AP Community Project [Released]

[Ketraar]

Cheers Scion Drakhar, good points. Up front maybe a hint to the "work base" summary in OP that should imo give some insight what most agree. To your specific questions, here some info from my end.

Regarding Plots, I think its safe to say that there are 3 "main" plots.

• 1. Establishing player corporation
  2. Deepspace exploration (Split scientist)
  3. Own sector

Now all 3 can interact with each other, in fact from a design point of view I'd like to do something we did in OLE, which is to have some choices the player makes at some point impact missions later on, this is usually combined with multiple choice missions, meaning IF player does A later a mission can be easy, if player does B its going to be harder (just an example). This is not vital for storytelling, but if aware when writing they can be planed upfront.

Like I suggested to EJ last night, story writer can also just go ahead and write a rough script based on what has been said, include what you see as appealing to most and run with it. Once a rough script is done present it to the rest so adjustments can be made if necessary. I think since the basics are set its up to the writers to come up with a story imo, they do have the skills. Say the Split scientist thing, eldyranx3 posted a text informing of X lore to what can be info on a plot, take that and the rest of scattered info and run that. I for one only can suggest very rough guide to what I'd expect as outcome, not going to suggest any "story" other than say I like it or not, I lack the skills for more. If there are specifics any writer thinks are missing, post them here and we'll get to it asap.

Also its not mandatory to have 1 major story, we can run 3 (1 per plot) and just tie them together, this would allow for more writers to do their story in their style. If so it would be good if people inform here who is doing what.

Hope that was of some help. I also may create a list of tasks open for decision or clarification, to narrow down things and make it more clear. If workload permits it'll be sooner, otherwise later this evening should be possible.

MFG

Ketraar

[EmperorJon]

Considering the number of story writers I'd suggest we form a group, and that we all work on the same story at once. There's too few stories to choose ONE person to do ONE story, if we want everyone equally involved.

So:

We group together, consider all the stuff posted here (A 1 post/OP summary of ALL plot stuff would be great, btw. ), decide as a group how we should begin the story, right from the start, and then each offer our own opinions, flesh it out, bring it back here and let everyone else pick at it for a bit, then allocate bits to be written by certain people or just try and do it as one whole.

If we break the plots up into 3 specific parts, it gives us an advantage. We can complete the writing of part 1, and then those actually MAKING that part of the story can begin their work. If we have 2 definite gaps between 1 and 2, and 2 and 3, then it's the gaps that matter. Even if half way through part 1 being implemented we decide to change part 2, it doesn't matter, because of the BUFFER between which is the common end.
Eg. we decide to totally change how part 2 works,but it doesn't matter to part 1 because part 2 still starts at the gap after part 1 finishes. I'm overcomplicating, you all understand I'm sure.

[DrBullwinkle]

There is the risk of "too many cooks".

Even with multiple contributors, there should be a single lead/editor for each story.

[Killjaeden]

@Jumee deriving something from player actions is never a good idea, because he may not want the result - giving direct choice is always better.

the possible incremental expansion of the accelerator highway. (Which in my opinion would be awesome.

Only problem is that they are PC ressource hogs, so if it is expanded at all it should be very limited. The plot can end with "Thank you for your service, thanks to you we can continue building the highwaysystem" - doesn't need building of additional pieces, but the player knows it's going to happen in the future

Even with multiple contributors, there should be a single lead/editor for each story.

I agree.

[X2-Illuminatus]

But making videos will be very time consuming i think.

Actually, I don't think so. In fact, I think there is a little misunderstanding about the scale of video implementation I suggested here. I was not suggesting to make a trailer or short movie with special effects, conversations by different actors or the like. What I have in mind are a few short videos - short as in 10 to 20 seconds, so we end up with video material with a total length of say 1 or 1.5 minutes. The videos should give an idea of a past situation - they don't have to tell an own complete storyline, but should rather have a supporting character.

@X2's last post
- building a new race for it to be destroyed would be overkill. Stations, some ships... it's too much just for a video.

