[WIPz] Bevy of Heroes and the Wayward City

[OdysseusB]

I'm a bit lazy, so I'm just gonna copy and paste from the respective Bethesda forum threads for now:

First, Bevy of Heroes:

What is this mod?

Bevy of Heroes is my attempt to extend the Oblivion experience. While it will be playable for characters of all experience and type, it's aimed at the higher level characters that have gotten past a lot of Oblivion's challenge. The main focus is quests and characters - Bevy of Heroes currently adds in around 10 unique personalities that will lead to exciting adventures, and more will likely follow after the first release. Of course, the idea is less "quests" in the traditional sense of the word, and more "experiences".

Bevy of Heroes is also the framework that will be driving any future story-based mods I do, like The Wayward City. It will include many base resources, NPCs, and areas that these future mods may draw upon.

This explanation needs work - it's kinda complex and more exciting than it sounds.

So it's a quest mod?

Well... Kinda? There are quests in the mod. But they're just a part of telling various stories.

I'm not quite getting you. Can I see an example?

Certainly! We'll use an example from the demo.

One of the characters added is an old Nord bard named Vigunn. He's not very interesting, at first glance - his most fascinating tale is of a legendary cheese farmer. But that's because he doesn't know you. If you're famous enough, he'll befriend you and join you on your adventures (although not every Bevy of Heroes character will be available as a companion). He's not that great in a fight (tough old guy, but not the best with a sword), but he's wonderful out of a fight. Being a bard, he knows a lot of the lore, legends, and stories of Cyrodiil, and has comments on some Vanilla quests. More importantly, he can tell you tales that will open up new quests for you. Here's an example of one (mild spoilers):

If you play through "Where Spirits Have Lease" with Vigunn, he'll be commenting along the way about how the name Benirus sounds very familiar. Towards the end, he'll remember why and offer to tell you a tale when you're done. His tale is of Lorgren Benirus's father, an Imperial sanctioned necromancer (something very lore friendly, see MW books and rumors). Benirus uncovered a secret he shouldn't have, and payed the price. Secret plots are a high point of any story, so Vigunn suggests you check it out.

This will lead you to uncovering the hidden plot, but it leads to a greater discovery. You'll have to contact the Imperial Office of Necromancy, the group that controls the distribution of the dead criminals to sanctioned necromancers, and briefly employ a necromancer. You'll have the chance to move into the old Benirus Catacombs, a necromantic lab, and practice the art banned by the Mages Guild. It's actually extremely close to necromancy as described in the Morrowind books Corpse Preparation, with some additional lore expansions thrown in. In addition, the necromancer you employ can become an ally.

Of course, you may hate necromancers. So you refuse his services. Uncovering the plot becomes extremely difficult (albeit still possible). Or you get the info and then attack him. He may die by your hand or teleport away, in which case you'll have an enemy that will come back to haunt you (so to speak).

And if you're the head of the Mage's Guild, you can work to bring the sanctioned necromancers back into the guild.

So you can see a few things - multiple paths, character relationships, and a whole new branch of gameplay.

Not every quest is quite that cool - some are very simple, and some are even bigger. But I think it gives you a good idea.

Woah. That's a LOT of work!

Yep. Good thing I have a lot of it done. Or, to be specific, a lot of what I have in mind for the first release done. I'm only going to have two to three major storylines in the first non-demo release, so it's really not as bad as it sounds. The other characters will become involved in your life as releases come. Oh, and as Campaigns come.

It's crazy ambitious, I know. So we'll see if it gets done. If not, I'll release any work that I think other modders could use to the public, so at least you'll get something out of it.

Campaigns?

Bevy of Heroes is gonna have quests, but it's also gonna have BIG quests. That have lots of new visuals. Or at least it's going to have one - see the link at the top of this post. These are going to be expansions for the main file, introducing you to Bevy of Heroes characters that previously would have little to do with you and new locales. See The Wayward City for more details on the first campaign.

Voice Acting?

Unless I find an actor I really like for a character (or two characters) with a good amount of time, I doubt it. This mod already has a LOT of dialog. If you don't like it, that sucks for you.

I'd be completely open to partial acted dialog, though.

Release Date?

