Thanks Shakedown. Good name by the way.
Question: I thought a lot about building this system, and all of the expansion packs. I wanted to make something that would:
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Allow users to get very creative with what they are trying to build, as opposed to getting caught up in the rules of architecture and human proportions.
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Be easy and quick to use for either finished projects or as simplified blocks for prototyping more complex environments.
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Have limited repetition in environments created from blocks.
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Look nice of course.
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Work in terms of human proportions (windows at the correct height, doors wide and tall enough for a person to use, room height width and depths correct etc.)
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Be non-specific enough to work for many types of environments - in other words, if you used Skyrim building blocks, everything you made would look like Skyrim, which was the game designer’s intention. Not so with this set.
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Be very flexible - elements can be used in many ways.
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Be easily expandable by myself or end users.
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Have easy to mod textures and materials. Nothing is baked. Turn the stone wall pieces into plank walls easily for example. Or completely replace the textures.
I believe I accomplished those goals. I consider those the pros. However, there are some cons:
- You need to follow the rules, and work on a 9’ x 9’ x 9’ grid for example. This allows the nice beam ceiling piece to be be given an array mod and instantly look good, or vaulted stone ceilings to work, walls to line up etc.
- If you aren’t careful, environments can get repetitive. You need to get creative with the blocks, changing the location and size of fireplaces in rooms for example, or the placement of doors and windows. I have lots of props and clutter to publish, and hopefully end users will add their own project specific clutter, vary lighting etc.
I’ll be publishing a round tower set, with quarter-circle pieces you can interchange with each other for different window, door or arrow loop placements. These blocks are the same thickness as walls in the foundation set, so they snap together.
So, back to the question: Any suggestions? What would you want in terms of blocks? What’s your ideal set?