A New Team for Aberrated (?)

[MattyG]

All,

I have been in contact with The Archduke and he has kindly given his blessing for the torch to be passed.

There are many of us keen to see Aberration move ahead, expand, change, and have the bugs ironed out. There are a lot of exciting ideas out there and we can build on the excellent work done by The Archduke, Byakhiam and others.

The Archduke has said he will still look in and provinde commentary and ideas, but will likely have no time for coding.

We would need to form a team of about six people. There is probably a need for a team leader, or perhaps coordinator. Not for final decision making, but whose task it would be to ensure the disparate files and threads come together for updates that actually run smoothly.

Given that I am not a programmer (although I can script well enough) and that I am a new father with all the responsibility that entails, I cannot possibly put myself forward as team coordinator. However, I am definitely going to be an active member of the team, should it form up.

As far as posting goes, none of us would have the administrator privileges required to post updates in the Aberrated thread, so that leaves us with two options.

1. We send our updated versions to The Archduke to post for us all.

2. We post them in the Scenarios thread, and merely direct people there ffrom within Aberrated.


I would also propose that we rename the game. There is a certain flavour and direction taken by The Archduke et al and some of the proposals that are on the books from among us seem quite different. Rather than the future updates simply layering over Aberrated, I think it needs to be called Aberrated II (as an initial suggestion). In this way, those who prefer to play only within The Archduke’s original vision can do so.

I look forward to hearing here from those genuinely interested in being part of the new team.

Regards,

MattyG

 

[Incompetent]

Unfortunately I've probably been spending too much time on EU2 as it is recently, as I should be getting ready for my university finals. But come June I'll have tons of free time, so if people are still interested then, I can start putting some serious work into this mod.

We could make this into a really massive mod - starting from ArchDuke's mod, we could add the finishing touches in Europe and go on to Aberrate the whole world. It'll be a lot of work, but fun. Count me in!

 

[unmerged(33565)]

Unfortunately I've probably been spending too much time on EU2 as it is recently, as I should be getting ready for my university finals. But come June I'll have tons of free time, so if people are still interested then, I can start putting some serious work into this mod.

We could make this into a really massive mod - starting from ArchDuke's mod, we could add the finishing touches in Europe and go on to Aberrate the whole world. It'll be a lot of work, but fun. Count me in!

I should have time come June too. I started to work a little on India but got little or no support for it and so gave up on after getting to about 1500 or so. Count me in if other people on up for it.

Edit: maybe we can make the rest of the world optional, like fantisy events for AGCEEP

 

[MattyG]

The Tortoise Won the Race

June is fine.

I know there are several of us who are intrigued and excited by Aberration. Let's not burn out early. Let's take it easy, work on one project at a time and make certain that things run before we set them up.

In the next six weeks the team can form up, we can discuss what we will work on and those with a little time can do a little coding.

I tend to work on my material for a half hour at a time, as parental duties (joys) permit.

(You are all probably aware that my main project is the New World. At the moment a lot has been coded and people have been playtesting it. If you would like a copy to have a look at then pm me with your email address. I'd say I am about 35% of the way through the main body of the work.)

I'd like to suggest a structure for the team (assuming we get enough folks together). We should work in pairs leading the development of an area or a concept. The discussion thread for each one would be open to all to knock around ideas, but the work of coding and testing would fall to two people. In this way, the work we acheive will be balanced by the number of people we have. For every two members, we can be working on another entity.

We would also need to have a distinct thread where project ideas are listed. Not debated, as such, just listed, so that we can keep track of the the ideas people have and how we can best establish a priority list. Then, the people concerned with that project (the project 'leads') can establish a discussion htread where the ideas and actualy events/leaders etc are posted.

Thoughts?

 

[unmerged(16159)]

I very much want to be part of contributing to any revision of the Aberation game, please put me on the list. I have been working on China and S/E Asia, and would like this material reviewed by others, and perhaps included, since it's an area which does get overlooked in the current Aberation.

If any work has been done on Asia, particularly Chia, I'd love to see it. Also interested in coordinating my Chinese work with anything done on India.

I will have something ready by the end of May.

I would also like to get some of the bugs fixed. There have been many found, and discussed under separate threads, but we need to start getting these assembled under one banner/thread/coordinator/sub-commitee.

 

[MattyG]

Mikl,

Let's not be hasty. Having something out for the sake of having it out would be a poor first move, We want our first modification to work and have balance and to prove that the new team is going about it all in an organised fashion. I suggest that the first new version would be largely correcting the existing bugs, plus a few of the event extensions written by Incompetant.

For China, here is the original thread.

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174981

Next you and all other members of the team need to go into your account profile and then to Options to alter the default setting so that you view All Threads, not just current ones. The history of the project will then be revealed. I am going to start reading all of these threads so I have a better sense of the history.

In addition, Mikl, you may want to see if some of those original contributers, like Calanctus, wishes to assist you with China.