Well, I didn't think of creating another race at all. I rather thought of using the assets we would use/create for the idea in the first place, which would be the strange installation + a unique ship. To show a peaceful sector it would imho suffice to place several of these installations within the whole sector and show constant streams of ships between them. One or two of those could then be shown in a close-up (for example, when defending the installation against the attackers). Of course, a second ship or station would be cool, but it's far away from being a must-have for this kind of stuff.

[Ketraar]

I rephrase the 3 plots thing, they CAN be completely separate stories, there is no one telling we MUST do ONE big story.

So considering there are quite a few writers that would allow for more split work-flow, say 1-2 writers per plot instead of all doing a big one (the too many cooks thing). This does not exclude the possibility for the plots to share bits and being later on tied together or affect things in each other.

there should be a single lead/editor for each story

Sorry don't agree with this, it beats the logic of community project (even if its not as practical). I do think that following the idea of "who is doing it, can do it right" and combine it with common sense, the writers, which are not THAT many (5 if I counted right). So unless people think we should do a all in one huge plot thing, I don't see the need for a director. It would make sense for a all-in-one plot story though.

(A 1 post/OP summary of ALL plot stuff would be great, btw. Wink),

Already said I'll be doing an update on the summary (task list) once I get around to do it, time permitting, otherwise you will have to wait until this evening.

@Highways
Dont think its an option to add highways outside of Albion Sectors, take that into consideration.

MFG

Ketraar

[jack775544]

I think it would be great if the plot's started from one point and then finished together as well.
A basic outline that fits with the hightech rewards
Part 1
A Paranid contacts and independent spcacer (you) and asks you to investigate some leads into 2 artifacts that were stolen from him by the Yaki. He believes that the Yaki sold off these artifacts to different sources for a large amount of credits. You must go and infiltrate the pirate syndicate and steal their records to find who they sold it to. **Insert some great THINK plot device here**
After hacking the Yaki records you have found that one artifact has been sold to a rouge female split scientist that has been exiled from Split space, who was researching deep space exploration, and the other was sold to JSDD.

Part 2a, The Scientist
The reason that she was exiled was that after an accident involving Xenon and a UFJD sector that resulted in the death of many split, including the son prominent member of the Split government. After searching several UFJD sectors you will reach one that is covered in a thick purple nebula, with many derelict Khaak and Paranid vessels floating dead in spce. This sector was obviously once the place of a great battle, possibly being one of the first places that the Paranid battled the Khaak. The first thing that you find is a deactivated gate. After further exploring the Nebula you find a large mobile mining fleet that is transporting all the Nividium in the sector to a split TL as well as an asteroid complex that has some sort or targetting array facing towards the gate.
Abord this station is the rouge Split scientist, who states that the artifiact is a central piece to her research and she tells you that mining Nividium is the only way to get a potent enough energy to activate it. She also tells you that she has been looking for such a device for many years (hence her UFJD research). When you ask what does the artifact does, the split scientist says that she will do better and show you its effects if you can get her a large load of crystals to help restore its focusing array. After you return with these she activates the device, reactivating the dormant gate as well as clearing much of the fog in the sector! When you ask her on the supposed origin of the artifact she is interrupted by a group of Split commanded by the patriarch whose son died on the UFJD accident. After putting up a valiant effort the Split scientist is destroyed however the player can claim the artifact for his Paranid employer before the Split. When the Split attack force leaves you then claim the sector for yourself.

Just ran out of time I will post the rest of my ideas (JSDD and Final sections) for this plot tommorow.

[apricotslice]

@Highways
Dont think its an option to add highways outside of Albion Sectors, take that into consideration.

If egosoft adds new plots in later patches, highways plots are the most likely to be added imo. I would think they would advance the story on how the highways get built all around the universe. At the moment, all we have is a start system, so there is plenty of scope for extension plots.

Hence we should avoid that.

