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plamzi · 09-20-2012, 06:36 PM

You've seen the Bedlam banners on TMC and TMS for the past 2 years, and perhaps you'd like to know more about the game than what's in its brief listing. As Head Coder of the game and its custom clients, I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you my vision, most of which is already a reality. Like other games have done, I anticipate using this thread to post major news and have it all in one place for the prospective player. (We have been in hectic development since the end of 2009, and show no signs of slowing down). Special shout out to Lunez@DSL who encouraged me to write this long overdue post.

About the Game

Bedlam is an intelligent hack and slash game, with strong emphasis on team PvE and massive amounts of loot (including random artifacts). It is like Diablo 3, except a lot better, and requiring brains.

The kind of player who does well in Bedlam is one who enjoys exploring custom zones, solving puzzles, and refining strategies for taking down bosses. If you're looking for intense RP, or intense PvP, or completely brainless entertainment--you won't find those here. We tolerate RP, and have some PvP (arena style), but our strengths lie elsewhere.

We aim to provide a relatively casual, extremely user-friendly, and long-lasting experience. All players can access a real-time web-based map, browse the extensive help files online, or use one of the hundreds of enhancements that make your early journey in Bedlam easier.

The Bedlam Class/Skill System

We have 14 well-defined classes and no multi-classing at all. We believe that having a top-notch character in each class (rather than one mediocre char with an identity crisis) enriches and lengthens a player's career. It transforms not only the way they engage with the world, but also how you interact with other human players. Most late-career players have over 10 alts at max level, and pick the class that will do best for the kind of goal they have in mind today.

Spells and skills are defined by class and unlocked by level. They can be practiced up to a point, after which they have to be improved by use. The number of spells and skills is very manageable--our aim is for each one to be unique and uniquely useful. Each contributes to the profile and playing style of its class: the solo necromancer conjures beings from the Nether and raises corpses, the explosive sorcerer deals massive spell damage while re-absorbing some of the mana he/she expends, the ranger dual-wields and is able to attack from a distance.

For late-career players, there are hero powers (extremely powerful skills) and perks that produce unique random loot (with more controllable crafts on the horizon).

Combat

There's an undercurrent of automatic attacks, at a speed determined by many factors, among which weapon weight & type. Passive skills are also automatic. Manual attacks include offensive spells (which can deal additional damage or have after-effects if the opponent is of a certain race) and offensive skills that vary greatly in their ability to debuff or damage the opponent. The Ranger, the Warrior, and the Assassin have ranged combat skills (bows, crossbows, and dart-shooting blowpipes respectively).

Combat can get pretty intense if you want it to be. For those who choose the thief classes, combo points gathered from successful attacks can be spent towards more powerful attacks. Other classes rely on surprising synergies to achieve "steamrolling" in groups. Warriors boost others' morale, clerics can stock up on healing runes, knights provide an excellent 'meat shield' for sorcerers.

Beyond the usual range of debuff attacks, certain classes can shoot magical arrows and darts from a distance, and all thief classes can coat their weapons with various venoms. Some debuffs are very powerful, but only last a few precious seconds, during which you have to seize the initiative.

NPC Followers

A wide range of followers are available so you don't have to wait for other players to increase your firepower. Wizards can charm wildlings, necromancers can conjure and raise, warriors and knights can mount, and everyone can buy mercenaries. Warrior and mage mercenaries can be ordered to use skills and spells, and can execute multi-commands (e. g. 'w;s;cast 'fireball' dragon).

All NPC followers are saved automatically, together with their equipment, and restored to you when you re-enter the game. This means that your quest for better equipment will include sets for yourself as well as for your typical followers (Spiders, Animated Liches, or your favorite mercenary).

