Sagas RPG.com

Well, it is kind of back on. The simple answer to the complicated story that has been Digital Pen n Paper is that I can’t really afford a programming team. While some people have helped along the way, a full commitment has been unavailable. The answer to the problem, I believe, was that eventually I would have to learn to do it myself and make it happen. No easy task. I have the design document, and the plan. So the largest part is over. The details, such as making this happen, are the crux of the development delima. Luckily, I love a challenge.

The challenge is that I have to learn programming. While that seems a daunting task, it is not so daunting for me. I have worked on some mods for video games such as Neverwinter Nights. While this may sound fairly weak at first glance (and it is), it does give me some foundation. I have an idea of how programming is done. I understand some very basic fundamentals and structure. While this does not give me a lot of actual experience, it gives me a lot to build from as I don’t have to learn some very basic principles. I can apply some of what I have learned through modding into actually learning a full blown language.

So the task was, what language to use. I looked over a lot, the pros and cons, as well as something that resembled things I have done before. I settled on one of three, C+, C#, or Java. Ultimately, I am building (for now at least) in C#. It has a robust toolbox in the form of Microsoft Visual C#. I bought a few books last week, and I am off and running.

At this point I am only working on two components. One is my own development component which will build the resource files for the second component. This second component for you, the player. I am building a Character Generator first which I will release as  a free download. The character generator is actually one part of what will ultimately be a 4-part program. My dev program is actually another component, but this will only be released in the final program.

To give you some insight into what will come up for final release I can really only outline what will be released as a product. The first thing to answer is: yes the DPnP is a kind of virtual table top gaming software. However, it is designed for E-RPG and goes way beyond being a virtual table top program. The program will be released in three versions: 1 is the Player’s Client. It allows you to create characters and play them online. The second is the GM Client which allows you to build content and host games online for play. The third is the program with both components. The program will also be modular in that you will be able to purchase additional components such as campaign packages. Further, you can create and share content. Lastly, it will work for all E-RPG system games.

So, initially I am building part of one component, the character generator for the Player’s content, and the Campaign Toolbox which is part of the GM component.

There is, of course, a lot more to this than I can actually say. We are doing things with this program that I find funny that no one has done before. At least, in the sense that no one has thought to combine a lot of the features we are combining. Until I actually get working versions built and ready for release, I can’t give any details. I know that what I have given seems like nothing new, but trust me when I say, this is going to be something that you didn’t know you wanted, until you actually have it in your hands.

On one last final note, there will be no additional fees for running the games online or getting community content. You buy the program and you are done, unless you want additional official content.

I am also hoping to have a working prototype of the Character generator within 1-2 weeks. I have a couple more things to teach myself still. Truth is, there is only one more key component left to learn before I can tie the dev program and the character generator together. Then all I have left is to package them up neatly and get it ready. The actual program itself is usable. I could actually package it today and let you play around with it. Unfortunately, it is not doing exactly what I want, which is behind the curtain sort of stuff. So until I do get those working you will have to be patient.

One last note, simply because I am developing this by myself does not mean I am closing the process off. If anyone out there is familiar with C# or any other programming language that might be of help (such as integrating DB and such) I wouldn’t mind an additional brain to pick on sorting through some of the murk here. Please, drop me a line via email (use the info email on the contacts page) or through PM on the forums, or if you don’t mind being public you can leave a comment here.

This entry was posted on Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 8:13 am and is filed under DPnP, Developer Blog, E-RPG General Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.