Gardening

  So because, I have this idea that is just beginging to kick around, I'm going to post a little about it. Its not a lot, so I really can't post it in the New Projects sub-forum. Not only that: But I seek creativity! So what better part of this place could it be to place it here? Now, onto the meat of the whole idea.

I have been sitting around going though old links of places that I would like to visit, and thinking about food. In which that lead to how food is grown, seeds, trees, etc. Then, because I got tired of surfing, I came here and WHAM. Gardening Game. Well, not exactly. But at least a game, where gardening could quite possibly be crucial (or... well close to it) to the play, to create items usable to characters, quest items, and used to power the most powerful spells a person could cast.

For instance, say a Fireball spell needs the componant of sulfur powder. One can grow sulfur rocks to grind into the powder, or even grow special powder to make it even more powerful! And plants can grow a LOT of things. Rocks, Nuggets, Foodstuffs, Fertilizing crystals (or some form there of), Thinking of having everything elemental based to create variety. If you plant on one day with a specific seed, and pot, the next time it might be different if its on another day, or if its the same day and a different pot! Fertilizing with different crystals. (or Pods, Stakes, Pebbles, whatever.)

Kay, so that being said: What would you think of that? Cool? Dumb? (If so, why to either feeling.) Any ideas for items a plant can grow? You'll get your name in the credits as support or some other special title. 

UPDATES:
Working on Storyline
Working on Characters
Working on Class Tree
Greenhouse/Creation Mechanics

We have a chat room in Crankeye's Chat! Type in /join #Eclipsilion
(it is hosted on irc.nekom.org still, not windfyre, sorry!)
Enter the fun. :3

That sounds pretty wicked. If you like, I can try to come up with the basic system (event based) and send it to you for editing. It wouldn't be very difficult to set up, just to get everything running properly, and customized. But that also depends on how complex you want to get with it. Sound cool?

(Obviously, you'd have to give me some specifics first. )

That does sound cool but I think it would be easier with a script since there is a LOT of variables:

Days of the week each have an element.
Pots have certain elements.
The seeds have an element tied to them and even the fertilizer.

I have a whole list of pots, a list of seeds and named the days of the week and a working list of fertilizer. I'm hoping that they could even come in two varieties. Normal, and Strong. (Or perhaps a famous third element of Very strong, or perhaps even make a Weak - Normal - Strong triangle.)

Of course one must have a day/night system for the game, but it would have to run on game time because growing in realtime would be a pain in the arse if it is a crucial part to progress.

Well, I could at least give it a shot. I can do magic with conditional branches, let me just tell you.

Ok, but I must warn you I'm sure there will be a lot of items. Items that could easily get into the 50s and quite possibly through to the 100s or so.

So what kind of specifics would you need?

I think keeping this simple would be pretty neat =o

As in, if you tried to make a full game and made gardening just a part of it, I dunno, I'm sort of biased against RPG Maker games I guess

I'd play this though if something ever came of this idea =).

If you were after relaxing gardening music, maybe I could help :p You could have different environments maybe like forest, river, VOLCANO, backyard

Ok, but I must warn you I'm sure there will be a lot of items. Items that could easily get into the 50s and quite possibly through to the 100s or so.

So what kind of specifics would you need?

Well, how many plants, how many seeds, what would grow best where, what is affected by what and how much/in what way, how long it takes things to grow, what is needed for a certain thing to grow, the end product for each growth...

And I could probably do graphics, plants are relatively simple.

Glad there's interest. The main character is from a farm so hence the whole gardening importance.

It first starts of that you are awarded a permanent place in a/the/some city for doing something really really nice. And then, after some game time has passed, and after speaking to certain people you can buy a magical greenhouse addon. Afterwards, upon completion of your new way of gardening quest, You can unlock areas to plant in and can buy pots. Yes, different areas have different elemental attributes as well :p Or it could just be really cool for backgrounds... You also get this Sunflower-guy (Or some other cheesey plant-man) helper to help you. Up to 10 pots may be active in growing. (An unlockable 16 max or about 2 pots per area growing at once.)

There are: 4 regular pots, 4 special pots used for certain quests, and you have to do the previous quest to recieve the special pot to use as well, however one of the special pots: there is only ONE of in the entire game. 5 types of seed bags, two of them rare drops/buys. 8 elemental fertilizers.