Quests

In addition to the occasional game-wide events by a human QM, and the many intricate zone exploration puzzlers, Bedlam sports a custom auto-quest system. In less than two years, our library has grown to include 230+ individual quest episodes. Auto-quests help new players learn the main city, guide and reward exploration, equip you with better gear, and generally ensure a sense of purpose, sometimes even a storyline. Group auto-quests and race-against-peers quests are also available. The highlight of the quest system is an easy web form through which all players can create new quests (subject to approval).

End Game: Overview

Long-term goals include:

* Build optimal gear sets for multiple alts and NPC followers

* Form or contribute to a player clan

* Buy and expand a private house, adding storage rooms, furniture, and lodging

* Buy a private flying mount, a dragon, or a wraith, or <you name it>

* Purchase and stock your own shop for the benefit of other players (and your pockets)

* Compete in one of many categories in the online leaderboards, including quest completion rate

* Become a Hero

End Game: The Path of the Hero

When a character reaches level 60, he or she has the option to complete a series of quests unlocking The Way of the Hero. This enables them to level further, and is also a game-changer. For a hero, and for those who group with Heroes, the game becomes 3-4 times harder. In exchange, Heroes get special powers as well as the ability to get random and randomized loot from ultra-hard bosses. The Hero is basically a specialzed craftsman, able to create entirely new items every time he or she topples a boss.

More professions like Hero are in store to cater to varying tastes. These will include artisans able to craft items while on the move, and even offline.

The GUI Clients

Bedlam has probably the most visual graphical MUD clients currently in production. Our iOS app enables total newbies to keep up with seasoned veterans using mostly touch. The Facebook/web app not only integrates our top-notch real-time map, but also sports player avatars with changing states, mob icons, environment backgrounds, and clickable text elements.

In Conclusion

As you may have gathered already, Bedlam is our way of re-thinking the hack'n'slash MUD for new generations of players, and new leaps in technology. But perhaps none of the above features would matter if we didn't have a core community of dedicated and helpful players who welcome new prospects and enjoy showing off the things that make Bedlam a long-lasting delight. We hope to meet you in Garathorm!

