WIP pony rpg looking for help

[Compeador 101]

Currently, I'm working on a pony rpg and that is based on D&D(Dungeons and Dragons) mechanics using RPG Maker VX Ace, btw this game is originally a school project and I've put the download link under my county's education domain to avoid some C&D stuff (perhaps even not work anyway), well, that's not the point.

 

For now, I'm building the whole game mechanics by my own, most crucial part is coding stuff, if you ask me why not just use the scripts on rpgmaker.net, well, sadly, because non of the script I found could really do what I want, so basically when I opened RMVA, I'm just doing my code stuff and barely having time to do the art stuff.

So, I came here for help: I'm looking for artist that willing to lend me a helping hoof, even to join, and let's do this

 

Quick introduce to this game, if you've played the game that made by Infinity Engine, such like Baldur's Gate, Planescape etc, you may be familiar with the following features:

1. Real-time combat (and some strategy)

2. D20 system(you won't actually need to click the 'roll' button, easy)

3 .Various class choice (in this game it's Dual-class for M6), of course, other stuff

4. Puzzles, yeah, D&D puzzles are always a challenge

5. Your enemies, for instance, in this game, smart creatures generally will use consumable items above Normal difficulty, strategy in higher difficulty

6. Books, game history backgorund in other games, but, it's sorta headcanon or something here...

7. Semi-blockchain system, it's originally a school project, after all so it's hard to cheat with in-game important values, if a cheat is detected, your save data will be encrypted,  maybe

8. OPEN SOURCE MAGIC (link to my github)

9. In fact, there're a lots of things

10. PONIES, why I make this game

 

Finally, here're the positions that I looking for, if you're willing to lend me a helping hoof, I'll be very, very very thankful; and of course, it'll be wonderful if you have experience (or RMVA)

if you want to help, just reply here or email to: s310151@student.cysh.cy.edu.tw

> Character sprites artist

> Map artist

> Beta Testers (if experienced in D&D mechanics, that's wonderful)

> Icon artist

> Musician

> Any other that you want to help

 

also, gamejolt site here (not totally completed yet) and a few screenshot from game, since I lacked drawing experience, so I used many online resources, all credits have been appropriately given in game, and the screenshot below may be different after release

Spoiler

> Pregame startup loading scene

> Standard Map Scene, looking for map artist to makeover it! (huds haven't been added)

> Menu Scene, there're two currency(shown in upper-right window): Bits(up) and Chromastal(down), the latter one can obtained via mining blockchain, unlock achievement or complete special missions(for details, you can see Codex: Chromastal in the game)

 

Edited July 7, 2017 by Compeador

[Krashface 534]

I may help for whatever is dark and eldritch, so maybe quest development or even creature/beings set into some kind of abyss. I'm a Darkest Dungeon type of player, so I know something on creating dark, twisted places filled with malignant, evil forces and foes.

Plus, one of my characters is a dragon, so if in need I can play a minor villain, or as some kind of anti-hero with my pony warlock character.

Or... ask me something

[Compeador 101]

2 hours ago, Krashface said:

I may help for whatever is dark and eldritch, so maybe quest development or even creature/beings set into some kind of abyss. I'm a Darkest Dungeon type of player, so I know something on creating dark, twisted places filled with malignant, evil forces and foes.

Plus, one of my characters is a dragon, so if in need I can play a minor villain, or as some kind of anti-hero with my pony warlock character.

Or... ask me something

Thanks! I'll PM you when we are coming to design the villains, they can indeed shape Equestria more "D&D" 

[Krashface 534]

2 hours ago, Compeador said:

Thanks! I'll PM you when we are coming to design the villains, they can indeed shape Equestria more "D&D" 

Thanks for the opportunity.

I may share even some sketches, If in need, like this as an example.

Spoiler

 

[Compeador 101]

16 hours ago, Krashface said:

Thanks for the opportunity.

I may share even some sketches, If in need, like this as an example.

that's quite awesome! looks like we need somepony capable to draw this sprite

do you have your character sheet?(5E version, if possible)

[Krashface 534]

5 hours ago, Compeador said:

that's quite awesome! looks like we need somepony capable to draw this sprite

do you have your character sheet?(5E version, if possible)

unfortunatly, no. BUT! I can easly create one. 

Just... some minutes. I need to figure out how those sheets works 

Edited July 7, 2017 by Krashface

[Techno Universal 2,575]

To be honest I really could help you with giving you ideas for the AI workings and behaviours of enemies. Plus I'm the guy for you if you want some Easter eggs in the game. I may not be able to produce any digital artwork myself at the moment but I'm extremely intelligent with game design. Especially with the AI algorithm systems behind the in game characters.   

[Compeador 101]

13 hours ago, Krashface said:

unfortunatly, no. BUT! I can easly create one. 

