a recolour.

If you're talking about 'The Olde Times' I like the name, suits.

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by Ducati_Link

Yeah, the house fix Dusty did are prefect. I like the 'gold/brown' roof border on them.. makes it look more like it should be like that, rather than a recolour.

If you're talking about 'The Olde Times' I like the name, suits.

I held a night working session today and already added Dustys idea to the tileset

I'll start playing around with them tomorrow

[Darklux]

Jikes, atleast still had to finish two demo houses to show off the new roof tiles.

[Ducati_Link]

I may know someone who might like to help out on this as a side project - let me talk to them

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by Ducati_Link

I may know someone who might like to help out on this as a side project - let me talk to them

I am still sort of unable to hire at the moment, as I still need to refine the major course and design of the server

Yet of course any help is appreciated as soon as this can be called a real Playerworld project - I will probaply call this a real project when the first town is finished, so just contact me.

I enlarged the town today, adding a castle/mansion to the Town.
Feedback strongly appreciated

Credits to Wan for his nice Cliff Presets

[Emera]

That looks sweet. Good job!

[Darklux]

I have added a major update yesterday, introducing the castle out of the screenshots, a cliff and more decoration

Update: Added some updated screenshots, still somehow wip

[Elk]

I think you need more bushes

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by Elk

I think you need more bushes

Yeah the levels still lack some more nature decoration, thats the wip part on them

[NicoX]

Originally Posted by Darklux

Yeah the levels still lack some more nature decoration, thats the wip part on them

Looks great, after the town is done you can go in a bit more detail. will Look awesome

[callimuc]

Awesome besides some tiling errors like the water in the 4th picture. But I can image this being very very great!

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by callimuc

Awesome besides some tiling errors like the water in the 4th picture. But I can image this being very very great!

Haha yeah it's a small error; I had problems finding the right tile xD is there one or do I need to edit one to get it?

[Darklux]

If you notice big white lines on the server at the moment (yes they are somewhat eyehurting, but I promise that they are gone soon):

I decided that The Olde Time has reached an amount of content, where I need to start some actual planning, so that in the end, the content is not only oldskool - but playable too.

One notice:

This Playerworld is still somehow a hobby project and rather in planning phase. I'll try to finish it in reasonable time, yet I do not plan to rush the things and want to aim for a continouos style - therefore I am not hiring at the moment, however, I might be after there is reasonable content and the server is worth being called a playerworld project.


Gameplay Plans for now:

- Spar & PK, with oldskool AP System and some Non-PK Zones.

- Oldskool Guild Gameplay and Guildwars.
As I like the global guilds system and wan't to keep it, later it might be possible to just send an application for an guildbase. I do not plan to implement my own guilds system, however there might be optional possibilities for registrated guilds.

- Quests and System Plans.
At the moment, I am planning to add few optional items that can be obtained during quests. Some of these items might be used as weapon, others might be useable to find hidden treasures hidden all around the playerworld - but there will be no Laser Guns or ZOMG overmighty weapon.

- Housing System:
There will be a possibility to get an playerhouse or appartment later for ingame money, however there will be style guidelines to keep up the style everywhere

- World:
At first the world will be quite compact to concentrate the playerbase. Areas will be designed, where the player profits of revisiting them at a later point of time - with new quest items maybe.
There will be an town wall, surrounding most parts of the town with an surrounding, dark forest. The Dark Forest with a small Settlement might be added as second step later.

- Quests:
There will be oldskool quests, however I plan them to be singleplayer at first. Multiplayer quests might be added at a later point of time. Dungeons will require good swordfight skills and to be honest - I plan it to be somehow hard


Any ideas? Feedback and constructive criticism - on Gameplay Plans and Town Layout - is welcome!

[Shaun]

Make it so guilds can only have a maximum of 3 letters.

[Van116]

is it still in dev mode? or can people go on the server?:0

[Kiwi27]

Originally Posted by Van116

is it still in dev mode? or can people go on the server?:0

I accessed it earlier, on Dev Darklux, so, unless it has changed, you can...

