OK, here we go. I havent been here in a while. I was still reading the modding forum now and then, seeing slow work being done on LofR and a blur of fast releases done by Deon for the new Genesis. Not that much activity here, but then I checked the downloads, with 12500+ of the current mod version.
So there is interest and I probably owe you guys an apology.
What I tried to do was do a full restart, I did put ~70h of work into this MDF2, but it is hundrets of hours away from being finished. I also encountered three problems:
1. Too big a team. I started doing everything myself, and it was fun learning how to do stuff. Lately I have only been delegating to other people (thanks mainly to zenerbufen, and tons of others) so that they can do things I cant. (C++, Python,...)
2. Not being able to do everything myself. Sounds stupid, but I give an example: expwend was doing some C++ scripts for me. But unfinished/buggy. I cant alter those, since it is a compiled language, and I would have to contantly pester him doing updates. Not enjoyable for me, not enjoyable for him.
3. It is too much work. I dont know how many here realize this, but I put easily 1000h+ into Masterwork 1.9.5 as is. Plus the ~70h on MDF2, the accelerated DF, Forumsupport, Chats, reddit, whatever... Now I dont care how much it is, as long as it is fun to do. It is a hobby, I like implementing changes, testing stuff, talking to the community, tweaking and trying out new things... but if I just sit down and think: Wow, another 20h of writing the manual ahead of me, then it suddenly becomes a chore.
What happened is this: I did delete all working editions, sorted all DF stuff I had, started to work on MDF2 again... 3 times. And after 1h I just stopped, said to myself: wtf am I doing here, this part will take at least 20h, this other one easily 60h, then I need to find someone to write this and that in C++, and start doing ALL the metatags again for Python, which I cant write myself, so I have to hope that the 3-4 people working on the new GUI actually produce something that works in the end. And then... I scrapped everything and started anew the next time.
This will lead me nowhere.
But I dont want to abandon this. I do like DF, I like the modding, I like trying out stuff, improving parts, I love the community, and I cant lie, the attention and praises are pretty sweet, too.
So here is my plan:
Continue MasterworkDF 1.9.5 => 1.9.6
- This would include bugfixes, balancing and new features.
- Keep the (current) VB Gui, because I myself can write and alter it.
- Add Orc Fortress by default as a race-selection in the Gui.
- Slowly add parts from MDF2 that I really like, mostly balancing.
I can, if anyone is interested in it, release all the source material I have for MDF2. This would allow anyone with too much time to burn to keep working on it, use it as base material for their own mods, whatever they want. Open source. That would include:
- The Python Gui. (the backend works perfectly, just the User Interface is mostly non-existant)
- The html manual with tons and tons of stuff in it.
- Custom written dfhack for ingame magic.
- The mod itself.
I still need help with 2 things:
1. Linux/Mac compatible versions. Someone who takes the current win-version I do, and just repacks it into linux/mac. I cant do this myself, because I only have a windows environment.
2. Dwarven Traders bring magma in bags, settings stuff on fire. This is a serious bug, I havent been able to narrow it down. I do believe it has to do with the alchemy reactions though, so I'll probably just delete this entire section and redo it. Otherwise, if anyone did find the source, please do tell
Bugs I am aware of:
Misspellings that cause lack of fishpond/fishfarm, boneblocks not being used for church of dark depths, vellums causing crashes when produced. All easily fixed.
RL-Update: Currently still in Northafrica, having problems obtaining a visa for Libya. Only possible option atm seems to be some shenanigans with a fake businessvisa for Tripoli costing ~400-500dollars, other then that I have no idea how to actually get into that country. Rest is fine, people are not trying to shoot me, just overly enthusiastic at trying to sell me useless junk. I will be home sometime between christmas and new years, so expect to see some modding done around that time. Oh, and in May2013 I am going to Asia for a year, so... yeah. RL is doing good. Still working on my new website though.
tl;dr:
I am still alive and travelling.
MDF2 will be scrapped.
MDF1.9.5 will continue as usual, starting around end of dec/start of jan.
Help wanted for linux/mac versions.
(After reading through some pages of the thread: A big thanks to all the regular users that helped answering peoples questions. Awesome
Especially putnam, I dont even think you ever played the mod^^)