4.0 Update #3

[shiftnative 3103]

4.0 Update #3
 
Hey again LoTC,
 
I want to talk about what 4.0 means, a few ways it changes the game and why we've chosen these changes.
 

 

"We feel that 4.0 is and should be, a more fluid and much-less bewildering game to play."

"Where there is a laundry-list of things to do, clearly defined and coherent boundaries and a million ways to play the game."

"It is also a fantastic time for us to look back at the server's lore, piece it all together and return to lands long since lost."

 

1. Infrastructure
 
When deciding about what to do with regions and land-claim it became clear that there are more than a few different ways to play Lord of The Craft. We thought it was important to try and cater to as many of those play styles as possible and I'll explain which ones' I think we've catered too and how.
 

 
Every biome in the world-painted side of the map will have it's own "neutral" region. These regions will protect the terrain inside of them and will allow us to add specific region "flags" to the region.
 
Within each of these biomes, there will be a handful of smaller regions made that are for players to claim. They'll vary considerably in size and each biome will have as many as can fit comfortably.
 

Which brings us to our first play style,
 

a) Land Obtained through adventure/conquest
 

 

The Idea
When you come across a plot that hasn't been claimed, it will be free-build. In-order to protect the land inside of it, you will need to link your soul-stone(s) to the land.
 
Depending on the size of the plot, it will require a certain number of soul-stones to protect it.

You'll also be able to to use commands like /claim /invite as-well as navigate the Nexus interface in-game to claim and invite other players to help protect the land.
 
If your inhabitants become inactive, their soulstones will no-longer protect the land and your plot may return to free-build if you fall under the required amount of soulstones. (The more members you have, the less you have to worry.)
 
Why
Spreading roleplay out thin is a huge obstacle for minecraft role-playing servers. We wanted the land around spawn and the kingdoms to be valuable as-well as have a fool-proof method of exchanging it between groups. (We didn't forget about you hermits, there will be lots of "1 player required" plots hidden for you to find!)

 

 

 b) Land Obtained through diplomacy
 

 

The Idea
The Nation territories are fairly large and are in the hands of the nation leaders and their subjects to distribute, if you want land without the hassle of managing a plot then being under the rule of a nation might be just what you want.
 
Why
The Racial Nations are and have been the backbone of RP on the server, we certainly don't want them to be the only place roleplay happens but it's important that there be a stable and hospitable place to RP.

 

 
c) Free Land
 

 

The Idea
Free land in 4.0, can be found in the Minecraft generated portion of the map much further away from spawn. You can build where you please, but you cannot protect it.
 
Why
We've decided to keep free-building away from spawn and the capitals because we felt it was important to reward those who could brings groups of players together and not just seize a piece of land and build the biggest castle.

 

 

Here's a ROUGH look at how the regions will be set up.
(Orange borders are the biome regions, black circles are claim-able plots with the required amount of players to protect.)

 

(The map is currently 70% complete but 5-8 builders have recently been added!)
2. War
 

The Idea
Allow groups to refuse war-claims if they desire.
(Only exception is if they are under rule of the attacking faction.)
 
Why
We're all writing this story together and it has proven time and time again that non-conseusal war ends with either a handful of players leaving, grief on the forums or an OOC division between those groups of players. (In-character, one would believe that because the soulstones are being used to protect the settlement - their land cannot be seiged.)
 
With this region claiming plugin, a settlement will lose it's protection if it loses the required amount of players protecting it - so, if absolutely necessary consider the use of more clever and strategic roleplay options like the following,
 
-Attract their players to your settlement instead.
-Refuse trade with them and their allies.
-Rally other factions to refuse trade / access to their settlements.
-Spread propaganda about the faction in question.
-Hire bandits to raid their land.
 
If you've tried all of these and their settlement still does not fall under the required amount of players then give them a round of applause for being committed to their roleplay and leave them be.

 

 
3. Plugins
 

 

Region Plugin : 90%
 
Magic Plugin : 80%
 
Profession Plugin : 65%

 

 

4. Tutorial Area

 

 

The Idea

4.0 will have a tutorial area that briefs players not only on commands but things to remember when roleplaying, how to provide a better experience for others and how to handle certain scenarios.
 

