A long time has passed, this project is not dead however, I'm always pondering things for it, if anything the time off let me think it through better.
lately I've been trying to restore the battle calc and stat system, after I gave it a look though the previous one had no User Instancing, that would have been a problem (players simultaneously attacking a target would all subtract their damages simultaneously making the end outcome that only the last attack in the chain would subtract from HP.)
I fixed that, I put in some basic user instancing, but went to bed last night and realized what I had done wrong, the now current user instancing system put's users and their attacks on a list from which the enemy sends an activation message and subtracts each outcome individually waiting for one player to finish before activating another player's attack. There may be user instancing, but there was no activation time sequencing! I have activation time in the attack list but didn't use it for user instancing (that was stupid).
right now only one user can access the battle calc script at a time too, I'm thinking of changing that if possible by having each battle object perform their own outgoing battle calc then merely send the outcome to the target's user instancing script. (right now I have each target performing incoming battle calcs)
So, what I'll need is one battle calc script and one user instancing script on each object, one Outgoing Battle Calc Script, and one Incoming User Instancing Script, that way nothing is ever tied up, and multiple attacks coming in at once can be cross-compared by activation time and sequenced accordingly, activating them as little as "however long it takes the script to complete the HP reduction on average+ a little bit of timing error consideration" apart from each other, or if it comes to two or more identical timing entries in the list sequentially activate them simultaneously and subtract them combined as one total damage.
I make it sound like a simple fix here but with IRL distractions as usual it may take a few days just to write out the logic (I've found writing it out first helps me think more completely about the functionality). then after that comes the bore of actually editing this into the server scripts. but the outcome will be worth it.
After fixing this set-up, I have like 4 or 5 more things with this level of work to do before I can release a beta client for testing.
2; finish the character designer; I actually need to add in a costume designer screen (I also need to make a Female Model Base from the male one to save rigging time, and I need to make the UV layouts) and a shard screen (this part of the client handles login, authentication, and encryption as well, and needs to be split into server and client operations) I also need to finish adding in the various powers and sets and make the window/button graphics more interesting than blank rectangles. I might also profit to redo the mouse script as a ratio comparing game screen width and height to visible game world width and height (right now it's just a mouse motion to object motion translator).
on note of the costume designer, if anyone is reading this please give me the names of any Hair styles and faces from City of X that you would like to see from the start and I'll see what I can do to translate (because they will be more graphical etc.) them onto the character models. (I'll probably only do 3 faces and 3 hair styles from the start, tights or bare (with underwear) will be the only actual costume options)
ALSO send me emote names from City you would like to see for role-play/dance-offs!!
"2" may take a few months.
3; Finish the tutorial Zone, I plan for it to be more than just a tutorial zone in that people can revisit it as and when they like so it will be a main zone.
On this note BUILDINGS, got any interesting architecture that you would like to be a part of the tutorial zone? send me a picture or address and building name to look at. I need to redo some aspects of the Tutorial zone's graphics as they were rushed and add in some more.
I also need to finish looping the mission and make a few other missions for testing.
I'll need to make a few more NPCs and a hospital, and definitely make more enemies, I'm thinking street-thugs style. I have a story for the thug group and a name and insignia but I need to start designing their looks (obviously I can't rip-off the hellions looks).
Also I need to add in the window designs here too.
*IRL interruption while typing not sure if I said everything I needed to say that needs to get done*
3 may take a couple months work on it's own.
4; Chat system
enough said, I need to make it from scratch. I already have the logic written out and I'm satisfied with it.
I'm not sure how long this will take, maybe 4 will take 1 to 5 months?
5; Items, Items, Items, I need to get some basic items made to test things like the Inspiration system(already partly done just needs a partial fix), recipe and salvage system, and basic enhancement system (as well as a few other Items I will be including).
5 I give it 1 to 2 months on it's own.
total estimated time till it's ready; 10 to 20 months.
In all reality I hope I can finish it faster.