RPG's or Interactive Fiction? - Axe Software Forums

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Author Topic:   RPG's or Interactive Fiction?

MaDbRiT posted 18-02-2002 22:50 GMT
Hmm,
Noticed that there seems to be a LOT of interest on the coding part of the forum regarding writing 'battle systems' for RPG's using Quest.
Personally I don't actually like RPG's and I use Quest for entirely different applications, but I wondered what the balance of RPG to conventional IF writers is within the Quest fraternity.
I ask because I always 'assumed' RPG's were a minority interest, but it doesn't feel that way!
Al
The Dark Ones posted 19-02-2002 00:09 GMT
It seems to me that the Quest engine wasn't at all designed for RPGs. I myself (author of Fade to White here, posting in all forums to make himself known) prefer IF in text based games, nevertheless, what was done with that Magic Quest game was terribly impressive.
Tyrant posted 19-02-2002 03:42 GMT
I think it's easier and less frustrating to do simple IF, but more and more people are realizing how broad and powerful Quest really is. I personally was able to make an RPG battle system that is similar to those you see on console games, but it requires A LOT of coding, conditions, and causes lots of headaches and bugs. I find that it's easier to take the simpler, more creative way and seeing what you can do with IF.
MaDbRiT posted 19-02-2002 10:38 GMT
Tyrant wrote

quote:

I think it's easier and less frustrating to do simple IF, but more and more people are realizing how broad and powerful Quest really is.
I agree, in fact I've been touting the power and flexibility of Quest ASL for some time. Frankly I think that Quest provides a framework suitable for developing traditional IF or RPG's, (or even educational material) it might require some coding effort, but most things can be done with QUEST - which is not far short of brilliant in my book.
I agree that out of the box Quest doesn't have the functionality built in to make writing RPG's easy ( a battle system like ADRIFT has for instance ) so in that sense it wasn't "designed for RPGs", but clearly it can be done.
I wrote my 'extension library' primarily for my own purposes and adapted it to be useful in regular IF, perhaps someone should produce a 'RPG library' suitable for those who want to use Quest to write RPG's but lack the time/skill/inclination to write their own battle system.
Al
Computer Whizz posted 21-02-2002 00:22 GMT
RPG's are almost identical to IF's -> the only main difference being length and battles.
RPG's often have you "levelling up" getting better throughout the game for the end game.
But IF's are usually a week/single objective (carried away by a mooooonlight shadowww....
__
o/o/ #waves arms#) in the character's lives. And also it is often based in real life, meaning no monsters ect...
Personally I think an RPG has more to offer storyline wise, and IF's have a greater way of describing not only surroundings but an easier way of playing/making the game.
I hope someone (meaning me :) since I've wanted to for a long time - but am working on it in the breaks of my Maths lesson!) produces a simple battle system or a framework, where other should build around it because otherwise the games' makers might not understand it enough, and get confused!
That's why I like doing things myself (alot) and use my own system instead of others.
Oh BTW Al, I liked your piano key demo :D nice!
('Who's Johnny?' she said, and smiled in her special waaayyyy.... hmmmmmm.....
__
o/o/ )
Computer Whizz

Author	Topic: RPG's or Interactive Fiction?
MaDbRiT	posted 18-02-2002 22:50 GMT Hmm, Noticed that there seems to be a LOT of interest on the coding part of the forum regarding writing 'battle systems' for RPG's using Quest. Personally I don't actually like RPG's and I use Quest for entirely different applications, but I wondered what the balance of RPG to conventional IF writers is within the Quest fraternity. I ask because I always 'assumed' RPG's were a minority interest, but it doesn't feel that way! Al
The Dark Ones	posted 19-02-2002 00:09 GMT It seems to me that the Quest engine wasn't at all designed for RPGs. I myself (author of Fade to White here, posting in all forums to make himself known) prefer IF in text based games, nevertheless, what was done with that Magic Quest game was terribly impressive.
Tyrant	posted 19-02-2002 03:42 GMT I think it's easier and less frustrating to do simple IF, but more and more people are realizing how broad and powerful Quest really is. I personally was able to make an RPG battle system that is similar to those you see on console games, but it requires A LOT of coding, conditions, and causes lots of headaches and bugs. I find that it's easier to take the simpler, more creative way and seeing what you can do with IF.
MaDbRiT	posted 19-02-2002 10:38 GMT Tyrant wrote quote: I think it's easier and less frustrating to do simple IF, but more and more people are realizing how broad and powerful Quest really is. I agree, in fact I've been touting the power and flexibility of Quest ASL for some time. Frankly I think that Quest provides a framework suitable for developing traditional IF or RPG's, (or even educational material) it might require some coding effort, but most things can be done with QUEST - which is not far short of brilliant in my book. I agree that out of the box Quest doesn't have the functionality built in to make writing RPG's easy ( a battle system like ADRIFT has for instance ) so in that sense it wasn't "designed for RPGs", but clearly it can be done. I wrote my 'extension library' primarily for my own purposes and adapted it to be useful in regular IF, perhaps someone should produce a 'RPG library' suitable for those who want to use Quest to write RPG's but lack the time/skill/inclination to write their own battle system. Al
Computer Whizz	posted 21-02-2002 00:22 GMT RPG's are almost identical to IF's -> the only main difference being length and battles. RPG's often have you "levelling up" getting better throughout the game for the end game. But IF's are usually a week/single objective (carried away by a mooooonlight shadowww.... __ o/o/ #waves arms#) in the character's lives. And also it is often based in real life, meaning no monsters ect... Personally I think an RPG has more to offer storyline wise, and IF's have a greater way of describing not only surroundings but an easier way of playing/making the game. I hope someone (meaning me :) since I've wanted to for a long time - but am working on it in the breaks of my Maths lesson!) produces a simple battle system or a framework, where other should build around it because otherwise the games' makers might not understand it enough, and get confused! That's why I like doing things myself (alot) and use my own system instead of others. Oh BTW Al, I liked your piano key demo :D nice! ('Who's Johnny?' she said, and smiled in her special waaayyyy.... hmmmmmm..... __ o/o/ ) Computer Whizz