The networking is on track for Virtual Tabletop. Hopefully, by the end of the Christmas/New Year break, it will be ready for full testing. We’re not opening a beta just yet (still so much to do!), but that will be coming shortly after the networking bugs are ironed out.
December 17, 2007
December 11, 2007
Dice Bin Network Ready
Ah, so my task was to first make the dice bin network-ready. Now it is! So, when your opponent rolls some dice, they’ll show up in the top bin (with the faint red background). If he clicks a die to subdue it (make it semi-transparent) or to make it regular opacity, that will be listed as well.
In the image, you can see the dice the opponent rolled (he used red and white dice) and the dice I rolled (all blue). He also clicked on a few dice that were not successes.
The dice bin is REAL cool because you can make your own dice with crazy images if you want. I have a Dirtside die created, which is pretty cool. Anyway, the dice are loaded into the game system and then show up in the little bin on the right side.
With that bit ready, its time to write the network code to transport the messaging.
December 8, 2007
Ostrogoloth Buildings
I’m going to be making some additional simple buildings for Virtual Tableop. The first small batch of structures will be simple low poly habitats from the Ostrogoloth nation. As this blog moves along, we’ll focus more on the Ostrogoloth. We have a campaign in Campaigner with the Ostrogoloth as one of the faction members, so we thought that starting with them would be a good plan.
So far, there’s a whole whopping 3 Ostrogoloth buildings, a habitat, a large dwelling and an outbuilding. Rest assured, that more buildings are in the works.
These buildings are fairly simple stone structures with massive wood beams anchoring the corners. This is the typical Ostrogoloth style which they maintained throughout much of their history. Later (”post-modern”) structures used the same style with different materials. The style still maintains the anchoring colums though.
December 7, 2007
VT Nearing Beta
So, by the great powers that be, I was commanded to periodically jot down some notes on Virtual Tabletop and its progress (at least with the things I’m doing).
Currently, the networking engine is being filled out and tested. Plenty of sample games raged across the local network (even though not all of the commands are coded). For instance, the dice rolling information… so for a few days it would be common to hear
“I ROLLED FOUR SIXES! HAHA!”
“You can’t roll four sixes, those units only have three dice!”
So, needless to say, pressure on broadcasting the dice information became paramount. That’s what I’m setting up to do now, code in the dice. However, there is a bit of refactoring to do with how information is passed (for networking), to include something I’m exceptionally happy about (if it gets green-lit).
That little piece is called the Combat Authoring System. Its not official, nor is it complete in design. Hell, its not even fully feasibility tested. I guess its not even on the development radar, OTHER than to say “We might have that in there, so plan that it might be.” So, plan I am.
Focus is now on Virtual Tabletop
After the successful release of Campaigner, we’re happy to announce that Virtual Tabletop has been moved up in priority (just below any support issues encountered with Campaigner), and is receiving the full attention of development.
I’ve also decided to keep the community posted by rolling this blog out and forcing the other Racingspider Games’ members to post stuff on what they’re doing.
Campaigner will still receive updates and we still have a lot of great ideas to make Campaigner even better, so for you Campaigner fans, check back periodically for development information concerning future enhancements.