[XP] Bloodlines - Online RPG

[mroedesigns]

An online RPG in development by MRoe Designs
(Click image to go to the development blog)

Introduction
[spoiler]This game is still very much under development. Right now, schedule-wise we are looking at beginning alpha/beat tests sometime around April or May. With that being said, any and all information in this thread is subject to change at any point. What you see here may not be final.[/spoiler]

Credits

[spoiler]
Blizzard - Scripts, scripts, and a couple more scripts.
GameGuy - Quest Log script
Incompetech - Parts of the soundtrack
The Inquisitor - Tilesets
Leon_Westbrooke - Passive skills script
LiTTleDRAgo - Blizz ABS Enemy HP Meter
Markchapman10 - Mapping & Eventing
Nathmatt - Blizz ABS Addon - Battle Music
Ryex - Mouse Window APIs
Winkio - Blizz ABS Addon - Action Recharge Times
Wizered67 - Custom Mouse Windows


Anyone and everyone else who has helped me through the design and development of Bloodlines.

If I'm using something of yours and somehow forgot to give you credit for it, PLEASE do not hesitate to remind me. The last thing I want to do is not give appreciation where it's deserved.
[/spoiler]

Team

[spoiler]
MRoeDesigns - Lead Designer / Lead Eventer
Markchapman10 - Mapper & Eventer

You - Writer? Scripter? Mapper? Artist? Check this post out.
[/spoiler]



World & Story

World Map
[spoiler][/spoiler]

World Info
[spoiler]
   The world in which the players reside, known as Serran, is largely unexplored. Though recorded history goes back at least 1100 years, the people have stuck mainly to their native continent, now known as Serran. Tales are told in hush whispers about what lies beyond the oceans, but few have dared to find out, and even less have ever returned. Though the majority of the population is human, the cultures have very distinct differences.

        The Terrivian tribes of the northeast are the oldest known society. Their culture is very close, and family oriented. Much of the worlds wisdom of sciences and magic have come from Terrivian elders and seers. They are a very spiritual people, and believe in multiple Gods and Goddesses. They live in small tribes and villages.

   Pyrburn, found to the west of Terriva, is a thriving military city. Its residents are mostly upper class citizens, who look down on anyone who isn't practically swimming in money. Though the citizens there are known to be quite rude, it is the biggest city in Serran, due to the military forces who also reside in the city. Those forces ended up there after the first war. Originally stationed in Newmill, they were driven back by Belro's forces.

   The Newmill Barrens stand as a desolate reminder of war. It was destroyed by King Belro in a show of power against King Simeon's military, and it was never rebuilt. Of the population who survived the attack, most were forced into Simeon's army, or left to their own ends.

   The monks of Blackwyn are a mysterious people. They descend from Terrivian ancestors who traveled further south-west of their homelands. There, they adopted a new style of living, which focused mainly on self-reflection and improvement. The majority of these people, who call them selves 'Anchorites' ('anchori' meaning knowledge in Terrivian), are mostly born into the circle, though it is possible for an outsider to join.

   Alton is a mining village at the base of the mountains where Blackwyn is located. These people are the only natives to Serran other than the Terrivians. A tough, hardworking people who don't mind doing the dirty work nobody else will. A lot of the older citizens are surviving veterans of Simeons army from the first war.

   New Brasetol is a small fishing town. Settlers from the south, they claimed parts of the territories previously unpopulated when their native island to the south was sunken due to a massive earthquake. The natives of these island now occupy most of southern Serran, including Baywick and Draccrest.

   Baywick is a trading capital between Alton, and New Brasetol. The population is a melting pot of the rest of the lands. People from all parts of the continent come here to trade and conduct business

   Draccrest is a small city, and is where Belro Avery was born and raised. He and his private military forces still reside there to this day. The civilians of this city have mostly been forced into labor by Belro, and those who haven't are still under his rule.


[/spoiler]

Storyline
[spoiler]
        King Simeon Whyte ruled over the lands of Serran for 33 years before he was struck down. Third in his lineage, his family was well known for being great warriors, and even better leaders. They cared about their people, each and every one of them. But that's not the way it is any longer.

   When King Simeon was killed, everything changed. Belro Avery was a well known villain, having desolated New Mill Haven but 4 years prior. But nobody thought he would ever dare challenge the King, nor His army. When Belro stormed the gates of the castle, there was something different about his army. Something dark in the eyes, the souls even, of the soldiers.

   They slaughtered anyone and everyone in their path, showing mercy not to child nor mother. When they finally got to King Whyte, his royal guard was tossed aside as if they were untrained rookies. To this day, Belro keeps with him the dagger that ended the life and reign of the Whyte family.
[/spoiler]




Screenshots

In Combat
[spoiler][/spoiler]

Menu System
[spoiler][/spoiler]




Unique Features

Character Backgrounds

   Instead of having specific classes, players instead choose backgrounds for their characters when first creating them. These character background choices influence the characters beginning stats, as well as what skills the character starts with. This acts as a good  way to still tweak your character to your personal style (ie choosing to be an anchorite for a spell caster, starting your player off with a higher intelligence rating than others. )

• Anchorite
• [spoiler]Raised in a monastery in the top of Mount Blackwyn, you spent the majority of your childhood in contemplation, reflection, and study. Through academic works and meditation, you honed your passion for knowledge in the fire of your will. Through firm discipline and determination, you constantly push yourself to unlock lore, whether it's hidden in ancient texts, or revealed through constant meditative practice.
  Bonus Stats :: +3 Intelligence, -2 Strength
  Starting Skills :: (2 offensive spells, read arcane, willpower)[/spoiler]

