CaptainLepidus

Shadow of Arcavi
Shadow of Arcavi is an interactive comic that intends to be more serious than the majority of such projects (the most notable being Homestuck.) Rather than focusing on humor and the bizarre, everything that happens in this story will be reasonable. Everything has a bigger cause, although you don't necessarily know what that cause is.

How to play:
Simply tell me what you want to do. You can give your input as:
Something.
or, > Something.
or, Deshavi > Something.
Or anything else as long as I understand your meaning.

Two important notes:
1. Please do not give silly suggestions. You don't have to be linear, but please do be reasonable.
2. The character may know more than you do. Tell him to think/remember about something, and you'll find out what he knows. Anything is fair game here.
3. Words in CAPSLOCK are important. They are hints about what you can do.
4. I will update how and when ever I feel like it If you don't like some of my choices, though, tell me, I want to shape this story to your desires.  
Deshavi



You are in a dark cave.You can't see much - your torch only illuminates a short space around you. But you know your way around these CAVES, and completing your MISSION is, you were assured, of the utmost importance. You do not want to disappoint LORD ATREUS.

You have:
Torch (held)
Reinforced Maroon Vest (worn)
Curved Saber (back)
Document (pocket)

Let's begin with a story. When I first came here several years back, I immediately posted an "example." I won't go into unnecessary details, but...it was pretty terrible. And utterly useless. It got removed. I felt insulted! How dare they! This community is full of elitist jerks!

Today, I'm wishing it was more like back then.

I had my fights with xot and KC LC, and sure, I wished for an off-topic forum to relax in. But I was inexperienced. I didn't understand what was best for the community. These days, it feels like the GMC has given in to the wishes of it's newer members...members who can't yet understand what works and what doesn't.

Back in "the good old days" (and I don't mean to imply none of the change is good), the forum was for game development only. It was inhabited by experienced members, who could be crushingly mean but were also intelligent and knew what they were talking about. It was staffed by the community and YYG exerted little influence. It was a harsher place, but a place where you could learn to improve. I feel my contributions have improved tremendously because of the discipline that was enforced by people like Yourself and NPT with their biting, cold remarks. I was angered by these people, but I kept coming back for more, because it was a place where I could feel like I was really at home, with a group of serious, like-minded people.

Things have changed greatly. The introduction of Off-Topic and Forum Games subforums. The decision to give complete control over to YYG. The acceptance of mediocre posts.

I think the trend has been to make the community more accessible to beginners. But some degree of "tough love" is required for people to learn. These days I rarely visit the GMC, and rarely read the kind of interesting topics you might find in the Experienced subforums.

Maybe I just can't accept change. Maybe I'm selfish. But maybe, just maybe, I'm right. Maybe we are going in the wrong direction. Maybe something should change. I honestly don't know.

What do you think? Particularly interested in veteran member's opinions, but also new members as well. Do you think things are better or worse? Do you have a solution?

In order to comply with the "you may not use text" handicap, I won't talk about the actual game here. I will mention that this game was started the second day of the jam, before I realized the jam had even begun. When I realized the jam was going, there was only two hours left! So I started sprinting to get it finished. Please excuse any glitches or unpolished features. Also note that the game may be continually updated until the very end of the jam so please re-download if you download early. The game is untitled. The handicap is fulfilled, although the theme is not, unless you consider my development process, which was most certainly a disaster!

Download: Dropbox

Screenshots:





Jam Post: http://gmc.yoyogames...dpost&p=4126860

Video: YouTube

The Weekly RPG Challenge

Welcome to the weekly RPG challenge!

STATUS: #3
THEME: STEAMPUNK

Rules
1. The weekly RPG challenge will run each week from Saturday, 8 PM GMT to the next Saturday 8 PM GMT. These times are designed to fit with my timezone, sorry all! However, the rules are relaxed, you don't need to be specific about the time you deliver your entry.
2. Each week there will be a theme. Following this theme is totally optional.
3. At the end of the week, post what you have created in this thread! It should be an RPG, but since that is subjective, it's not a huge deal. It is suggested you include at least one typical RPG element, IE: character customization, inventory, levels, statistics, abilities, etc. However this is up to you. Some of the best RPGs may not even have any of the "typical" elements. You may post updates too, just remember not to break the forum double post rule.
4. People may post comments and suggestions in this thread as well. You can also suggest new things for the rules.
5. Anyone can enter, you don't have to announce your entry prior or anything. I will probably enter sometimes.


