Last bump before I take what I have.

Not really on topic but,

For quest design for your mods, how do you plan the content out? So that you know exactly what assets that you need to create or find for your mod?

I have only been working on the storyline so far, but would you do a simple drawing of tge setting like what they do for making animations for movies?

Is there some resource that you could point me to for the quest planning stuff?

Also glhf

I have destroyed your application, in all its forms, with a massive keyboard atax.

... and now we wait.

Oh, well...

As far as basic planning, I first decide what kind of mod I'm having. For my current project, I decided I'm adding my own new land for all this to occur in. Then I get a main story, written in a word document. I elaborate over this story over and over until I have finer details figured out.

As far as knowing what set pieces I'll need, I leave it somewhat open. I try my best to plan only using what's already in the game, so I dont need to get other open source/ custom made models or textures. But as for specific level design stuff, I dont really plan much out. I may say, "Okay there is an Ice Cavern, called The Bleakwater Bastion, where Tommy goes to find his dad." The only details I know going into the Creation Kit are the places name, what kind of area it is, and what quest events occur there.

Then I fill in the blanks, and once I have it made I write the dialogue that needs *exact* location specific information, such as how a specific room is shaped or what is in it.

Then I fill in that dialogue, and wallah! I have the area completed, my quest scripted, and everything is done. Hopefully this is helpful?

As for places I can link you to, I don't really have any. I've just always written and planned all of this on my own. My best advice, is plan to the point where you know 'basically' what you are going to make, but don't plan specifics exact details until you are actually making it, or have it made. That gives you design freedom in the map and the quest, while still resulting in what you had planned.

Oh as far as drawings, I do have MANY maps drawn of my land. I havent drawn anything for previous projects, as there has been little need, but when I'm planning out an entire island, it's certainly helpful to know where everything goes.

Ok, so write story and then everything else afterwards. Except I like making new models and textures, so I wanted to get some idea about setting construction and such.

But with regards to story and dialog, do you have like a spreadsheet that contains all of the dialog and responses of each NPC with the player, as I remember watching the making of Skyrim video where BGS had done something similar

No, I have my own personal crazy method of writing dialogue out into a word document as well that I recent learned confuses the hell out of everyone else. The sheet you saw in the video is what you can export inputed dialog to. It's an excel spreadsheet that they printed for their voice actors, which I'll do when I pass dialogue out to my voice actors. But as for the actual format when I write it all, I came up with my own complicated crazy way of writing it so I know exactly whats going on and can input it into the CK really easily.

hmm I was really considering this until I saw you wanted real names. Oh well I'll keep following to see your progress. Happy modding.

Very well. Though I must ask, why are people so weary to give out something as simple as a first and last name? I know there's that whole 'don't give your info out on the internet' thing, and I fully respect people's wishes, I'm just a bit curious as to the resistance it seems to have here. :F

I don't personally because it just doesn't really sit well with me. I know people that can do things with just tiny bits of info on a person such as a name and email. Not saying that you would do anything like this its just a simple precaution in most people. Since you're not a company and this is, well just a mod (not being mean) there really isn't a need for a first and last name imo. Yes its nice to be on a first name basis with people but in today's day and age giving that kinda info can have repercussions and does all the time. Idk that's just me.

No no, that's fine, I totally understand. I was just curious. And so you know, it's for the credits. I've done 100% real names ever since in Project Genesis I did a mix. It would be like 'Cast- Mauri Majanoja, Mick Mize, LolFaces41, Thomas Burrsel' Can you spot the name that ruined the professional appeal of that cast list?

It is an interesting topic, the real names, if I am to be honest. But really, our real names are all over the place anyway. Millions of people have their names on Facebook, tons of which don't have their profiles private at all. You can basically do a research on anyone and there's high chance they will pop out in google due to work/school documentation, participation in contests (be it even local baking faire) or credits for various things. The chance of someone actually using a data like this for something vile is probably much smaller than something happening to you irl - falling of the stairs, being robbed or hit with church ceiling brick. Or someone you actually know abusing the knowledge of your data - they have more reasons and tools to do it than strangers on the internet. All of that still doesn't mean you should be too wary of every stairway, going outside your house,visiting churches or introducing yourself to people, does it? ;P

