Books - For Mechanical AND LARPy purposes

[Lunarius_Haberdash]

So while we're in the process of adding things that are relatively simple to implement and don't require the introduction of huge new systems, it occurs to me it'd be a good time to add books. Now I'm not looking for anything complex, just a book capable of holding about 12,000 characters, or over/around ~1500 words. Even better, books could come in multiple sizes and types ~ Wood Covered (3000 characters), Leather Covered (6000 characters), Cloth Covered (9000 characters), Grand Tome (12000 characters). Reintroduce Inkweed while you're at it. Books would be made from:

Wood Covered - Wood, 5 Parchment, String, Ink
Cloth Covered - Cloth, Wood, 20 Parchment, String, Ink
Leather Covered - Leather, Wood, 10 parchment, String, Ink
Grand Tome - Leather, Cloth, Wood, 20 Parchment, 2 nuggets of any metal, String, Ink

While we're at it add bookshelves that, like crates, show how much they contain.

For The LARP
Books contain text, and as such are able to hold accounts of a villages history, stories about events, etc. That's really it, on the surface.

For The Mechanics
Books can also contain multiple recipes, accounts of flora/fauna, mineral guides, pretty much anything we can presently use to share information through parchment. Like these other guides, these books are consumed on creation.

Wood - 5 'descriptions'
Cloth - 10 'descriptions'
Leather - 15 'descriptions'
Grand Tome - 20 'descriptions'

For Both - The Press
The Press can make a copy of either of these things, they simply require a book of the same type/size that's presently blank, a Printing Press, and a sufficient amount of ink. (Hello Inkweed, How are you old friend).
And of course bookcases: Simple (Just Boards), Elegant (Boards, Linseed Oil, ??) capable of holding different quantities of books.

Long Term Simple Development Features
Provided that we get an interface that is more attractive than a simple text box, and one that can actually demonstrate the materials from which a book is constructed, there are multiple options for simple additions down the road that add flavor, shouldn't be complicated once the heart of the thing is created, but likely don't have much in the way of mechanical value. If we have a visible 'book' to read from there could be simple texture additions down the road for the wood, the leather, the type of paper, and include an ever expanding list of types of paper that wouldn't add any mechanical value (??), but would make the dialogue/interface look purty.

I figure that the combination of these elements, the LARPy and the Mechanical, would create an interesting addition for the world. It also would create a market for useful tomes, give a reason for villages to have a library (for newbs), and allow for a certain amount of storytelling LARPyness within the game.

I think I've balanced this out fairly well between "Hey Jorb, Give us LARPy books" and "Give us something mechanically useful."


Credits -
Lest I pretend or give the impression that these ideas are all mine (they aren't) I'd like to provide the following credits:

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=60890&p=785622&hilit=book#p785622
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=61283&p=779139&hilit=book#p779139
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=61239&p=779132&hilit=books#p779132
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=60413&p=771861&hilit=books#p771861
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=48598&p=751542&hilit=books#p751542

[synntax33]

Illuminated Manuscripts Honestly, I miss the maps from legacy, nothing quite like having something you made yourself. Although, I believe I remember Jorb saying that he hasnt been impressed with what has been written on runestones, and that he cherishes the concept of books too much to make miniature nerd rocks. But I would love the ability to record great finds or exploration notes, outside of the in game map... too sterile in a way. Or to have a written record of daily events, like Yolan did with New Brodgar, on the forums.

[shubla]

Good idea.
Though one could question how many people are really going to write them.

[Lunarius_Haberdash]

:o Illuminated Manuscripts Honestly, I miss the maps from legacy, nothing quite like having something you made yourself. Although, I believe I remember Jorb saying that he hasnt been impressed with what has been written on runestones, and that he cherishes the concept of books too much to make miniature nerd rocks. But I would love the ability to record great finds or exploration notes, outside of the in game map... too sterile in a way. Or to have a written record of daily events, like Yolan did with New Brodgar, on the forums.

I was thinking about the whole illuminated manuscript thing, actually. Specifically in the form of a x by x grid where you place items to create an artistic display. Once you hit 'print' it would illuminate the borders with whatever you've put into the interface. Maybe some modifications so that things like stinging nettle makes a 'vine like' appearance or gold can be used to 'gild' different things. Ultimately this just seems like a lot of work that wouldn't quite be utilized, but at the same time I can't hate the idea of illuminated manuscripts.

Good idea.
Though one could question how many people are really going to write them.

This is precisely why there is a mechanical use, as well as a LARPy one. You may be surprised at both the quantity and quality of writing that comes out given a proper interface, but even failing that? We get the other nifty 'useful' books.

[neeco]

+1. Reading a board of player descriptions is a pain. Would also be nice to help bring alts up to speed on recipes, etc.

Wood Covered - Wood, 5 Parchment, String, Ink
Cloth Covered - Cloth, Wood, 20 Parchment, String, Ink
Leather Covered - Leather, Wood, 10 parchment, String, Ink
Grand Tome - Leather, Cloth, Wood, 20 Parchment, 2 nuggets of any metal, String, Ink

Surprised there inst any one that requires gold/silver inlay, silk bindings, etc. Could add another tier to this.

[Lunarius_Haberdash]

+1. Reading a board of player descriptions is a pain. Would also be nice to help bring alts up to speed on recipes, etc.

Wood Covered - Wood, 5 Parchment, String, Ink
Cloth Covered - Cloth, Wood, 20 Parchment, String, Ink
Leather Covered - Leather, Wood, 10 parchment, String, Ink
Grand Tome - Leather, Cloth, Wood, 20 Parchment, 2 nuggets of any metal, String, Ink

Surprised there inst any one that requires gold/silver inlay, silk bindings, etc. Could add another tier to this.

One could, of course. Gold Inlaid Troll leather cover with silk thread and gold fittings is just as viable an option as anything else, but without them having a truly beautiful result that the interface can take advantage of I kinda didn't see the point.

[thesourceofsadness]

All i can add here is +1 to this. A HUGE one.

My room IRL looks like a libriary, so i will collect books in HnH for sure.

[MagicManICT]

Useful, and if inkweed is reintroduced, maybe we could make copies of maps we know and trade them, too.

The only downside I see to this is the big tomes would likely be used to only teach alts crafting materials. New players would either want to discover things on their own, only want something they can't figure out, or need at the present moment.

[Lunarius_Haberdash]

Useful, and if inkweed is reintroduced, maybe we could make copies of maps we know and trade them, too.

Maps you know? Like places you've traveled? What maps?

The only downside I see to this is the big tomes would likely be used to only teach alts crafting materials.

Given that alts are an inevitability at present, there's no reason NOT to do this.

New players would either want to discover things on their own, only want something they can't figure out, or need at the present moment.

Which is still a valid use.

[Ants]

YESSSSSSSS. Oh please yes. It would also be nice to be able to add custom art to pages to make illuminated manuscripts or picture books.

By the way people have already made "books" by putting parchments in cabinets. It's functional enough but not very aesthetically pleasing...


Here's the full story, btw:

sorry if the pages are out of order.