[WiP] Barter Town

Post » Fri May 13, 2011 7:13 am

Here is my second mod. It is currently in its construction stages but I'd figure I'd tell you all about it.

-----------------------------------------
Contributing artists:

Gunmaster95
----------------------------------------

What this mod is?

This mod currently adds a new sub-town within Canterbury Commons. This sub-town also adds sevral player houses which can be obtained via a quest as well as other "player choices". I personally found it bothersome that you could own a house in the center of the map and in the middle of nowhere. But only one. So, this adds another option to the housing situation in FO3 but also adds other things to it.

--------------------------------------

Story:

Approximately 15 years prior to the exhibition at the Museum of Technology Vault-Tec had begun construction of a "Vault Themed Hotel" as part of their PR campaign. The premise? The exhibit at the museum was to give a short half-hour tour and explaination of "Life-in-a-Vault" while the idea behind the hotel was to give those whose interest was peaked by the exhibit a chance to spend some time living in a Vault on a vacation. The hotel was slated to open one week after the exhibit at the museum ended. The hotel designated VTXH-1138-21b by Vault-Tec was completed one month ahead of schedule, the main entrance was designed to look like a burned out building and everything inside was to give the feeling of living in a vault with the exception that everyone inside paid to be there for a week. However, it was never opened to the public due to the "Great War". So, for 150 years the hotel sat, undiscovered / unused / unopened until an explorer/wastelander from what was left of New Jersey discovered it. He cleaned up the Hotel much like Alistair Tenpenny did for Tenpenny Towers with one exception. He kept the idea of the hotel alive and allowed anyone who has the Caps to move in and live there. He then named the hotel Barter Town. (yes, several movie references here: THX-1138-21b and Mad Max: Beyond Thunder Dome.)

--------------------------------------

The Quest:

The player character will find a note on the chair outside of the Megaton Player House. This note will be address to a person named Neil. Neils twin brother (an unamed NPC with only the initial N.) has lived in the Vault now known as Barter Town for the past several years. He has finally decided to move on and go up north stating: "I've scaved all that I've wanted or needed from the Capital Wasteland. I'm leaving my apartment to you since we look alike I haven't told security so you should just be able to move in, no questions asked." (note is not exact as details are still being worked out). Here begins the quest to Barter Town. Discovering this note will add a map marker to the hotel in Canterbury Commons.

---------------------------------------

The Catch?

The PC does not have immediate access to the entire town, just certain sections. Here is a break down of the options:

1) The PC can rent a room for one day. This gives him access to the shops for trading. Once the 24 hour period is up the PC character will lose the ability to be there. Doors to the area are locked before paying and after the time period expires. (if I can figure out how to script this). Possible cost of $2K caps. (Cost will be high due to option 3)

2) Purchase an apartment. The problem here is that Neil lives in the apartment. Security of the town suspects Neil is not the true owner but can not prove it. EXPANSION on the story here: the original discoverer of the hotel had lived in the Hotel Manager's Office and apartment (Overseer's office and home), one month prior to the PC discovering the note he left to purchase supplies from Rivet City, he never returned. Barter Town security dispatched a search party and discovered the town Mayor dead several miles away. They brought the body back but did not find access to the apartment and office. (The room will be locked via a terminal). Now, upon purchasing the room you have the option of "taking care" of the suspected thief or taking on the quest outlined in option three. If you opt out of the quest, you will lose karma. (Again, cost will be high.)

3) Help security to gain access to the Overseer's office to obtain a clipboard with the residents names on it. Security willl be able to verify that Neil is not the true owner at which point the PC can elminate Neil with prejudice. As a reward, the PC is given good karma, the option to live in the overseer's apartment and office or purchase the original apartment and gives you complete and total access to the entire town at all times. (Again, details are still being worked out)

-------------------------------------

What this mod adds.

A small vault like town, several interactive NPCs, loot and a new player house to call home.

Again, this is a WiP so there are no files to be downloaded, no pictures to be looked at (although) some can be made.


