Incline Wizardry 8 Enhancements - A Call to Arms!

[Kaucukovnik]

Work in progress - Marten's Pagoda

What do you think? Blatant rehash of existing architecture? Clever variation? Meh?

Will add some custom art to make it stand out a bit. Thinking of some more tribal decorations and maybe some new depictions of Marten's deeds. Maybe distinct lighting could do wonders. But my goal is to mesh with vanilla content seamlessly, so don't be afraid of some BOOM AwesomeButUnfittingShit!

So far all was done in Cosmic Forge remixing vanilla assets. But I have finally figured out the Blender obj export with UV mapping, so I will start adding custom objects now. I'd like to make some new, real dungeon from scratch. Matching Wiz8 complexity shouldn't be that difficult. And I've always liked making architecture, starting with papercraft.

 

[DraQ]

What do you think? Blatant rehash of existing architecture? Clever variation? Meh?

A bit too much of a rehash, I think.

Maybe distinct lighting could do wonders.

It always does.
Unreal was built entirely on this assumption.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

The trees are a bit much I think.
I think you would do well to add some floating lamps like those you see in that magic free zone.
It also helps to add some mysticism, which Trynton is chock full of remember.
Perhaps a magic refill fountain of some sort (like on the first level of Trynton, the one that hex's you).
What's going to be in Marten's Pagoda?

 

[Rpgsaurus Rex]

Work in progress - Marten's Pagoda

What do you think? Blatant rehash of existing architecture? Clever variation? Meh?

Will add some custom art to make it stand out a bit. Thinking of some more tribal decorations and maybe some new depictions of Marten's deeds. Maybe distinct lighting could do wonders. But my goal is to mesh with vanilla content seamlessly, so don't be afraid of some BOOM AwesomeButUnfittingShit!

So far all was done in Cosmic Forge remixing vanilla assets. But I have finally figured out the Blender obj export with UV mapping, so I will start adding custom objects now. I'd like to make some new, real dungeon from scratch. Matching Wiz8 complexity shouldn't be that difficult. And I've always liked making architecture, starting with papercraft.

Nice one!

You might also want to look into the blatantly unfinished areas in the original that need work. For instance, Arnika and its 90% empty housing.

Some modders went over the top and filled them with tasteless crap. (Dodd's, lunastralis)

A simple nice refurbishment with a monster encounter, some interior objects + maybe even a hidden exit/portal to somewhere would be perfect.

 

[DraQ]

You might also want to look into the blatantly unfinished areas in the original that need work. For instance, Arnika and its 90% empty housing.

I've always thought that inhabitants fled and took their stuff with them, except for those close to the tower who fled as they stood.

There is still this house sealed by HLL, maybe allow player to enter it somehow and find stuff? Was it Marten's?

 

[Major_Blackhart]

I figured the city was empty save for a few holdouts because of the Savant's tower really.
That's why it was so dangerous.

 

[Rpgsaurus Rex]

You might also want to look into the blatantly unfinished areas in the original that need work. For instance, Arnika and its 90% empty housing.

I've always thought that inhabitants fled and took their stuff with them, except for those close to the tower who fled as they stood.

There is still this house sealed by HLL, maybe allow player to enter it somehow and find stuff? Was it Marten's?

This would make sense, except there is a "fish store", a bank, a blacksmith and an inn - surely they weren't there in a deserted town just waiting for an adventurer party to show up? Well, there are the monks and Higardi patrols, fair enough, but it's still kinda fishy.

In any case, I don't mind the "everyone fled" explanation. It's fine, it makes sense (Savant tower is dangerous), a game is an abstraction etc. But - from a gameplay perspective - why not fill at least a few (not all) abandoned houses with some content, like monster encounters, hidden items and such? As it is, it's just "open door => empty house", "open door => empty house", 10+ times. A wasted opportunity IMO. Don't go full-on tacky "every house must have imba vendor/item" a la Dodd/lunastralis, but you get my drift.