On a personal note, I dont think in Split or Paranid very well, so I'd prefer to stay away from doing those sorts of character writing. I'm more of an Argon/Terran thinker, as my mods to date have stuck firmly in the Argon. Perhaps make a note of that for future job allocation.

[Scion Drakhar]

jack775544, I really like much of that. It's a good basic plot with a lot of detail. I think it would be pretty easy to flesh out and create a fun story to fit it. My only issue is with the "Paranid" employer. I just balked whenever it was mentioned. Now I don't really care what race the employer is, I'd simply like to suggest that the character that starts the main plot be somewhat buffered from race affiliations, at least as much as possible. That way if I'm playing a character that is waging war on the Paranid empire (eh, it happens) I'll still be able to begin the plot.

Now, regarding the player-corporation plot line I'm seeing several factors for how that plays out. One is whether there is a single option for being "Incorporated" or many, and if many will all the races / factions offer the ability? Personally I'd love to create a shady, barely legal corporation that came into being because of the back room deals, murder and blackmail the Yaki used to get it rammed through one or another race legislatures ... but I do tend to play a pirate. So my second consideration is whether the corporation is on the up and up or not. And lastly is the character emphasizing trade or combat in his/her play style. Once that's done and a series of missions, objectives are established then tying them all together with dialogue choices should be pretty simple.

Did any of that make sense? Some times I honestly don't know.

[EmperorJon]

We have 7 people, I think, down for writing skills, so I definitely would go with the idea of...

Deciding on a rough outline for our (3?) stories and how (if?) they're linked at all.
Deciding who's going to work on which, splitting into groups. (of 2?)
Working on them.
Sharing among the other groups, providing suggestions, etc. until deemed suitable.
Sharing with the rest of the project to make sure they're feasible.
Repeating these last 3 stages as necessary.

[X2-Illuminatus]

Only problem is that they are PC ressource hogs, so if it is expanded at all it should be very limited.

Maybe they could be destroyed due to some reason?
Possible reasons:
- defence algorithm of the strange installation against possible attackers
- malfunction of the strange installation
- selfdestruction
- the player destroys the strange installation, which
- war around the question, who gets the strange installation and its secrets

Depending on the exact reason, the destruction of the new built highways could then be a reason for a conflict within the plot or the result of it.

I can only emphasise that I really like the idea of using the highways somehow. Especially as we already have a good story background for it as well as the assets. However, if it turns out to be too much of a hassle, then of course the idea of just telling that the highway construction is going to be continued soon and to justify the other happenings with it, would be a possibility.

there should be a single lead/editor for each story

Sorry don't agree with this, it beats the logic of community project (even if its not as practical). I do think that following the idea of "who is doing it, can do it right" and combine it with common sense, the writers, which are not THAT many (5 if I counted right). So unless people think we should do a all in one huge plot thing, I don't see the need for a director. It would make sense for a all-in-one plot story though.

Personally I'm not that worried about the question, who is doing what, in case of story telling and development. I think this is something, which simply turns out, as time and discussion goes by. We already discussed the idea about the Split scientist and the strange installation a lot. Now someone might just go a head and write a story combining the mentioned with some new ideas. On the other hand Scion Drakhar (or someone else) might just write a good story everyone likes and that's it.

If egosoft adds new plots in later patches...

That's a huge "If".

I'd simply like to suggest that the character that starts the main plot be somewhat buffered from race affiliations, at least as much as possible.

Sure, with the previous X3AP plots in mind, who lay the focus on certain races (Argon, Terran), it is certainly a welcome change to have a plot or plot part, which is indepent from races as such.

Personally I'd love to create a shady, barely legal corporation that...

Personally, I would say, if you love to write something like this, then simply do it.

[dillpickle]

Did any of that make sense? Some times I honestly don't know.

Bodes well from the story writer...

Buffering from race affiliations can be a difficult thing, as at some point their will need to be some interaction - docking at a station for example.
Keeping a plot based around one race minimizes those that have to choose a ceasefire with that race and rebuild rep to do the plot or leave it for another game start. The more races you spread the plot around to keep it 'neutral' the larger that group of player becomes.

