I'm usually secretive about what I'm working on for future RinkWorks features, just because I think it's more exciting for people to experience new content without too many preconceptions about it. But I'm making an exception, because one of my next endeavors would greatly benefit from an open forum of discussion about what kind of features it should have.

The bottom line is this. I decided a couple days ago that I would write a computer role playing game for RinkWorks -- like the other games, it will be pure CGI-based; no Java or Javascript. (Incidentally, this won't be the *next* game site RinkWorks will have -- I've got another on the tail end of development right now -- heh heh.) Dave suggested this idea to me not long ago, because I had written a computer RPG before (in early 1996, I think), and after having ported two of my other old games (Fantasy Quest and Enchanted Forest) to the web, he wondered if I'd port my RPG, too. My initial answer was no, because I didn't think I could write one so that the response time delays inherent in the web would allow such a game to perform acceptably. But since then I've thought of some ways I could write the game so that not so many page loads are required in the mechanics of play. So it won't be a direct port of my 1996 game; it'll be a new game with a strong resemblance. The alternative is to write it as a Java applet, but I'm not ready to move RinkWorks to Java yet (though in time I'm sure I will). I think I can do it, and that basically means I will.

This is where you guys come in. Give me whatever suggestions you can think of for what I should put into this game. Let me know what you think. What do YOU want to be able to do in this? Obviously I can't use all suggestions, but even unused suggestions help me if only to think about possibilities for the future.

It would probably help if I briefly describe how the game will work in the first place. It will be an "old style" computer RPG, in the vein of Wizardry and Bard's Tale. You get a bunch of characters together of different professions; each character has a bunch of stats and can wear and carry all kinds of different weapons, armor, and objects. You go into a dungeon maze, fight hordes of beasties, gain skills and loot, until you're strong enough to defeat the Evil Badguy Of All Time. Combat is turn-based, and who gets to go first depends on Agility and some random factor. One thing I intend to add to this game that my 1996 game didn't have is multiple towns -- there will be a variety of settlements throughout the labyrinth to stop and rest up at. I personally found my 1996 game to be the most satisfying programming project I have ever undertaken (and I got addicted to the game itself after I finished) so naturally I'm excited about the prospect of writing a similar game to share with the Whole Wide World. This will be fun.

I'm reluctant to say too much more about the "little" features of the game, because I want some things to be surprises, but I think the above pretty much outlines the basic idea. There's a LOT of different monsters and spells. Ideas for spell abilities are a good thing to make suggestions for.

Have at it.