When it's done! But the demo might be out before the end of 2009. It will feature Vigunn and a few of his tales (but not the extensions of those tales, so probably not necromancy).

Lore friendliness?

It's fairly lore friendly. I derive a lot of stuff based on Daggerfall and Morrowind, so some of it may seem unfamiliar to people who have only played Oblivion. For instance, necromancy is largely based upon information in Morrowind, and the first campaign takes place in a (former) city of the Illiac Bay. But you don't need to learn the lore to enjoy it (I hope!) or even get it (unless it's fundamental to the experience, in which case it will be explainable)

Screenies?

Most of the work currently done can either not be captured with a screenie or uses Vanilla items, so I suggest checking out The Wayward City thread to see pretty pictures with lots of new meshes, textures, and (soon) animations. I could post some pictures of the Bevy of Heroes characters at some point, though.

That being said, here's one screenie of a quest-important character (uncertain if he'll ever join forces with you or not, though). Yes, this is mostly vanilla mesh editing, for saving time and keeping a consistent look with the rest of the game. And yes, the textures need to be re-worked:

Tonwyll - he's certainly a character

A super WiP helmet for a special enemy

Ok, I'm just a liar now.

A New Nordic House (Bruma Textures)

From the Benirus Quest

From the Benirus Quest, Super WIP

Ditto

Could you tell me about the characters?

I'll tell you about one as an example and update it with more information for time to time, but being spoiled could ruin parts of the story for this character.

You aren't the only person who's ever adventured across Cyrodiil - just the latest and most famous. Vigunn is now an old bard, but once he lived the tales. Vigunn used to be a Warrior-Poet, a charismatic hero who traveled the land seeking fame and glory. He worked with many famous people, including the Countess of Cheydinhal.

Vigunn and the Countess began an affair. Though she was married, it was rumored she truly loved Vigunn above her husband, the current Count.

When Vigunn returned from a failed expedition to seek out and slay an old enemy, the feared Wizard Tyrus, he found the Countess dead. Uncertain of the circumstances of her death or who to trust, he staged his death and became a wandering bard, using his ability with song and stories to manipulate others into setting the wrongs he could not right.

But Vigunn still remembers the Countess, and he harbors hatred and revenge within his heart...

Next, The Wayward City:

UPDATE: The City is Pothago from the Illiac Bay! And it will have a House of Dibella

Bevy of Heroes now has it's OWN THREAD! Check it out!

I also plan to have a resettling option for the Docks, Temple, and possibly Market districts.

What is this mod?

The Wayward City is two things. First and foremost, it's the introductory campaign area (for lack of a better term) for Bevy of Heroes. It's goal is to create a brand new area to explore, aimed at higher level characters, in addition to introducing a few members of the Bevy of Heroes cast. Secondly, it's a chance for me to show off my 3D skills, generate a demo-reel, and learn more about 3D art in general.

Wait, what's Bevy of Heroes?

You want to click me to find out more

In addition, I plan to release Bevy of Heroes as a master file. This will allow me to release "adventures" in pieces, rather than having to do it all in one go. As such, the Wayward City is the first adventure planned and will be released concurrently with Bevy of Heroes.

Is there any kind of plot?

Why yes there is! I don't want to reveal too many details at this point in time, but it involves going on an expedition with Augurius Pontius, his two apprentices, and a couple of other characters. During the Warp in the West, a few towns and cities were lost. Augurius believes that one of them, the city in question, was not destroyed. He believes that it was merely... misplaced.

Of course, there's a reason he's hiring extra muscle.

On a more technical note, I'm going to be using this plot as an experiment for story telling within games. The story is all ready completely finished - it's how I'm going to tell it that will take some development. Unique character animations are a must for this, so you can expect to see a lot of new movements.

What are you using from the community?

Currently, nothing. I'd love to get some help on textures, and at some point I may ask for some help on World Building and scripting. But at this point in time, I'm doing all the models, textures, animations, scripting, world building, lighting, and dialog on my own.

What about voice acting?

To be honest, I don't have any significant plans for VA. It's hard to get good VA talent, and it's not that essential to the mod.

However, if you're willing to help me out, I can send you a few lines. If I think it fits well with a certain character, then we'll see about having a voice acted version.

