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Feature Creep 101


zippy57

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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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I'm eagerly awaiting this Zippy, the scope, the ambition, it all sounds very promising! Can't wait for May!

 

I like the idea behind the "social networking" and "assumed statistics" bit, because it does simulate real life interactions and group "chatter" and feedback which is always going to happen. One way or another, you'll make waves, either through being a total idiot or highly competent. Or maybe you could just be mediocre lol?

 

I do like the idea of the "four eyes" angle, but I think a lot of players wear glasses for aesthetic purposes, and having an NPC react badly to not wearing them could spoil it. What you could do is have the NPC ask you if you actually need to wear glasses, and then, if you say "yes" he/she assumes if you're not wearing them, that it has dropped. Otherwise, you could just say "Oh, I wear them to look cool." or something equally vain, and their respective opinion of you could drop. 

 

Just a few thoughts. 

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Nice stuff!

 

I agree with CK about the glasses. I seldomly took the four eyes trait, but my PCs ended up using sunglasses anyway, mostly for said aesthetic purposes. Things like the advanced Recon stuff (NVGs) fall under the same slot, but I think you wouldn't necessarily assume that the guy wearing NVGs is shortsighted. Maybe you could check to consider both the perk and the fact if someone is wearing glasses, if you don't want them to "know" that you have the trait but might not be wearing glasses at the time you meet them. 

 

Looking forward to this. It will be playable as a male PC, right?

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CK: Don't get too impatient, this stuff isn't going to be in for a while. Once Tier 1 is released and debugged and I'm waiting for ideas to fill out Tier 2, then this stuff will start being implemented, but you won't see the full scope of it until more major characters actually get introduced all the way in Tier 8.

 

BW: Yes, it will be playable as a male PC.

 

BOTH: The check for glasses would be against a list of vanilla perscription-style glasses, not sunglasses or visors or a general slot check.

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Oh, I know Zippy, but even Tier 1 stuff gets my excitement meter up! 

 

I *should* be finished with a project that has been eating up my free time recently by June. I really, really should. So by that time, I'll be able to lend you a hand and pitch some ideas (as I promised earlier) with the other Tiers. 

 

And I really don't mind bugtesting, I think I actually enjoy it more than I should :P

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Oh, you'll have a fun time bugtesting this one. As per usual, I'm pretty much not even going to bug test it myself at all. :P All that is left up to you!

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