Just... some minutes. I need to figure out how those sheets works 

well, I'm not in a hurry and my D&D system still require time to build up. Basically, I need some character attributes and some behaviors to make a custom D&D npc, such as name, level/class, ability score for former one, spell learned, prefer combat style, Spell Sequencer/Contingency (for warlock) saved etc. for latter one.

12 hours ago, Techno Universal said:

To be honest I really could help you with giving you ideas for the AI workings and behaviours of enemies. Plus I'm the guy for you if you want some Easter eggs in the game. I may not be able to produce any digital artwork myself at the moment but I'm extremely intelligent with game design. Especially with the AI algorithm systems behind the in game characters.   

that's wonderful! Different behavior for different AI is a nice concept, in fact, I'm thinking apply Machine Learning to friendly AI since most AI in other RPG we play are pretty...rough, unfortunately, I already have a huge work in game mechanics so I just stop think of that; but, perhaps I'll build a system that allow player to custom friendly AI behaviors.

Anyway, just tell me what do you need to know about the game to do this, much thx! (maybe you need the game plot to do the Easter egg  stuff?)

BTW, I'm a little young programmer regardless, it's super exciting for me to meet a pro in this field  ...so can I ask you some question? 

Edited July 8, 2017 by Compeador

[Techno Universal 2,575]

4 minutes ago, Compeador said:

well, I'm not in a hurry and my D&D system still require time to build up. Basically, I need some character attributes and some behaviors to make a custom D&D npc, such as name, level/class, ability score for former one, spell learned, prefer combat style, Spell Sequencer/Contingency (for warlock) saved and so on.

that's wonderful! Different behavior for different AI is a nice concept, in fact, I'm thinking apply Machine Learning to friendly AI since most AI in other RPG we play are pretty...rough, unfortunately, I already have a huge work in game mechanics so I just stop think of that; but, perhaps I'll build a system that allow player to custom friendly AI behaviors.

Anyway, just tell me what do you need to know about the game to do this, much thx! (maybe you need the game plot to do the Easter egg  stuff?)

BTW, I'm a little young programmer regardless, it's super exciting for me to meet a pro in this field  ...so can I ask you some question? 

Well for the Easter egg it was going to be a hidden boss fight with my OC Techno as Techno it trying to protect the game's code. So I was thinking that there would be like a hidden pixel on the floor of a room in the game that is a blue like colour. The pixel is actually a hidden button that you can click on to open a hidden staircase that goes down under the floor. Down there is an elevator that will take the player down into this strange blue neon world that's actually the game's operations world and Techno is down there preventing glitches and protecting the game's code. In the boss battle with Techno is you win Techno is paralysed but then the game's inbuilt security system then teleports you back into the room where the entrance was exept the blue pixel has disappeared and the entrance has closed off. So then you can continue the game as normal but if you lose the boss battle the place will start to get infected with glitch pixels and Techno will begin to panic that the glitches are taking over the game and then the game will automatically close itself like if it crashed. But still when you open the game everything will be normal and you'll basically go back to the last save point like if you died. Now I was thinking that in higher difficulties the enemies will lean new attack strategies off the player's own strategic movement like if you attack the enemies from behind for a while the enemies will also start to do the same to you. Now I'll probably need to know the entire plot and storyline so I can choose the location of the entrance and maybe we might have several locations where the entrance can be and the entrance location is randomised every time you start a new game so if you're looking for the Easter egg you'll need to search a number of places where it's known to appear in order to find it!  

[Compeador 101]

On 2017/7/8 at 10:21 AM, Techno Universal said:

Well for the Easter egg it was going to be a hidden boss fight with my OC Techno as Techno it trying to protect the game's code. So I was thinking that there would be like a hidden pixel on the floor of a room in the game that is a blue like colour. The pixel is actually a hidden button that you can click on to open a hidden staircase that goes down under the floor. Down there is an elevator that will take the player down into this strange blue neon world that's actually the game's operations world and Techno is down there preventing glitches and protecting the game's code. In the boss battle with Techno is you win Techno is paralysed but then the game's inbuilt security system then teleports you back into the room where the entrance was exept the blue pixel has disappeared and the entrance has closed off. So then you can continue the game as normal but if you lose the boss battle the place will start to get infected with glitch pixels and Techno will begin to panic that the glitches are taking over the game and then the game will automatically close itself like if it crashed. But still when you open the game everything will be normal and you'll basically go back to the last save point like if you died. Now I was thinking that in higher difficulties the enemies will lean new attack strategies off the player's own strategic movement like if you attack the enemies from behind for a while the enemies will also start to do the same to you. Now I'll probably need to know the entire plot and storyline so I can choose the location of the entrance and maybe we might have several locations where the entrance can be and the entrance location is randomised every time you start a new game so if you're looking for the Easter egg you'll need to search a number of places where it's known to appear in order to find it!  

okay, it sounds neat and I'll tell my story writer; imo, a hidden dungeon under canterlot palace might be one of  good choice.

