http://devblog.wwwest-online.com/2008/02/exploring-the-ascension/ News, thoughts, updates and discussions regarding the development of yet another web based game Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:45:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://devblog.wwwest-online.com/2008/02/exploring-the-ascension/comment-page-1/#comment-7 krazny Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:12:00 +0000 http://devblog.wwwest-online.com/2008/02/14/exploring-the-ascension/#comment-7 Sorry for the delayed answer - real life got in the way yet again. So let's tackle your points one at a time: 1. Technological progress: We're thinking non-existant. At least not noticeably so. That is, we might announce a technological advance every now and then, but it won't be an integral part of gameplay. 2. Generations: None. Offspring will be more like reincarnations of the parents - once the offspring is born, the parent who ascends ceases to exist to all intents and purpose. 3. Incest: Looking at it as actual mating and birthing does indeed bring up this hackling "little" issue. Not entirely sure how we'll deal with it though. Even if we prohibit it between player characters, there will only be so many NPC's available for this purpose, so it might be a problem still. 4. Kiddie count: See 2. 5. Either we decide flat out that mating results in ascended offspring for both the parents (assuming they're both player characters), or we give the players the choice to decide who stays and who ascends. 6. Couples fun: Point taken. 7. Caps: Yes, the starting stats will be capped (through the maximum mating age). I lost you on that second bit - offspring cannot mate? Back to tricky #3 again? Sorry for the delayed answer – real life got in the way yet again.
So let’s tackle your points one at a time:
1. Technological progress: We’re thinking non-existant. At least not noticeably so. That is, we might announce a technological advance every now and then, but it won’t be an integral part of gameplay.
2. Generations: None. Offspring will be more like reincarnations of the parents – once the offspring is born, the parent who ascends ceases to exist to all intents and purpose.
3. Incest: Looking at it as actual mating and birthing does indeed bring up this hackling “little” issue. Not entirely sure how we’ll deal with it though. Even if we prohibit it between player characters, there will only be so many NPC’s available for this purpose, so it might be a problem still.
4. Kiddie count: See 2.
5. Either we decide flat out that mating results in ascended offspring for both the parents (assuming they’re both player characters), or we give the players the choice to decide who stays and who ascends.
6. Couples fun: Point taken.
7. Caps: Yes, the starting stats will be capped (through the maximum mating age). I lost you on that second bit – offspring cannot mate? Back to tricky #3 again?

]]> http://devblog.wwwest-online.com/2008/02/exploring-the-ascension/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Ashahell Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:42:33 +0000 http://devblog.wwwest-online.com/2008/02/14/exploring-the-ascension/#comment-6 A few more things to consider, I guess: . Offspring is nice and all, but in te real world technology progresses with new generations. This lead to the consideration of what to do with technological progress. Will it be slowed down, non-existant or like real-life? . Offspring suggests generations. How long should parents be allowed to live after they have offspring? Or will characters live indefinately? . Not happy to bring this up, but whatever you do: prohibit incest . Not sure how it was in the real Wild West, but I'd limit the amount of kids a couple can have . Interesting issue: a couple decides to have offspring. Nice and dandy, but who gets to play that char? The father? The mother? Or will offspring allways come in the form of identical twins so there can be no disputes? . With regards to content specifically aimed at couples: I'd sugggest to implement progeny first and then see what your player base wants . A cap on the mating age makes sense IMO. There should be a cap on the starting stats of the offspring as well, or you implement a rule that offspring cannot mate A few more things to consider, I guess:
. Offspring is nice and all, but in te real world technology progresses with new generations. This lead to the consideration of what to do with technological progress. Will it be slowed down, non-existant or like real-life?
. Offspring suggests generations. How long should parents be allowed to live after they have offspring? Or will characters live indefinately?
. Not happy to bring this up, but whatever you do: prohibit incest
. Not sure how it was in the real Wild West, but I’d limit the amount of kids a couple can have
. Interesting issue: a couple decides to have offspring. Nice and dandy, but who gets to play that char? The father? The mother? Or will offspring allways come in the form of identical twins so there can be no disputes?
. With regards to content specifically aimed at couples: I’d sugggest to implement progeny first and then see what your player base wants
. A cap on the mating age makes sense IMO. There should be a cap on the starting stats of the offspring as well, or you implement a rule that offspring cannot mate

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