Stratagus

[Zao 3]

About a year ago I had the brilliant idea to search if I could get a RTS-Maker program. ( There are RPGmakers and Fps Creator, why wouldn't there be a rts one? )

I didn't find any.

However I discovered that some people, a long time ago, created a Macintosh rts engine because there wasn't any rts on mac. They called it FreeCraft (i guess its because it was free. Deduction.) but they had problems with Blizzard. I found a copy of FreeCraft, and i noticed that except the horrible graphics (made with Paint or something like that, the boats are big yellow rectangles) and sounds (when you click on a burning building you will hear someone saying "burning.") the gameplay and the campaigns are exactly the same as Warcraft 2.

I also discovered that this engine still exists, but it's now called Stratagus and it's much more developed. You can check the site here.

I started to create a game ( by modifying BOS Wars, available on the stratagus site) but after a few weeks I understood that doing this alone would take me forever. Anyway it's possible to create a nice 2D RTS with Stratagus. Last time I checked, there was no instructions or help files, but it's not my main problem.

Well if anyone is interested to help me in doing something with it I'd be happy. Especially for the graphics. Take note that you won't be paid, this is a free license engine. I have some plans for a game ( almost not inspired from Battle Realms.) If you want me to show you what i have done so far just ask it.

btw, stratagus is based on warcraft 2 so it's rather limited on some aspects ; there is no way to create weapon types, weakness and resistances like in BR. It will be hard to create something else than "the one who masses the most big strong units wins" but I think it's possible, by balancing the units' speed, range, power and special techniques.

[Sinophile 41]

Sounds interesting. I wouldn't mind doing some graphics to test my CGI skills... But I would like to know what its about, and how things are going to be programmed (PM me pl0x). You see, im making a game myself, but I suck at programming big time.

I hope other people will volunteer too ^W^

[Zao 3]

The game itself will be in medieval China. ( not Japan, CHINA. Big difference. )

For now I have enough trouble creating one "clan", so I don't plan on making a lot.

For an unknown reason the game crashes violently if I have more than two resources. Since I not a big fan of resource managing ( wood, gold, water, rocks, cheese, aww ) there will be only one main resource used to buy everything and the second one will be the Soul Stones. There will be only a few of these in the map, far from the players' bases, and will be used to buy ultimate things, like heroes. There will be a small unit limit, like in BR. ( approximately 20 to 50 )

I'm programming with Notepad. lol

The game scripts is a bunch of text files rather simple to understand.

[Sinophile 41]

The game itself will be in medieval China. ( not Japan, CHINA. Big difference. )

For now I have enough trouble creating one "clan", so I don't plan on making a lot.

Well I should know lol. Im frikin' Chinese myself. As for the rest of your post, I say thats pretty interesting, though the Soul Stone thing seems a bit cliche'... Why not take inspiration from BR and call it Yin/Yang? And it is obtained by battling (or possibly other things, such as sacrificing peasants et cetera)? Maybe that will prevent turtling...

Hell, I think you would get more support if you based it in the Battle Realms universe. I know theres the issue of you wanting to create yo own universe, but couldn't it be slightly adjusted to fit Battle Realms?

[if it was in the BR universe it would be so awesome ^w^]

Do it for the people!

[[LOT]diablo 1]

yea do it for the people and wow this sounds very interesting i would help but idk a thing about programming but im willing to learn...

[Kasedo 1]

so u making ur own game uh? i'm a programmer and i have my own privated server with a friend but we got our own programs for the client..notepad doesn't make ur game( or anything u working on ) a 100% funtionally, may wanna used PE explore gl

[Zao 3]

Notepad is perfect. It's not real programming, it's really an extremely simplified script language in .LUA files. You just need a text editor. The source code itself is crammed in some compressed file. I managed to look at it, i think it's C++, but I won't fiddle in it.

I can't create anything obtained by battling like Yin/Yang. The engine is purely based on WarCraft 2, and it's hard to get over it's limitations.

The goal of the game will be to destroy the opponent's main building. At the beginning of the game, everybody have one, and you cannot build another one. This building will be rather resistant so that people don't just rush in and blast it right away ( like in BR's Kill the Keep ). That is to prevent people from placing their base right on a Soul Stone.

The Soul Stones will be placed far away from these start positions, and once harvested you will have to bring them back to the main building. The Yin Yang was created to prevent from turtling, so in my game you will have to get out to harvest the Soul Stones, and people will probably fight to take the possession of the Soul Stone spots.

Even if my game isn't exactly in the BR universe its still in an oriental style and im sure you will still like it.

Unfortunately, I must tell you that it won't be possible to play online. The Multiplayer option is limited to LAN. The Stratagus guys mentioned that they might someday add the online multiplayer functionality to the engine but i wouldn't expect it to arrive soon.

Go download a game on the stratagus website and go check the Data/Script directory, you will see what the programming lines looks like.

[Sinophile 41]

Interesting.

[Zao 3]

Well right now I'm looking more for help for the graphics, units, tilesets and buildings. I think I can manage the "programmation" alone, ( except maybe the f****** AI programmation) anyway anyone wishing to help is welcome. The funniest part will be the voices, but its not a big prority. i have a screenshot of the actual game's appearance.

The only clan im planning to do now is called the Empire.

It will contain 10 different units.

Tier 1

Peasant : I think you know what it is.

Soldier : A basic warrior with sword and shield.

Long Range Archer : Slow fire rate, but great range.

Tier 2

Gong Master : Sort of monk with a big Gong. He can't fight, but he can boost temporarily allies' attack power and slow down mounted warriors.

Imperial Guard : Stronger and more resistant than the basic soldier, but slower.

Crossbowman : Short range, very high rate of fire ( like a machine gun! ^^)

Tier 3

Imperial Rider : A mounted Imperial guard. Faster and stronger.

Mounted Archer : A mounted Archer.

Assassin : invisible. she can lay down bombs and create poison clouds.

Dragon Spear: An heavily armored warrior armed with a spear. The middle of the spear tip is a flamethrowing cannon. Not so good at battle, but his technique can hurt many enemies simultaneously.

[Speedy 11]

Why are the peasants in the screenshot called "paysans"?

[Zao 3]

I was doing it in French originally. But when I will transfer everything to the upgraded version, i will put it in english. And possibly translate it in french after.

EDIT: Uh I just checked the new Stratagus version. I think I will remain with the older one, it will save a lot of job and there aren't a lot of new interesting things. I don'T really wish to change the menu buttons' place. lol

[Speedy 11]

Oh I see..