VN Ren'Py Eternum [v0.8.0] [Caribdis]

[Dylan741]

All "faceplam" jokes aside, obviously Orion is not even the 1st in command, so how could Nova be his 2nd in command?

The command will obviously go to Nancy as it has been in the beginning of 0.6.

And Nova is no commander, Nova is a sniper. She is the one that you would send to take out high value targets from afar or to support Orion from a distance while he goes into melee combat, not to command anything.

Of course and I agree...Buuut... I simply couldn't resist, sorry man....

 

[Takkatakka]

Oh, fudge. I recently started developing my own new game, and after reading the synopsis and first few pages of this thread, it's sounding a little too similar. Now I'm not sure if I should play this game to know what kind of stuff to stay away from, or avoid it completely so I don't subconsciously borrow any ideas from it.

At the very least though, would anyone be kind enough to give me a rundown of how exactly the simulated world in Eternum works? Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

In addition to what Dorfnutter already wrote, I would still add the following (which is what he regards as spoilers), but what might be important if you actually want to write a story with a similar setting:

Spoiler

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[Yvier the Duck]

All "faceplam" jokes aside, obviously Orion is not even the 1st in command, so how could Nova be his 2nd in command?

The command will obviously go to Nancy as it has been in the beginning of 0.6.

And Nova is no commander, Nova is a sniper. She is the one that you would send to take out high value targets from afar or to support Orion from a distance while he goes into melee combat, not to command anything.

Yeah, I'm agree with you, Nancy is the commander but...

I simply couldn't resist, sorry man....
View attachment 3084020

Me neither

 

[Takkatakka]

Clearly, you're all the worst!

 

[Conviction07]

On the surface level Eternum works like your average futuristic VRMMO: the game package comes with a headset, a neural link that supposedly acts to connect the mind and body to the game, and an "optional" bodysuit that supposedly allows one to fully feel the various sensations you experience in the game (sight, taste, touch, the full works).

When you login, your body gets a full scan that copies your entire physical appearance into the game. Physical customization in the game is limited: you are only allowed to customize hairstyle, clothing, accessories, body tattoos, makeup, and the like. You can't change your height, weight, sex, race, or anything along those lines. However, certain servers essentially force players in adopting the "default" style or race of that particular server (so for instance, you find yourself in a mermaid server, then you transform into a mermaid).

Progression is done via a leveling system that acts more like WoW's prestige system: rather than getting stat bonuses, you are instead allowed access to certain items, equipment, and/or spells depending on your level. However, if you die your level is reset and all items in your inventory get lost unless you manage to retrieve them from where you died after the 1 day cooldown period (where you can't login).

Access through the various servers of the game is done in the Nexus, the place you first find yourself in once you log into the game. The Nexus is home to Idriel, an AI construct that serves as your guide to all things Eternum. Aside from providing new players the necessary introductions and rules to the game, she can provide you with hints and suggestions as to where to go next, as well as answer questions pertaining to the game's myriad number of servers (though granted, she can't answer EVERY question, especially with regards to the mcguffins that make up the VRMMO's main quest).

While the VN itself touches on a few of the most popular servers, the VRMMO is said to contain thousands upon thousands of servers, some spanning the size of galaxies, others just being as small as a player-owned beach or an island with a magical school. There are basically 2 types of servers: public servers are vast places where players could come in and out without issue, and private servers which are given to players (either being sold to them or given as a prize to a quest or contest) by the developer from which they can do whatever they want (within reason, of course).

And players are basically allowed to do what they want as long as they don't do anything illegal or against the game's code of conduct (i.e. rape, torture, pedophilia, human trafficking, black market shenanigans). Failure to follow this earns you the ire of the Praetorians - Eternum's AI police - who will demand that the offender cease their activities and log out, their actions pending review. Anyone who fails to comply gets "excommunicated," which is basically automatic account deletion (right after they kill off your avatar) and complete ban from ever entering Eternum.

