RPG Mod.

[Arantor]

I'm writing an RPG mod for SMF however there is no way on Earth I'm distributing it because it's unique to my RPG

Sad to hear that if more people were like that there hardly be anything for smf.
You can make a mod and have it for your site only then change it up and release it.

Aside from the fact that I have already released mods (including one that was actually written for the game) and provide support (so I'm giving back to SMF as it is; I guess I forgot to add a link to my mods in my sig?), let me qualify that statement.

The mod is so extensive to SMF that the mod will be *bigger* than SMF when it's complete. It's a complete game integrated into SMF, and it's closer to a bridge/integration than a mod, hooking via the integration hooks and SSI. It's not just some mod I can tweak and customise. If you're wondering what that might look like, go see NEaB and all its spinoffs that are cookie-cutter clones. No thanks.

The basic PvP module alone that we have already encompasses 9 DB tables, and thousands of lines of PHP and Javascript. And that's without having implemented any of the more fundamental things like inventory, trading, economy, travel, not to mention the storylines and quests, and indeed items you can use in combat, custom firing items, weapons that fire with area of effect... I could package up a ton of it as a mod but apart from giving away everything that would be unique about my game, it'd also be completely irrelevant to most people because it's all engineered for this one game, right from the 'practically live' combat which can have 8 players in a combat at once that we have so far (and works, it's awesome having multiplayer combat like that)

If I give that away, I give away everything I've spent the last two months doing and believe me it's a unique experience. Instead I use that experience I've gained to help people and provide support as and where I can. So indirectly everyone benefits, not just the folk who want a cookie-cutter RPG mod.

For comparsion: SMF 2.0 base install is about 7MB of files. Just combat alone takes up almost 1MB - with empty DB tables. And that's been estimated at conservatively 5% of the game...

[clapter]

Neab. I like that name.

[TheDisturbedOne]

I agree with Anantor. An RPG mod will be much larger than SMF, and would use. Lot more resources than SMF. A free option would be nice, but I really think for all that effort there should be money involved. Heck if I worked two months on something that large, I would want something in return.

[clapter]

Disturbed, what he is talking about would be vastly different than this RPG mod. Ask Arantor for details, im not sure if he wants me to tell you guys anything or not. But also, I am planning something fancy for this mod, just wait and see ;P

[die4me]

Unless you over code everything like microsoft a rpg is relatively small in size(images take up most room). Like i said you don't have to release the one you have just make it smaller an simpler. And one things are facts that smf has no rpg for it not one that someone has released paid or free. But truth to be told it is easier to make a rpg without smf then with smf. I really don't see a free one coming out any time soon. I do know how time consuming making mods are and i wish i had more time to make mods i never have time to do any here plus smf has a good mod collection beside not having a rpg mod. I can integrate an existing rpg script into smf probably within a month or so. But i think the mod with the name smf rpg mod should be made for smf and free.

[Arantor]

Is an RPG small in size? I look at the thousands of lines of code I already have and realise that it's not going to be small in size, but of course, I program like Microsoft, and am obviously generally incapable of writing efficient code, and I'm also obviously going to spend months (current estimate from beginning: 1 year) writing this RPG so I can strip it down and give it away to everyone for free, so they can add it to their forums to make money off it.

Thanks for setting me straight. There goes my business plan, and the incentive to actually write a very unique RPG, because nothing I know of in the web-based world is like this. Might as well cancel it now if I'm expected to give it away because if I gave any part of it away it would weaken its uniqueness.


As I've said, I don't want cookie-cutter clones of things. Make it unique, make it special - that's what we're trying to do. And believe me, that means writing from scratch, not taking some mod and just tweaking it.

That's why I mentioned NEaB - I've seen the exact same thing happen there. Not to mention Lord of the Green Dragon and the multitude of servers running its clones. And as such I'm not going to release any of the core of my work with SMF, though I would note I have already released one mod I wrote for the game, and donated another, though small, part of the source in another thread. But obviously I should give it all away for free and find a job instead of making an awesome game.

(Actually, no, that's not what I'm going to do. Since I'm already selfish by not giving away all my source code, I might as well finish the job and stop contributing to SMF.)

[Eliana Tamerin]

Alright, calm down please, both of you. People have the right to not release their mods, free or not. You can suggest what you want, but you cannot force someone to release their mod.

And we need to be respectful here. If you need to argue, take it to pm. Everyones opinions are valid and we need to respect that, and also respect that this is claptor's topic about his RPG mod.

[Arantor]

clapter is brave for writing this, and it has a lot of potential. Good luck with it. If there's anything I can help with, clapter, you know where to reach me.

[die4me]

I respect that you released mods for smf for free. I never said you wrote like microsoft and i meant compared to most scripts a rpg mod is small. The truth is if you make a rpg mod for your site unless it is a private site it will be copied.  OK let say you write this mod and it is really great but something happens to you and your mod and any trace of it is gone. Then it is like you never made it.
What made you make mods for free and released them in the first place? Didn't feel good to see people using your mod and liking it? As a mod writer it feels good to see people using my mods for there sites.
One last thing i seen people take the same script and mods and make some really different sites from it.

[Eliana Tamerin]

die4me, please take any further comments on the subject to PM as I requested. Let's get back on topic here.

[clapter]

Unless you over code everything like microsoft a rpg is relatively small in size(images take up most room).

Lies  .

Look at the size of Simple Portal, TP etc
Then look at the size of any of the Shop Mods.
Then you must add battling etc so thats quite a bit right there.
Plus my own little suprise
Plus More, as this is just off the top of my head.

Im just saying you shoul do you research before you make a comment.


Is this as big a script as say, SMF? no, of course not, but it will be large.
Is this going to be one of the largest SMF Mods? definitely.

[clapter]

Unless you over code everything like microsoft a rpg is relatively small in size(images take up most room).

Lies  .

Look at the size of Simple Portal, TP etc
Then look at the size of any of the Shop Mods.
Then you must add battling etc so thats quite a bit right there.
Plus my own little suprise
Plus More, as this is just off the top of my head.

Im just saying you shoul do you research before you make a comment.


Is this as big a script as say, SMF? no, of course not, but it will be large.
Is this going to be one of the largest SMF Mods? definitely.


Also, Im requesting that this topic be locked to avoid any further, trouble.

Also, die4me, I hope you realize what you have accomplished.

[H]

Locked per op request