Feature Creep 101
First I'd like to note that as thing stand right now, I'll be releasing the Tier 1 beta on May 1st. I'm just tired of the GECK right now.
Now let's talk about feature creep. There are a lot of features that I'd like to implement but are kind of unnecessary. Thankfully, I'm smart enough to recognize which they are (most of the time). But I also foresee large periods of inactivity due to waiting for concepts for future missions. So here are some things, in no particular order, that will eventually be added to Agent, probably between Tiers.
Assumed Statistics
Note that relationship statistics are different and will be included in Agent from the beginning, though you won't really notice any impact until much later than Tier 1.
The PC consistently has alternate dialogue options depending on, say, their Intelligence. But how often does a NPC think you're just an idiot? Agent will have a constantly shifting system of Assumed Statistics. Say you do something intelligent, like come up with a good alternate plan for a mission. Bryce's opinion of your Intelligence will go up and he'll ask your opinion more often. On the other hand, say you do something incredibly stupid. His opinion of your Intelligence drops drastically and it's less likely you'll be involved in planning anything important (or at all). Get his opinion down low enough and he'll talk to you like you're an idiot, because as far as he's concerned you are. This wouldn't just be for Intelligence. Make a lot of keen observations and you might be sent out as a Scout on the next mission instead of staying behind.
In other words, you can't just go "[strength 10] Sure I can lift that car." You also need to have shown the NPC that you are actually strong enough to do that, or else they'll just assume you're messing with them or (if their opinion of your Intelligence is also low) that you're just spouting nonsense yet again. Note that Charisma is the only SPECIAL stat that does not have an Assumed version. These stats will be set via specific in-game actions/dialogues.
Open for discussion: I am considering having any NPC who sees you wearing glasses assume you have the Four Eyes perk; if they see you again without glasses they assume your Perception has dropped. Thoughts?
But you may be asking: Will everyone I meet assume I'm an idiot. And the answer is twofold. First, no. Assumed Statistics have a default value, usually 5, though some NPCs may be more generous with their initial assessments. Second, this is why we have the even more ambitious...
Social Networking
Note that this has nothing to do with Facebook.
People talk to other people. This feature simulates this. Say you do something really dumb and now Bryce thinks you're a moron. He'll certainly tell his senior staff. And at least two of them will certainly tell someone else. I think I have a relatively simple way to simulate what is a really complex concept...
Each NPC has a list of five other NPCs that they talk to, along with values concerning how highly those NPCs weigh their opinion. If both NPCs have free time at the same time (determined by each NPCs' shift assignment) and in the same general area (NPCs have a list of locations they tend to visit and how often they visit them) then they will "talk", leading to their particular opinions of you to drift towards each other and given enough time meet somewhere in the middle.
Due to me wanting this to be able to evolve somewhat over time, and the problems with trying to set script variables on NPC using ref variables (a.k.a. you can't do it) both features will use tokens, meaning other mods can BuildRef them and check against them (if they needed to do that for whatever reason.)
So when I'm waiting for people to come up with the rest of the quests for Tier 2, that's what I'll be working on.
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