[NicoX]

Originally Posted by Van116

is it still in dev mode? or can people go on the server?:0

You can always log in.

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by NicoX

You can always log in.

Yes the server is open to the public as "Dev Darklux", yet yes it is an Development Server - but it's not restricted to staffs, and you can already visit the outsides of the world + there is an Spar House

[Van116]

im in love<3

[Darklux]

Currently porting the content to a bigger gmap as 10x10 has shown to be too small to fit an reasonable amount of houses.

I will likely open a new news post in a few days, as this one is quite old and can be confusing if you read it from the beginning.

[Darklux]

Some impressions on my new addition, still wip (needs more plants xD)

[DustyPorViva]

Red and green aren't very complimentary colors, imo.

[DeCeaseD]

Originally Posted by DustyPorViva

Red and green aren't very complimentary colors, imo.

Agreed. Looks like Christmas.. without the snow. You should try yellow in replacement for the red?

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by DeCeaseD

Agreed. Looks like Christmas.. without the snow. You should try yellow in replacement for the red?

Not really easy I fear that I will have to leave them out completely or so...

But yeah Red/Green is maybe a lil too poppy, atleast I will have a christmas preset when the season arrives.

[Ducati_Link]

green and gold would look awesome

[Darklux]

Originally Posted by Ducati_Link

green and gold would look awesome

Tried it (though I think its technicallly yellow, the color might appear goldish), I thought it would be better - maybe I need to leave out these double roof houses. Maybe the other way around looks better though.

[James]

go pack go!

[Ducati_Link]

I like it - though I'd say either saturate the yellow less? or make the green a little deeper. But I still like it

[Darklux]

Hello!

I have decided to update this project again, just out of the fun to tile from time to time.
At the moment (and especially given the currently situation of PC Graal) this is still no real playerworld project.

Current goals:

- Completion of the first town, more playerhouses, insides for the whole town.

- Surrounding the area of the first town with a forest, so that there is a fixed overworld. There is alot of reserve space in the gmap tho, so more towns and regions could be added easily.

- Also Iam trying to add a bit more detail, without ruining the 1.41 charme of the levels.

- At the moment, the server lacks a theme or topic, besides having oldskool styled levels. A sparring theme with some oldskool quests could do the trick, tho. If you have ideas or input around, just reply to this thread.

Again, at the moment this is no real playerworld project at the moment, yet help and input is very welcome:

- What did you like about oldskool servers? Which elements should a oldskool server have, besides quest and spar systems?

- I am lacking outside castle tiles, as the outside castle tiles of zelda3 never really made it into the 1.41 tiles. And I don't like trying the simulate buildings by tile puzzling (it can look nice in some places, but I don't want it here). If someone of you has actually ported the hyrule castle tiles to fit with 1.41 in the past, I would be very grateful if I could use these.
If you would actually like to create graphics for the playerworld and especially if you are capable to recreate the feeling of 1.41 even for new tiles and objects, I'd be very happy hearing from you.

- Although I work in IT for a living and can write some java, I was never really interested in learning GS2. Now I don't have the free time and would rather spend the few hours I have for graal with level design, instead of digging myself into GS2. If you can code and would like to support the project, contact me or write in this post. If there actually is enough interest, I might reconsider to make a real playerworld out of this.


Things, this project will never feature:

- Overfilled, overdetailed zodiac level design. It was never better than oldskool design.

- RPG Systems like on Valikorlia or Zodiac, there might be a sparring skill scale, tho.

- I don't like grinding and prefer to avoid it, where possible.


Conclusion / tldr:

- At the moment I just create those levels for my own entertainment, this is no place to brag about graals current situation.

- This is no hiring thread! If you work for your own entertainment aswell and think you could support this, you are of course free to contact me anyways.

- If you like to debate about classic graal server design, you are very welcome.


Best regards,

Darklux