Why

Because roleplaying games by nature, are complex. Put it into a sandbox game and you've got a doozy, it's important that we're all on the same page when it comes to mechanics, rules and etiquette.

 

5. Lore & Server Promotion
 

We didn't want 4.0 to be just some other land mass found floating around somewhere, we wanted to come full circle and be able to visit places in the story we never even thought of visiting over the past few years.

 

Rittsy and his LM's have been creating specific lore for each region and heaps of stories for ruins, dungeons & easter-eggs.
 
We're also working to retell the server's lore from ancient to present in a 10 minute video, ending with our expedition to 4.0 and what may await us there. Either drawn, animated or just of panning screenshots. (We've got the script ready we're just trying to find the right medium to accompany the story-telling.)
 
If you'd like to help, or know someone who does - shoot me a PM. We may be willing to commission something.

 

 

Remember to promote the server!

[Raptorious 1899]

First.

 

 

 

 

 

I feel ill for doing that.

[Cappy 1599]

Firstish

[-♣- Ƙindled -♣- 203]

Third

 

[TheNinox 59]

5th.

 

Any chance at smaller plots for VIP again?

 

I don't mean the old days of huge plots of free land, but maybe 15x15 areas that we can have approved? VIPs are slowly having their perks removed and it's quite hard to justify it anymore as we donate and then lose things.

[mmat 7460]

More snow would be fantastic, I haven't seen it yet but the snow north of the human area looks very thin and patchy on the map. Snowy wastelands are always fun! Maybe the river north of there could be frozen with Taiga hill biomes, etc. I gotta say I like the map but I feel that the rivers are too wide, where there could be more land.

[argonian 14254]

More snow would be fantastic, I haven't seen it yet but the snow north of the human area looks very thin and patchy on the map. Snowy wastelands are always fun! Maybe the river north of there could be frozen with Taiga hill biomes, etc. I gotta say I like the map but I feel that the rivers are too wide, where there could be more land.

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes. Northern, harsh snowy areas are awesome. And the snowy area above Oren is patchy and mountainous, so it'll probably be hard to explore(since LOTC mountains are usually extremely steep) and impossible to build on.

[mmat 7460]

As for the war aspect of 4.0 I really do not care if there is no war between nations unless there is consent, but make it so people can't just make a terrible 4 person town and then pull the 'but our soulstone is protecting us!!11" card when a larger nations attempts to euthanize them, that would be a disaster. Allow larger nations to dictate terms to smaller independent settlements or allow them to destroy them.

[Wobbajack 119]

Looks great! 4.0 is gonna be amazing.

[Hiebe 2493]

Looks good native, glad to see the number required for plots has dropped dramatically from what o saw.before.

[Terafir 90]

Looks good to me. I'm hoping that with the 'ability to refuse warclaim so that you have to find other methods to kick them off land' it will create more dynamic war and conquest than just a single battle which everything hinges on. Goodd work.

[Han Solo 35]

To claim space for say, a village or a town, do we need to be VIPs? Can only VIPs create soulstones?

[Graceful Bucko 65]

Guuci.

I'll have to make a dark artist's guild somewhere.

Like a frat house of murder and abyssal conjuring.

To claim space for say, a village or a town, do we need to be VIPs? Can only VIPs create soulstones?

If that is the case..

/me sighs

Sad day.

[Mankaar 166]

So, beautiful.. can we get an estimate on the overall progress of 4.0 ( in percentage like the plugins ) as well? pwease and thanks shift!

[shiftnative 3103]

5th.

 

Any chance at smaller plots for VIP again?

 

I don't mean the old days of huge plots of free land, but maybe 15x15 areas that we can have approved? VIPs are slowly having their perks removed and it's quite hard to justify it anymore as we donate and then lose things.

Aye, we may have it so when VIP's join plots, they require less players to protect them - but there's been talk of small plots in the minecraft terrain as-well - what do you think?

 

 

To claim space for say, a village or a town, do we need to be VIPs? Can only VIPs create soulstones?

 

Nay, you won't need to be a VIP to claim any of these predetermined plots

 

 

So, beautiful.. can we get an estimate on the overall progress of 4.0 ( in percentage like the plugins ) as well? pwease and thanks shift!

Thanks & surely, I'll add it to the original post