02-09-2004 20:19									#1
	Interludes..... Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Hey guys....since I'll be putting the wraps on the Event Engine shortly, I wanted to bounce something around here, and that is in-game interludes.

These have been planned pretty much from the start, but so far, I've not written a single word for them.

Given the event engine, and how it's shaping up, these can be considered a minor "sub-type" of event category, rather akin to the World History events I've been designing (see the graphics in Hex's eye candy threads).

The following are the "places" in-game where I envisioned making use of interlude screens. Let me know if this seems too much, not enough, or about right.

Also, if there are other areas in-game where you can see an interlude screen working well, let me know!

Right now, I've got:

* At each tech advance (a la SMAC)

* First time you build each of the provincial improvements (another one taken from SMAC)

* First time you capture a province controlled by a rival faction (as opposed to capturing a neutral province)(a la SMAX, alien conquest)

* First time you lose a province to a rival faction (a la SMAX, alien conquest)

*At each "step change" along the honor/infamy scale

* At the completion of the "wonders" we've got in-game thus far (buildings you can gain access to by way of varioius events) (Civ)

Kick it around with me....

-=Vel=-

	03-09-2004 05:13									#2
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Thought of a couple more:

* When you destroy a rival faction

* When someone else destroys a rival faction (?)

* If a rival faction is "reborn" (currently this is not possible....)

* Game over, military victory

* Game over, you are conquered

* Game over, diplomatic victory

* Game over, diplomatic loss

* Game over, Honor victory

* Game over, Honor loss

*Game over, Infamy victory

-=Vel=-

	03-09-2004 12:15									#3
	Suffering from ads?

As for interludes, they need to be contributing to the atmosphere of the game. This again means that they should be well written, and relate some kind of story that you would not otherwise get in the game.

Perhaps tie it in some way to the Nilroggi, and with each interlude offer tidbits of information about them.

I realize that this is hard to do, if ou can't predict in what order these interludes will appear (it is unknown whether at certain building will be built the first time, before or after you conquer your first province) but I believe that this is something to strive for.

Asmodean

	03-09-2004 13:52									#4
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: As for interludes, they need to be contributing to the atmosphere of the game.

There be too many of them, or them being very predictable might spoil it somehow I think.
That's why I would suggest fro example on the ;

* At each tech advance (a la SMAC)

For them to appear randomly: say with every 3 third tech advance. Though I would like to see a interlude for every tech, i don't really want to see it evry game for every tech.

	03-09-2004 14:31									#5
	Full PM-box? Change here!

quote: Originally posted by alva Though I would like to see a interlude for every tech, i don't really want to see it evry game for every tech.

This can be handled easily via preferences.

Asmodean

	03-09-2004 17:08									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Total agreement re: adding to the atmosphere. The interludes and world history events, unlike many of the "standard" events are much longer and more detailed for that very reason (in working on the history events, I've discovered that I am only averaging about two a day, whereas with the standard events, I can rough out 15-20 at a time without much trouble).

With regards to varying the appearance of certain types of popups and interludes, I agree, and this is another thing we can borrow from EU's playbook....the ability to selectively turn off certain KINDS of interludes (or make it where rather than appear as a popup, they just appear as a footnote in your message box (lower right corner of the menu screen, if memory serves).



-=Vel=-

	03-09-2004 18:24									#7
	Re: Interludes..... Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

quote: Originally posted by Velociryx Hey guys....since I'll be putting the wraps on the Event Engine shortly, I wanted to bounce something around here, and that is in-game interludes.

If they're anything like the other stuff you've written...

	03-09-2004 18:55									#8
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Master Walker!

I'm sure gonna try to make you guys proud....some of the interludes, we'll keep in the vault so they have their maximum impact in-game, but we'll be posting some samples all 'round to make sure that everybody here is jazzed about where we're headed with it....

-=Vel=-

	04-09-2004 11:12									#9
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by Asmodean This can be handled easily via preferences. Asmodean

It's not so much as it being a ( personal) preference, as it keeping some element of surprise.