Offering to develop smaller and typically self-contained mini-expansions each to be in scope of may be one or two systems but they'd be full of new content inside of them, all from backgrounds to asteroids, new objects, audio and visual effects, ambient music, and possibly new npcs too.
The caveat here is having a near zero oversight and almost complete creative control, not a part of development team*, but as independent contributor without having to be concerned about convincing lazy people in my vision of things. Ain't going to be nomad stuff either, they have enough stuff as is.
* - but to be credited accurately, not this "assistant omicrons dev" bs, ffs.
Longer version:
Modding is one of my hobbies, between a few other games and their engines FL I've come to know well enough. I treat modding as something to be fun, to enjoy making and not to be a cause of stress because of convoluted and byzantine ways of 'approval', so I'd need a proper creative freedom for this. Granted if I told you exactly what my ideas for new things are, what the stories might be, where it goes or how it ends that would just be a massive spoiler, not only that but I hadn't put ideas together yet, instead I'd expect things will evolve as they go and by observing how people react, whether they find new places interesting and so on. Part of the fun experience is for players to find these new things, to unravel mysteries and figure out what's going on. So it's also sort of like me asking you to take a leap of faith. Which may be asking a lot, heh. I'm a snarky asshole after all, but I'd say what is more important here to everyone else is what I do and can do, rather than my personality. Obviously dev team of the mod would be aware of the content in I'd be having in production and to some purpose of it, but again to a certain extent as well. This community is quite small, everyone knows everyone so leaks unfortunately are commonplace (besides I did 'em myself too, but mind you only the content I made), certain aspects would have to be a bit more secretive for the sake of having at least some element of surprise. Like said, there'd be no transparency in the process, if you're one of those chanting about transparency and accountability at every street corner then you'd just have to decide what's more important to you in all this.
As for what I can do, well, most of you have already had seen and encountered one way or another the content I've made for this mod. If you had ever been to Omicrons then you've already seen. Originally I've been a part of dev team since way back then along with Igiss. It's fair to say most of my stuff was one way or another is related to nomads (old lore, new ships, effects, nebula graphics, dyson sphere exterior, etc etc), as they were my primary focus throughout these years and I was running the faction as well (which perhaps was not the best idea, it certainly was quite stressful one and significantly contributed to negative views, but that's a topic for another day). One thing should be clear this is not about me making more nomads stuff, no plan on making more of that. The primary source, the cornerstone idea if you will, is about taking to places beyond, the uncharted systems, untamed lands and may be, just may be, an occasional artifact from good 'ol Daam-McGuffins. Exploration is the name of the game as opposed to who gets ownership of what. Things I'd make can be as mundane as a system with a new type of asteroids and planets, but perhaps some strange anomalies, weird places with a bit of a surreal touch at times, may be enlightening, may be terrifying and dangerous, but always new. What I don't want to do is to rehash old content over and over, rebuilding same old systems in a different image, as I eventually got sick and tired of Omicrons as well as most other systems, I've been a part of this mod for nearly ten years, excluding times when I was taking breaks. So, new stuff, always new. Not a monstrosity like Gallia house systems, mind you, not even of omicrons update scale with entire shipline and equipment sets, just small and isolated additions and also a bit more experimental and artistic at that. As for finding way into them perhaps through temporary rifts popping up in remote off-road locations, opening up for a brief time, so it's not like dumping a bunch of systems connected to some other region but rather moving around and potentially sparking interest from different areas, different factions and so on. Think of shifting oasis, perhaps mirages or a something more, if you've been to shrine system then you know the kind of stuff I like to make. Beside systems, models, textures and environments (as well as dangers lurking within them) I'd probably consider making new music tracks (a more ambient-y type though), putting into use my other hobby: the fascinating world of analog synthesizers, and I've got a modest setup now too.
But yeah, the whole feeling of the frontiers beyond as well as a possibility of encountering new threats beyond too. A 'Discovery' in it's prime meaning. Freelancer might have many limitations but with my experience and alley's extensions to FLHooks I'm pretty sure I've got it to make some new things to surprise you with.
