New vision for Angband - Part 1

[Timo Pietilä]

@multiple blows:
I would get rid of them. It's hard and wonky to balance.

What's the hard thing in it? Especially with fractional blows we have now I don't see anything wrong with multiple blows.

If you are referring the fact that people tend to use light small weapons instead of really damaging ones, then I would consider changing to o-combat model. It requires rebalancing, but properly done it feels pretty much same as vanilla angband (shooters are more a problem in o-combat).

[Timo Pietilä]

"FAAngband already does this"

My thoughts exactly.

[Magnate]

My thoughts exactly.

Best. Thread. Ever.

[takkaria]

If they want you to do what they want without bothering to do any work themselves then they better start sending out monthly wage cheques.

Which you're totally welcome to do and it would make me stick around longer ;P

[Magnate]

There were two different things going on. There was a lot of criticism of some fairly dodgy design decisions in V, which Sil has largely escaped because your design decisions have been so good. But then there was also hostility, which arose from bad manners and a sense of entitlement. The Sil player base doesnt have that sense of entitlement.

With all due respect to half and scatha, I'd guess they probably did make some dodgy design decisions at various points, but they went over and over them polishing and improving before releasing Sil to the public.

By contrast, V adopted an open development model - everybody could see every change in every nightly and critique it immediately. We had hoped that this would lead to lots of community-wide testing and feedback - which it did - but it also gave rise to the catcalling and stuff (which was probably exacerbated by the sacredness).

We weren't perfect - I didn't deal with some of the valid criticisms as well as I might have done, and I daresay other devs might say the same - but it got harder and harder to do that amidst the noise.

I do like the idea of Nick as maintainer.

[Bostock]

I don't like the idea of Nick as maintainer because it will slow or stop the release schedule for FAAngband!

[half]

By contrast, V adopted an open development model - everybody could see every change in every nightly and critique it immediately. We had hoped that this would lead to lots of community-wide testing and feedback - which it did - but it also gave rise to the catcalling and stuff (which was probably exacerbated by the sacredness).

I think you are right on this. It is one reason Scatha and I don't talk about the new plans too much.

Other reasons are: we don't have the real-life time/energy to run all of our ideas through the wringer on the forum (this would halve development speed), we like surprising people with fun new stuff, we don't want to promise things and then feel bound by that. Regarding this last one, we enjoy spending a certain proportion of our time designing Sil but if we had to spend more, or felt obliged to others, that would make it more of a chore and we'd be less likely to continue doing it at all.

[half]

I don't like the idea of Nick as maintainer because it will slow or stop the release schedule for FAAngband!

I was going to post something similar, but regarding Beleriand. I really want to see it happen and play it and steal ideas for Sil. Beleriand (followed by Halls of Mist) is the other project here that excites me most.

I love the way that this thread is a tug of war between the people who admire Nick and want him to work on their favourite project.

[takkaria]

I feel like I should point out that my nomination of Nick was a joke. Nick landed me with this job so I thought I should, uh, reciprocate...

[debo]

we like surprising people with fun new stuff

This is basically my favorite thing about new Sil releases, btw. Even if it's stuff I'm not super thrilled about at first blush, it's always a lot of fun putting the new things through their paces to see how it actually plays out.

[TJS]

I feel like I should point out that my nomination of Nick was a joke. Nick landed me with this job so I thought I should, uh, reciprocate...

Too late for that now, the wheels are in motion and it cannot be stopped.

I personally think he'll do an excellent job.

We need an Angband maintainer crying room like they have for the pope when he gets chosen.

[Psi]

I met Nick once and he still gets my vote.

[ekolis]

Hey, who died and made you a cardinal?

[Nick]

Well, this is all very flattering - and would be even more so if I didn't suspect you were all on drugs.

I'm thinking about it.

[MattB]

Well, this is all very flattering - and would be even more so if I didn't suspect you were all on drugs.

I'm thinking about it.

I really don't see how the fact that I'm on drugs is in any way relevant to this discussion. I take back my support - you've ruined everything already!