Matty

 

[Incompetent]

I'd like to suggest a structure for the team (assuming we get enough folks together). We should work in pairs leading the development of an area or a concept. The discussion thread for each one would be open to all to knock around ideas, but the work of coding and testing would fall to two people. In this way, the work we acheive will be balanced by the number of people we have. For every two members, we can be working on another entity.

That's possible, but I think the 'baby' system is easier to implement in many cases: one person assumes primary responsibility for a particular aspect of the mod, but must remain open to the criticism and contributions of others. For example, it looks like North America has become your baby. In some cases the 'parent' will only come up with some of the relevant events etc and build a lot on the work of others, but in any case it's their job to put it all together and make sure their baby is self-consistent.

The project leader would perform an editorial role for the whole mod, making sure everyone's different 'babies' fit together.

For the 'big ideas' though such as culture and tech groups, we might want to bring a few people together to mull it over. These would result in general guidelines that the specific modders would be encouraged to implement for consistency: for example, if it's agreed that the 'cultural footprint' of European majors should be roughly 20 provinces, we don't want an overzealous Sicily-lover to give his country Italian, Iberian, Greek and Arabic all at once. :wacko: Also there'd obviously need to be collaboration on the 'epo' files and interactions between different parts of the project.

100% with you on the need for reporting of decisions: the project leader could make regular "State of the 'rration" announcements summarising what is currently in the 'release' version (the thing we tell everyone to download), what is 'under construction' (stuff which people have made a definite commitment to work on) and what 'needs attention' (flaws or gaps which have been commented on, but which no-one is dealing with yet). Such a thread would tell everyone what's going on, but also serve as a place to recruit contributors on specific issues.

 

[MattyG]

That's possible, but I think the 'baby' system is easier to implement in many cases: one person assumes primary responsibility for a particular aspect of the mod, but must remain open to the criticism and contributions of others. For example, it looks like North America has become your baby. In some cases the 'parent' will only come up with some of the relevant events etc and build a lot on the work of others, but in any case it's their job to put it all together and make sure their baby is self-consistent.

The project leader would perform an editorial role for the whole mod, making sure everyone's different 'babies' fit together.

For the 'big ideas' though such as culture and tech groups, we might want to bring a few people together to mull it over. These would result in general guidelines that the specific modders would be encouraged to implement for consistency: for example, if it's agreed that the 'cultural footprint' of European majors should be roughly 20 provinces, we don't want an overzealous Sicily-lover to give his country Italian, Iberian, Greek and Arabic all at once. :wacko: Also there'd obviously need to be collaboration on the 'epo' files and interactions between different parts of the project.

100% with you on the need for reporting of decisions: the project leader could make regular "State of the 'rration" announcements summarising what is currently in the 'release' version (the thing we tell everyone to download), what is 'under construction' (stuff which people have made a definite commitment to work on) and what 'needs attention' (flaws or gaps which have been commented on, but which no-one is dealing with yet). Such a thread would tell everyone what's going on, but also serve as a place to recruit contributors on specific issues.

He he, "State of the 'rration" like it, centurion, like it.

The other role we might want to look into is someone whose task it is to keep track of updates and developments. Someone who doesn't necessarily want to debate, provide content etc, but who is methodical. An Archivist, if you will. They don't edit, but they do ensure consistency and have the ability to compile, test, code the corrent connections, etc.

I plan to leave the thread here open (so to speak) for another week and see who bites. Then I'll start the initial coordination (not taking on airs here, I promise) by listing some of the projects we want action on, prioritising them and allowing people to take on their 'babies'.

There is an inherent problem in letting someone take a project and run with it. There will always be issues that are bigger than their little world, and the province cultures and religious set-up is an example of this. We all feel very strongly about most of this stuff and it effects every sub-project (Burgundy sub-projct, Brittany subproject etc).

Accordingly, I will be suggesting the province set-up/cultures/religion issue to be something that is no one person's baby but which must be agreed to by a majority of the team. It will, of course, be one of the highest priority projects, as it will influence everything else we do.

 

[unmerged(1047)]

I've just started a new job, so my time may be limited in the short term (I honestly don't know), but I'm pretty good at things like editing event texts to make them more reader-friendly and such, so I could easily provide that sort of service. (FYI, I have passed the California state exam to qualify to teach English in high school... this might be some indication of my skill in this department.)

I'm also the writer of most of the original "history" texts in the scenario, and can help with adapting, reverse-engineering, etcetera on those. And I know how to do a bit of coding, although my expertise (historically speaking; my college degree is in history) is mainly in the 1763-1945 period, so my background on the game time period is a bit thin as far as providing a starting point to aberrate from.

 

[MattyG]

I've just started a new job, so my time may be limited in the short term (I honestly don't know), but I'm pretty good at things like editing event texts to make them more reader-friendly and such, so I could easily provide that sort of service. (FYI, I have passed the California state exam to qualify to teach English in high school... this might be some indication of my skill in this department.)