If I could, Silverlion, I'd totally trick out this game and crank out scripts/graphics/music. ... But I'm not THAT talented at all. xD I wouldn't even know where to begin. So I will be using RPG Maker XP. Sorry.  ^^


Edit: Oh yeah: This IS just the begining. I don't have recipies down yet. Hehe. I'm just wondering on how much hype this might get, or how big of a flop.

Well, what you are doing is actually pretty simple! It would just be very time consuming to put together. Just like all art! Simple in process, and yet the final product is so very complicated...

I do sprites, like I said, so I'll do anything new you need. Halo, Zypher, Arlen, and Silverline are all musicians, so you should totally pester them.

Blizzard, Tsunokiette, and I think there was one other (if you REALLY want to use a script) are all scripters, so hit them up...when they're actually around, lol.

This sounds like something that could be really awesome Rev!

Thanks! I'm a musician myself. But I have like... totally no idea how to get my music in the computer. But I love my baby grand. <3 Well my Baby Grand Piano. (And my friend has a digital. Which is awsome, but she's going to get rid of it. ;_; *Makes grabby hands* ) Working on this really cool town theme at the moment.

I do sprite a little bit too. I'm obsessive over my Civilians. I have about 175 files of recolors, and head switches. Its not really interesting to see the same civilians over and over again in each city/town/village or where-ever. Going to get into monster recolors. Love writing and mapping but not perfect in it.

Anything else I'm kinda "uhm d'oh!" in.

Neat! It's good to see someone else out there who pays attention to the little details.

I suppose i can help/take part, whatever arrowone is doing.

You don't have to Nightwolf. Its up to you.

I also have thought of a typical Rival. x3 At the begining you are a farmer right? SO, you must live in a little village. There's typically gotta be this hawt babe, the mayor's daughter; and a big brawny guy who will try to take her away from you! Like woa, how original.  Gotta have a few cliches right? But not overdo it. Least it will get you moving from the start

Flowerpot + Seeds Ideas:
Brass Flowerpot
Porcalain Flowerpot
Clay Flowerpot
Grain Seed Bag
Fruit Seeds Bag
Herb Seedlings Bag


This is certainly not all of them but a fair few. Certainly note: Grains don't produce Wheat all the time, Herbs don't always grow Mint or Rosemary all the time, etc. Plants grow just about anything. If things really get going I will make a thread in the New Projects Section, and we can continue from there. ^^

All right, cool! Which pot is best/worst? Do certain pots grow certain plants more efficiently than others?

There isn't a worse pot, its up to what seeds you plant, what you use for fertilizer. Although there is a Unique pot, which will only yeild special things. Like oober powered items to create armors and weapons for closer to the end game. Pssst it is called. ( Wooden Flowerpot )

So here's a sample recipie:

Grain: Planted in Clay: Fertilized with Fire base = Hp Item, or Syrup based spell component, or Powder based spell component. (It is random! Depending on the Fertilizer, a strong one or a general one wil have bigger or smaller yeilds. The most that you can get from a yeild is 9, weather it comes in handfuls or pinches, or drops.)

I will ofcourse help ma'am, first let me understand this better.

Um...crap. I know HOW to do this, you just set a bunch of variables based on the item, run through all of the branches (determining the outcome at that instant) roll through an animation over the course of a few "days" and produce a random product out of a set variety. The thing is, I don't know how to store more than one variable in an item!

...help?

Heh, thats why I thought a script would be better. Because of multiples. And even then : that is a sample recipie. There can potentially be more in a real recipie. Of course, the thing is: You can still play around travel the city and the plant can 'grow'. Most plants will grow in about a day and 3 days max. I was going to think that if you don't harvest the plant will die, but that might not be a good idea.

There also would be an item to magically progress the day. Night to Morning and Morning to Night. .... Well... hrm.

if someone can shorten whats happening in this, I can help if you want....

What do you mean "shorten whats happening in this"? I'm a little confused.

thats where im confused. I just need to know what needs to happen for the outcome to be successful.

Oh oh oh. I see.

Ok, so you've got the special greenhouse now, met your crazy Cacti dude (Or whatever plant I decide to make him from) who provides you with a free pot: Clay and he asks to to do this introductory quest.

Buy a special seed bag, and come back to him to plant. Yadda yadda: speaking, explaining. What happens when you plant is that it starts out as a seedling in a pot. And the next day, you can fertilize it. When you Fertilize it, the .... "Event" (for lack of better word) looks at what elements are in play and how strong the fertilizer is. The stronger the fertilizer the higher the yield for harvesting, and based on set recipies (Which will be invented as we go along) the possible items are randomized. the next day or however long it takes to completely grow (up to 3 or perhaps even 5 days game time), the randomized item is free to be taken via harvest.