Good luck!

Spacefarers
The year is 3041. The human race has colonized the stars; hundreds of planets bear human colonists. The creation of "Jump Connection" or, as many call them, "Burrowers", which create worm holes through space, has allowed transportation that would take years to be completed within seconds. These ships, truly, are what hold the Interplanetary Alliance together, not the magnificent dreadnoughts purchased from Bluesteel Arms. But galactic unrest is growing; a small faction that is steadily growing, the Union of Independent Colonies, calls for an end to "Terran Oppression"; they are supported by the Trade Cartel, a massive corporation that threatens to monopolize trade. And rumors abound that conspiracies at the core of these vast organizations will bring an end to the relative peace that has endured for hundreds of years. Some even say that, in the farthest reaches of space, another sentient race exists - a race that may not take kindly to the power of humans.

Welcome to Spacefarers! In this game, you can create one (or multiple) characters that you can roleplay. You can create a character from any walk of life - from a young adventurer looking to sign up on a ship to a central figure in one of the powerful factions. Simply post a description of your character, and any other information that seems pertinent, and begin roleplaying! The only rules are:
1. No saying what happens to other players or what they do. You can post your own actions, but you must wait for someone else's response. The original poster of a character is in charge of that character, unless they say otherwise.
2. Keep it within the bounds of realism - don't overpower your character realistically.
3. I may veto anything that is not in keeping with the game's universe.
4. Try to stay in character as much as possible.
5. Have fun! We get to make up a whole universe and a setting together! This should be interesting!

I'll start then:

Captain Ethan Sorn, Trade Cartel officer, stood at the bridge of the Interceptor; a small, custom build craft designed for speed, mobility, and protection. His orders seemed clear; he was to deliver his passenger to Terra. But there were far too many unknowns: who was the passenger? Why was he ordered to "expect trouble"? He didn't like the mission, but that wasn't his call. He'd served under the Cartel too long to lose his reputation now.

He still didn't like it. At a whim, he decided to check on his crew.

"Status report!" He called out in his crisp, commanding voice. The officers of the bridge responded in kind, reporting nothing unusual. He allowed himself a moment of relaxation; look like they'd make it to Terra without problems after all.

"Sir, I'm picking up an unregistered craft within 500 clicks; it's closing fast!" His SLAA officer called out. "Initial analysis deems it as powerful as a light frigate! " This was worrying. His ship was not designed to take on any warship, no matter how light.

"Get us out of here!" He called out. The view on the frontal view port changed as his navigation officer began to swing the ship around. With no burrower in sight, there only chance was to hope they could outrun the enemy. With the order made, he walked over to the SLAA station. He could seen a screen displaying his ship and the unknown; it was clear they could not beat the opponent.

"Communications officer! Signal the ship. Put them through to me." He said, making his decision. They would see what their opponents wanted. He strode back to the center of the bridge as a screen suddenly showed the image of his adversary.

-------

Vincent Rashi was thoroughly displeased. He checked his chrono again; his companion was now ten minutes late. Admiral Rashi, supreme commander of the Alliance navy, should not have to wait for anyone, he reasoned. The food, though, was exquisite. He appreciated the choice of venue: a five-star restaurant called the Silver Fork which he often frequented himself.

He considered leaving then and there, but the message his anonymous friend had sent him was intriguing, offering a "business proposition." Rashi, if he was honest with himself, was bored. He hadn't seen combat in over ten years, since his promotion to commander. He could use a taste of excitement.

Suddenly, the doors to the private room he was situated in hissed open. There stood a man he knew well: Chief Executive Karmel was head of Bluesteel, the arms dealer. Rashi stood up and shook hands with the man, then sat back down again.

"Please don't tell me you've released a new ship design. I'm off duty at the moment. You could have contacted me through the-" Karmel cut him off mid-sentence.

"That, " said Karmel, "is not why I am here. I have an altogether sort of proposition for you. Our third guest will be arriving soon; he can explain everything to you. Ah, there he is now." The doors opened yet again, and another familiar figure walked in: Trade Supervisor Lenar.

"Let's not bothered with the greetings. We all know each other well.  Before I begin, I should like to mention that our final associate is currently in one of my ships en route here; he is not, ah, as welcome as the rest of us."

"What is going on?" Rashi was not a friend of Lenar; though there was no open conflict, it was clear that Alliance and Cartel were no longer partners.

"We are here, my friend, " Lenar said with a pleasant smile, "to discuss high treason."