• Charlatan
• [spoiler]You spent your entire life on the road, moving from town to town. You get by taking odd jobs where you can find them, or other measures if the need arises. People are your stock in trade; your keen understanding of their attitudes, behaviors and desires keeps you alive and safe the majority of the time. Survival has always been your first priority, and you have become quite good at it.
  Bonus Stats :: +3 Charisma, -2 Intelligence
  Starting Skills :: Survival, Tracking, Persuasion, Archery[/spoiler]

• Ruffian
• [spoiler]Born into poverty, you grew up on the streets. When other children went home to their parents, you slept in back alleys and dilapidated abandoned buildings, getting food from where you could and making friends and family out of those in similar straits. Those with roofs over their heads and doors to close against the night looked down upon you, calling you a worthless, no-good street urchin. They didn't understand the kind of skills you possessed, skills that allowed you to find what you needed to survive, whether that was food, drinkable water, or a safe place to sleep.
  Bonus Stats :: +4 Agility, -1 Strength
  Starting Skills :: Pick lock, pick pocket, thrown weapons[/spoiler]

• Terrivian
• [spoiler]You were born into one of the Terrivian tribes of the north-east. You were raised by the members of your extended family, all of who participated in your life to one extent or another. Your mother taught you took gather food and cook, your father taught you to hunt and fish. Your grandfather taught you to treat hides and make weapons, and your grandmother taught you the history of your people. Everyone had his or her place at home, and you experienced times of both great joy and sorrow with all your kin.
  Bonus Stats :: +1 Agility, +1 Strength, -1 Charisma
  Starting Skills :: Hunters Advantage, Archery, Thrown Weapons[/spoiler]

Skills

        Unlike most RPGs, in Bloodlines every character has the ability to learn every skill. The skills simply have certain level and stat requirements (ie Fireball may require level 5 and 8 intelligence), as well as certain prerequisites (skills you must know before learning other spells, ie Healing 1 > Healing 2). Players are given a certain number of skill points each time they gain a level, and they can go to librarians to purchase skill books to train. This system is simple, and easy to understand, while still allowing players a very high level of character characterisation.



Religion
[spoiler]
Blackwyn Monks
   The monks in the monastery at the top of Mount Blackwyn are the most prominent point of religion in Bloodlines. They somewhat resemble Buddhism in that they strive for knowledge and inner peace more than following the will of their God. They do believe in a supreme    creator, though they feel that it does not control what happens to the people of the world, and    that it does not enforce any consequences. These monks believe that when you die, your physical body is left as a shell, and that your spirit moves on to a separate plane of existence. Where you go depends not necessarily upon your actions in relevance to others, but the level of peace you attained before you died. Their religion has no official name, nor do they have any hierarchy of priests or pastors.

Darji
   Darji is the only other religion mentioned in Bloodlines. Followers of Darji are often assumed to be involved with necromancy and the summoning of demons.  The demons are said     to come from a lower plane of existence, where souls who weren't at unrest go when they die. There they regret for eternity what they did, and eventually go mad. The souls will then make deals with dark magi in order to return to the physical plane temporarily. Due to this, demons are often known for betraying or even killing the people who summon them, and running rampant until the eventually return to the lower planes due to the binding rights wearing off.
[/spoiler]



General Magic
[spoiler]
Magic is, as with anything else, a trained skill. The people of Bloodlines believe that everybody has the ability to preform magic, it just depends on how dedicated a person is. Magic doesn't tie specifically to any certain religion or deity, nor does it necessarily require any special items.    
   
[/spoiler]

Magic & Religion
[spoiler]
Magic and religion are not necessarily tied, in that none of the world religions speak specifically on the use or knowledge of magic. However, certain religions are known for going hand in hand with certain types of magic. For instance followers of Darji are often assumed to be involved with necromancy and the summoning of demons. The Blackwyn Monks do not practice magic as part of their religion, though some of the monks do use it.
[/spoiler]

[AbsoluteIce]

This looks pretty nice, Actually 
But many MMORPG games based of RMVX fail miserably..
Just try your best and don't give up! 

[mroedesigns]

Well thats because VX sucks
Good thing Im using XP. And most fail due to lack of motivation, the engine is rather powerful if you use the scripting engine to its fullest extent.

Bloodlines is a project Ive been working on for a little over a year now. And its not something I plan on giving up. 

[hiromu656]

I can only hope this game has decent quests... because most rpg maker mmos I've played seem to be just a grindfest.

[mroedesigns]

I'll keep that in mind.

Right now there's a small development world with maybe 10 quests I use for private testing while the main world is worked on. It gives a very basic preview of the crafting systems, the quest systems, and how PvE battle works using the real-time ABS.

[Ryosis]

What kind of PvE are you guys leaning toward? I'm hoping you're thinking of large-scale raids, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's a bit beyond that the engine can handle.

[mroedesigns]

Actually right now we're working on coding a map instancing script, so large-scale dungeons and/or raids (both PvP and PvE) would be easier to handle.

[hiromu656]

You guys sounds like some legit foxhounds.

I was looking at the Ruffian Background thing, and it says, "pick lock" - Could you give an example of when you'd have to use that skill?

[mroedesigns]

You guys sounds like some legit foxhounds.

I was looking at the Ruffian Background thing, and it says, "pick lock" - Could you give an example of when you'd have to use that skill?

Thanks!

Lock picking comes in to play outside of combat. You may find a locked chest, or a door in a house that's locked. If your skill is high enough, you may have a chance to pick the lock and gain access.

[AbsoluteIce]

Now that I look at it for a bit..
It kinda looks like a 2D-Runescape 

[mroedesigns]

Much more story driven, though. Runescape always seemed like a random string of pointless tasks to me, I never felt like I was doing anything important as a player.

But thats just my opinion