Don't know if this deserves a topic...

 

 

We've released the second entry in the development diary for the new dwarf quest. This one deals with how the project went from the initial blank page to the first definite plan.

 

 

 

We'll be releasing a new entry in this development diary every few weeks or so, as well as releasing diaries about other projects. Rather than just offering a snapshot like the old-style development diaries, the new diaries will be shorter but updated more frequently, so they can take you through the process of development as it happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9th April 2009 - A Concept is Approved

 

 

 

Last time, I announced that I was just starting work on a new dwarf quest. All I had back then was a blank page that I needed to fill with ideas. Since then I've spent a few days brainstorming, bouncing ideas off other developers, and covering the wall next to my desk with post-it notes saying things like Commander Veldaban and Red Axe base.

 

 

 

I've found it harder to come up with a good idea for this quest than I have for any previous one, and I wrote down several ideas before rejecting them because they weren't right. Finally, it clicked and I had a story I was happy with.

 

 

 

My next step was to write this idea up in a 'concept document', which lays out the plot of the quest in broad strokes. I showed this document to Mod Mark, RuneScape's lead designer, for approval. There was no point in developing the idea until he reached a decision; if he didn't like it, it would be back to my blank page. It turned out that he did like it, so development could continue.

 

 

 

The next step was for Mod Mark to give me a 'core aims document'. This formalises the general aims that I'd been given earlier, telling me what things the quest has to include, roughly how big it should be, how much of the Graphics teams time I can ask for, and so on. Mod Mark also requested that I add a new skill training activity to Keldagrim to go along with the quest, so my next task is to work out what that should be.

 

 

 

No doubt you're dying to know what's in these documents. I don't want to spoil the plot for you, but I can tell you a few things:

 

 

 

* The quest will centre on the character of Commander Veldaban.

 

* This will not be the last dwarf quest. I am planning three more (including this one), so the Red Axe series will have five parts when it's complete. I have a general plan for how the series as a whole will end.

 

* I'll probably be adding a new destination to the mine-cart transport system.

 

* The level requirements haven't been decided yet, but they will be vaguely in the region of the first two quests maybe a step up from them, but not a huge step.

 

* There is no release date yet, but writing a quest takes time we're talking months rather than weeks.

 

 

 

That's where I am now. My next step is to write the project's 'design brief', which will be the core design document of the whole project. This will specify what happens in the quest in more detail, exactly how the puzzles will work, and what the level requirements and rewards are. I'll keep you informed of how the project is going.

 

 

 

Mod John A

 

RuneScape Content Developer

At least it was better than the last Diary about this.

 

 

 

But still not very interesting.

Was just about to post this.

 

 

 

 

 

Tbh, Jagex keeps making these things less interesting

Sometimes there is no satisfying some poeple.

 

 

 

On one hand its all "we wish we knew what was happening, this was sprung on us!! Jagex never tells us anything!!"

 

 

 

Then when we are given an idea of how long and involved writing a quest is, and the 'politics' and inter department collabaration etc, everyones all "boring no information"

 

 

 

Take it for what it is - a small snapshot of what they are upto, and the thinking progress behind it.

 

 

 

G

I actually enjoyed this one. I've always wanted to learn how things start from scratch when it comes to quests. I did not know of these forms or that approval by Mod Mark and all that jazz. I can't wait to read more particularly from this series of diaries.

I agree. This one was actually pretty good. It's nice to get a little look on Jagex's inner workings.

Do we need a diary for every little bit of progress?

Do we need a diary for every goddamn quest?

 

No, that's why Jagex doesn't release a diary for every goddamn quest.

I like the new style of DD's. I was like I hoped it would be. Sure, if you look at them individually they're all short and uninteresting, but together it's a nice series full of info. You get to see how much work goes into these things, and I'm looking forward to the quest itself more than before these DD's. Also I think it'll be fun to notice that some things in the quest were mentioned in the Diaries.

Gosh I want this quest out so we can get our magic crossbow and/or dragon pick!

I hope this series brings the dragon pickaxe.

 

 

 

All in all, pretty good DD. It's kinda early in development to expect long dialogue and pictures.

Gosh I want this quest out so we can get our magic crossbow and/or dragon pick!

 

I don't think that's going to happen with this quest. If I was a quest designer, and was given a dragon pick to throw in as a reward, I would put it in the last quest of the series.

 

 

 

At least this DD had some information, but it's not like you could follow the first entry about this quest and get worse.

^Makes sense that they would wait, but they did give the dragon platebody in the first of a new series, though that was probably more to commemorate the first Grandmaster quest, probably. Considering the high demand for a dragon pickaxe, I don't think it would be wise to make us wait that long.