Woah, this is a lot of work! I don't expect to see this project finished

I don't expect it to be a quick release. If it does get to a stage where I can release it, it's going to take a long time. Not only that, but I'm also a full time college student, so expect to see significant slow down when the school year comes around. That's all right - this mod project is for me to learn from as much as for people to download. If I get to a point where I see that I cannot finish it, I'll release the various models, animations, and even junky textures as a modder's resource (I plan to do that if I finish as well).

While I model and animate quickly, it takes me a LOT of time to texture. If I got somebody to help me with a few textures, the mod release might arrive much sooner.

So how big is this city gonna be?

Not entirely certain. The "main" quest for the campaign setting (at least for this volume) will feature at least two districts - a temple district and an undetermined one. The temple district also is the house of the entrance to the necropolis, an underground district of the dead. This is the first district you see coming off of the docks and where the first part of the story takes place.

Other than architecture, what other meshes will this feature?

It will definitely feature a lot of new weapons. I hope to include new armor and clothing, although how new it will be will depend on how my skills improve. Aside from a nice npc/critter retexture, I also would love to make a new creature type, though that is a huge task. Finally, there will be oodles of new animations (not really a mesh, I know) that help to tell the story.

Enough talk. I need pictures!

Certainly.

In-game shots of the new models:

Architecture:

City Limits

The temple and some houses

The temple from the front. Statue on right needs new normal map

Part of the entrance to the necropolis in game

An Obelisk

Gate Underneath Detail

District Walls

From another angle

A scenic shot of the temple

Weapons:

Desert Wind

Desert Fang

Desert Flame

Desert Thunder

Tranquility (Tentative Name)

Enemies:

A potential enemy type, will use new anims if I do it

And some poorly sorted WIP renders from 3ds Max 2008:

Most up-to-date image of the first district layout (temple) with models but no textures

[WhoGuru]

The armchair egyptologist in me adores the look of the city! It's beautiful architecture you're creating with the Wayward City! I'm very much looking forward to having that in my game!

[grond]

You're doing something very close to what I dream of doing with My Rival, but with many instead of one. The simple fact you've come this far with creating beautiful pieces tells me that you're not so lazy as you claim.

I wish you the best of luck with this great idea!

[OdysseusB]

The armchair egyptologist in me adores the look of the city! It's beautiful architecture you're creating with the Wayward City! I'm very much looking forward to having that in my game!

I'm glad you're picking up on the egyptian architectural themes. Drawing on the final Sands of Time trilogy game, I've tried to make the architecture a mix of Babylonian and Egyptian styles, with the necropolis area leaning more towards the Egyptian side. In fact, the courtyard around the necropolis is directly drawing from the Pylons and courtyards to several known Egyptian temples. I should probably texture that part before I do any more requests.

You're doing something very close to what I dream of doing with My Rival, but with many instead of one. The simple fact you've come this far with creating beautiful pieces tells me that you're not so lazy as you claim.

I wish you the best of luck with this great idea!

Oh, don't underestimate my laziness Although I guess it's more of wanting to work on a lot of different things at once rather than genuine lack of wanting to work (although that happens at times too, just part of being an artist). Also, the real secret is that the buildings haven't taken that long to model - I'd estimate less than four hours per building (and it shows! I need to touch a few of them up), with around the same amount of time to texture.

I've seen your "My Rival" before, and it looks like something I'd love to see in my game. Your plan is quite bit more awesome and a lot more complex - from what I can tell, it's more based the Rival being a fully living, breathing person and somebody you are companion to. My characters are just quest dispensers gussied up with personalities and cool skills (but don't tell anybody, it's a secret). They're generally completely static until you get to them.

[OdysseusB]

Slight slight update:

A little busy right now as I get prepared to move into my first apartment. However, I think I may have a demo out in about a month's time (no promises, though!). It will only be available for download here, on the Alliance (and possibly my student webspace, in case of emergency).

[PacificMorrowind]

Slight slight update:

A little busy right now as I get prepared to move into my first apartment. However, I think I may have a demo out in about a month's time (no promises, though!). It will only be available for download here, on the Alliance (and possibly my student webspace, in case of emergency).

Good Luck with your move.

I eagerly await your demo.

Pacific Morrowind

[OdysseusB]

Really quick ninja post!

