Final Fantasy Convergence: Development of an RP Site

[Zeich Yajuu]

As the title suggests, I'm working on a Final Fantasy based RP forum. Right now, however, it's still in heavy development, and it has a long way to go before it's finished. Therefore, since it's still in the development stages, I wanted to open up the floor to some more developer ideas, particularly ways to refine various systems and how to improve them.

Currently, it's just Kyo and I bouncing ideas around and refining a few small things. Some things we've been working on:

-Job System - not only do you have 28 (possibly more) jobs you can level independent of one another, but you can change them between threads and play different roles if you enjoy a variable experience.
-Trait System - Traits are abilities gained through level a job, and you can set a certain amount of traits before a thread regardless of your current job, after you have unlocked them. These include Magic Mastery traits, Equipment Traits, Stat Traits, and Ability Traits.

These are all we've really progressed on so far, but there's so much left to do! We have a huge to-do list:
Trait System Refinements
Job Change System Refinements
Equipment System (Including Customs)
Leveling System
Magic System (Blue Magic Particularly, as well as custom spells)
Pet System (Beastmaster Pets as well as Summoner Avatars)
Job Ability system (Unique abilities to each job)
Shop System
Storyline Information
World Map/What is included from the various worlds
Skins, Banners, various other pretty things

Currently, this is being hosted on TitanPad under its own domain, and there will be several pads up for information, as well as places where people can create their own pads for idea bouncing. Right now, I want to get a few extra developers in, people who want to see the creation of the site and play a part in its creation. However, I am going to be very strict on these slots, as there's a ton of work to be done, and I want people to take it seriously as we develop it. This is also screened, as TitanPad requires me to get a person's email and manually add them myself to give them an account with access to the pads for the site. I will probably only allow 2-3 developers for now, maybe more depending on who I get.

As time passes, I will eventually open up the actual site, not just the TitanPad version, and allow for beta testing from even more members. This beta testing will be to test and troubleshoot systems. There will be of course be rewards for beta testers for all of their hard work, aside from just early access to the site.

So, I wanted to open up this thread to see how interested people are in this whole project. I certainly want to make this into an actual site and see it thrive, but it may be a bit of a big project to simply on my own. So if you're interested, simply post here; I'll poke you on PCs or something and we'll discuss it. Even if you're just interested in beta testing later, please feel free to leave a memo here, so I can send you an invite once I actually start the site up.

[slace]

I would like to help.

[Deleted]

Even though I'm a goofball in the chat most of the time's I do know my FF and I could lend a hand if you want me to Z. I'm also curious because you said you were balancing the job system by having people swap jobs. Would that be just like ff4 I think... If I'm not mistaken. Either way Z It's your call if you want me to help out. Also I know that you said that this is an AU world based off of FF, but if I may have a small input one of the shop keepers or NPC's should be named Cid to keep the tradition going.

[Zeich Yajuu]

Slace - I'll pop you a PC if I see you later. At very the least you were getting a beta invitation; you're one of the best people for testing when things have broken potential, and it'd be best to nip that in the bud. We'll talk later when I'm off work.

Faust - FFIII, V, and XI were the job-change games. And believe me, I was looking into a few throwbacks. Cids are game-specific, but the fact that there is one in every game since... 2? (and the remake of 1) I was planning on using him anyway. I'll send you a PC if I see you later on.

[Deleted]

Believe it or not, I do still check the recent tab here. Not sure if you'd want my help with it or not, but you can PC if you want to bounce ideas off me. My schedule is actually not evil with my new job, so I'm around a good bit... just not popping into the cbox that often.

[Zeich Yajuu]

Alright, it's been a little bit but I'm starting to make significant progress on my site. There's still a LOT of information I need to fill in, but at this point it's just me filling in fields and finalizing systems; it's going to take a while, but for the most part that's on me. I still do need a bit of help with a few things, however:

1) Site Skins / Banners / Layout - I can't really code my way out of a paper bag so I'd like some help creating skins. Banners I have a few concepts but I'm artistically challenged. And layout? This is more just me needed a second opinion once I've actually finalized my initial layout.

2) Map Design - Considering this uses places from many different games organized into different regions, a map is feeling more and more necessary in order to ensure that people know where in the world they are. I can scribble out a pretty basic one, but I'm looking to get something more... solid made if someone has any expertise on this.

These are nothing that need to be rushed, as I've still got a LOT of information to fill in for the systems and such. Just looking to see if I can get some work started on these things.

[Deleted]

I'd be glad to help you with the artsy stuff!