On way to maybe keep it neutral would be to use the Pirates or Yaki and give the player the choice if a race needs to be 'picked on' - it's also a bit more in keeping with their nature if you need to hack reputation and stations to get the player on board if needed.

[eldyranx3]

If egosoft adds new plots in later patches...

That's a huge "If".

I was under the impression that was what we are doing Instead of trying to construct three parallel plots, I propose we concentrate on one. Once that is finished, we can build off the end of that for a second one. Once that is finished, we can build off that one ...

Jonferco built the Highway system in segments because it was a huge undertaking. I suggest we start with the Split Scientist / Jonferco Drive / Highway expansion plot just because it has the most development so far. We seed some NPC's that will show up in a Corporate plot. We forshadow the rise of shadow corporations and possible gate system shutdown / Xenon containment. In the end, something BIG BLOWS UP.

I call it, the EJ supernova

But it all starts somewhere. And we have to vote on what that beginning is.

[EmperorJon]

Where have you got this idea that I like stuff to explode?

Anyway, yeah, I've got a good thrashed out idea for that plot anyway.


How about, Split group steals Jonferco's Highway Tech to use for better engines, horrible accident causes freak jump event, Xenon station or whatever allows even BETTER development stuff, they give you the prototype ship thing, there's some hired bounty hunters or something trying to steal it off you, then you have to go somewhere to reason with them and maybe rescue some of the split scientists? Then maybe you have to erase the evidence so Jonferco doesn't know you're involved, and that will obviously include exploding something massive.

[eldyranx3]

Personally I'd love to create a shady, barely legal corporation that came into being because of the back room deals, murder and blackmail the Yaki used to get it rammed through one or another race legislatures ... but I do tend to play a pirate.

I don't know how familiar you are the Beryll, but I've always felt their rise to an illegal technology syndicate had huge potential.

[Ketraar]

If the player corporation meant then I point to where we said to leave it open for the player to choose his/her path from a set of options. If its an NPC corporation I have nothing against it, but its rather impractical to use anything that is named without having sound for it, just pointing it out (I know it sucks but adding Betty sound is a PITA, but I will gladly be told otherwise).

From a gameplay perspective I'd suggest to keep the player neutral, if at all possible I'd leave the player character blank. This would let players fill it with their own role (it also allows for both Terran and Arngon starts). How and if that is any good or even possible I leave it to those who know.

MFG

Ketraar

[EmperorJon]

Why not make the shady tech-stealing rogue corp an arm of the beryll. It could even be a ROGUE arm of the beryll... lots of potential for plot twists and fighting.

[dillpickle]

If its an NPC corporation I have nothing against it, but its rather impractical to use anything that is named without having sound for it, just pointing it out (I know it sucks but adding Betty sound is a PITA, but I will gladly be told otherwise).

There are around 25 Corp sounding names on pageid="301000" that are all voiced by Betty...

Considering:

The Beryll, in fact a part of the Yaki Syndicate,

Would lead me to believe they're somewhat shady to start with...

[eldyranx3]

Just as an FYI, Jonferco and the Beryll have close ties, which is why we see both corps in the Albion Sectors. So from a story line perspective, linking the Corporate plot into the end of the JonFerco drive plot would be very intuitive.

[eldyranx3]

The Beryll, in fact a part of the Yaki Syndicate.

Would lead me to believe they're somewhat shady to start with...

Considering even the Paranid were hesitant to let Winters continue his AGI experiments? That says a lot. The Argon Secret Service needed ships (and lots of them) to counter the Terran's technological superiority. Desperate, Argons contacted the Yaki for assistance. The Beryll were desperate to expand their technological markets, and the Argon desperately needed AGI drones.

Enter Dr. Winters, who leads the Beryl into creating the AGI drone swams that overwhelm USC/ATF fleet defenses once the Torus blows up, killing millions just because the Terrans wouldnt share their toys.

I'll call that, kinda shady