I obviously was not able to get the demo out in a months time - I started to make progress, but then I got a job. My major + a job (at least it's in my field!) = pretty much 0 free time.

I may be able to get a little bit done this weekend, but expect the demo to take a while to come out.

[HeyYou]

Really quick ninja post!

I obviously was not able to get the demo out in a months time - I started to make progress, but then I got a job. My major + a job (at least it's in my field!) = pretty much 0 free time.

I may be able to get a little bit done this weekend, but expect the demo to take a while to come out.

That's cool. I can wait for a quality product, which this looks like it is going to be.

[OdysseusB]

So due to a class I'm taking for my major this semester, you can expect something new related to this mod soon. It's nothing playable, but it may interest some.

[OdysseusB]

Quick little update: There's a little more info in the first post, and some new, self-drawn concept art (albeit not very good...)

As a side note, I used a lot of the work I had done for this in my demo reel, which I firmly believe helped me land my part-time job. What's awesome is that I'm working in my field and getting paid, but I have even less time now.

[Yevic]

Liking the look of this

The models especially

also like the part where it ties in the Benirus manor

[Uglulyx]

Man I only just remembered about this mod. I can't wait to see the end product.

[Nic-V]

Man I only just remembered about this mod. I can't wait to see the end product.

Indeed, the idea is awesome

[OdysseusB]

Sadly, I can't work on it over break (my computer will be about 1000 miles from where I am), but my laptop can at least allow me to develop the stories and quests somewhat...

[OdysseusB]

Could use some help brainstorming a third option for part of a quest. Major spoilers, so it's spoiler tagged.

It's the quest that stems from the Benirus manor quest. Basically, you want to find out the secrets behind the death of a (legal) necromancer who died before your time. You can find his burial place and talk to his ghost (either by hiring a member of the Imperial Office of Necromancers or doing it yourself). Unfortunately, his ability to speak the specifics of the plot he uncovered (which lead to his death) is blocked by a mysterious enchantment. There are currently two options to solve this block:

-Find his old lab, which contains research on this topic and how to get around it. However, the lab must be claimed by either yourself or your necromancer companion. This is a combination of low combat, speechcraft and puzzle solving.

-Brute force the enchantment by joining forces with the necromancer companion. You enter a magical construct. This is only an option to high-end magic characters, and requires heavy use of spells.

What could a third option that allows a heavy-fighter approach be? I don't know if I'll have time to put it in, but I'd like ideas

[donnato]

Ok, just a few thoughts.Since the info the player needs is protected by magic,you,as a fighter based char. without the magical acumen to work through the problem would,then,require an assistant,no?

This assistant would need to be "pursuaded" to cooperate and here is where the 3rd option comes in.The prospective asst. could be beaten about the head and body(with weapons unactivated to avoid accidental death) till he capitulates,or,bribed...with an object requiring combat to acquire,maybe?

Another thought,the fighter based char.could "find" an enchanted amulet allowing him to break the ward keeping the spirit from speaking the needed info?

Dunno OdysseusB,just a few thoughts off the top of my head. Maybe I missed it entirely.

[OdysseusB]

Ok, just a few thoughts.Since the info the player needs is protected by magic,you,as a fighter based char. without the magical acumen to work through the problem would,then,require an assistant,no?

This assistant would need to be "pursuaded" to cooperate and here is where the 3rd option comes in.The prospective asst. could be beaten about the head and body(with weapons unactivated to avoid accidental death) till he capitulates,or,bribed...with an object requiring combat to acquire,maybe?

Another thought,the fighter based char.could "find" an enchanted amulet allowing him to break the ward keeping the spirit from speaking the needed info?

Dunno OdysseusB,just a few thoughts off the top of my head. Maybe I missed it entirely.

I like the idea of having an area that's filled with baddies and a McGuffin at the end.

[donnato]

I like the idea of having an area that's filled with baddies and a McGuffin at the end.

Like a bunch of minions to chew through then a boss that has the needed item,maybe?

[OdysseusB]

Like a bunch of minions to chew through then a boss that has the needed item,maybe?

Yes, I think so. Some kind of scripted battle involving lots of minions being summoned.

[OdysseusB]

Four new images for Bevy of Heroes are up.