While the player can play the game completely as a sandbox, there IS a main, "Ready Player One"-esque quest thrusted upon every one of them at the very first login: scattered throughout Eternum are items called the "Ten Gems of Doom," and whoever ends up collecting all of these end up becoming the "Ruler of Eternum" and CEO of Ulysses, the company responsible for developing and publishing the game. This is essentially the secondary main story of the VN (the primary being something that the main character chooses to do following a certain reveal at the end of 0.1).

Anyway, that covers most of the surface-level stuff about the VRMMO. I'd reveal more but I believe those basically count as spoilers that're best uncovered on your own. Hope that helps.

Wow, thanks a lot for giving such an in-depth answer, this was really helpful. Ever since I became a developer myself, I pretty much stopped playing other people's games, but this might actually be the first one I do play in about 4 years because of hiw interesting it sounds.

 

[CinderFall201]

Wow, thanks a lot for giving such an in-depth answer, this was really helpful. Ever since I became a developer myself, I pretty much stopped playing other people's games, but this might actually be the first one I do play in about 4 years because of hiw interesting it sounds.

This game is SO amazing you won't be disappointed! Story, characters, graphics are all top notch. Hope you have fun playing the game!

 

[SteveyP]

Wow, thanks a lot for giving such an in-depth answer, this was really helpful. Ever since I became a developer myself, I pretty much stopped playing other people's games, but this might actually be the first one I do play in about 4 years because of hiw interesting it sounds.

Glad to see you on the thread. Big fan of your work. I'm sure you'll enjoy this one.

 

[Ungawa]

All "faceplam" jokes aside, obviously Orion is not even the 1st in command, so how could Nova be his 2nd in command?

The command will obviously go to Nancy as it has been in the beginning of 0.6.

And Nova is no commander, Nova is a sniper. She is the one that you would send to take out high value targets from afar or to support Orion from a distance while he goes into melee combat, not to command anything.

... She fuggin sniped with a rocket launcher...

WHO DOES THAT?!

>_<

 

[Ungawa]

Wow, thanks a lot for giving such an in-depth answer, this was really helpful. Ever since I became a developer myself, I pretty much stopped playing other people's games, but this might actually be the first one I do play in about 4 years because of hiw interesting it sounds.

You really don't want to cut off yourself from ideas. All are derivative from one another. Even then, some devs have head nods to others in the adult gaming niche.

What I'd suggest is try to tap a new well of knowledge that may take you down a different path. Some suggestions I'd go with are:

Hideo Kojima

Reason: Guy has a lot of cyberpunk and dystopian memes that are relevant. Metal Gear series has a huge resurgence of popularity which might give you ideas. His book "The Creative Gene" is great for seeing how he got HIS ideas from various books he read constantly.

Mercedes Lackey

Reason: Fantasy relationships don't get a lot of praise and she wrote some of the best relationship stuff out there right along with a balanced magic I haven't seen since DnD 2.0. I really liked her nodes and stable magic than the wild rules we have now, but that's just me.

Joseph Campbell

Reason: Look, the man that helped formulate the Monomyth Theory has some great books and if you need structure and a base, he's great for that. Hero with a Thousand Faces can help you get into epic writing which helps you work on structuring your game in Acts with a beginning, middle, and end.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now this is mainly focused on writing and you can possibly gain inspiration from anywhere. But working on inverses, structure, and what you can do differently with certain things can help make you stand out.

Good luck whatever you decide to do! The first step to being a good dev is always staying inspired!

 

[wookie ookie]

... She fuggin sniped with a rocket launcher...

WHO DOES THAT?!

>_<

She does LOL that was so cool couldn't help but LMFAO just wonder what her next surprise will be

 

[ArDZer]

She does LOL that was so cool couldn't help but LMFAO just wonder what her next surprise will be

Given Dione can turn into anything, it'll be interesting to see if Nova brings a howitzer or a MRLS to her next fight. Talk about bringing forward the big guns.

 

[Dorfnutter]

Hideo Kojima

Considering that indie AVN development is usually a 1-person endeavour, I find this particular suggestion hilarious, ngl...

 

[Ungawa]

Considering that indie AVN development is usually a 1-person endeavour, I find this particular suggestion hilarious, ngl...

