Kingdoms - developing blog # 5 news

Hi! Cyfieithydd is on line, and today is news time!

There are a lot of things to tell you about since our last update: global building system, NPC behavior like finding a group, choosing a leader, building first settlement. Also I'll tell you about settlements themselves, about ways they can be built into and how NPC can do their "sweet homes" better and better". Besides, I've worked on social-system in NPC groups and ways of social interaction between group members. And in the end I'll tell shortly about some graphic improvements, because Unity 5 is finally out. So, let's start.

BUILDING SYSTEM

Like every aspect of our project building-system should be realistic. I tried to do so, that every of its aspects looks natural and logic and won't broke game atmosphere. And of course building can't be separated from many others game aspects like socialization and interaction between NPCs. So, hope i didn't bother you and we're ready to talk about all this stuff in details.

1) Finding a group

When NPC appears in this world, the first thing he tries to do is to find a group. Interaction between NPCs is very important aspect of the game, which creates the feeling of the living world, that can evolve in every unexpected way.

The decision to join the group depends of socialization parameter. If socialization is high enough, NPC will try to find people nearby. If socialization is low, NPC will try to avoid civilization and live somewhere far away from cities and villages. But player still can disturb their peaceful life.

After finding a group NPC becomes an important member of group social system, and its success depends on all NPCs actions.

2) Creating or joining a group

Group appears if at least two NPCs found each other. Of course, after group was created, any NPC looking for the group nearby, can also join it. Group members choose a group leader, who decides, where this group should make first settlement, how many houses they have to build, how much food they should gather etc. If leader is not good enough, group members can choose a new one.

Leader tries to choose best place for the settlement: with water nearby and resources like forest and rocks. And if everything is ok, group starts to build their first settlement.

3) Marking building place

If building place is found NPC marks it with scaffolding. We've made smart system of scaffolding, that includes such things like finding flatten place, nearby houses position etc. The distance between two structures is counted by script, so two buildings wont cross each other.

4) Gathering resources

After scaffolding is set, NPC will find closest resource nearby (wood, stone etc.), gather it and take to settlement storage. Player will see how many resources are gathered, because its amount has visible realization. Settlement has common storage for building-needs, but if NPC wants to collect more resources, storage can be set near its house.

5) Building a house

If there are enough resources to build a house, NPC begins building-process. The result is looking like this:

VILLAGE

Any settlement is unique part of this world, and can be developed by its habitans in any unexpected way.
Settlement can change its type. The whole scheme is looking like this:

Also settlement contains such important structures like storage, market place, tavern or blacksmith. If there is a person in settlement, that is good in blackmithing, this person will definitely build a structure for these needs.
Player can also build a house in any settlement, or even try to become a leader if leadership skill is high enough.
Remember, that we're talking about NPCs now, for the player everything is a little bit different. For example, if NPC wants to join the player, we can negative that request or ignore building a village, so NPC will leave us because we can't satisfy their needs. This first try to make NPC intelligent and independent was success, and from now our task is to make their behavior more life-like.
As small bonus we want to show you screens, where we put 60 NPC on the map. The result was wonderful:

MUSIC

Our composer João Freire created wonderful themes for our dynamic music. Now, entering village, theme will change. You can hear Joãos wonderful work in the following video:

INVENTORY

Besides, i've start to make inventiory for the player. For example, we can hold sword and torch, using quick slots. Now nights are not so dark and full of terrors:)

SMALL CHANGES

As youy know, Unity 5 final version is out, and we want to show you some features from it, that we've put into our game.

1) New river shader

2) Global illumination and new shaders.

3)Antialiasing and sunshafts

WHEN?

So, as you can see we're working hard and we really want all of you enjoy our game. In summer we'll start test our BETA and also we'll try Kickstarter. If all goes well, you'll already play Kingdoms in autumn, if we get Greenlight. We've made our concept page on Steam-Greenlight, so, you can support us there right now!

JOB IN OREOL

Our studio is always intrested in enthusiastic people who loves videogames and its development. If you want to try to work as modeller, animator or artist in our company, you're welcome! Just write me, if you're intrested;)

SUMMARY

Hope you enjoyed all we showed today! Soon we'll make a gameplay video with all these features i told you today, so watch for updates!
Good luck and till next time!