Hi guys,
We are starting a new release of Zhentor Online, a free online browser-based strategy and adventure game. The new release, surprisingly, is not a clone of another rpg as you find most of the online games today indeed are, but is something entirely unique.
In Zhentor Online, players will be able to control settlements, a bit like Age of Empires if you're familiar with that series. So what's so unique about that? Well, each settlement will have access to a large range of buildings which can be constructed. All of these buildings, once erected, will create jobs & prospects which "real players" can take advantage of. In effect, what we are hoping to create is a sort of advanced sim type game, but browser-based and with a lot more to offer than a simple build & see game. To put it all into perspective, I will present a scenario:
"I am Talha, and I have just acquired the settlement Hidden Leaf. At present it consists of a large forest and a small lake, but there is potential here. I build a Lumber Mill and hire some NPC workers to chop the timber. I also build some Warehouses because I will be needing this timber later on for my construction projects, and there is only so much of it available.
I now have some free land to expand my territory. I start by building a Fruit farm so that I can cater for the needs of my population. Now, to expand my influence and bring in some real players to my settlement, I build a Blacksmith. Building a blacksmith has created some jobs which can be filled by real players. Very soon, Larial, a real player, walks into my settlement while adventuring and applies for the position of the head Blacksmith. I look over his stats, and I'm satisfied. In a matter of days, the blacksmith has started producing metallic products, which I can now sell in my shops. So I rent out a small portion of my land for leasing, and 2 days later, the land has been brought by Mike, a real player who wishes to setup a private stall in the location. Mike buys products produced at the Blacksmith and puts them for sale at his shop. Trade begins to grow.
It is time to move forward. I build a vineyard and harvest grapes. This leads to the construction of a Winery, where more jobs are created yet again. Players soon start to visit my settlement and apply for jobs. I've also built some Barracks so that I can defend my settlement should anyone wish to cast an evil eye on it. After I've built walls all the way around, I am going to look for that perfect general who can lead my army into battle. There are so much settlements to conquer!"
It is very hard to explain the scope and range of the game, because it is in fact very complex and diverse. From things like blacksmithing and brewing to stuff like building ships and taking people from one island to another, Zhentor Online promises to be a truly unique browser-based game, offering a new level of interaction.
So... the first step in the creation of this titan is the development of an isometric mapping system. If anyone is interested in working for this game, would like to find out more or suggest some ideas, please feel free to contact me through PM. I've attached a rough spec of the mapping system should anyone be interested in finding out more about the initial project.
Looking forward to hearing some feedback.
