The Dink Network

Due to a combination of boredom and too much (or perhaps not enough) coffee I have come to the conclusion that making a Developer Diary about my upcoming entry to the d-mod contest is a good idea. Let's hope I'm right.

My intention is to update this thread every day/few days, and let everybody know what I have managed to accomplish in that time. I'll also post the odd screenshot along the way, and maybe any clever scripts that I come up with (yeah, right). This may well be an ill-fated idea, but maybe somebody will find it interesting on some level. Hopefully, anyway.

Anywho, after starting (and quickly scrapping) 2 ideas for my contest entry, I've stumbled across one I really like (partly inspired by a suggestion from Arik). Now, I won't give away any plot details for the time being, but so far we have one village, completely mapped out (3x4 map squares in size), and a few small scripts littered around the place. So there's still a lot to do! I intend to have the intro and first quest done by tomorrow evening, and then see where to go from there.

I'd also like to wish the worst of luck to all the other entrants. The DinkC reference will be mine!

Nope, it's gonna be mine. Don't hold your breath.

Good luck then. I'm sure you'll do something outstanding. If you take the book, I guess I'll take the CD.

*pffft* I already finished my dmod and it has and intro AND 2 villages!

Well, after a few days break (away with the Mrs), it's back to work on the d-mod. Woohoo!

Now, I've started redoing the intro, but I've got a lot to do if I'm going to get this d-mod finished (to a half decent standard) on time. I've half finished rescripting the intro, and I've changed the opening section somewhat in order to make the games story flow a little better.

A custom (and rather unnecessary) script for leaving buildings has been added, as well as a single new spell. In the next few days, I'm hoping to finish the opening section of the d-mod. I've got a reasonable amount of mapping done, but it all needs scripting and "filling out".

Back to the grindstone...

Whether this d-mod is going to be finished in time for the contest has become very debatable! Now, don't get me wrong... I've done a LOT of work over the last 2 days, but I've left myself with a huge amount to do if I'm to do this game justice.

I've done away with the status bar, and created a new Mana points based magic system. Whilst glitchy, this system is rather cool, allowing me to put countless spells (and a rather different style of gameplay) into the d-mod.

Each spell costs a certain amount of Mana points (Fireball costing 1, and Hellfire costing 3, for example), and when you run out you can't cast any more until you've found a Mana Pool, a Mana Potion or simply rested. It's a simple enough system, but it seems to work ok.

I've currently got 2 spells implemented, and am planning on having about 10. This is where the problems start to arise.

Having 10 spells and a potion brewing feature (akin to LOT's fruit mixer) in a d-mod that has to be finished in a matter of weeks is not going to easy! Hopefully I'll be able to fit it all in, but some things may get left out in the rush.

And even after finishing the new features, I still have to add some actual gameplay to the d-mod.

Help!

I've done away with the status bar, and created a new Mana points based magic system. Whilst glitchy, this system is rather cool, allowing me to put countless spells (and a rather different style of gameplay) into the d-mod.

Each spell costs a certain amount of Mana points (Fireball costing 1, and Hellfire costing 3, for example), and when you run out you can't cast any more until you've found a Mana Pool, a Mana Potion or simply rested. It's a simple enough system, but it seems to work ok.
Hey, I did this too, in my DMOD(except that I won't use so many spells). I can't belive it. Now don't tell me you also implemented a mana bar, similar to the health bar(as I did), because this would be just to wierd.

HAHA! I hope none of you finish! Then I'll win for sure.In fact, that
might be the only way I can win...
You don't want to make a cruddy game, guys, better to do a good game
and miss the contest deadline.*muahahaha*

I'll also join The problem is it's my first D-Mod too, so I guess I won't get so many votes

Well, you I might not finish it, but even if I do, I don't think I can beat you. You usually do better DMODs than I do. As for sabre, if he finish his project, we're both screwed

Heh, that is freaky! I did consider using a mana bar, but it wouldn't fit with the rest of the pseudo-status bar I have.

I'm growing sick of my d-mod already... I don't like small d-mods anymore. If I'm going to make one, I want it to be an epic. I'm going to have to spend the next few hours trying to find some motivation again. *Sigh*

+Raises shirt and flashes hairy boob-things at Sabre+

That was just a preview...

Is it weird that I read that about 5 times before I understood what it said?

You already started two epics(CC3 and oah). Will you start a third one?

After careful evaluation of you, no.

(I tease)

Come on then Sabre what's happening with the development? This is looking to be one of the more promising DMODs in the Failure Contest, we shant let you stop!

It was looking very promising... but sadly other things (such as the real world, with e) have got in my way, and I've done NOTHING on the project. Hence it won't be finished.

Which is very annoying, as I quite liked some of the things I'd come up with. I may just stick them in a development file at some point... unless Cypry's Mana based system is infinitely better than mine (quite likely), in which case I'll just delete it all.

I've got a Polymorph spell that worked quite well, so I may release that as well. I hope other d-mod authors had better luck in their projects than I did in mine.

you still have time all you have to do is make like 1 thing to do and then dink fails like say have some duck pop up and say kill this pillbug and dink cant kill it then it says you fail game over

Muhahahahahaha! The greatest threat is eliminated! I have to win now

I quit the contest? When?

Where are the screenshots? Where are the updates? You big tease!

vonzeppelin is the biggest threat to people not wanting unsolicited toe licking

And Josh is the biggest threat to people who do not want solicited ass licking.

Soup, and crackers.
Soup, and crackers.
All I really want in life is soup, and crackers.
Everytime I dance,
I think there is a chance,
that elves will wrestle through my pants
for soup, and crackers.
Outstanding hackers
and Green Bay Packers
can't dissipate my pining for some soup, and crackers.
The moon was melting,
sopranos were a-belting,
housewives they were a-welting
for some soup, and crackers,
but they didn't get squat,
'cause I hide it in a K-Mart bag.

Well, in the end I did finish a Failure d-mod. Not the one that was mentioned in this thread, but a much better one. One that somehow managed to win the contest.

Yeah, baby.