-----------------------------------

When will it be released?

When its done. The main hotel is approximately 70% complete, none of the scripting, voice acting, cluttering, retexturing (I'm still learning how to use DDS2, GiMP and NifSkope) has been done. As it is my second mod I am still learning how to use the G.E.C.K. thankfully I have someone helping me along the way which I do appreciate.
User avatar
sunny lovett
 
Posts: 3388
Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:59 am

Post » Fri May 13, 2011 7:43 am

Update:

KEY: COMPLETE = cluttered
DONE = world space is built

"Abandoned Office" = Complete
"Barter Town Entry Way = 90% Complete
"Welcome Center" = Done
"Satellite Chapter Church of Atom" = 90% Complete
"Common Area" = Done
"Security and Barracks" = Done
"Administration Area" = Done
"Clinics and Shops" = Done
"Apartments" = Done
User avatar
Fanny Rouyé
 
Posts: 3316
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:47 am

Post » Fri May 13, 2011 4:17 am

I like the name, and the references, and the overall idea.

I'm using a similar idea regarding renting a room to gain access to the town.

It would really be great to see some screenshots of your progress so far. Screenshots are also bound to draw some more comments and interest in what seems to be a mod with potential.

My only critical comment so far would be to stick with the idea of a 'small' vault like town. Towns are loads of work, and it would be a shame to see your idea drowned in a mire of unforeseen issues. What you have described so far seems quite doable.

Looking forward to seeing the results, or even just the progress as it stands.
User avatar
Jessica Raven
 
Posts: 3409
Joined: Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:33 am

Post » Fri May 13, 2011 8:53 am

Screenies are on their way. If you look at the nexus page for the mod (which I just realize now I don't have posted here) there was an update several days ago that mentions the coming of screenies. However, I can only work on the mod in my spare time and with a 3 month old daughter and construction starting at my house since the weather has gotten nicer doesn't happen too often.

The mod itself is fairly small. There are approximately 8 vendors, 12 apartments, and a clinic as the "main" part of the mod. There are some ancilliary (sp?) locations as well but they are much much smaller.

The complete world space has been built and completed (minus a few smaller details like several doors). I've been working on cluttering it a cell at a time so I don't overwhelm myself with 100 different details going on all at once.

There have also only been a few "characters" or NPCs placed just to see how they work in the worldspace for the time being.

Basically the stages for me to work on this mod are as follows:

Stage 1 Construction

Stage 2 Cluttering

Stage 3 NPC Placement

Stage 4 NPC and Character naming

Stage 5 Story (which is completed but still on paper)

Stage 6 Quests

Stage 7 Testing

Stage 8 Release

So as you can see I'm only on stage 2. I'm trying to go as slow as possible with things to make sure they function correctly. I've been receiving quite a bit of help from Gunmaster95 and sometimes I feel like I bother him too much. I also play test things as I go and correct mistakes before I get too far along. Hopefully this weekend I can get the screenies up that I had promised a while back.

For a reference to see what version of the mod I am on you can look here: http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=11281

Though, I don't write up a work log like a lot of other people.
User avatar
Jennifer Rose
 
Posts: 3432
Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:54 pm

Post » Fri May 13, 2011 8:30 am

That link is going to a page that says your file is set to 'hidden'. So no one, save yourself, can see it right now.
User avatar
Stacyia
 
Posts: 3361
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:48 am

Post » Fri May 13, 2011 3:08 pm

Oh yeah, sorry about that. I had it public and then had a note on it that said, "DO NOT DOWNLOAD WORK IN PROGRESS" and wouldn't you know it, 53 people downloaded a bunch of incomplete junk.

At anyrate, I'm currently on Version 17 of the mod but on the nexus there are 16 versions. Gunmaster95 is currently the only other person to be able to view the files and DL them as him and I have been working on it.

Again, sorry about that.

Now I know why I didn't put the nexus page up before. :)
User avatar
jessica Villacis
 
Posts: 3385
Joined: Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:03 pm


Return to Fallout 3