Interactive Enviroment

[Arrexis]

I have yet to see this in any MMORPG yet (to it\'s fullest extent that is), but It is a truly good idea.

I am kind of sleepy, so excuse me if I don\'t really go into detail. Basically, Interactive Enviroments are enviroments that not only crumble and tear whenever you hit a certain type of terrain. I want to see it implemented to the extent of if you are in the mountains and hit a certain point on a boulder, the boulder begins it\'s descent down the hill and possible crushing any foe or any other beast/player in it\'s way. Maybe implemented in the form of, if you use an ice spell while on a sea shore, the water nearby frosts up and ships which are docking are damaged. There are many different cases of this, but I want you, my fellow players, to think of those ways. Get creative, and thank you for your time!

[Vengeance]

The reason you haven\'t seen this in a game before is not because no one but you has thought of it, but because it is very very hard to do.  Maybe we will have this 10 releases from now, but don\'t hold your breath. :-)

-  Venge

[Kiva]

Firespells could set people\'s clothes on fire, instead of just \"BOOM\", and it could set fire to trees and grass as well - if it gets close enough, that is.

[Natrina]

Good idea

 That makes me think of another thing: How will builders cut trees or rocks?

[Axsyrus]

there could be some movable objects in the game, like rocks or small animals that just walk around, these would only need the same coordinates the pc\'s use, so it\'s not a lot more server stress.

[Wedge]

there could be some movable objects in the game, like rocks or small animals that just walk around

We already have rocks that walk around  

[_Yuhevon_]

Oh, oh and then diaboli could have a devil skill, they set things on fire and make a hell area.  There is a point to limit the human env. interaction. You just cant have people runnin around setting towns on fire. Maybe the boulder thing could be part of a quest so it doesnt get abused. Just puttin my dumb comments in, ignore if you wish  )

[One]

I dunno if anyone here plays first person shooters, but there\'s one called \"Red Faction\" that has destructable environments. The damage to the environment is calculated at the very moment you cause it. I mention this because it would be precisely the system that wouldn\'t work.

However, it might be possible with a set of prefabricated building blocks to add to the environment, or, in the same way, detract. (ie there would be a certain standard sized block you would remove from the ground, or several sizes) On the fly manipulation would be impossible in an MMORPG, I think, but if there was a set of 3d models that every user would already have installed, there\'d be no need to install new models every time the environment was altered.

It would limit the possibilities somewhat, but it might be possible.

Oh, and hi, this being my first post and all.

[lynx_lupo]

Congrats One! First post and it isn\'t spam and it\'s even located in the right thread and forum. It\'s even in good english and not in caps!

*presents the n00b of the day award to One*

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Such things will come in much later releases. Lot\'s of time to invent new effective stuff.

[zinder]

IMO if you allow to destroy parts of the env. you need to restore it in someway. (otherwise imagine someone, who \"digs\" a really deep hole with his fireballs)  For example burned down woods should regrow, a hole should get filled again after some time time.
And you cannot set it back. That would look really terribly, walking around the hole, then turning back and there is no hole.

you must remember to restore the env. or we will walk on a moon landscape.

[Jedi]

One, I don\'t think there\'s anyone who hasn\'t heard of Red Faction. :rolleyes: (and if they haven\'t then they just did. )

Now what we really want is the Half-Life 2 physics engine. It can\'t be that hard to hack a copy for Planeshift. Just don\'t get cousght.

But really, even if you have minimal environmental destruction you should at least be able to pick up everything, like in Morrowind.

[One]

There would be many smaller problems to solve, such as not being able to dig a hole so deep you couldn\'t escape from it, etc, but I do think such a system, with predefined 3d models, could work without huge amounts of lag, since everyone would already have the models installed on their computer. This system could be used to design weapons, as well, out of prebuilt bits.

I hadn\'t actually thought about combat leaving holes, but that\'s an interesting thought. I was thinking more along the lines of player houses, or contruction in general. Being able to do a bit of landscaping around your home would be nice.

Perhaps there could be a \"gardening\" skill...