Recruiting a team to create Hybrid RTS/RPG

[Archangel_Tidusx]

THE LEGACY​

I have had a vision for a game I want to create for a long time. I have taken the first steps into creating it and have found myself very overwhelmed, however I know my idea will be great and one of a kind and I don't want to waste it.
I plan to use Unity3d, unless another good engine works for the team members.
What I need:
Programmers, Modelers, Artists, Story Writers, and will eventually need voice actors

Objective:
I want to create a game to be sold commercially, using self-created assets and free materials. I don't plan on becoming the next Bungie studios or Blizzard entertainment.. Just a small group of friends who share the passion of gaming.

What I want to create:
I have an (open) idea for a hybrid RTS/RPG game similar to Warcraft III. The game will be sort of a kingdom simulator with a non-linear storyline that will allow a custom experience for each player.

Features I want to include:
This list is in no particular order and will contain semi-permanent ideas.

• Character Creation
  
  You will create your own character that is an heir to the recently deceased king. The character will be able to take over the kingdom, or be a figurehead and be an adventurer. There will be certain decisive battles and storyline events, but each action will have a consequence. There will be pros and cons to each decision that is made that will help or hinder your progress of total conquest.​
• Alignment
  
  Characters will be able to choose a path of good and evil, each having perks and disadvantages associated with them. The morale of your kingdom will be affected, determining the effectiveness of certain troops.​
• Strategic Views
  
  I have played with this idea a little bit and I'm not totally sure how I want to do it. Basically you can change focus to your army as a whole or your individual hero​
• Kingdom Creation
  
  You start with a non-permanent template. Buildings can be added (built), or destroyed by invasion. Create walls, towers, houses, barracks, and all your creations will be explorable and walkable in your hero view.​
• Resource Gathering
  
  Do your own gathering or hire workers or teams to do the gathering for you. All resources will be transported to a warehouse and be used for kingdom buildings, unit upgrades, new research, etc.​
• Questing
  
  Tired of watching over the kingdom? Go out and quest for materials, equipment, and more territory. If you aren't particularly fond of questing you can create raiding parties to do the quests for you, with calculated success rates based on many variables​
• Ranks/Levelling
  
  Your character, as well as heroes beneath you will all be able to level from battles and quests, and basic units will rank and become stronger. I've thought of allowing you to promote certain units, changing them to a better unit type.​
• Spoils
  
  Imagine raiding a small town for its resources. Choose to burn the village or leave with the goods you came for. Take prisoners, workers, and militia to use as your own. Store your prisoners in your dungeon and convert them to different unit types to use.​
• Romance
  
  This one is just another idea. You could find a spouse to help run the kingdom in your absence. Perhaps an affection rating similar to fable that all hero units would have to allow marriage, families, etc.​

I will add more as the ideas are presented, but this is all that comes to mind now.

I don't want to be too specific on the storyline here just yet, but know it will be revealed eventually.

Things to know prior to entering:
Basically I just want to be up front with anyone interested. I have an open mind, however I don't want to become too deviated from my original idea. I need creativity from outside minds, so I am open to listen and we can all make the final decisions together. When we do finish this project, I want to split the profits between all of us evenly. I have another full-time job so I do not expect anyone on our team to make this a full time job. I want to keep the team as efficient as possible; specifically, I want us all to be on the same pace. If we are conflicting, then I am open to adding and subtracting members to the team as necessary. If this hasn't scared you all away.. Let's continue.

My background:
A little bit about myself, relevant to the project. Condensed version below, starting with red text.

I first got into design with the Warcraft series, starting with Warcraft 2. If you are not familiar, it is just a RTS game that had a restrictive open editor. You could create scenarios with the built-in assets but nothing fancy at all. Then I picked up Warcraft III, which allowed you to do a lot more. You could bring a lot of external assets that functioned well (or not so well) with the game, and that's where I got inspired. I created my own campaign, several custom-games, and my friends kept me on my feet and always had me creating new things to play. The game had several unofficial communities with resources and tutorials and basically anything you needed to create your dream.

