My suggestions to the project.

[turboprop]

I created this thread to flash my 2 ideas, but if i'll have more I'll just pin them to the top post here.

• 1) My first suggestion is simple and shorter one. It addresses ergonomics of gameplay.
  

Because my experience with RPG mainly consists of MMORPG UltimaOnline, I largely appreciate all kinds of keyboard shortcuts. So here, in Project Eternity, I'll expect to do the same as well. Therefore I'd like to avoid keyboards' nasty behavior (like overwhelming it with simultaneously pressed keys or in case of system events) and nasty ergonomics of shortcuts (like some [Ctrl+Alt+F5]). So, I'd guess that addition of ability to map every action in game to gaming pad will help players (in case someone will buy something like Logitech G13). Furthermore, you may consider making your own gaming pad, or a set of key stickers with pictograms of actions.

• 2) My second suggestion is about your suggestion of "special stories anyone?"
  

I suggest you to pay tribute to unique historical phenomenon and use in Project Eternity the Antikythera mechanism (AM). AM is a storyline in its own right; it combines virtually everything: history, mathematics, astronomy, geography, and special dates/events. In game AM may be associated with its own quest & story which will unwind throughout the game alongside with being a useful tool. (I wont suggest any variants of storyline and let it surprise me too. Though I believe that making the plot is not difficult even after reading Wikipedia.)

Considering possible use of AM as sort of tool. It has a huge potential from giving a character sorts of predictions of how "the planets" (aka game mechanics) will affect a storyline, (whether conversations, aka – not in right mood to talk, or rate of progress with in-game events like special dates, holydays etc., or at least character's luck) to acting as simple "planetary" pocket slot-machine (to challenge your & NPC's luck for some coins you missed to buy "so needed" heal potion from local healer). Again, I wont suggest how it will work, but I'll suggest that, even though the purpose and principals of mechanism's work are mainly understood, they are not fully known and offer some degrees of freedom in known directions, and even some possibility for additional axis of freedom (like long lost power gem that meant to be inserted into some place of AM to give it additional abilities).

 

Anyway I wish good luck to team of developers.

Edited October 7, 2012 by turboprop

[nikolokolus]

Sounds like you design and develop your own indie game around the "AM" concept. Personally, I just want the devs to make the story and game that moves them.

[turboprop]

Sounds like you design and develop your own indie game around the "AM" concept. Personally, I just want the devs to make the story and game that moves them.

The complexity of possible AM's storyline and its deepness into the general story (if ever) is up to game designers. Try to remember at least one game which addressed this particular historical item. In any case, they asked for special stories - they got one. Good or bad - it's up to them.

Edited October 7, 2012 by turboprop

[turboprop]

BTW, there is no "concept", at least it was not given with any particular meaning by me (intentionally). It may (if it ever will) be just another decoration in game.