[Zeich Yajuu]

So I know I haven't made any updates on this for a while, and indeed the site took a backseat for a bit, but I'm back at getting FFC up and built. For part of this, though, I need input from others; namely, I need to see min-max builds so that I can get a good feel for how to build the equipment system and its effectiveness as compared to just stat spammage. I know this is vague, but it's a process I need for what I'm doing. XD So here's what I need from those who are willing to volunteer some input:

Participants need to pick a “role” from a list given; these roles are not specific jobs, but are more designed to give a general feel for what some jobs may be able to do. Participants can make builds for more than one role if they'd like. The roles are:

Damage Dealer (Physical)
Damage Dealer (Mage)
Tank
Healing (or Support)
Speed-based (think Thief, Ninja, etc)
Pet Job (Generally think back-line, with pets in the front, you're just worried about the owner's stats)

Now, after picking a role, I'm going to allow people to assign the maximum amount of Stat Points to it, with no requirements on stats spent. All I want is for people to give me their ideal build; what they think maximizes that role to the best efficiency. Players will be given 550 Stat Points to be assigned to the following stats:

Strength (Determines physical attack power, as well as the ability to perform physical tasks)
Dexterity (Determines physical accuracy, as well as how skilled one is with their hands for various tasks)
Vitality (Determines physical endurance)
Agility (Determines physical evasion, as well as how fast one generally is)
Intelligence (Determines magical strength, as well as how analytical one is)
Mind (Determines magical fortitude, i.e. resistance to offensive effects and damage from magic)
Charisma (Various out-of-combat uses, such as charm, deception, diplomacy, persuasion, etc)

Note that all stats have an effective hard cap of 255; you can't spend more than 255 in a stat. Also note that min-max builds are not combat only, but for general effectiveness as a whole. If you'd like to, though it isn't required, explain why you built your role in such a way; it might help me to better understand the mindset of how people might build themselves and allow me to build a more effective and adaptable system.

Thanks in advance to those who provide input; it means a lot to get the site moving again!

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

I would love to help out, being a HUGE fan of final fantasy. Just let me know when I can help

[Asen Mahawa]

Well I like the Damage Dealing(Mage).

Stats:
Strength - 50
Dexterity - 50
Vitality - 75
Agility - 125
Intelligence - 125
Mind - 75
Charisma - 50

My reason for this build is not only to pack some punch with magic but to also have him quick on his feet. He wouldn't have much of a starting health so I made his Vitality a 50% above average so that he would receive at least less damage. His Mind stat is the same. It gives him some defense against other magics. The 50's I'm going to say that they're average range, nothing extraordinary in these parts.

That's my explanation of what the stat system is and I hope it helps out. Overall you should have 2 125's, 2 75's, and 3 50's. The 125 should be in the stat that you know your class is going to use. 75 should be like second options, like what else you'll need or what other stat that may help?

[Deleted]

Couple builds for consideration. Also, coded a stat template because why not?


[b]Strength -[/b]
[b]Dexterity -[/b]
[b]Vitality -[/b]
[b]Agility -[/b]
[b]Intelligence -[/b]
[b]Mind -[/b]
[b]Charisma -[/b]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tank}
Strength - 50
Dexterity - 25
Vitality - 200
Agility - 25
Intelligence - 25
Mind - 200
Charisma - 25

Fairly straightforward build. He's dumb as a bag of rocks, and isn't going to make any friends, but this build is a huge pain to knock down. With 200 VIT he's got insane staying power just by that. However, with 200 MND, the chances of you safely nuking him with spells is almost nil. Couple that with some heavy plate and a tower shield to help against physical attacks, and you've got yourself the unmovable object. This build would probably be an Orc if they were in this universe, just because it fits. On the other hand, this character can be outrun by a tortoise, and does almost no damage. They are a meatshield, and would best be paired with a mage/ranger who they can just stand in front of.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Thief/Ninja}
Strength - 50
Dexterity - 125
Vitality - 25
Agility - 200
Intelligence - 50
Mind - 25
Charisma - 75

This is a build reminiscent of the Dodgelock Bowzon from Diablo 2 if anyone remembers that build. 200 AGI means they can dodge virtually anything that people throw at them, and they're going to need it. 25 VIT and MND means a single good swing will take them down, but the goal is to never get hit in the first place. On the other hand, they have only average strength, but prefer to pick away at opponents from a distance with a myriad of ranged weapons. 125 DEX is enough to ensure they basically always hit, so it's kinda like trying to take down Okusa with a Quincy. It'll work eventually if you just never ever let him get near you. With the really high AGI, it would be quite hard for anyone to catch them without the use of something like Haste/Slow magic, which is the bane of this build if it exists. Above average CHA is taken since rogue-types need to be as sweet with their words as they are with their weapons. If you can't manage to talk your way out of a sticky situation, and you aren't able to flee, you're kinda screwed. With luck, 75 CHA is enough to get that done. Depending on the meta, 25 points could be dropped from AGI to boost CHA to 100.

[Amagai Kuchiki]

See, Physical Damage Dealers are usually overlooked, so let's make one.

Stats:
Strength: 150
Dexterity: 115
Vitality: 100
Agility: 75
Intelligence: 30
Mind: 50
Charisma: 30

So, this character is combat optimized. His physical capabilities are way above average, and he can tank a fair number of things with Agility and Vitality being higher than average. However, out of combat, he is lacking, and his mental defenses are average.

[Kyomei Kuchiki]

Pet Job

Strength - 10
Dexterity - 10
Vitality - 100
Agility - 255
Intelligence - 50
Mind - 100
Charisma - 25

Unmatched ability to not be hit while the Pets do combat, enough Mind and Vitality to resist what does hit them, and enough average intelligence to be able to order the pet effectively in combat.