Don't get me wrong, I do understand the notion of privacy, but while I used to be terribly paranoid about this as well in the past, I've since loosened up because it really doesn't lead places. Keep your head cool and reason in its place, and you won't endanger yourself. Being a tester for the mod, known by name and surname, is by no means harmful. Unlike, say, having your photo taken on a party in a compromising position Now that's when internet can harm you for dislosing your private information

Sorry for the offtopic, but I can't resist a forum-dispute on a subject I've not yet debated on before ^^

Well I personally don't use facebook for that very reason. I'm also not in the first 30 pages of google. The claim that someone using your info for vile things is very low may be true but its a fact that every 79 secs someone's identity is stolen in the US. Its also the fastest growing and most lucrative crime out there. As for meeting people, yes I do that and I have no issues doing that but I am meeting them irl not online. Like I said thats just me. Sorry to have derailed this thread ~moves along

Most identity theft is committed by someone you know~ McGruff the crime dog

What it comes down to is that the people you know personally have easier access to your personal information. Could the OP use our names to commit some sort of identity crime? Sure, but it would take a lot of work on his part to get enough information to do so. If he had some nefarious plot in mind, it would be much more practical to prey on people he knows personally.

Besides, if you segregate your information well enough, having your name and an email address wont so him much good. I personally have at least 5 different emails that I use for different things. One for business type stuff, one for personal stuff, one for games and game related sites, and a couple of others that I use to ensure all my personal accounts cant be stolen at once. Combine that with an adequate firewall, anti-virus, anti-malware, and complex passwords, and I should be safer than the average joe.

This brings up a good point. If you wanted you could create an email specifically for testing the mod. I just need a real name for the credits (and so everyone is just names, instead of weird crazy usernames), and an Email to contact you outside of this forum and the private one.

I'm still resting at 24 testers, which is fantastic! Of course, if anyone else is considering applying, go for it! I had 4 beta testers for Project Genesis, zero for The Collector, and only 2 for Deimos, and boy, let me say, I didn't have nearly enough those three times. Not to mention those mods all added like <6 hours of gameplay, and this one should be well over 20. I'm going to need a very large group to plow through this thing and find the issues.

Most credits in this community are via the online name. It's kind of a tradition.

Well on top of the fact it looks more professional with real names, many of my voice actors are in this to become legitimate actors (And some of them already are), so they need their real name out there, and randomly mixing real names and usernames in the credits would be even worse than keeping it one or the other.

I make a suggestion: the problem could be solved if you ask the tester if they wanted to be named in the credits with their real name or with the online name.
We will know each others name, but maybe there are tester around they do not want their boss or parents or other people to know that he/she is playing Skyrim. Sometimes is just one false information the reason to complicate your career.

Edit: I do not see a problem in mixing real names and online names. Sometimes it is important for the tester to stand with his/hers online name, because he/she is well known to the community with the online name and nobody knows the real name.

The professional way of mixing names would go like:

Sally "Princepolo_bar11" Smith

For example. That's how people share their on-line names in credits that include real ones

And hey! Skyrim is not WoW, you don't need to chicken out from admitting you play it (...private joke, my guildmate is doing SUCH circus acts irl to hide his WoWing before anyone he knows, it's pure hilarity).

Haha. I don't mind my name being out there. I'm not all that difficult to find anyway. But I can see why some people might be apprehensive.

I may offer that mixing to people. I'm going to have full names, but if they want it will also have their username. That's a good way to do that.

My username kinda has my name in it anyway.

I've given it a lot of thought and have decided to do this by username, instead of real name. I only have 24 testers, and several people have already stated that the deciding factor was the fact I wanted a real name. So, you may now apply free of that worry!

For those of you who have already provided me with a real name, I'll be erasing all of that info shortly. The only place it's recorded is in the actual message you sent me, which will be deleted when the beta testing process begins, and in a word document I'm keeping track of this in.

Hopefully now I can get MANY more applicants! Thanks for convincing me of this guys. I think it will be for the better, as it will allow me to get far more applicants, and people will recognize names from the forum.

application sent.

I would apply but I seldom post anything, read a bit but don't post, besides I only play about 70-75 hours a week so I don't think I could help much.

Do you know there is a Real Life outside?