09-20-2012, 06:36 PM	#1
plamzi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Home MUD: bedlam.mudportal.com:9000 Home MUD: www.mudportal.com Posts: 292	The Bedlam Experience You've seen the Bedlam banners on TMC and TMS for the past 2 years, and perhaps you'd like to know more about the game than what's in its brief listing. As Head Coder of the game and its custom clients, I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you my vision, most of which is already a reality. Like other games have done, I anticipate using this thread to post major news and have it all in one place for the prospective player. (We have been in hectic development since the end of 2009, and show no signs of slowing down). Special shout out to Lunez@DSL who encouraged me to write this long overdue post. About the Game Bedlam is an intelligent hack and slash game, with strong emphasis on team PvE and massive amounts of loot (including random artifacts). It is like Diablo 3, except a lot better, and requiring brains. The kind of player who does well in Bedlam is one who enjoys exploring custom zones, solving puzzles, and refining strategies for taking down bosses. If you're looking for intense RP, or intense PvP, or completely brainless entertainment--you won't find those here. We tolerate RP, and have some PvP (arena style), but our strengths lie elsewhere. We aim to provide a relatively casual, extremely user-friendly, and long-lasting experience. All players can access a real-time web-based map, browse the extensive help files online, or use one of the hundreds of enhancements that make your early journey in Bedlam easier. The Bedlam Class/Skill System We have 14 well-defined classes and no multi-classing at all. We believe that having a top-notch character in each class (rather than one mediocre char with an identity crisis) enriches and lengthens a player's career. It transforms not only the way they engage with the world, but also how you interact with other human players. Most late-career players have over 10 alts at max level, and pick the class that will do best for the kind of goal they have in mind today. Spells and skills are defined by class and unlocked by level. They can be practiced up to a point, after which they have to be improved by use. The number of spells and skills is very manageable--our aim is for each one to be unique and uniquely useful. Each contributes to the profile and playing style of its class: the solo necromancer conjures beings from the Nether and raises corpses, the explosive sorcerer deals massive spell damage while re-absorbing some of the mana he/she expends, the ranger dual-wields and is able to attack from a distance. For late-career players, there are hero powers (extremely powerful skills) and perks that produce unique random loot (with more controllable crafts on the horizon). Combat There's an undercurrent of automatic attacks, at a speed determined by many factors, among which weapon weight & type. Passive skills are also automatic. Manual attacks include offensive spells (which can deal additional damage or have after-effects if the opponent is of a certain race) and offensive skills that vary greatly in their ability to debuff or damage the opponent. The Ranger, the Warrior, and the Assassin have ranged combat skills (bows, crossbows, and dart-shooting blowpipes respectively). Combat can get pretty intense if you want it to be. For those who choose the thief classes, combo points gathered from successful attacks can be spent towards more powerful attacks. Other classes rely on surprising synergies to achieve "steamrolling" in groups. Warriors boost others' morale, clerics can stock up on healing runes, knights provide an excellent 'meat shield' for sorcerers. Beyond the usual range of debuff attacks, certain classes can shoot magical arrows and darts from a distance, and all thief classes can coat their weapons with various venoms. Some debuffs are very powerful, but only last a few precious seconds, during which you have to seize the initiative. NPC Followers A wide range of followers are available so you don't have to wait for other players to increase your firepower. Wizards can charm wildlings, necromancers can conjure and raise, warriors and knights can mount, and everyone can buy mercenaries. Warrior and mage mercenaries can be ordered to use skills and spells, and can execute multi-commands (e. g. 'w;s;cast 'fireball' dragon). All NPC followers are saved automatically, together with their equipment, and restored to you when you re-enter the game. This means that your quest for better equipment will include sets for yourself as well as for your typical followers (Spiders, Animated Liches, or your favorite mercenary). Quests In addition to the occasional game-wide events by a human QM, and the many intricate zone exploration puzzlers, Bedlam sports a custom auto-quest system. In less than two years, our library has grown to include 230+ individual quest episodes. Auto-quests help new players learn the main city, guide and reward exploration, equip you with better gear, and generally ensure a sense of purpose, sometimes even a storyline. Group auto-quests and race-against-peers quests are also available. The highlight of the quest system is an easy web form through which all players can create new quests (subject to approval). End Game: Overview Long-term goals include: * Build optimal gear sets for multiple alts and NPC followers * Form or contribute to a player clan * Buy and expand a private house, adding storage rooms, furniture, and lodging * Buy a private flying mount, a dragon, or a wraith, or <you name it> * Purchase and stock your own shop for the benefit of other players (and your pockets) * Compete in one of many categories in the online leaderboards, including quest completion rate * Become a Hero End Game: The Path of the Hero When a character reaches level 60, he or she has the option to complete a series of quests unlocking The Way of the Hero. This enables them to level further, and is also a game-changer. For a hero, and for those who group with Heroes, the game becomes 3-4 times harder. In exchange, Heroes get special powers as well as the ability to get random and randomized loot from ultra-hard bosses. The Hero is basically a specialzed craftsman, able to create entirely new items every time he or she topples a boss. More professions like Hero are in store to cater to varying tastes. These will include artisans able to craft items while on the move, and even offline. The GUI Clients Bedlam has probably the most visual graphical MUD clients currently in production. Our iOS app enables total newbies to keep up with seasoned veterans using mostly touch. The Facebook/web app not only integrates our top-notch real-time map, but also sports player avatars with changing states, mob icons, environment backgrounds, and clickable text elements. In Conclusion As you may have gathered already, Bedlam is our way of re-thinking the hack'n'slash MUD for new generations of players, and new leaps in technology. But perhaps none of the above features would matter if we didn't have a core community of dedicated and helpful players who welcome new prospects and enjoy showing off the things that make Bedlam a long-lasting delight. We hope to meet you in Garathorm!