^Makes sense that they would wait, but they did give the dragon platebody in the first of a new series, though that was probably more to commemorate the first Grandmaster quest, probably. Considering the high demand for a dragon pickaxe, I don't think it would be wise to make us wait that long.

 

 

 

While Guthix Sleeps isn't a new series, it's a culmination of various previously-unlinked quests.

I'm really glad that someone from Jagex takes the time to write a DevDiary; to keep our spoiled selves interested and/or satisfied.

 

 

 

Kudos to Mod John A and thanks

It was an ok read. Think it be even better if he had a picture to go with it.

The DD itself was fine and I do enjoy knowing how they come up with all this, but using my crystal ball I can tell you right now this quest will involve puzzles, kebabs, beer, and will totally suck. :wall:

Guess I should atleast get 50 smithing and 70 mining case theres some hard requirments for this around those 2 skills...

 

 

 

Dragon pickaxe plox?

Better than the last, to be sure. Actually, assuming this stays on a bi-weekly course of small updates, the first may end up being not terrible at all; stand-alone it was bad, but as the first in a series it could be OK.

 

 

 

Looks like if this quest stays to this plan Keldagrim will get some kind of training spot for the new skill, I'd like to see such a large area used more, personally.

Gosh I want this quest out so we can get our magic crossbow and/or dragon pick!

 

I don't think that's going to happen with this quest. If I was a quest designer, and was given a dragon pick to throw in as a reward, I would put it in the last quest of the series.

 

 

 

At least this DD had some information, but it's not like you could follow the first entry about this quest and get worse.

 

 

 

I am thinking this might end up like RFD because they introduced the Special category to the KBD quest section and this will have some more parts and could be one big cumulative quest. Either way I do want to see the dragon pick axe come out. As for the magic crossbow only reason I talked about it is because the range guild guy says it was more of a dwarven thing :P

Can't wait, 3 more quests confirmed, and what will this 'skill training activity' be?

 

 

 

:thumbsup:

Short. :(

 

 

 

Can't do anything about it, & I guess it's better than nothing (even though it practically is nothing.)

I liked this one.

 

 

 

The only part I didnt like was where he said the requirements would be around the same as for the previous quest.

 

 

 

Giant Dwarf:

 

 

 

Minimum Requirements:

 

Level 12 Crafting

 

Level 16 Firemaking

 

Level 33 Magic

 

Level 20+ Mining (recommended)

 

Level 20+ Smithing (recommended)

 

Level 14 Thieving

 

 

 

Forgettable Tale of a Drunken Dwarf:

 

 

 

Minimum Requirements:

 

Fishing Contest

 

The Giant Dwarf

 

Level 22 Cooking

 

Level 17 Farming

 

 

 

It wont be hard quests if they stick to those levels. :?

I liked this one.

 

 

 

The only part I didnt like was where he said the requirements would be around the same as for the previous quest.

 

 

 

Giant Dwarf:

 

 

 

Minimum Requirements:

 

Level 12 Crafting

 

Level 16 Firemaking

 

Level 33 Magic

 

Level 20+ Mining (recommended)

 

Level 20+ Smithing (recommended)

 

Level 14 Thieving

 

 

 

Forgettable Tale of a Drunken Dwarf:

 

 

 

Minimum Requirements:

 

Fishing Contest

 

The Giant Dwarf

 

Level 22 Cooking

 

Level 17 Farming

 

 

 

It wont be hard quests if they stick to those levels. :?

 

 

 

well they can't very well jump straight to hard requirements. I think if they step it up incrementally it could be alright.

 

 

 

As for the DD, meh. I don't see why they bother doing one with a quest really. They can't give much information without giving away the storyline and secrets behind the quest. I would really like to see one on Mobilizing armies. We've been witing for that damn minigame for what seems like a lifetime. The could do one for bounty hunter while they're at it.

As for the DD, meh. I don't see why they bother doing one with a quest really. They can't give much information without giving away the storyline and secrets behind the quest. I would really like to see one on Mobilizing armies. We've been witing for that damn minigame for what seems like a lifetime. The could do one for bounty hunter while they're at it.

 

 

 

I agree, but I do like that their giving us some information behind it. Even if they spoil a little bit of the quest before hand, that's alright, since we are going to learn what happens during the quest anyways :P

 

 

 

I'm sure as time goes on, we will get a bit more variety of the projects they are working on.

 

 

 

As for the BH one, we actually did get an update not that long ago with a fair amount of information, but it was hidden and not really announced so it got buried among the threads. Its here: viewtopic.php?f=30&t=788223