Posted July 19, 2011
Let me start off by thanking everyone who has played the game so far.
Usually that introductory sentence is followed by bitter news. In this case, I think the news is bitter-sweet.
When we started off, the game was terribly simple, but quite boring. There wasn't really any purpose to it - besides winning a GOG, and there was nada when it came to a storyline.
Over the past few games, I think Adventures in Vue has taken off quite a bit. There was really quite a renaissance - if you could call it that, with the Black Brigade's team quests.
Yet as the game has progressed, people began to express more and more interest in cool new ideas like traps, poisons, summonings, critical strikes, etc. I was all too willing to add these things to the game bit by bit, though struggling somewhat to keep up. It was a tremendous amount of fun.
Which brings us to now... it took a tremendous amount of hubris for me to assume I could create, from scratch, an advance roleplaying system that was even remotely balanced, enjoyable and wouldn't take up my entire day. As I said to someone earlier, pride comes before a fall.
The fact is: between trying to strike a balance, develop the story further, work on map editing, add skills, proficiencies and new classes, new features (such as armor, chances to miss, chances to stun) while keeping it all even remotely comprehensible for one person (myself) to manage was probably a healthy dose of insanity. In fact, there are days where I have been dedicating 10 hours a day (I'm on a two month vacation, practically) to quest creation, DMing, etc, etc.
The problem? It's just not sustainable, nor is it easy on my mental health. I love the game and the interactions, but I just can't be on it non-stop. Nor does the idea of balancing complex mathematical formulas in spare time seem like a good idea for a history major that barely got by Statistics 101.
Therefore, it is with both excitement and disappointment that I announce the following:
1. All current games are temporarily on hold. They can and will resume in a week or two, if those playing them wish to have them resume.
2. The format will undergo a simplification, that will be much more story based than stat based. Though there will still be similar stats, the same classes, the same skills and more, tons of items, potions, etc, they will be more oriented towards your roleplaying and DM discretion.
3. For the future, everything will happen at the forums. Here's the link (click): adventuresinvue.forumotion.com. Anyone who wishes to continue to play must register there with their character names. The advertisements will be removed from the forums, one way or another, so browsing should be simple and we will have everything focused there so you can locate all the important info.
4. I know many of you will be curious about how the new system will work. If you played as a hyper-competitive kind of person, you will probably be disappointed. If that means you want out, I totally understand. Totally. If you played more for the interactions, the flavor, the ability to shape your character, the political elements, etc. then you will definitely want to continue on. There is an overarching story that I am trying to tell - I know exactly what it is, who the non-player characters are, what their conflicts are, etc. and you are part of it. Better yet, you are SHAPING it and INFLUENCING it with each decision you make. So this is really a joint project in a developing world.
Additionally, I know other such similar games are out there. So your decision to stick with the game - if you decide to, is wholeheartedly appreciated.
5. Finally, of course, you will be allowed to completely survey the changes for yourself before plunging in. I will have them up and ready as soon as humanly possible.
6. Very important: this should avoid a lot of the slowdowns, confusion, skill conflicts, etc. that we have had in the past.
What is going to stay:
-Whenever possible, any characters who wish to, will remain in the world - in the same exact way. For example, Jack the Knife has gained the unique ability to learn a new language each level. He will retain that if he continues on - and he will retain the exact same story line. He would also be considered a level 3 character automatically, because that is what he is - with all the benefits that come from being level 3. That's just an example. The only thing that would change slightly would be your skills, if you choose to change them up.
-There will still be plenty of items, weapons, potions, and class-specific items will still be added.
-Every NPC that has graced the game so far will return. As mentioned, the world remains exactly the same, it's only the rules that are getting simplified a bit.
-The flavor of classes and skills will remain, most skills will return, but you not be able to predict the outcome of using skills with EXACT certainty.
-Leveling up will way more simple. Each character will merely gain a set amount of HP per level, regardless of class and physical attacks will use a character's current level as a baseline, with warriors doing a little more damage, rogues less, mages less. Mages are compensated by having magical attacks that do above level damage. Class differences will still be maintained through skill access and class-only items access. I.E., warrior having access to advanced armors, rogue to stealth skills, mage to magical tomes, etc.