Does that explain it better  Nouman?

er? Apparently I didn't explain it enough. ^^ Ah well.

I shall still be pluging along here. If I get enough storyline for this Gardening game I'll be posting it in the New Projects section. I won't mind if anyone would wants to post ideas in here. :3 Of course you will get your name in the credits if you do!

Now i understand, and now i can help.

I've figured out what plant to base the Greenhouse helper as. Coconut Palm Tree, a native Jamaican plant. Yes, he's going to be rather sterotyped. "Yah mon, there be no weeds here! I'll guarantee it. *wink, wink*"  It will certainly add a little levity to the game. I'm sure most Jamaicans really don't act that way though.

Large striped hat, palm fonds weaved into dreadlocks drape down to the ground,  wears only tropical shorts and sandals. I'll see if I can wressle with myself to draw up some concept art for him. Before trying to sprite him.

sorry I didnt click this topic =/ my bad. and yes is arrowone taking this request? if not I can do it. 

but I need you  to write up all the formula's as in waht they use and what not and the result and I can event this.

Oh well, uhm first I have to create all the items, and then the recipies. I think I might want to write out the storyline first. Like how things progress before hand. Armor and weapons aren't nessessary yet. Characters are needing to be fermented.

Yus, fermented. As in Finely Crafted Drafts. 

  , k well when you do get them done my offer will still stand.

I don't see why you both can't put your heads together to compile it. It has been said that it is tedious work! A simple matter but a lot involved...

HEY DONT SAY THAT! I DO UNDERSTAND.

I am, a little bit confuzed. But that is ok.

I'll be working on and off the greenhouse helper. ^^

here is a picture of the greenhouse helper.



I <3 THAT HAT. Its kinda of crappy quality coz it had to be taken a picture of because my scanner don't work.

wow, that's great looking! 

I r amazed

Holy shit. You're an artist. Looking for work?

Yus. Thanks for all the compliments. Greenman ish shirtless but has HUGEAZZ swimming trunks n sandles.

Your Jamaican guy IS really awesome. I could sprite him if you like, but you'd have to draw him facing each direction, and to size. I would want to make sure I get him right.

Hmm I'm sure I could manage that but I might want to try my hand at some serious spriting to see how well i'd do. before I go off asking for things. Won't know what one can do if one won't try.

Ah, I like that attitude.

heheh thanks <3

Ya'll get your names in the credits anyhow. ^^ Support n stoof. I'll have a support section indeedie for my credits

Spriting has been slow. ._. Not that great at it. But more importantly:

Been brainstorming lately for story.

A simple farming boy, destined to be finding true love within his quiet village and yet destined to save the world…

Yuh a rough around the edges tagline but it popped into my head.

And after being on the #Crankeye chat for so long and discovering that I, MYSELF can make my own channel/room. I figured why not?

BUT would it be useful!? So here I ask you folks: Would it be useful to have for my game? or is it a no go? Everyone would be welcome but asked to stay with the topic at hand: my gardening game and kicking around ideas. of course there can be fun thrown around too if one would like and play my favorite chat game: Woofgame.

Ehhh, why not? Name of the channel?

Yeah ok then i shall make it. But It should be like. erm. hmm like a fake company name to produce the game.

Certainly not going to name it "Conference Room". xD I used to have this Company name that I used for all my projects in High School and now I can't think of the name at all.

It was... Eclipse... something or another or something like that... Eclipsilion.

CHAT ROOM AVAILABLE via Crankeye chat! type /join #Eclipsilion

Sounds awsome. If your making a gardening game why not have a garden tilset? XD

Spoiler for:

thanks Irockman! I will file your name into the credits. These are awsome. You're a great artist!

Ummm...something tells me he didn't make that himself. I'm almost certain I've seen it somewhere before.

thanks Irockman! I will file your name into the credits. These are awsome. You're a great artist!

Oh, I didn't make it. I got it off of RMXP.
lol

Ummm...something tells me he didn't make that himself. I'm almost certain I've seen it somewhere before.

Yes, your right.

Oh. well would you happen to know who did make it? I don't want to lie in my credits...

D: I'll still add your name for getting it for me but its best to also give credit to the maker as well! :3

Oh. well would you happen to know who did make it? I don't want to lie in my credits...

D: I'll still add your name for getting it for me but its best to also give credit to the maker as well! :3

No, just say RMXP.

here is a picture of the greenhouse helper.



