After much prototyping, demo building, coding language/tool changes, and deliberation; we have settled on Lurking III: Vermys to be our next project. If you reached the end of Lurking II you may have noticed that the idea as a sequel was already taking shape. Originally conceived to be a blobber fashioned after Wizardry I, this project has taken on an expanded direction and scope. For this episode of Lurking, we intend to keep the flavor of a retro first person party based dungeon crawler such as Wizardry while including the large, open Lurking world and nonlinear story paradigm. The GUI and overall feel will be similar to that of Lurking II (improving and adapting when necessary). However, we have some completely different in mind as far as character generation and development… so in that regard, the episode will be very different from a role-playing perspective. As with Lurking II, I will attempt to post some periodic updates on our progress. Currently, I am focused on transforming the data from the L2 world into a 3D world and am making decent progress. Meanwhile, Justin is working on the character skill hierarchy setup as we position to begin moving Lurking III: Vermys forward.
Development Log
07.31.18
Importing data, making models, trying to work out a horizon issue… starting afresh is always difficult and exciting. One thing at a time…
08.24.18
Lots of setup work has been going on… making tables and setting up data, making flow charts, adding some basic functionality, etc. Much work has been done on character creation and the particularly troublesome task of importing the skill tree data and making it navigable from within the game has finally been successful. Soon, although needing some visual and UI tweaking… the character creator will be fully functional and characters will be able to be saved and loaded. All dungeon areas will be created anew, but I did run a quick data conversion/import on The Deep map from L2 and set up L3 for map linkages and map/area changes. This is all set. Also did a quick trial on some new art with a ‘hand-painted’ look as opposed to using photo textures. Still deciding on direction here. More soon and perhaps a screenshot or two.
08.25.18
I have decided to share development thoughts and news via Discord. Check it out…
History & Lore
OF THE VERMI
As the ancient tales tell, the exceedingly great and ferocious wurm Tumidus laid waste to the land and its inhabitants. The races ceased to war amongst each other and united in purpose against this bitter foe. When the end seemed near, one Thriftis of the elfin folk took up his blade of adamant and looked once last upon the tombs of his fathers and of his family. He wept then, and going forth, the earth brought him rumor of the coming of Tumidus. He hid himself then, within a cleft in the barren stone. Soon the swollen coils of the vermys passed nigh to his head as the brute passed over and nearly he swooned at the foul stench. With all of his strength, he stabbed upward with his blade which pricked deep into the foul underbelly of Tumidus. A deadly blood as black as the depths of moonless night spewed forth, and he was overcome. Thus, though Thriftis lived no more, the peoples rejoiced to be rid of the wurm. But they were all of them deceived; for Tumidus had cunningly hidden her brood in secret across the land, and the peoples knew not.
The offspring of Tumidus hatched and slowly grew as is their wont. The races, ignorant of their peril, soon returned to war, vying for for the lands and wealth and resources that remained in the wake of the reign of Tumidus. And the hand of Nix, the dwarf king, grew strong. Into the North he led his great armies against the nomadic troll peoples, coveting the veins of mithril that glittered in the darkness of the many caverns of the Frostmarch concealed deep in the heart of that kingdom. With Nix went Grond, king of men, and a great host of his warriors. For many days and nights they drove the great trolls ever deeper into the North. But when victory seemed certain, the great hunter Alibah issued forth from the foothills of the Frostmarch leading a great legion of elves in aid of the trolls, for the elves above other races harbored respect for these. And even as they bore down upon the armies of dwarf and man, it could be seen that many of the halfling people also had ridden upon stout mountain ponies in support of the elfin cause, for the halflings had long enjoyed peace and friendship with the elves. The legendary battle of five armies lasted not long, for no sooner had the fiercest of fighting begun, than all stopped and stood as if stricken as the very earth shook. Turning their gazes northward, all witnessed the coming of Crystallo, the frost vermys. Most quailed and fled at the sight of the great wurm. Nix, being stout of heart, rallied such brave souls as would stand against the beast to his banner. Long, it seemed, they vied with Crystallo upon that frozen field. Yet in reality it was but a brief time, for Crystallo was not yet full mature and had not yet stood tested against the wiles of the fiercest of the land’s inhabitants. Thus Nix dealt a great blow upon the wurm, and hewed the thick neck of the beast. But as he so did, Crystallo turned his head at the last and gnashed his teeth, and Nix was rent, and the light left his eyes.
Now tale of these deeds went far and wide, and rumor was heard that other vermi also plagued the land anew, the dread offspring of Tumidus. The wars of the races were again forgotten, and the peoples lived in fear and locked their doors and drew their shutters. The vermi became ever bolder, harrying and slaying the peoples of the land. But the bravest went forth to deal with them. And Pirata sailed forth into the seas, and did seek out the seawurm Maris. After long seeking, they met, and battled amidst a great storm, and were battered by the raging sea. But Maris was slain, and the vessel of Pirata was broken, and he has not again returned to the shores.
Now Alibah rued his own cowardice, for he had fled the field of the Frostmarch. And he took again his arms and went out alone unto the deserts. Haranae, the sandwurm, he found there. And they did battle. And Alibah was wounded even unto death. But Haranae already had become proud, and he gazed about to see if any soul had witnessed his victory. And Alibah took then his great bow of yew which had fallen near him. And drawing his last arrow with all of his strength, while yet upon the ground he loosed it, and it found somehow the heart of Haranae. And Haranae fell upon Alibah, and Alibah was no more.
Now Lucretious was of the halflings, and his ways were wiley and subtle. And he ever sought wealth. In hope of reward, he ventured into the blasted lands. Amidst the ash and dust and lava vomited of the earth he found Ignys, the firewurm. Long he lay in wait biding his time and observing the movements of the vermys. In time, Ignys did take rest. And Lucretious crept near, administering the most deadly of poisons to the blackened lips of the beast. But Ignys did wake, and it is said that they spoke together for a time before the poison overtook Ignys. And as Lucretious came forth, it is told that a strange and fell look was upon him, and he cast himself into a deep pit, and was no more.
In those days only the great earthwurm Petram remained, the last of the vermi. And he took up in a yawning cave in the face of a great rock wall in the NeverRange. Ever he emerged to slay and destroy and ever the races sent sorties to challenge him. But none could assail him in his stronghold for ever would he witness their approach over the open plains and lie in wait to destroy them.
Stout adventurers would sit in the waning evening light and tip tankards of ale at the public houses across the lands, speaking of the threat of Petram in his impenetrable stronghold. No longer did they laugh at ‘dragon-slaying’ for deep down each knew that none had ever actually done so, and none that had ever succeeded lived to tell the tale. But from the broken ruins of an ancient hall near Towne crawled one day a man. His armor was rent, his helm was dinted and his sword was dulled and broken. He had many wounds. Three words could be discerned as they were uttered from his dry throat before the light left his eyes… “secret… passages…….vermys”.
oklabsoft 