I have been looking at some other engines and various libraries in order to get an MMO on the rails - my most influencing aspect in choosing the nuts and bolts however will be for components that make it feasible to get a small project team (of 1 currently) onto a shorter delivery cycle. Otherwise frankly I will be dead and buried before this thing is complete.
Imagine my excitement when I stumbled across Multiverse.
The question then is: is that excitement valid? - most initial comment on the website refers to their their being an MMO already functioning. But the tone in the forums is purely about MMORPG
So I am wondering if anybody could give me their thoughts about how the architecture and resources required for an MMORPG might diverge from my own needs, and where things might require my focus in terms of redesigning the code/architecture.
What I am looking to do is produce an MMORTS a cross if you like between Civ and Rome Total War.
Shorter term requirements:
Large maps to 10000km square - I think I noticed in here 2000 km chunks - that's a great start.
Mostly requirements for a strategic perspective:
Units rather than individuals is going to be the norm.
Mostly low-action graphics - movement of units will be negligible when camera on map providing say 10km viewport as a norm - traverse of infantry units in viewport would take around 5 minuets, cavalry at speed 1 minuet, and obviously at this view distance not requiring great attention to detail.
Mostly the processing will be in the database, morale changes, crop-yields, peasant migration, building-works progress, research progress, treasury etc
Battles could be resolved without player involvement or any detailed visualisation.
Preferable evolutionary requirements: MMORTT if you like.
Local/Tactical View:
Peasants milling around maybe – “Settlers” style. – mostly cosmetic.
Units become animated showing individual persons, battlefield maybe requiring up to 4000 combatants, player needs to be able to interact with units; not individuals.
Single battles only likely to involve a handful of players at most. Possibility of multiple concurrent battles going on across the game world.
Before you start telling me this is a lot of work - I know it - I am a peson who loves overcoming the impossible - may or may not be looking to form a team.