I <3 THAT HAT. Its kinda of crappy quality coz it had to be taken a picture of because my scanner don't work.

+REP

Oh. well would you happen to know who did make it? I don't want to lie in my credits...

D: I'll still add your name for getting it for me but its best to also give credit to the maker as well! :3

No, just say RMXP.

Oh! That forum place? They have resources too? I ought to look there. Thanks Irockman. <3

In other news I have quite nearly 140+ items. for creation purposes. 

Oh oh and wait, ::: nightwolf SANKS!! <3

Interesting system; you could go far with this. I suggest giving those arcane herbs deep roots in the workings of the universe, and only revealing this later on in the storyline.

...This reminds me of Lord of the Rings. Samwise the Gardener comes to glory throughout Middle-Earth... XD

That suggestion was a bad example, but I'm a writer, and I could help you with the storyline if you want.

Thanks Pryoken, I appreciate that.

Oh yes update on items - 159 items total count, (not counting keys for dungeons maps and such.)
Most are creation/gardening items.

I need to clarify about the recipes. Are they recipes for what to do with the gardening harvest? I suppose I could help a bit with the eventing and such; my mind automatically organises all the events and variables whenever I think of it.

So, do you have an idea on the plot concerning the destined to save the world portion of your tagline?

Not at the moment, but I do have framework for the character that starts out the plot: a farm boy in a simple village. Has a crush on the mayor's daughter, but also his rival, who is the blacksmith's son (big, n beefy kid), has one too. He has a better time wooing the girl than the character. At one point the rivalry boils over, almost quite literatly, as the son takes boiling pitch and fire to your new house. It was the new house that you just moved into with quite a bit of land too so the mayor might have looked towards the character.

I'm thinking it would jump right off at the scene before the moving but very close so that there's some 'tutorial' time to get used to the controls. But of course able to skip and have a cutscene all about it if the person wants to. and that is the start of the story. Since the burning of the house he has no place in the village. The charcter really doesn't have much of a backbone, and will probably script a bit of a 'running away' because of the issue only to come back to see the village distroyed.

MOAR DRAWING OR -REP

O.o Will do, Urk I'm starting to take on more than I can handle. ._.;;

You gotta do what you gotta do!

:p yeah but I can't bite off more than i can chew. Otherwise I just won't be able to hold up all that I'm doing.

Rep:5
+ -


Tommorrow. Do it.
Or else.

*RAWR* yuh. I'll get my arse in gear.

Just WHO should I do anyhow?

Any other imporant guy.

*puts mouse button over the minus sign*

i wonder what'd happen if i...

well actually the green man is kinda important but not really. xD not sure on characters or anything.

Oh. well would you happen to know who did make it? I don't want to lie in my credits...

D: I'll still add your name for getting it for me but its best to also give credit to the maker as well! :3

No, just say RMXP.

Oh! That forum place? They have resources too? I ought to look there. Thanks Irockman. <3

In other news I have quite nearly 140+ items. for creation purposes. 

Oh oh and wait, ::: nightwolf SANKS!! <3

No probleme. They have a decent amount of recourses.

Hmm, perhaps we could let the main character discover the combat portion of his gardening only when the need arises. Let him and the player learn battling the hard way, when they exit their peaceful farm village and brave the wilderness around his place. Once he's older and wiser, make him revisit his shame by coming back to see the village destroyed, or even make shame overcome his cowardliness when he does come back. It would add a bit of realism to the game, especially if you're any good at scripting.

Or does that completely counteract your plans?

IT kinda does but It kinda doesn't because there is just nothing even... like remotely built for storyline. I don't want to make it into a Harvest Moon though. >< I didn't like that game much because there was not PLOT. Liked the gardening/gathering thing and I do like a crafting mech. but the game has to have some kind of story.  O.o;

ON another note COMPLETELY RANDOM becuase I had been poked to make more arts earlier. BTW thanks for NOT -rep'ng me. NIGHTWOLF this goes out to you: (BTW there were NO BUNNIES harmed in the making of this picture, and WARNING: FULL OF CUTE MORBIDNESS. Oh and yeah, sorry about the crappiness of taking a picture of a picture. I hightly doubt my scanner is ever going to get fixed at this rate.)

Spoiler for:

By DAMN I felt like this all day. It actually sucked chunks.

Okay, that's one AWESOME picture. *basks in its awesomeness*

I can help out with other things until the idea develops enough to have a storyline, if you want, though I'm not very good at art and the like.

The eyes are kinda screwed, everything else is pertyfull.