shiftnative

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!

Enough so that the other player you're engaging with, knows that your character seeks to engage in combat with them.

"Minas or die." shouldn't be against the rules, there just needs to be consequence in-character for doing so.

Very right on many points, I look forward to seeing them through - I'm not sure how many of these changes can be made now but many of these suggestions coincide with 4.0 and it's preparation. So good on you bru, hopefully we can all get back to making this place more cohesive.

 

*Slowly claps*

I'm glad someone noticed.

Also Native, the main idea of of running lotc like a business is to hire people who are more capable then those who we'll get for free. This in itself will raise the level of quality.

 

 

While that certainly is a possibility, I don't think that was the nature of Goldrim's post.

LoTC should be considered and treated as a business, we're just working on a product we can stand behind before promoting it!

The server is doing fine in-terms of funds and we we're working hard to ensure that 4.0 is something we can be glad to promote, you'll see a handful of videos and livestreams over the next two months or so that should hopefully show you that we are passionate, willing and thoughtful.

Rittsy has been reminding the techies frequently to work on new donation perks to coincide with the 4.0 world and the plugins that go along with it.

I'll do my very best to be in the limelight as often as I can and I'll definitely have some 4.0 livestream's over the next week or two - I really want to be the the guy each and everyone looks to, It's just difficult when you've got basically two games to juggle.

Either way, challenge accepted !
 

I agree that I should in theory, be much more upfront and/or portray myself as a leader better - it is difficult for me to promote 3.0 as strongly as I'd like because I wasn't present for it mostly and I have been trying to re-think the whole thing for this map swap.

This new world and it's mechanics will be something I'll be able to get my head around and be proud of again, so that will really help me feel motivated to promote and talk about the server on youtube videos and in live-streams.

There's a ton to prepare for and I'm excited to be just maintaining a game again instead of maintaining one and making one.

In any-case, this post has made me want to be more visible, receptive and weary about how distant I can be - so thank ya Goldrim.

I look forward to showing everyone I've been doing much more than making a map, over these next few months.

Glad this finally happened, sent a long message to Shiftnative a month ago about a lot of these things and nothing has been done since now so I guess..... woot, woot.

To be fair I haven't played in 3.0 hardly at all, I would be ill-equipped in writing and consolidating these rules - They've been talking about updated rules in the GM skype for quite awhile and I'm glad to see it's been made.. and well too!

Sorry I hadn't returned a message to you, I'll PM you why I hadn't.

The Y-axis actually changes alot! and by over 10 blocks more than a few times, but thank you for the other suggestions - I've got a few things in mind and it has changed a bit already since you've been on.

4.0 update #2

(Please excuse my dodgy blueprint.)

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

1. The main road is around 1000 blocks long and has a ton of plots dotted along it for roadside shops, camps, guilds and so on.

2. There will be three different types of mining, "Nation mines", "Themed mines" & "Normal Minecraft mining."

3. Anything built in a free-build region can be dismantled or looted (region flags will let you know.)

4. The map is considerably larger than Anthos.

Other details will come through the month, thanks for reading.

Sporadic said that he is liable for the balances and will change them respectively, sorry for the trouble and thanks for the feedback.

Hey there LoTC, I'm happy to say that we've decided on three new trial GM's - I'm excited to get to know each of them better and help them get into the groove of being a moderator and having fun doing it. 

Feel free to send these three your regards - thanks for reading!

http://www.lordofthecraft.net/user/60239-crayfishchris/

http://www.lordofthecraft.net/user/36148-30326/

http://www.lordofthecraft.net/user/19178-tmgavlan/

p.s - Find me on skype crayfish!

Telinir is fixing this minor issue, no big deal !

I was being sent tons of personal tells ontop of these 35-40 players who were messing with the global tells, I couldn't figure out who was abusing it so I just flipped the switch - I don't have console access and I can't bring it back up and I'm sorry for raining on the parade but it was just a mess..

Currently, chat perms are screwy and anyone was able to send server-wide tells.

I've stopped the server for now (Which is a shame because there was a pretty awesome tournament going on that I was on the way to..)

As soon as one of the tech's is able, they'll sort it - until then go to the 4.0 forum and stir up something awesome.

http://www.lordofthecraft.net/forum/359-40-ideas-and-discussion/

I saw him on yesterday, but I guess it crashed again... 

It's up, it's just that he configured a few things and in-turn broke the whitelist

Tythus broke the server and we can't fix them without him (Mostly just due to who has access and who doesn't.)

I messaged him 12+ hrs ago about it but I am still waiting to receive word so for now we'll just have to wait, sorry for the trouble.

My girlfriend of 6 years,

I absolutely love artwork like this, you know how to fill a frame, paint light and even use depth of field which is not very common - I can't wait to see more of these scenario type ones' !

Topic closed, just ask them next time!

"After much bombardment and bloodshed, the dark citadel was uprooted and it seems it has drifted north from whence it came."

"Our retaliation may certainly beckon consequence so all MUST be weary."

"May Aeriel protect us.."

*A crude drawing depicts an cave-like entrance.*

Sorry Aislin but until I know you're here for the long haul I'm going to choose others,

Denied!

No. No. No.

 

I'd rather be RP'ing then scavenging for food with half a heart, which is what this will lead to for a lot of players, especially new players.

There's ways around it other than just out right dismissing it! What if when you died, you were given efficient provisions automatically or we make a scavenging ability that allowed you to look for food in tall grass, just change the food to expire in much longer or have a food type that doesn't expire at all? (Which I think telanir might of been adding already)

I'm sorry but I don''t think its really needed, I mean yes it creates a diversity, but its so confusing, imagine a new player being forced to learn this in a day.

Tons of players have learned it in a few minutes on the beta server, if you'd like to check it out you're more than able - message me!

Tweaks to some of the variables, changes to the UI as-well as adding a little tutorial area for the grey & whitelist's will certainly help. There's been 20-30 players whitelisted to a normal minecraft map with the plugin active and they've been using it to survive (and a lot of them really like it!) while also letting us know all the tweaks associated with making it easier to understand, easier to use and all that.

If you're interested in checking it out just PM Telanir or myself here on the forum.

Not the first to ask this and too lazy to search for it, whats the size of the map?

2.5k x 3.5k excluding the minecraft generated terrain beyond the canyon. I'm not really sure on how much of it we should generate but probably another couple thousand blocks north & east.

http://livestre.am/4JyLF

There's a video of me walking to every nation capital's area after leaving spawn.