BrowserQuests Online RPG

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Senyors
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Senyors »

Absolutely no worries--I deeply appreciate the willingness to help! I don't know much about Python but from what I hear folks like it. We use R as well at my day job and it's well received too.

At the moment, I don't think my challenge is with the current technology stack. It's with the UI (user interface) and how the game is both presented and played by registered users. Again, I'm using text to primarily communicate to players and, in this day and age, text is perhaps too dull for most players (who are likely more accustomed to higher-end graphics and animation). For example, most of the MMORPGs out there are all visual in nature, utilizing just a sentence or two of text to communicate specifics within an entire monitor screen of visuals. If that's what most players want, I'm guessing that a text-based platform like BrowserQuests can't compete.

That said, my hope has always been that a certain group of folks out there value character and story even more than graphics and eye-candy, and would appreciate a text-based platform based on a classic system like the Basic Fantasy RPG ruleset. Indeed, I have had a few folks actually complete all the content (quests) I've developed so far, and that gives me hope. For me to continue with it, however, I need for the platform to do a better job of maintaining the player's interest so more users complete more of the story, and, at the moment, I'm not sure of what to do to improve the platform.
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Scott Mark Huelsman
Waunakee, WI 53597
https://browserquests.com
https://scottymark.com
Rosisha
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Rosisha »

Are you on Reddit at all? The OSR subreddit might be a really good place to start. Also retrogaming subs exist as well - they'd really dig this I think. You may have already thought of that. I'm about to start a new run through. I'm going to take detailed notes - please note that NONE of what I will write will be a personal attack. I've been told at work sometimes my feedback to our RPA team comes off as "harsh" and I'm working on it. But I am NOT trying to be harsh.
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Senyors »

Honestly, I don't really know much about Reddit, so that's likely an untapped opportunity. Indeed, I am so NOT a marketing person; I'm an ultra-introvert who loves code, has an imagination and believes that there are others out there like me who would deeply appreciate a common RPG platform on which they could tell their own stories. I think what I need is someone to help me better communicate all of this, find the right demographics of folks who might enjoy what I've developed and do a much better job of promoting the platform than what I ever could.

I deeply, DEEPLY appreciate your willingness to give a complete stranger several additional hours of your time in something I've developed. Your feedback--harsh or not--will be absolute gold for me in trying to not just improve the platform but perhaps figure-out why it's not intriguing enough for most people to continue. If you can help me do that, perhaps together we can still help save the platform!
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Scott Mark Huelsman
Waunakee, WI 53597
https://browserquests.com
https://scottymark.com
Rosisha
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Rosisha »

Playtest Notes
I have put some notes and thoughts into the presentation below. Let me know if you have any questions or feedback! Hopefully this helps. I'll keep going if it does!
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BQUI - UI Commentary - r1.odp
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Rosisha
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Rosisha »

As for Reddit, let me reach out and I'll put together a few posts. I'll specifically ask for feedback and support. I'd also see if Tenker's Tavern would do a review. I can reach out if you like. I'm not really affiliated or anything but I'll tell them I've been helping and think this could be cool for the community.
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Senyors »

Well, I am quite impressed with what you've presented! Frankly, you've provided more practical feedback in one day than I've seen all year, and it's very, very welcome.

The UI has certainly been a work in progress these past seven years, and I suspect more work needs to be done with it. The overall challenge is quite complex; not only am I trying to simulate a traditional GM-assisted "table-top" RPG and all that, but the VB.NET web forms, DNN and Bootstrap 4 technology stack I'm using enforces certain limitations as well. Again, I've been thinking about migrating to newer technologies so I can do more with the UI, but for now I'd like to see what I can still do with my original technology stack (and, perhaps, incorporating some of your suggestions).

First, I wonder if we could move this conversation elsewhere, perhaps to my Discord channel; I'm OK with continuing the conversation here but I'd like to engage in a more detailed conversation and I'm thinking this isn't the best venue. Second, I'd say hold off on Reddit, Tenker's Tavern and so forth until we've had a chance to perhaps rebuild the UI; I want to not only carefully review your suggestions and play with those, but I also want to try and figure-out how to make the overall game more fun (and I have some ideas around that).

Thanks again for all the help! Let me know how best we can continue to communicate--I'd really like to invite you into this platform I've created and see what we could do with it together!
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Scott Mark Huelsman
Waunakee, WI 53597
https://browserquests.com
https://scottymark.com
Rosisha
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Rosisha »

I have to be honest, I have no idea how to use discord! Where do I go and how do I get started? I might have used it in the past but am happy to jump on to walk through my thoughts!
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Senyors »

My BQ Discord channel is located at https://discord.gg/crcHcdC. You can access it through a browser, and/or you can download and install a client for your operating system as well. Discord is another social media platform that does texting very well; I've already created several channels there so we can engage in a conversation within one that seems appropriate (perhaps the Developers channel, or even the Suggest Improvements channel). I'm keen on Discord because our conversation will be recorded for others to follow and respond to as well.

Indeed, my goal for BrowserQuests has ALWAYS been to build a community around gamers who want to author and create as well as play epic online-based quests. I chose the Basic Fantasy RPG system not only to act as a gaming framework for the platform but because I had hoped that there would be some like-minded individuals interested in helping me with all of this. So, your thoughts and ideas are most welcome and I'm eager to continue this conversation! :D
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Scott Mark Huelsman
Waunakee, WI 53597
https://browserquests.com
https://scottymark.com
Rosisha
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Re: BrowserQuests Online RPG

Post by Rosisha »

I figured it out! I DID have a Discord though I had to change my password.
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BrowserQuests Module #3 Now Available!

Post by Senyors »

A quick announcement that our first new campaign module in almost a year has been released! Entitled "Visions of Apocalypse" the third module picks up where the second module left off, continuing the story within the online RPG's original campaign "The Sorrow of Sisla."

Module #3 adds several new hours of playtime to the ongoing BrowserQuests experience, introducing all new characters, monsters, locations, items, etc. and featuring a modified storyline taken from the Basic Fantasy RPG Adventure Anthology 1. Nearly six months of time, effort and imagination has gone into making the third module a reality, with so many modest improvements to the overall platform that the first two modules have been tweaked and improved to utilize all the goodness as well.

Based upon the core Basic Fantasy RPG rules and mechanics, BrowserQuests is a single-player, persistent-world online RPG that simulates the interaction between a gamemaster and a player to bring that classic, "old school" feeling to playing a computer-based RPG. All players are welcome to create an account and try the game for free at https://browserquests.com.
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Scott Mark Huelsman
Waunakee, WI 53597
https://browserquests.com
https://scottymark.com
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