 

[Johannes]

Adding an option to choose how you start the game would be nice, without having to replay Wiz7 for that.

 

[Kaucukovnik]

Playing with textures...

Thanks for being honest, since my own perception is jaded after hours spent with those meshes.


Arnika - yes! I think some furniture will be a nice start with imported geometry before I start something bigger.

And any ideas are welcome
-new areas
-expanded existing areas
-new encounters and loot found in new areas, to make sense and preferably contribute to the story


EDIT: alternate starts - great idea, I'll look into it. I'll try to make it play the apropriate intro as well.
And what about the ring? Should we "emulate" Wiz6 export too?

 

[Rpgsaurus Rex]

I'm not so keen about "alternate start" idea personally, as that means at least 2 areas in-game that are closed/uninteresting to other playthroughs (for being too low level). With unlimited modding resources (mainly, time) it would be great, sure, but IMO it's better not to overextend one's goals so much and focus on creating a great one-time (albeit linear, yes...) experience as opposed to several good ones.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

That looks much better actually.
I would suggest some enemies of some sort.
The place is probably a bit holy to the Trynnies, so maybe some oak saplings or some such.
What are you going to put in there?

 

[Kaucukovnik]

I was thinking of:

a) guardians of the sacred place as you suggest. The building could have a 10 tumbler lock, keeping low level parties out, so the battle could be considerably harder than the rest of Trynton.
b) Savant's servants who are after Marten's secret, the player could get another hint at Savant's plans from them.

Still hoping for something better, more spectacular, but fitting. It definitely needs to be tied to the story at least a little, or its presence will never feel natural.

Items found in there will most likely include some Monk equipment. Maybe some bard instrument too?

And Blender seems to be good friends with Cosmic Forge after all. Managed to import entire Arnika, and except a few missing textures and trees being upside down, everything looks all right.
Exporting whole areas back is probably stupid, but building everything in Blender, then exporting the new geometry only and placing it in CF all at once still sounds pretty comfortable compared to CF's built-in modelling and texturing tools. Don't get me wrong, it's incredible piece of software and I proclaim Mad God, its creator a genius!

But if the guys who made all these mods used only CF, it's no wonder the new areas look the way they do. Actually, amazing job at times.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Nice, putting guardians there would definitely be good.
I wouldn't suggest a ten tumbler lock.
Rather, I would say put an item in Marten's Bluff or someplace else and make it a key for this location.
Make us do some scouring of the earth for it man!
Besides that, some Monk gear is sorely needed.
Maybe a set or robes, or enchanted Nunchaku. That would be an interesting concept.

 

[Kaucukovnik]

You are right, simple lock is boring.


My first new object:

Now just some clutter on it...

It may become a cointainer, but I'm not animating the doors.

 

[DraQ]

This would make sense, except there is a "fish store", a bank, a blacksmith and an inn - surely they weren't there in a deserted town just waiting for an adventurer party to show up?

RPG.

Playing with textures...

Thanks for being honest, since my own perception is jaded after hours spent with those meshes.

I think it might look better this way, still, maybe try messing around with the layout a bit so that it isn't a rehash of anti-magic courtyard, add some z-axis, think of the purpose of this place:

Is it where Marten was hiding out? Make it fairly utilitarian, a place to live in. Add some possible lookout posts too, Marten was likely wary of his HLL pursuers. Or maybe remove all possible lookout posts instead to emphasize that Destinae Dominus essentially made Marten into the awesomest oracle ever?

Did it serve any role later on? Maybe a Marten memorial - you know how Trynnies love their carved idols?

Anyway, have some clear concept of the place.

EDIT: alternate starts - great idea, I'll look into it. I'll try to make it play the apropriate intro as well.
And what about the ring? Should we "emulate" Wiz6 export too?

