[wip] [TSL] New Planet: Cathalan

[Jaevyn]

Well I've kept this to myself for about three months, but I've been slowly working on a new planet for KOTOR: TSL. The reason for doing so is the seeming lack of modded planets for TSL, as well as the ability for your character to reach level 50.

 

Before you get too excited and too amped up about the new planet, let me reiterate that it is not complete, in fact after so much time I'm still only about half way through. However I will give you a brief overview as well as a cautionary note for all of those whose expectations end up exceeding reality.

 

Firstly about me:

 

I'm a 22 year old honours student, therefore I haven't had alot of time for developing the planet. It is quite probable that I'll go through stages of greater advancement than others and I may suffer setbacks along the way. As such I try to mod as much as I can in my spare time.

 

For me it is less important who you are fighting, and more important why. I like there to be reasons, and for that reason I concentrate heavily on developing a good storyline usually with some twists to keep people on their toes.

 

The Mod:

 

The mod is highly ambitious and quite difficult, that being said I have made things easier for myself in some respects by making up a planet which has given me free intellectual reign over the content. The beauty about that is that it doesn't limit me to Star Wars canon, though I will follow it as closely as possible.

 

The planet itself is seperated into 10 different modules, each module uses an existing module from the game, re-tweaked to make it look different and unique. The mod will also add Cathalan to the map and will feature alot of human geographical concepts woven into the story. That way I hope to capture more than just the story, but also the setting, allowing people to identify with the planet's residents and understand the workings of its society.

 

In addition to this, the mod will have its own unique ambient music, as well as a range of human voices done by me and a number of friends. Watch this space.

 

Progress:

 

I'll be posting Progress reports as often as possible (about once a week or so), just to give you an idea on how I am doing. When available I'll also post some images of the planet in action.

 

PROGRESS REPORT

 

Dialogue 92%

Re-skinning COMPLETED!

Mini-mapping 20%

Story Line COMPLETED!

Skyline COMPLETED!

Planetary COMPLETED!

Global.jrl Entries COMPLETED!

Creatures 10%

Items COMPLETED!

Doors 20%

Encounters NOT STARTED

Triggers 15%

Waypoints NOT STARTED

Voicing 30%

Module Construction 9%

Lipsynch 20%

[TimBob12]

I would be willing to help with some parts after I have finished my first mod

http://www.lucasforums.com/showthread.php?t=205833

 

I like dialogue and am pretty nifty with scripting. Id also be happy to create characters.

 

This looks really interesting.

[Dak Drexl]

I would offer some help, but I'm just a lowly skinner

Best of luck with this, I really hope you can pull it through! Sounds interesting so far.

[logan23]

When do you think you can get a few pics of the modules, so whe can see the reskinned planet,

[Qui-Gon Glenn]

Well thought out, well organized it appears!

 

Glad you had some work on the table before you announced the WIP! That is the way to go, as someone once told me long ago in a galaxy right here.

 

Like logan23, I would like to see some of your reskinning of the modules. Just for a taste!

[Sith Holocron]

I'd love to see some screenshots as well. I'm curious as to what direction the architecture will take.

[Jaevyn]

At the moment I'm looking towards a mixture of architecture, on the higher affluent levels there will be a more polished look, but down in the poverty stricken lower levels I'm aiming for a very grubby "worse than the Refugee Sector" look.

[Zhaboka]

I humbly offer my services as a voice actor, even though I have three other projects I'm extremely overdue on. But I'll get to 'em.

[Xarwarz]

Gotta love a new planet id like pics also

[Jaevyn]

Thanks I'll keep it in mind if I feel that I need more human voices.

[Bob Ta'aar]

sweet! gotta love these new-planets-mods !

keep up the good work!

 

and I'd second the request for some screenies !

[Jaevyn]

Well I have three screenshots for you guys (and girls if applicable).

 

http://d.imagehost.org/0597/screen1.png

 

http://d.imagehost.org/0889/screen4.png

 

http://d.imagehost.org/0501/screen5.png

[Salzella]

that is damn impressive looking so far i also love the concept you mentioned in the first post about exploring the planet's geography and culture. bit of a geek in those regards myself, particularly when it comes to planets far, far away. awesome!

[salam263]

Well I have three screenshots for you guys (and girls if applicable).

 

http://d.imagehost.org/0597/screen1.png

 

http://d.imagehost.org/0889/screen4.png

 

http://d.imagehost.org/0501/screen5.png

 

That looks awsome! but why are the pc a child? anyway, great pics:thmbup1:

[Darth Elessar]

It looks cool, so far.

 

That looks awsome! but why are the pc a child? anyway, great pics:thmbup1:

To truly annoy Kreia?

[Dak Drexl]

That truly looks great! Did you make the new modules' textures yourself?

[Jaevyn]

That truly looks great! Did you make the new modules' textures yourself?

 

Yes I did. The PC being a child is a mod of mine that I released a while back called "Selectable Child's Head". I like playing as that character as it is a juxtaposition to Kreia. Also by making this planet, I was hoping to inspire others to do likewise.

[Jaevyn]

An important update to all those who are eagerly watching the mod.

