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authorStijn Buys <ingar@osirion.org>2010-11-16 12:25:53 +0000
committerStijn Buys <ingar@osirion.org>2010-11-16 12:25:53 +0000
commit81f386646cf7c9a6ff0aada28d8c9e750df73ed4 (patch)
treec625e9d9d71626876175949d20c61140f6891885 /developer
parentc6e4649788efbabda91ed7e612c54250890e0ff6 (diff)
moved related documents into developer/
Diffstat (limited to 'developer')
-rw-r--r--developer/GAMEPLAY210
-rw-r--r--developer/HISTORY60
-rw-r--r--developer/PROTOCOL20
-rw-r--r--developer/ROADMAP191
-rw-r--r--developer/STORYLINE461
-rw-r--r--developer/TASKS99
-rw-r--r--developer/TODO111
7 files changed, 1152 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/developer/GAMEPLAY b/developer/GAMEPLAY
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+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ The Osirion Project - GAMEPLAY
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ This document describes what the gameplay of Project::OSiRiON should
+ eventually become. This document is a work in progress and is subject
+ to change. Many features haven't been implemented yet.
+
+Overview
+
+ Project::OSiRiON is a multiplayer space game with persistent player
+ statistics. By trading goods, obtained through lawful purchase or
+ otherwise, a player can earn the necessary credits to buy bigger
+ guns and faster ships, and explore the univers in search for better
+ trade deals.
+
+ A single player mode with a compelling story is a secondary objective
+ but the storyline serves as background for the multiplayer universe.
+
+ The player can not change the game world itself: he can not purchase
+ planets or starbases, nor destroy existing ones.
+
+Guidelines
+
+ Project::OSiRiON is a 'serious' game. Names of objects, people and
+ places should be considered generic for the universe and should not
+ be rightout silly or offensive. Names should feel 'natural' in their
+ context.
+
+ Models for ships, space stations and other objects should be designed
+ with the same philosphy in mind. It is acceptable to make references
+ to exisiting objects (real or fiction), as long as they are subtle
+ or inconspicuous.
+
+ Names of planets, systems and areas are usually references to exisiting
+ places on earth. Astronomical objects or mythological personae are
+ also great sources of good names.
+
+Universe
+
+ A basic description of the universe, how it is organised and who lives there.
+
+ The universe is a collection of stand-alone star systems. Each star system
+ is a small world on its own. The only direct interaction between systems
+ is a player traveling between them. The background story should provide
+ (most of the) star systems and their relations.
+
+ The Project::OSiRiON universe is an open universe. This means players are
+ free to travel around and visit the places they want, but this does not
+ mean the player will be welcomed anywhere he goes.
+
+ Destructable objects are probably part of a mission, will respawn later or
+ have some other special meaning.
+
+ Non-player characters (NPCs) populate the universe to act as trading
+ partners or target practice.
+
+The Player
+
+ Who is the player in the universe.
+ - Friends
+ - Enemies
+ - Background
+ - How the player interacts with the universe.
+
+ The player enters the universe as a typical out-of-luck person
+ who decided to start a new life. With a small ship he tries to become
+ the Richest Man in the Known Universe. The player earns money by shipping
+ cargo that can be bought at discount prices at one place and sold
+ at a premium on a second location. *mining *fighting *wrecks/looting.
+
+ The goal is to become filthy rich and show it. Besides, with a particle
+ cannon and a target lock, nobody cares where your money comes from.
+
+ True roleplaying is outside the scope of the game itself. The universe
+ (might/will) provide factions, friendly and hostile NPCS an strategic area's
+ but the game engine itself will not force true roleplaying. For example,
+ players will not be limited to certain ships and weapons depending on
+ their allegiances.
+
+ Players can be hostile or friendly towards each other regardless
+ of their allegiances.
+
+ Flying missions, mercenary, military or mercantile in nature.
+
+Ships
+
+ The player starts the game with single small spacecraft and starts the
+ game docked at a planet or space station. When he has earned sufficient
+ money he can spend it on ship upgrades like weapons, armor, shields
+ and various other components.
+
+ *gameplay idea
+ various 'useless' fancy upgrades that increase player status
+
+Traveling
+
+ How the traveling happens in the universe, how the player will travel.
+
+ Every ship is equipped with thrusters. The maximum thruster speed depends
+ on the ship type, small merchant vessels will have lower maximim trhuster
+ speed then a scout ship.
+
+ Ships can also be equiped with a sublight kinetic impulse drive. This drive will
+ enable the ship to accelerate to a high speed without crossing the threshold
+ at which relativistic effects would affect structural cohesion. Kinetic impulse
+ drive speed is the same for most types of ships. Due to the enormous power
+ requirements a ship will not be a able to fire weapons while the impulse drive
+ is enabled.
+
+ Neither of these engines will allow the player the leave the star system.
+ Interstellar travel is only possible using a hyperdrive. A hyperdrive is an
+ expensive piece of equipment with a massive power requirement. Only very
+ large ships will be capable of carrying a hyperspace jump drive.
+
+ Interstellar travel for the common men is possible through the use
+ of commercial or government owned hyperspace gates. These gates create
+ on-demand hyperspace connections between star systems and provide a safe
+ and easy way to travel.
+
+ Hyperspace travel is almost instantanious, hyperspace jump would be a more
+ accurate term to describe it.