I'm also the writer of most of the original "history" texts in the scenario, and can help with adapting, reverse-engineering, etcetera on those. And I know how to do a bit of coding, although my expertise (historically speaking; my college degree is in history) is mainly in the 1763-1945 period, so my background on the game time period is a bit thin as far as providing a starting point to aberrate from.

Sheridan,

Thanks for your offer to be a part-time member, if I read you correctly. Congrats on the exam, although teach is tough, so commiserations as well!

I think the best thing you can do in the short term (until you see how busy you are) is to return regularly to the threads and assist people with ideas as you did for my original New World proposal. Then, if you have more time, one of the subprojects may interest you.

Matty

 

[Djambo]

Thanks to the PM Matty sent me, I would like to join the team on a small-role basis.

First I have to tell you, that I played Abe just twice (SP and MP) and may not have the overall knowledge of all the aberrrated countries in the game. In addition I don't have that ability in detailing out those great overall-concepts Incompetent and all the others provide (Teutonic Order, ...), neither am I good at coding.

What I could do, is making suggestions for things I would love to see or getting changed (usually Europe-based) and bug hunting.


If Incomptent is becoming an english teacher (Congrats ) I have to work pretty hard on my written english. I do apologize for all those grammatical errors I make.

 

[tombom]

I'll help in any way I can, but I'm not brilliant. I also haven't played Aberration too much, but I'll try my best.

 

[MattyG]

I'll help in any way I can, but I'm not brilliant. I also haven't played Aberration too much, but I'll try my best.

I actually think that the "I haven't played too much" quality is a good one. Fresh ideas, new focus and not too much attachment to the existing event files etc.

Once we have the Priotities list up, I suggest you choose something that interests you as a project, or to work with somone else on a project.

Thanks for the vote of support.

Matty

 

[unmerged(21937)]

I'm terribly busy with CK betas, but I'd be happy to know that the there are still people carrying the torch, so I wish you best luck.

 

[MattyG]

Thank you for your gracious support, Byakhiam, and for all the work you have already done for the Aberration Project

MattyG

 

[Incompetent]

If Incomptent is becoming an english teacher (Congrats ) I have to work pretty hard on my written english. I do apologize for all those grammatical errors I make.

I don't know where you got that impression: maths students aren't usually famed for their linguistic skills. :rofl: Dein Englisch ist jedenfalls weit besser als mein Deutsch!

 

[unmerged(1047)]

That was me with the English teaching exam. The new job actually has nothing to do with that; I was just using it to demonstrate my ability with the written word, in terms of editing and clarity.

I think, for the time being, I'd like to stick to revising and clarifying event texts and histories - whether the old ones or the new ones we will be developing. Make things a lot more reader-friendly. (Instead of "adopting" anything territorty-wise, that is.)

That, and if anyone's interested in reviving the idea of the "hurricane" events I was working on previously, I pretty much have the theory worked out. Archduke just didn't like the idea of dedicating about 850 event-numbers to executing it.

 

[MattyG]

That was me with the English teaching exam. The new job actually has nothing to do with that; I was just using it to demonstrate my ability with the written word, in terms of editing and clarity.

I think, for the time being, I'd like to stick to revising and clarifying event texts and histories - whether the old ones or the new ones we will be developing. Make things a lot more reader-friendly. (Instead of "adopting" anything territorty-wise, that is.)

That, and if anyone's interested in reviving the idea of the "hurricane" events I was working on previously, I pretty much have the theory worked out. Archduke just didn't like the idea of dedicating about 850 event-numbers to executing it.

Sheridan,

Given that there are over 100 000 id numbers (or maybe its over 1 000 000 ) then I think 850 numbers seems like a triffling number.

I think that one issue for random events might be that if there are tons more added in then each one occurs with less frequency, which means that players may eventually be lucky to get the coveted Excellent Year event. However, I have no real knowledge of this. I will find the old thread and read up on it. I think there are too few natural disaster events in the game, and personally I'd like to see some more.

Matty

 

[Nikolai II]

Just popping by to look if there was a version with updated province.csv.

I'd like to say that IMO the clincher for not adding hurricanes was that there was no way of making them sensibly destructive.

Sure, hurricanes have tremedous power, but there wasn't much for them to tear down, and what was destroyed would soon be fixed. There might be a lot of pain and aggravation on a personal level, but the province and state would usually survive with few effects if any hitting the mother state.

And dedicating 800+ events (out of 200 billion or so) just to make historically accurate 'damn, I lost 20 doucats to symbolize losses in income from that province' seemed a bit overexited.

Nothing to say it can't be done by new management though, I'd just speak out against it

Nice to see people with some time on their hands keeping the project.. undead?

 

[Djambo]

Just popping by to look if there was a version with updated province.csv.

Yes, here's the link.