Granted it seems there are bunch of stars that would need to align for this to go. The cumbersome management here had always been prone to halt in gridlocks for months on end to release something relatively simple, and due to a rather hostile environment I've been taking longer and longer time to make my stuff, perhaps things now have gotten better, I do not know, but I don't plan to be a part of dev team as its regular member either, been there done that, rather I'd see myself in a role of independent contributor with a minimal oversight (and consequentially less overhead, and not having to deal with some stupidity) to pursue this endeavor that I'd figure is ultimately for your entertainment. Since I'd be making this for free it naturally gotta be enticing for me, as a creator, as well. Seeing that I'm not interested in making things other want for themselves but can't be bothered to learn how to make them what's left to do here if anything?
Granted the choice here ultimately lies within the opinion of the current dev team, obviously it's up to them if they'd agree with this. I haven't asked them prior so I don't know their mind on this yet. If not then not, it's fine by me, we all have our reasons to act the way we do and seeing eye to eye on matters had left marks too. But I'm open to a possibility of others joining me along the way to help with the stuff, you might learn a thing or two as well, but gotta be a practical help that is, not a department of ideas.
Finally for a reality check, let's be honest: there aren't many folk left who are as familiar with modding this old game, or as experienced and capable of making those things, any potential interest just wanes as popularity declines, so is my offer. New places aren't going to show up immediately either, I still have things to wrap around, specifically I got to finish stylized gates for houses, but this is about what to do afterwards here, is there to be anything at all or that's just it.
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Personally, I don't mind unless it breaks the lore. Like, no insanely overpowered super duper buttfarting rocks that give you mindpowers according to the rocks infocards.
I'm fine with content as long as it meets quality standards Yuri, but for it to meet those standards it actually has to exist first. This is very similar to your commissions thread, during which I pointed out that some custom turrets for factions wouldn't go amiss.
I don't recall that request or any others ever bearing any fruit. If this does, that would be great, but I'm not keeping my fingers crossed.
If you enjoy the tangier project, there is one other final thing I could ask for tangiers quadsphere and wiesbaden in omega-54.
Im in no rush for either, but if you feel like contributing to the omegas more in terms of planet looks/system starspheres/new nebulas and asteroids and whatnot that would meet logical RP standards, you have my skype. Making new things is sweet, but improving the current stuff might win you more cooperation woth the devs.
I think we all can agree your stuff was always of great quality and creativity, so I have no doubts any of your works wouldn't make it into the mod. Make Discovery Discovery again, instead of taking even. more systems away because some PvP heroes complain about people not flying around in their turf.vThose guys really deserve to get. kicked from the development team.
@Durandal: yes and no, I didn't book turrets to make, just merely considered, the only thing I went on making from that thread were house gates as they were the only actually interesting commission I found there, so they are on the way, late to some perhaps but hey - I took no obligation to do 'em by a specific date either. Of course you may start pointing and poking but what good would that do? I'd rather restart things differently, not a clean state though. Besides I have long memory too, there had been many promises devs made throughout the existence of this mod that were not fulfilled or just partially or entirely different from what they originally were, at one point or another nearly everyone did that. Life ain't ideal, what's new.
(02-04-2017, 05:39 PM)Wesker Wrote: Im in no rush for either, but if you feel like contributing to the omegas more in terms of planet looks/system starspheres/new nebulas and asteroids and whatnot that would meet logical RP standards, you have my skype. Making new things is sweet, but improving the current stuff might win you more cooperation woth the devs.
'Tangier' interest (for me) lies in a starsphere animation and the challenge making it, just like the challenge of making dyson exterior starsphere was, I like that stuff and it is something new and exciting, as I've mentioned in our conversation. But suggesting making same old stuff just look nicer, well, I gotta ask: why? Aren't there enough devs to do that? My subject here is an offer about new places rather than renovating old ones. If they agree then good, I'll have motivation to make new things and try new techniques. Hurdles related to nomicron update left me with significant stress and no motivation to touch this mod or even this game whatsoever for more than a year. It's only recently I had found again enjoyment in just making things for FL, a spark, and thus the reason prompting me to post this.
@"Auzari": buttfarting rocks that give you mindpowers... how did you guess my masterplan?! gotta make pinky and brain system j/k