As far as skills, each character, regardless of class, will get to pick 1 new skill and 1 passive ability increase per level. Very simple. Skills will only have one use, no matter what (there's a reason for this, trust me), passive abilities allow you to gain weapon proficiencies or other types of proficiencies (with traps, poison, magic damage, healing, etc.)
-Things will be way more flexible for the DM, but also the world will be much more interactive for the players - so that your decisions are more interesting than just "use skill A, blablabla." For example, you are attacking enemy X with your dagger, right? Ok, then you can describe in what way (thrust, slice, whatever you think of) or where you're aiming (PC waves his dagger at enemy X's head!)
-Gold will return, but I will keep active record of it at a "bank" on the forum, so that numbers don't get mixed up.
-Maps will be used occasionally, but determining where you are and where to go will be more often than not text based.
-Virtually everything else.
Still a ton of cool things to add:
-Passive abilities
-Dual wielding
-Summoned creatures/familiars/hirelings
-Expanded teams, including a set of reserve AI characters for each team.
-More and more weapons
-Cool new skills
-Team fortresses
-New NPCs
-New races and tribes
-Advanced classes beginning at level 7.
So, that's it. I do apologize for putting the current games on hold. Remember, it's only VERY temporary (i.e., a week or so).
I also express my understanding for those players more in it for the hypercompetitive and number-crunching aspects. If that was you, and you don't want to return, it is 100% understood.
I think the new format will still offer competitiveness despite it's lack of number crunching, but will run a lot smoother, be much easier on me, and still a bunch of fun for those trying to develop their characters and place in the world, hoping to influence the grand, unfolding story.
If you are still on board, again, please register with your character name and post a 'hello' thread in the welcome section at adventuresinvue.forumotion.com
If you're not, let me know.
Again, thank you so much for everything you have invested so far, and I look forward to venturing on through Vue to learn more about it's places and people and to seeing your characters grow.
Usually that introductory sentence is followed by bitter news. In this case, I think the news is bitter-sweet.
When we started off, the game was terribly simple, but quite boring. There wasn't really any purpose to it - besides winning a GOG, and there was nada when it came to a storyline.
Over the past few games, I think Adventures in Vue has taken off quite a bit. There was really quite a renaissance - if you could call it that, with the Black Brigade's team quests.
Yet as the game has progressed, people began to express more and more interest in cool new ideas like traps, poisons, summonings, critical strikes, etc. I was all too willing to add these things to the game bit by bit, though struggling somewhat to keep up. It was a tremendous amount of fun.
Which brings us to now... it took a tremendous amount of hubris for me to assume I could create, from scratch, an advance roleplaying system that was even remotely balanced, enjoyable and wouldn't take up my entire day. As I said to someone earlier, pride comes before a fall.
The fact is: between trying to strike a balance, develop the story further, work on map editing, add skills, proficiencies and new classes, new features (such as armor, chances to miss, chances to stun) while keeping it all even remotely comprehensible for one person (myself) to manage was probably a healthy dose of insanity. In fact, there are days where I have been dedicating 10 hours a day (I'm on a two month vacation, practically) to quest creation, DMing, etc, etc.
The problem? It's just not sustainable, nor is it easy on my mental health. I love the game and the interactions, but I just can't be on it non-stop. Nor does the idea of balancing complex mathematical formulas in spare time seem like a good idea for a history major that barely got by Statistics 101.
Therefore, it is with both excitement and disappointment that I announce the following:
1. All current games are temporarily on hold. They can and will resume in a week or two, if those playing them wish to have them resume.
2. The format will undergo a simplification, that will be much more story based than stat based. Though there will still be similar stats, the same classes, the same skills and more, tons of items, potions, etc, they will be more oriented towards your roleplaying and DM discretion.
3. For the future, everything will happen at the forums. Here's the link (click): adventuresinvue.forumotion.com. Anyone who wishes to continue to play must register there with their character names. The advertisements will be removed from the forums, one way or another, so browsing should be simple and we will have everything focused there so you can locate all the important info.
