panther-anthro said:
Dear Matty,
As you know, I'm more then willing to help make interregnum an even more awesome mod, but my real problem is that I don't know what nations you'd like fleshed out that at the moment are largely blank slates? There are many in Europe, but is there any in particular that you'd really like me to work on?
Also, as I still intend to work Almujadid Events, I do have one problem: The events for nations that they'd fight with, are not as complete as they'd need to be, for feasible work on a non-european power to become more feasible. I would like to stop work on the Almujadid's until I can get back to them, after working on some of the nations that are more likely to be played. Not saying that those nations aren't worth playing, just that there are probably other more important nations.
There are two approaches to contributing to Interregnum. The first approach is country-based and the second approach is issue-based. In either one, the driving force needs to be
that which intrigues you. I cannot state the importance of this too strongly.
The very first stagebfor anyone is to become familiar with the game and the scenario. Play it a few times and get a feel for the style and appraoch of Interregnum, as well as the bredth of the material that is already been prepared. Assume that this material is maleable, rather than set in stone, but that major changes are very very unlikely. In playing through the game you might be drawn to the fortunes or the potential story of a given country (as Panther has been for the Almujadid Empire). This is where the country-based approach comes in. Alternatively, you might see an issue that needs dealing with or regional conflict that needs resolving, this is the issue-based approach.
Writing for a Country.
So you've fallen in love with the Chagatai and have noticed that there is very little about them. You played them for 250 years and it was fun but there was no flavour, no events good or bad, except the random ones. Time to write a few.
1. Go read up about the real Chagatai. Pay attention to their history from about 1250 onwards, the point at which Interregnum begins to diverge from the real history of the world.
2. Find a couple of themes within that history (struggle for independence, national identity, religious freedom, whatever). These are the elements you will want to work through in your revised history of the Chagatai, the events you will craft for Interregnum.
3. Make yourself familiar with the history/events for their neighbours.
4. Start writing. Writing comes with writing, not with sitting around waiting for the ideas to appear. And remember that in the best files you are giving the player a chance to role-play and be part of a very different sort of choose-you-own-adventure. create a few characters, the monarchs, generals, religious leaders and administrators that forge the future of a country. Have scoundrels, have heroes, have people with failings as well as great talents. Players love character-driven storylines.
5. Post your ideas. You'll be surprised sometimes at the conenctions people will make for you and the feedback you will get.
Issues and Regions
Sometimes what you are drawn to is a regional conflict, or a historical idea, like what might happen if there is a great increase in the supply of gold, or the arrival of a disease that didn't occur historically. This is a bit meatier than the country-based writing (which can sometimes be done in isolation from other material in the game).
1. Flesh out your idea or thesis on the forum. Be clear about what it is you hope to acheive in telling this story or working through this historical problem. Consider how the game will be affected by it, especially any existing themes/events/storylines. For example, if you wanted to have Europe hit by a new Bubonic Plague in 1520 it is going to interact with the Reformation. What would be the effects of that on the movement for religious change? Would it have made people more fearful and conservative and brought the Reformation to a grinding halt? If so, do we really want that?
2. Issues and regional conflict need a lot more community support to move ahead with. Be prepared to argue politely and offer concrete events that can help people see what will happen.
That all said, let's look at some of the priorities for Interregnum:
Countries
Seljuks - this is for Interregnum 2, which revises the history of Egypt and dispenses with the Mameluks (which don't make any sense in the Aberration or Interrgnum history of the world. Perhaps it is simply a matter of adapting the storylines of the Mameluke file?
Poland - This is a potentially significant minor which is currently doomed to failure (like Tlemcen) but has great potential.
Brandenburg - Here is a major minor that currently is simply an extention of bavaria and really needs fleshing out to potentially put more pressure on both Hansa and Bavaria (and Poland).
Saxony - see Brandenburg.
Norway - Since Norway in Interregnum 2 is not doomed to die in the first 5 years, it remains the only part of Scandinavia to not be better fleshed-out. Kinda needs to wait for INT2 to be released, though.
Issues/Regional
Korea and Japan - These two nations are intertwined at the start of the game and cannot be done separately.
India - This is a biggie. Nothing done here yet except a revised set-up provided by Garbon. Probably the biggest single gap in Interregnum.
S-E Asia - A little less important than India to overall Europe-based gameplay. But, obviously, still needs attention.
Italy - formation thereof, and whether it is just northern Italy or not.
Russia/Boyar League - currently only something that arises in response to the events of other countries. Surely more can be done with this.
South America - specifically the rise of a strong state between 1470 and 1520 to mimic the rise of the Incan Empire.
o
