I imagine I should post an introduction; since I've already started posting, away, in the other threads.
My name is Jeremy. I might as well be totally new to all of this. I've dabbled in 3D Studio Max so long ago it wasn't even called "Max". It was just 3D Studio with a release number. I haven't kept up with it either. I have the same anti-experience with coding as well. I dabbled in mostly web-based stuff so long ago, that most of it isn't used today.
I do have an artistic eye and a love for storytelling. I'm a word-nerd. Graphics programs don't feel totally alien to me, but I usually have to learn how to use them, from the ground up.
I guess I'm one of "those": the person who loves to play MMOs and maybe Blog about them and thought it'd be cool to make my own.
I went into this with little expectations and assuming it would mostly be un-fun work(which has made the experience more fun, so far).
I plan on learning all I can with the initial goal of making a super-tiny little zone(or area of land), complete with a quest or two and some graphics that I learn to make.
I'm currently starting with the graphical-side of things: mainly terrain generation. I've organized a bit and put together a loose outline so far. I'll be working on figuring out how I want my terrain to look and what tools I'll end up using, including a skybox or other ways to make the sky(if other ways exist). Then it's on to assets, which will take a very long time to learn and create. After that, I'll look into coding and actually baking this cake.
I think I've settled on L3DT as my terrain generator, but I still will fiddle with PnP, as it gives a lot more fine-tuning controls. My main concern I'm still dealing with is how to sharpen the terrain images and utilize up to eight imported, high-res textures to improve the look. I haven't tried importing a PnP or Earthsculptor map yet, so I don't know how much of the original will be retained. I'm also experimenting to see if rendering higher anti-aliased and hi-res alpha maps in L3DT actually make any difference when importing to Multiverse.
Anyway, this is an introduction not a diary. I'm trying to make a standard fantasy MMO with mechanics that I prefer that you either don't see anymore or never saw. I'm building the game around a crafting/economy core.
Hope to talk to everyone soon, as I make my way on this journey.