I don't see why not. Alternate start content is already in.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Go for it.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

But also, I'd like to point out that I utterly agree with DraQ on the designs in some respects of Marten's Pagoda.
My suggestion however is a bit different.
Keep certain utilitarian aspects of it, yes, but at the same time, Trynnies are nothing if not artistic peoples. I can definitely see them artsying up the place like crazy after Marten left.
Sure, they'd keep alot of the stuff he left behind, writings and such, in pristine condition. Maybe organized into a little library perhaps? He might have been a busy beaver. Who knows how long he really stayed with them.
It might even be haunted by higardi spirits of some sort. Restless spirits that spawn until they're put to rest? Nah, too much like the cemetery.
But putting in ghosts would definitely be a good idea.
So, my ideas?
Ghosts of some sort (the harder type Higardi Spirits) and a library. Could have a few spellbooks and scrolls in there as well, and clues as to where Marten went, maybe a bit of insight into his particular breed of madness (basically knowing everything at once, way too much man).

What type of lock? Just a simple find this and put it here type of lock, like the others. However, my suggestion is to put it someplace different, maybe unexpected. You could put it in the Sea Caves, but that's a bit too high level of a place maybe, maybe too of a wait. I do suggest that, like all Wiz 8 puzzles, minimal hints if any at all be given. Just "you see an empty space. Something square should go here perhaps." yada yada yada.

I also strongly suggest some sort of fountain in there, maybe across from the meditation spot in the center of the pagoda. Gussy that bad boy up with some art, hanging vines, flowers and shit of Trynnie styling.

 

[DraQ]

a library

Which means a good reason to think about which spellbooks aren't exactly accessible in game.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Rare, but not overly powerful.
Perhaps Psionic books should be given precedence, as they're not too common in the game if I recall.
And Marten is mindsnapped after all.

 

[Kaucukovnik]

Awesome ideas, I see the place shaping up nicely...


Starting a new interior from scratch in Blender, for a new crypt in the graveyard.

Just a little proof of concept:

(got lazy with the floor and used vanilla texture, couldn't wait to see it in motion.

In the end I will most likely make heavy edits to the pagoda as well, seeing that import/export is no big deal.

 

[Rpgsaurus Rex]

Kaucukovnik

Whoa, exciting!

Have you thought about making a monastery-like dungeon but mid/late game-oriented? Even a small one would be fantastic, with a puzzle a two, a few monsters groups and a boss encounter + treasure, maybe even a quest piece. I could continue with the ideas, but I'm sure you have your own artistic vision and don't want peasants to interfere.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

Holy cow, you surely are progressing quickly.

All those shitty vapourware crpgs people make so much fuss about should be handed over to you.

 

[Ranselknulf]

Looks nice. so you are able to make 20 new zones?

What sort of size restrictions do you have.


I always imagined an Island off that zone where you enter the Trynnie Tree house. You know where you climb down that rope and run around the water. Or maybe a pirate cove, no not those kinds of pirates. I'm thinking like space pirates that hide their ships in a cave along the ocean.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

That would be pretty interesting actually, pretty fucking cool.
I don't think it needs to be made into a new zone tho. Just edit the existing map appropriately.

 

[Kaucukovnik]

Another update, most of the rough architecture is done. 15k vertices, 13k+ faces (before triangulation)
Shots made in Blender so the lighting and shadows will be totally different in-game.

Spoiler

The major limitation isn't total polycount, but density. So it's a good idea to put detail-intensive places further apart. Managed to overload the game with several unoptimized statues in one room. The game needs adjajcent geometry compiled into groups, but none of them can exceed 10k triangles for the game to run the area. The room with two knight sarcophagi was such case before optimizations.

I will be making my additions as new zones, because I don't see myself reaching the limit anytime soon, and it should also reduce the risk of me screwing the vanilla content somehow.

And yes, I plan to use most of these additions as rather late-game stuff that teases you with locked doors for half the game, muhehehe!