Game Development: Nothing Major

[Pacho]

The problem wasn't there matching against ridges, however; the problem was that they couldn't be built alongside the other kinds of walls (fences or brick-walls). None of them can be built firmly against ridges in all cases, but that is because the ridges aren't perfectly tiled. It is not obvious whether that is something we intend to fix. It could be argued that we should, but there are, likewise, arguments against.

Ah well, I figured that the idea was that if a player could walk through it then you should be able to wall it. As long as its a buildable tiletype <.<

[Delamore]

Are you already disliking them even though they have done nothing? Sounds like a great plan for game growth.

I'm not disliking anyone individually. The new player I met this morning was quite nice, and is likely to be invited to join our village. But - until the map reset the world is already far too crowded, and we're having problems with resource shortages. 200 players at once - many of them making the usual newbie mistakes - and then wanting to build houses, lay out claims, etc. - we're going to be awfully short on trees and even animals, and finding a live cow (for butter) is going to be amazingly difficult, just as soon as we have 200 people wanting to eat something other than fish, and just barely able to kill cows. (I somehow fear that many won't be farming - too difficult to keep your fields functional in a crowded environment, at least until yeomanry, as others will harvest one's crops, and may or may not replant them.)

Hopefully I'm being pessimistic, and we'll have to wait and see - but I'm blessing my palisade every morning, as allowing me to be sure of basics like wheat, never mind valuables.

Are you seriously upset with the players because there are too many of them? That is the games fault not theirs.

[kimya]

i really enjoy walking round the ring seeing newbies walking aorund with their fishing rod and having NO clue what to do
like i was in the beginning. so welcome everyone! have fun!

[EveryTimeV]

Isn't it kind of risky mixing software proficiency with hardware proficiency? Isn't that kind of like crossing the streams?

Oh? Where did you get this "software" from? Maybe it isn't obvious, but the server is actually a gigantic mechanical contraption in Jorb's apartment.

Here's the global state manager (the dial is the in-game time):

cp2.jpg

Here's the much crafting system:

cp1.jpg

Good sir such a contraption should surely make my monocle come out.

In other news the server is yet again down, being refused a connection so many times I should be thinking to myself where this relationship went downhill.

[kobnach]

Are you already disliking them even though they have done nothing? Sounds like a great plan for game growth.

I'm not disliking anyone individually. The new player I met this morning was quite nice, and is likely to be invited to join our village. But - until the map reset the world is already far too crowded, and we're having problems with resource shortages. 200 players at once - many of them making the usual newbie mistakes - and then wanting to build houses, lay out claims, etc. - we're going to be awfully short on trees and even animals, and finding a live cow (for butter) is going to be amazingly difficult, just as soon as we have 200 people wanting to eat something other than fish, and just barely able to kill cows. (I somehow fear that many won't be farming - too difficult to keep your fields functional in a crowded environment, at least until yeomanry, as others will harvest one's crops, and may or may not replant them.)

Hopefully I'm being pessimistic, and we'll have to wait and see - but I'm blessing my palisade every morning, as allowing me to be sure of basics like wheat, never mind valuables.

Are you seriously upset with the players because there are too many of them? That is the games fault not theirs.

No, I'm not upset with them. Not yet. But I'm frustrated with resource shortages and recognize that I'm short on patience. When one of them ... inevitably ... turns great swathes of forest into clay, or chops down the last unclaimed apple tree in some area where I visit frequently, or puts a claim on a public road, or posts something tactless on the forums ... it'll be very easy for me to slip into an "us vs them" mentality.

[EveryTimeV]

No, I'm not upset with them. Not yet. But I'm frustrated with resource shortages and recognize that I'm short on patience. When one of them ... inevitably ... turns great swathes of forest into clay

Oops. That wasn't me was it?

[Erik_the_Blue]

No, I'm not upset with them. Not yet. But I'm frustrated with resource shortages and recognize that I'm short on patience. When one of them ... inevitably ... turns great swathes of forest into clay, or chops down the last unclaimed apple tree in some area where I visit frequently, or puts a claim on a public road, or posts something tactless on the forums ... it'll be very easy for me to slip into an "us vs them" mentality.

You're describing the tragedy of the commons. Three solutions: 1. Privatize the resource(s); 2. make everyone become concerned for their individual long-term interests; 3. move to an area with a lower population density. The infinite map should make (3) more viable (and delay/subvert the tragedy), but (1) and (2) are generally superior in the long-term.

[sabinati]

so who took all the onion looking things and what were they

[theTrav]

so who took all the onion looking things and what were they

Come to lake town or bottleneck and you'll probably be able to trade for some seeds. I wouldn't expect it to be too expensive, and the price will come down fast if you wait until it's disbursed a little.

[Potjeh]

It was yellow onions, and we'll be happy to trade seeds when we get our own farms going.