How about the AI stuff? Do you need a bestiary(bio for creatures, most are hostile one) for enemies, and any other thing for friendly pony?

[Techno Universal 2,575]

11 minutes ago, Compeador said:

okay, it sounds neat and I'll tell my story writer; imo, a hidden dungeon under canterlot palace might be one of  good choice.

How about the AI stuff? Do you need a bestiary(bio for creatures, most are hostile one) for enemies, and any other thing for friendly pony?

Probably the throne room in Cantralot will be a good location where the entrance to the Easter egg can appear but probably the underground dungeon will also be another good location for the entrance to appear to! To be honest I'll probably need to take a look at the enemy BIOs so I can figure out how exactly they will lean new attack patterns off the moves of the player. But for friendly characters the AI could actually be quite simple like they would stand still for a few seconds before walking to a target that's been randomised by the AI. Also maybe half of the time the movement target will be in the direction of another passive entity or the player. When they encounter enemies they'll probably run randomly away from the enemies.

[Compeador 101]

On 2017/7/9 at 3:30 PM, Techno Universal said:

Probably the throne room in Cantralot will be a good location where the entrance to the Easter egg can appear but probably the underground dungeon will also be another good location for the entrance to appear to! To be honest I'll probably need to take a look at the enemy BIOs so I can figure out how exactly they will lean new attack patterns off the moves of the player. To be honest I'll probably need to take a look at the enemy BIOs so I can figure out how exactly they will lean new attack patterns off the moves of the player.

We're still working hard on the story and system for now; tbh, it'll probably be weeks, even months later to put hooves on details(bio, headcanon etc.)

On 2017/7/9 at 3:30 PM, Techno Universal said:

But for friendly characters the AI could actually be quite simple like they would stand still for a few seconds before walking to a target that's been randomised by the AI. Also maybe half of the time the movement target will be in the direction of another passive entity or the player. When they encounter enemies they'll probably run randomly away from the enemies. 

Oh Celestia, you mean civilians will run away from the enemies? XD

So about the friendly AI I think I should still build the system I mentioned above to make them more...efficient?

 

And still, the most thing I worried about still the art problem

Edited July 10, 2017 by Compeador

[Techno Universal 2,575]

6 hours ago, Compeador said:

We're still working hard on the story and system for now; tbh, it'll probably be weeks, even months later to put hooves on details(bio, headcanon etc.)

Oh Celestia, you mean civilians will run away from the enemies? XD

So about the friendly AI I think I should still build the system I mentioned above to make them more...efficient?

 

And still, the most thing I worried about still the art problem

In actual fact I was thinking of an AI system that was very similar to the one used in Minecraft for passive mobs. It's really just to make things easier as it's already an AI system that I'm very familiar with! And to be honest I would help out with the artwork in the game if I could but annoyingly I don't have any good digital art applications and I've never gotten a chance to do it before so I have no experience with it.

[Compeador 101]

On 2017/7/11 at 4:21 AM, Techno Universal said:

In actual fact I was thinking of an AI system that was very similar to the one used in Minecraft for passive mobs. It's really just to make things easier as it's already an AI system that I'm very familiar with! And to be honest I would help out with the artwork in the game if I could but annoyingly I don't have any good digital art applications and I've never gotten a chance to do it before so I have no experience with it.

well, about the art stuff just leave to the pony who can handle it, even though none for now, but perhaps there'll be more the zero in future

[Techno Universal 2,575]

1 hour ago, Compeador said:

well, about the art stuff just leave to the pony who can handle it, even though none for now, but perhaps there'll be more the zero in future

Plus also the Easter egg area is going to have the look of the matrix exept everything is going to be blue instead of green. Plus I do have GarageBand and LaunchPad on my IPad that I could use for creating some soundtracks for you. Like maybe I could create a soundtrack for the Easter egg area and for the boss battle with Techno! 

Edited July 12, 2017 by Techno Universal

[Guest]

Sounds interesting, I'm excited to try the game when it's done. Be sure to keep us updated and best of luck:D

[Compeador 101]

On 2017/7/12 at 4:38 PM, Techno Universal said:

Plus also the Easter egg area is going to have the look of the matrix exept everything is going to be blue instead of green. Plus I do have GarageBand and LaunchPad on my IPad that I could use for creating some soundtracks for you. Like maybe I could create a soundtrack for the Easter egg area and for the boss battle with Techno! 

aww, that'll be nice! It's always good to try new things

On 2017/7/12 at 5:54 PM, Niko said:

Sounds interesting, I'm excited to try the game when it's done. Be sure to keep us updated and best of luck:D

Your response is my fuel to keep going on, thanks!

Edited July 14, 2017 by Compeador

[Compeador 101]

pump

it's been a while now, still looking for helping hoof. Here's the devlog update

I'll start a new post about this game later, maybe soon or months later

Edited August 23, 2017 by Compeador