I had around 11 years of work combined between projects and all was lost due to a tragic hard drive failure. My motivation crushed, and all that I had worked on lost, I gave up map editing. I stuck around for a while to teach others who had trouble but there wasn't much hope for a lot of the self-taught mapmakers out there.

Starcraft 2 arose, and with that a lot of people lost interest in Warcraft 3. I worked on a few projects but I like the medieval theme so I had a hard time getting interested in learning the editor for that game. I decided to broaden and create something on my own. I had a little experience in modeling, texturing, storywriting, and event-based triggering, so I dove in head first. I found a bunch of free products, double-checked my licenses, and got started.

So far I have a small collection of programs, half of a loading screen, and a lot of confusion, so I'm asking for help. I know I can do it on my own but I don't want my project to be out-of-date when I finish.

TL;DR?
Basically: I started on War3, worked on projects for about 10 years, lost them all due to a tragic crash, wasn't interested in SC2, and want to create my own game. It's taking me too long to learn every aspect so I want to form a team. Are you with me?

Interested parties:
You will need to be responsible for your licenses of programs and assets you use because mine are all commercially free. Know this game will be created with the intention to sell, so no student versions of 3ds, or pirated photoshops.

Know you will be working with me at-will on both ends. If you want to drop or you are asked to leave, I would expect you to allow us the use of our creations, and I would expect you to keep the project private.

We all have to tolerate each other and accept each other. Come in with an open mind, and expect to dedicate a little bit of time each day or week toward the project. Be within reach so we can all contact each other and figure things out when we need to.

Being able to speak English is necessary because that is how I will be able to communicate with you.

If you're interested in joining, email me at atxmatt2510(at)hotmail(dot)com with the subject "Legacy Recruitment"
I can answer all questions and address all concerns upon contact. Thank you and have a nice day!

EDIT:
Not sure if this is the place to post this, but I can remove if necessary.

 

[Radicool]

What about a music composer?

Have you explored methods of telling the storyline? I have found 3d cinematics in games the most effective in providing a new perspective, moving the storyline and connecting with the audience, however they must be very difficult to make.

 

[GhostWolf]

TL;DR, I want to make a game but don't know how to, please make it for me.
Unless you have something solid to show, which I assume you don't, since you didn't show anything at all.

 

[Dr Super Good]

so no student versions of 3ds, or pirated photoshops.

Actually the irony is there is a huge amount of commercial games which was made using those kind of things.

Proof? Well the one hacker who removed the licencing DRM from one of the versions made it sign all models that it was made with a version cracked by him (as a form of credits). Eventually some people found various games which contained models that, surprise surprise, had that signature in them.

Unless you have something solid to show, which I assume you don't, since you didn't show anything at all.

I am especially looking at the parts he does not mention himself having any important skills for large projects.

lost them all due to a tragic crash

This will certainly fill prospect project members with confidence...

 

[Archangel_Tidusx]

What about a music composer?

Have you explored methods of telling the storyline? I have found 3d cinematics in games the most effective in providing a new perspective, moving the storyline and connecting with the audience, however they must be very difficult to make.

Definitely will be looking for a music composer. It will be a necessity once we get our first level laid out.

As for the other replies:

If you're not interested, just don't comment at all. I'm bringing plenty of skills to the table. I don't know much programming but I'm taking this as an opportunity to learn more.

I'm not here to make arguments with petty kids or big-headed "Mapmakers"

So as I stated before; If you're not interested.. Go away.
Thank you.

 

[Dr Super Good]

I'm bringing plenty of skills to the table.

Such as? This is really the kind of thing you should be promoting.

I don't know much programming but I'm taking this as an opportunity to learn more.

That is alright but do you at least know a lot about computers and digital electronics?

 

[Archangel_Tidusx]

Are you interested in joining?

I have experience with multiple platforms, and operating systems. I have experience with visual scripting, graphic design, modelling, storywriting, project management, and workflow.

If you read the initial post, I mentioned I had experience.

I'm asking for help, not because I don't know how to do any of it, but more because it's way to much for one person to complete efficiently.