 

I am adding story hints throughout the entirity of Cathalan which help the player understand the physical and social geography of the planet. I will give you three examples:

 

"The buildings of Keralt even on stable ground are often too heavy for the compacted soils to handle. Hence - many are slowly sinking and are having to be rebuilt under hazardous conditions."

 

"The orange colour of the sky is directly attributed to the high levels of dust in the Cathalan atmosphere. With no vegetation, fine particulate matter is easily airborne by even the lightest of breezes."

 

"Being in the "unknown" regions of space, many of Cathalan's denizens have little knowledge of who Jedi are. This makes the planet a prime area for Jedi fleeing the bounties placed on them by the Exchange."

 

So far I have added seven such story hints that will appear on the loading screens, with more to be placed. Furthermore, as well as the story hints, each loadscreen will have its own unique image depicting parts of Cathalan relevent to each different area.

 

In addition to this, there are fourteen different quests that can be completed, with varying degrees of difficulty. Some are side quests which explore Cathalan on a more personal level away from the main story line. Some of the quests will also require you to figure out puzzles and mathematical equations. Nothing too dramatic, but enough to get your brain working.

 

But there is even more that has already been added - new items that aren't outrageously souped up, yet will provide you with some more opportunities to test your worth. This includes a new Jedi Robe attainable in only in one of the side quests, and it doesn't end there. As you complete some quests you'll find that some of the people of Cathalan will react differently to you, some will even offer you rare items (at a price of course) or other goodies for you to sink your teeth into including game hints or bonus experience.

 

I have now completed two areas entirely, with the other eight areas well on the way to completion. As a result, I am now about halfway to finishing. I hope the update has you as excited as I am.

[Bob Ta'aar]

It totally did! Keep up the good work!

[Darth InSidious]

This looks very interesting. Keep up the good work!

 

If I might make a small suggestion, at present the difference between 'light' and 'dark' parts of the area reskin you posted screenshots of is perhaps a little too much; those could maybe be evened out.

 

Also, if that is the more affluent area, I'd suggest replacing some of the old textures with ones borrowed from the Onderon Palace; they're pretty ugly, in all honesty, but it at least they're a rich kind of ugly.

 

Just suggestions, anyway. I look forward to hearing and seeing more!

[vanir]

Just the sort of mod perfect for TSL, obviously being handled very well. Looking forward to it.

[Jaevyn]

More updates! This time I am introducing some of the important characters you'll meet in the mod, including their background and personality. So without further adieu here we are:

 

 

Lord Diaeses

 

 

Despite his name, the honorific title was bestowed on Diaeses lekku very much to his own reluctance. Unlike others of nobility, Diaeses thinks deeply about the social implications of expanding warfare among lower level gangs. Due to his role as commander of the Cathalan Protection Force High Level, Diaeses is almost constantly busy sorting out issues that continuously arise. Despite the frenetic nature of his job, the Diaeses is a thoughtful sort not prone to anger.

 

 

Yuckov

 

 

As thugs go, Yuckov would rank amongst many on Cathalan as one of the most dangerous. Extremely strong and volatile, Yuckov has led one of the major gangs, "The Cathalan Warriors" to major prominence in the Lower Levels. In an attempt to expand, Yuckov has even started infiltrating the Middle Levels of society, causing untold headaches for law enforcement officials everywhere. Just how officials can deal with such a personality is difficult, as the Lower Levels are too dangerous for law enforcers to venture down into.

 

 

Caden Trelbi

 

 

One of the few current survivors of the First Jedi Purge, Caden knows the value of secrecy and tact more than many others. Fortunately for him, his job is made easier by the ignorance of Cathalan's denizens, many of whom have lived in such wild space so far from the core for such a long period of time, that many have forgotten Jedi - and Sith. As such, Caden enjoys a level of autonomy that many of his other Jedi comrades do not.

 

 

More updates will occur soon. I hope this has whetted your appetite, and feedback and suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[Trench]

This is looking great. My two cents: Include lots of non-human characters. Too many humans makes it seem too much like the OT's humanocentric era. Put some aliens in places of power (besides gangs and criminal organizations, of course).

[Jaevyn]

Another announcement, I have replaced the original planetary model with one of my own to add to the uniqueness of the mod.

 

http://www.rockmyspace.info/image-upload/uploads/1/screen7.png

 

I reckon this planet model, which took me just over a day to make perfectly captures the atmosphere that I want it to have. I addition to this I have completed the third module of Cathalan and am now on to the remoddelling of the Lower Level. This time I am introducing you to the setting that is Cathalan, the geography of the planet and a little information of the system it resides in.

 

"Cathalan is located unsurprisingly in the Cathalan system just a few parsecs from the Tingel Arm of the galaxy. The system itself is home to three planets of note, Cathalan, Lintel and Hrea Hathrar. The three planets vary in terms of the makeup, however Cathalan and Hrea Hathrar are rather inhospitable both for differing reasons."

 

I'll have more on my progress later on.

[Zhaboka]

I hereby volunteer for VOs. That texture looks nice! Remember to put the tiny black stroke around the 2D image.