CSC152 2004F, Class 23: Project Discussion

Admin:
* Extra credit for attending Thursday's convo.
* No homework for tomorrow.
* Beginning of class for Q&A on recent assignments.

Overview:
* Project Components
* Choosing Parts
* Additional Discussion

/Questions and Answers/

* How do I get the documentation program to run?
  * See yesterday's notes
* In fib,
  If n is 0, the program crashes with
  Exception in thread "main" java.lang.ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException: 1
  	at fib.Computer.fib(Computer.java:39)
	at fib.TestComputer.main(TestComputer.java:23)



/Project Components/

* [Choose which ones to implement.  I'll do the rest.]
* Internal representation of the world (and functions to access it).
* User interfaces (one for players, one for world creators).
* Network model (lets UI's communicate non-directly with internal representation of world)
* Grinnell Event Board: Keeps track of events on campus.  Includes simple textual UI.
* Graphical UI for event board.
* AI for npcs.
* [Everyone will also be responsible for specifying some portion of the Grinnell World.]

Ideas for the system:
* Combat system
  * DAG-based
  * Argument based (You are so injured by the stinging jab that you retire to your room for four weeks)
* Player characteristics
  * Pick an existing system and base ours on that
  * GURPs vs. D&D vs. ...
  * Leigh will mail everyone about a potential model game
* Room characteristics
  * Name
  * List of objects in the room
    * Fixed
    * Movable
  * List of people in the room
  * Description
  * Location vs. Neighboring rooms
* What actions are legal?  How can you interact with the world
  * Pick up
  * Drop
  * Speak
  * Attack
  * Drink (on North Campus)
  * Smoke (in Cleveland)
  * Role-playing verbs: Smile, Wave, Emote, ...
* UI issue: Can you guess which action the person intended?
* Do characters develop over time?  How?