4. I know many of you will be curious about how the new system will work. If you played as a hyper-competitive kind of person, you will probably be disappointed. If that means you want out, I totally understand. Totally. If you played more for the interactions, the flavor, the ability to shape your character, the political elements, etc. then you will definitely want to continue on. There is an overarching story that I am trying to tell - I know exactly what it is, who the non-player characters are, what their conflicts are, etc. and you are part of it. Better yet, you are SHAPING it and INFLUENCING it with each decision you make. So this is really a joint project in a developing world.
Additionally, I know other such similar games are out there. So your decision to stick with the game - if you decide to, is wholeheartedly appreciated.
5. Finally, of course, you will be allowed to completely survey the changes for yourself before plunging in. I will have them up and ready as soon as humanly possible.
6. Very important: this should avoid a lot of the slowdowns, confusion, skill conflicts, etc. that we have had in the past.
What is going to stay:
-Whenever possible, any characters who wish to, will remain in the world - in the same exact way. For example, Jack the Knife has gained the unique ability to learn a new language each level. He will retain that if he continues on - and he will retain the exact same story line. He would also be considered a level 3 character automatically, because that is what he is - with all the benefits that come from being level 3. That's just an example. The only thing that would change slightly would be your skills, if you choose to change them up.
-There will still be plenty of items, weapons, potions, and class-specific items will still be added.
-Every NPC that has graced the game so far will return. As mentioned, the world remains exactly the same, it's only the rules that are getting simplified a bit.
-The flavor of classes and skills will remain, most skills will return, but you not be able to predict the outcome of using skills with EXACT certainty.
-Leveling up will way more simple. Each character will merely gain a set amount of HP per level, regardless of class and physical attacks will use a character's current level as a baseline, with warriors doing a little more damage, rogues less, mages less. Mages are compensated by having magical attacks that do above level damage. Class differences will still be maintained through skill access and class-only items access. I.E., warrior having access to advanced armors, rogue to stealth skills, mage to magical tomes, etc.
As far as skills, each character, regardless of class, will get to pick 1 new skill and 1 passive ability increase per level. Very simple. Skills will only have one use, no matter what (there's a reason for this, trust me), passive abilities allow you to gain weapon proficiencies or other types of proficiencies (with traps, poison, magic damage, healing, etc.)
-Things will be way more flexible for the DM, but also the world will be much more interactive for the players - so that your decisions are more interesting than just "use skill A, blablabla." For example, you are attacking enemy X with your dagger, right? Ok, then you can describe in what way (thrust, slice, whatever you think of) or where you're aiming (PC waves his dagger at enemy X's head!)
-Gold will return, but I will keep active record of it at a "bank" on the forum, so that numbers don't get mixed up.
-Maps will be used occasionally, but determining where you are and where to go will be more often than not text based.
-Virtually everything else.
Still a ton of cool things to add:
-Passive abilities
-Dual wielding
-Summoned creatures/familiars/hirelings
-Expanded teams, including a set of reserve AI characters for each team.
-More and more weapons
-Cool new skills
-Team fortresses
-New NPCs
-New races and tribes
-Advanced classes beginning at level 7.
So, that's it. I do apologize for putting the current games on hold. Remember, it's only VERY temporary (i.e., a week or so).
I also express my understanding for those players more in it for the hypercompetitive and number-crunching aspects. If that was you, and you don't want to return, it is 100% understood.
I think the new format will still offer competitiveness despite it's lack of number crunching, but will run a lot smoother, be much easier on me, and still a bunch of fun for those trying to develop their characters and place in the world, hoping to influence the grand, unfolding story.
If you are still on board, again, please register with your character name and post a 'hello' thread in the welcome section at adventuresinvue.forumotion.com
If you're not, let me know.
Again, thank you so much for everything you have invested so far, and I look forward to venturing on through Vue to learn more about it's places and people and to seeing your characters grow.
Post edited July 19, 2011 by stoicsentry
