Questions

[ohguar]

METALS:
Are there more types of metals or is it strickly steel only?

STRUCTURES:
It was mentioned that structures are steel and cement based only. No wood, rocks or bricks. Is this isolated toward major population densities, having a higher form of 'low-end' technology? While tiny/small populations have to deal with mud based structures. Or is the steel and cement structure global?

CLOTHING:
I am assuming there are no means to produce synthetic based cloth. Would cloth material be based on hair, being people and or animal only? The reason I ask this is tents would be more ideal to find shade and shelter in such an environment. Either for the travelling player/npc's and the poor within population densities.

VEHICLES:
It is difficult to come up with an idea based on the descriptions of low technology. Though, I may have something that could be rather different. Of course, this will have to wait till a response on METALS and CLOTHING. Though, I guess skin could be used and steel thrusted into the fantasy realm to make it happen. Of course, only an organized government could even have such a thing for military use. Large enough population to maintain a healthy economy could even bleed into the private sector.

FUELS and ENERGY:
It is really not that difficult to extract moister from organic materials in a desert environment. Not to mention, other forms of fuels from the same material. Moister or water for hydrogen extraction to burn. Methane from rotting materials, gas or liquid forms, depending on what is needed. Water for steam driven engines.

Are such allowable within the game? If so, I would imagine it strickly toward oganized governments. Being production difficult due to the lack of materials, allowing such high end of low technology being rare and military based only. With the exception of pirated toys >=)

ORCS:
The evil race for this world, I would imagine a creature that could be found in such an environment on Earth, but a bi-petal of some type. Lizard based, insect perhaps or even a de-evolution of human.

I am assuming it is a 'Dune' type planet or dry and hot. Thus, populations near the planets equator would recieve a larger amount of radiation, mutants. Who are looking to expand in to healthier territories. Lacking the intelligence to develop low technology, they conduct raids in to the human territory to obtain needed fabricated materials and such. Thus, their entire use of low end technology is poor quality patch work of raided equipment/materials.

But, this is all rambling, what is the most current vision of an evil race?

[Hector]

When Humanity is quite capable of any evil you wish to include, why bother including an "always chaotic evil" race?

[ohguar]

It all depends on one's perspective. I refered to the race as evil, as it was referenced as an example in the FAQ or was it the GDD.

If your looking for another answer, it is simple, unification through a common goal. There are plenty of examples in the real world such as war, sports, companies, governments, social class, race, gangs, etc.

But the one thing this world will always have is Humans, there are no Orcs or Goblins. We are stuck with ourselves, static, boring. We know what we are capable of, being good and or evil, again, depending on ones perspective.

The introduction of a race other than human with a chaotic evil alignment, allows the human or player to do good, through acts of ... evil, justified by the content provided by the game. Then again, I may side with the 'evil' race. That they are a species who wish to survive like any other creature. That their beliefs, culture and nature are simply misunderstood

Aye, the 'evil' race could be human, but one would need to consider the marketability of the product. Does a world of human only contribute to a greater share of the market? or would twisted montrosities win over the gamer's wallet in a tight economy? If only for padding a resume, would it wow the interviewer or put them to sleep.

If your going to make your mark on the world ... it would be best to kick them in the nuts. Meaning, wow them from the start.

[Captain Deathbeard]

Yes, I've been thinking about this. Its a game about fighting battles, so from one perspective its more fun, and nice and simple to have a vast army of evil that can allow you to commit slaughter in the name of goodness without any moral implications. But perhaps in this day and age this is the last thing we need. Evil always comes from humans and is always a matter of perspective. You never get an army where all the soldiers think "yeah, we're the bad guys!".
I think there is a bit too much of "the un-human evil monsters/foreigners" in games and films. Although it is fun, I'd like to make something a little more thoughtful.

That's why I think I will make things a little less simple, human only, and make things more a matter of mass mentality, prejudice, desperation, survival, deception and manipulation from leaders, governments and religions. Various mixes of these factors on different sides.

Although there will be different races, they'll technically be variations on human. No fantasy knock-offs, don't worry.



As for the other stuff, the desert has plenty of resources of different metals and stone so they make up the main materials. Wood is rare, fuel would be some kind of fossil fuel resource although there will be no vehicles, there may be ships in an expansion pack some day. Clothing would come from some kind of cottony mammal.
Most tech and luxuries are in the towns, the farming villages are pretty much used and abused on all sides, and largely use the salvaged materials of previously destroyed towns and villages. If a farming village finds a natural resource like a metal mine, they tend to hide it, because it will quickly get taken away by whoever thinks they own them, and probably end up in battles all over the place.
Unless its a mining village.

[Lamoot]

Housing

People could also live in caves / underground holes, which aren't as hot as the surface. Also:

Using grass / reeds and sand, the chinese were able to construct a large part of the Great Wall in the desert, using more or less local materials. They stacked these into layers and packed them until they were as packed as they can be.

[Lamoot]

Also, I found some interesting images, might be useful for habitat inspiration.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/06/gia ... ification/

[ohguar]

From the description of structures, it reminded me of Barter Town from Beyond Thunderdome. A mixture of mud and scavenged materials for grossly constructed structures.

The screenshots are actually great, the erosion pattern could have a significant influence on the overall structure. Definitely a great source for concept art reference if a lot of mud was used as a filler due to a lack of other materials.

Human only, that will be a tuff one, it will need to be unique. RoadWarrior did a great job but their universe helped a lot. Dune did a great job as well, though more political, cultural and religion influenced. Postman did ok, a bit direct with the Clan of 8 deal, kind of like Roadwarrior with the white/black derelict fashion. Unfortunate for Postman, their universe was a bit too ... civil war-ish.

The comment suggests you guys already have something cooking behind the scenes with humans, looking forward to the public release. Also, I do hope the game is as complex and intriguing as Dune when it comes to politics, culture, survival and religion.

Another question on resources

Will it be gathered based, similar to Ultima Online. If you found metal, will it need to be extracted from the rock by either the player and or hired NPC? If so, will players be able to make a claim on such lands, needing to develop and defend?

[Captain Deathbeard]

Another question on resources

Will it be gathered based, similar to Ultima Online. If you found metal, will it need to be extracted from the rock by either the player and or hired NPC? If so, will players be able to make a claim on such lands, needing to develop and defend?

Yes, although with later technologies and investment you can get machinery that does the mining work for you. You can then sell the materials or use to build your own structures.