View attachment 3084895

I mean, I can't help that I find his book fascinating while I'm reading it and how he helped get inspired for characters... And personally, I think that people understanding how their characters tick and what makes them unique and relatable is what helps raise the standards of devs.

I still don't know what Cari was smoking to make Eternum and OIAL though.... Boy was high.

 

[Dorfnutter]

I still don't know what Cari was smoking to make Eternum and OIAL though.... Boy was high.

He made OIAL during a period where everyone was stuck at home and began to go crazy in the process. And speaking from observation, isolation and boredom can be a potent combination to get the creative juices going (though I suppose not everyone is able to tap or take advantage of that fact). It's also why you hear stories of producers or publishers locking up writers in a hotel room or somewhere isolated in the hopes that they get their work done (to mixed degrees of success, IMO).

 

[ArDZer]

I still don't know what Cari was smoking to make Eternum and OIAL though.... Boy was high.

Whatever stuff it was, it certainly sent Cari to an inspiring trip (just like the one the protagonist had with those mushrooms at that Halloween party). It'd be interesting if he can hook us up with his dealer tho.

 

[Conviction07]

Only played the first 30 minutes or so, but so far I'm enjoying it. Aesthetics aside, the writing definitely gives off a whimsical, anime vibe that I like. Curious to see how much darker the story gets though, if at all. Probably safe to assume it does. But the real standout at this early stage is the sound design, which is surprising considering it's something I've never held too much stock in when it comes to these games. That dream with the kid where "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" plays, is super chilling and significantly elevates the scene, so it for sure makes me reconsider its importance.

My only criticism, and I'm not sure how many other developers do it, but I kinda hate reading the inner monologue's of characters that aren't the main protagonist. Knowing what was going through Nancy's mind when she saw him naked, slightly dilutes the excitement of the mounting sexual tension in my opinion. But others might see it differently.

 

[Ungawa]

My only criticism, and I'm not sure how many other developers do it, but I kinda hate reading the inner monologue's of characters that aren't the main protagonist. Knowing what was going through Nancy's mind when she saw him naked, slightly dilutes the excitement of the mounting sexual tension in my opinion. But others might see it differently.

It's a stylistic choice that Cari has done for two games and helps endear us to each of the characters. For expression, there's certainly other games that do other things. Pale Carnations, for example, is mostly the internal monologues of Edwin (MC) and helping us see the world through his lens while other games give us a bit of detachment with only expressing the world through their lens.

As I'm a BIG fan of noir type protagonists (think Dick Tracy or Casablanca), I personally think it helps a lot in letting us know their motivations and while it's a thing at the beginning, you might find that it may not work out for you. Used poorly or too much, it stands out. Used wisely, it helps you keep track of how a character thinks. Just tools in your arsenal.

 

[An known]

There are going to be two teams on the battlefield:

• Team Orion
• Team Thanatos

Team Orion:

Orion: The leader of his team.
Nova: The right hand of Orion, and 2nd in command.
Alex: The left hand of Orion, and 3rd in command.
The Other Characters: The real players in Eternum, such as Jerry, Raul, Noah, etc.
The Army of The Syndicate: The members of The Syndicate organization.
The Army of The Roman Empire: The United Armies of Eastern Roman Empire, Western Roman Empire, and Macedonia.
Nancy: The leader of The Roman Armies and the strategist of the team.

The other characters like Jerry, Raul, Noah, Eva, Maat, Kitty, Megan, Balbus Bundledore, and the Professors of Warthogs are going to fight the NPCs. I think it is safe to say that we may consider the excommunicated players by the praetorians as the NPCs, too

Ummmm....

WHERE THE FUCK IS CHANG???

How can you forgot him?

Look what you've done to him:

 

[GazTen]

A quick question: that Alex Axel guy always be the typical bad-guy-bitch in this story or will he fuck off soon? I'm not a big fan of that school drama, so i'm already annoyed as hell

 

[Ungawa]

A quick question: that Alex guy always be the typical bad-guy-bitch in this story or will he fuck off soon? I'm not a big fan of that school drama, so i'm already annoyed as hell

Pretty much things change and you have less contact with him for story reasons. You'll have more time with the girls and less time with him as the story moves on.