 

[Kanadaj]

So generally you are saying you know how to use GUI, a bit of modelling and some experience with map story writing and managing a solo project. Great. I'm eager to join... /sarcasm

Instead of arguing blindly, you should show up with something worth of mentioning. Visual Scripting, as in GUI? Graphics Design? Show me a UI texture, or even a UI mockup. But srsly, looking at your icons, you shouldn't have said this one. Modelling? You have a half-assed sword on your account, and even if you actually knew how to do it properly, you are saying it in line of other half-assed skills, which means it's just as half-assed. Storywriting? 1) Anyone is free to come to the idea factory linked in my sig, we are always eager to make a general base story for a project, even if it's outside of WC3. 2) I think everyone has their own ideas, so there is really no need for a storywriter in a small indie project. Project management? Show me a project where you've led at least other 4 people. I've been working in teams as a coder, you have no idea what it means to keep a team synchronized, motivated and productive. Workflow? If you knew it you would already have something to show. But you have no idea where to start. That's some extensive workflow knowledge.

In short: Prove us that a team needs YOU for their project. We already know you need people for it. But show is why do you deserve a share of the glory?

Also, it's not too much AT ALL for one person to complete a game. As long as it's single player, it can be completed in, let's say, half a year, and then it already has some story, maybe even a short campaign, a map editor etc. There are assets on opengameart.com, and there are some RTS optimized game engines out there. But you can even do it with Unity in this timeframe. You have to know coding though, and if you are unlucky you will have to get models from somewhere, maybe paying for ordered ones, or just make them yourself. That way it would be 1 year. Just don't expect to make the next Crysis game.

 

[Archangel_Tidusx]

Judge my experience based on items from my profile? How many years old are they?

Ok, since we are using logic here..

I would hope you understand that people improve over the years, and considering the newest resource on my profile is 4 years old, that should say just a little bit about my experience.
No, I didn't live under a rock for the last 4 years, just in case that confused you.
As far as your seemingly meaningless argument against how long it would take.. Let me reiterate.

I want to create a game to be sold commercially, using self-created assets and free materials. I don't plan on becoming the next Bungie studios or Blizzard entertainment.. Just a small group of friends who share the passion of gaming.

That being said.. Yes it will take AT LEAST a year to complete for someone who dedicates every waking moment to it. Now let's add a full-time job into the equation, as well as other life-related activities.. Starting to see the picture here?

All interested parties know that this isn't a project we are spending half a day, each day, working nonstop on.. We are doing it casually in our free time.

I don't plan to "make the next crysis 2" out of this project, as I stated above.

If there is any concern of my ability to someone who is interested in the project, then I can gladly show some of my work. However, I'm not revealing my project work just to prove a point to someone who just wants to make assumptions about what I can and cannot do.

So, again..
If you are not interested... Go away.

Thanks again

 

[GhostWolf]

See, that's not how recruiting works.
If you want anyone to take you seriously, you have to show serious things you have made/done.
There are endless people that say the same exact things on forums, and none with anything to show for it.
If you have something to show, do that. Otherwise....yeah...

 

[Tal'Rarity]

So the summary here from what I have seen so far is not to join this guy...

Well good-luck if you find anyone to join a blind leader.
It would be nice to see this project completed, I like wc3'ers moving onto bigger things in programming/gamemaking.

By the way, I think I will suggest some idea's so you can learn how to recruit better...

"If there is any concern of my ability to someone who is interested in the project, then I can gladly show some of my work. However, I'm not revealing my project work just to prove a point to someone who just wants to make assumptions about what I can and cannot do. "
^ So yeah here is one big idea... Don't do that.

Post some of your *RECENT* work.
Don't post dis-encouraging information.
*Tell the public* what your job will be
Don't try to argue with people who actually bother to waste their time in this thread.

EDIT: OH! And lastly stop telling people to go away because it is seriously hurting you.

 

[Archangel_Tidusx]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I do have several members recruited from other sites but this seems to be the only one I'm having trouble with. But that's okay. I will leave the thread here and be sure to respond to emails if anyone is interested, however I will no longer be responding to comments.

 

[Kanadaj]

You, sir, are doomed to fail - but if you don't, it will not be thanks to you, and with your attitude, dear sir, you do not deserve a share from the money, but most importantly, the glory of the resulting game.