+
+ Current hyperspace technology works by making use of weak points in hyperspace,
+ known as hyperspace intersection faults. It takes only takes a reasonable amount
+ of energy to fold local space into such an intersection fault, to create a conduit
+ between both sides of the hyperspace intersection. All a ship has to do is enter
+ the event horizon of the hyperspace conduit (or 'jump hole', as it is commonly called)
+ to travel almost instantaniously to to other side, usualy several lightyears away.
+
+ Jump gates are built in the vicinity of stable intersection faults and thus have a fixed
+ destination.
+
+ Ships equiped with a hyperdrive work on the same principle. They seek out a sensitive
+ spot in the hyperspace field and fold local space to punch a hole through the other side.
+ This has several major consequences: a pilot has to determine has destination by finding
+ a good departure point in local space. Also, only a small number of connections between
+ systems will be possible.
+
+ Hyperspace intersection faults are large (planetary orbit scale) and while they are attracted
+ to gravity wells like a star, they do not like to share their space.
+
+ Note that is theoreticly possible to fold normal space deep enough into hyperspace to
+ create jumps holes on intergalactic scales. It would probably take a generator the size of a
+ large moon to achieve it.
+
+Capital Ships
+
+ As the player earns money, he will eventually be able to buy very large capital ships.
+ Apart from beeing large and powerful, capship can be docked by other players and
+ used like any other dockable planet or station.
+
+ A ship docked at the capship is able to use it as a carrier, and launch
+ when the carrier has reached its destination, or circumstances require it.
+
+ A capship can be setup as a trading vessel, allowing smaller ships to dock
+ and buy and sell items at prices set by the owner. The capship would become
+ a moveable trading outpost.
+
+Planet and Stations
+
+ Star systems are inhabited with planets and stations.
+ ...
+ Dockable planets or stations are bases
+ ...
+ Some bases provide storage facilities where players
+ can put items like weapons or spare parts in storage.
+
+Objects in space
+
+Weapons
+
+ What kind of weapons are there. how do they work.
+ - Lasgun technology
+ - Pulse rifle technology
+
+Fighting
+
+ How does fighting work? Aim weapon at enemy. Pull trigger.
+
+ Fleeing from battle.
+
+Economy
+
+ Money makes the Universe tick.
+ - Buying
+ - Selling
+ - Trading
+
+Cargo
+ - Transporting / Beaming
+ - Mining
+ - (Spare) parts
+ - Fuel
+ - Economy
+
+Missions
+
+ I'd do anything for money, except working.
+
+ - Search and Destroy
+ - Transport / Delivery
+ - Courier missions
+
+Fleets & Wingmen (scondary goal)
+
+ About owning multiple ships and adding strategy elements.
diff --git a/developer/HISTORY b/developer/HISTORY
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+++ b/developer/HISTORY
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+
+Project::OSiRiON - Release history
+
+
+* release-0.2.0-svn825 "November Rain"
+
+ 2010-10-15
+ src revision 825
+ data revision 490
+
+* release-0.2.0-svn754 "Broken Skies"
+
+ 2010-10-06
+ src revision 754
+ data revision 451
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn740
+
+ 2010-09-26
+ src revision 740
+ data revision 441
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn716
+
+ 2010-03-05
+ src revision 716
+ data revision 422
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn669
+
+ 2009-08-13
+ src revision 669
+ data revision 371
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn641
+
+ 2009-06-28
+ src revision 641
+ data revision 326
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn560
+
+ src revision 560
+ data revision 261
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn523
+
+ src revision 523
+ data revision 217
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn488
+
+ src revision 488
+ data revision 174
+
+* release-0.1.0-svn418
+
+ src revision 418
+ data revision 144
+
diff --git a/developer/PROTOCOL b/developer/PROTOCOL
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+++ b/developer/PROTOCOL
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+
+The Osirion Project - Network Protocol Overview
+
+Connection sequence
+
+
+
+Client State Server State
+
+ Connecting
+
+"connect [protoversion]" --------> Pending
+
+ <------- "msg info [sv_hostname"
+
+ <------- ... world data ...
+
+ <------- "connect"
+
+"pif[.. player info ...]" -------> Connected
diff --git a/developer/ROADMAP b/developer/ROADMAP
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+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ The Osirion Project - ROADMAP
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ General:
+
+ This document describes the gameplay objectives for each
+ milestone of the project. Currently, milestone 0.1 has been
+ reached and the game universe is ready to be refined and
+ expanded.
+
+ Features of the engine itself, like support for new file
+ formats, rendering options and game server commands
+ are implemented along the way and, unless required,
+ happen independent of the gamplay roadmap.
+
+ This roadmap is not to be used as a roadplanner but as a
+ gentle guide to reach a playable game.
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 0.1.0 - The Universe (done)
+
+ Description:
+
+ The game world is divided into zones, the zones can be populated
+ with entities. Players can use their impulse drive or jump to
+ different zones.
+
+ Multiple players can connect to the dedicated server. They can
+ fly around and see each other. They can use chat to communicate,
+ they can use private chat or global chat.
+
+ Players can dock at a space station or planets. Docking
+ a jumpgate enables hyperspace travel.
+
+ Requires:
+
+ client console
+ entities
+ ship instances
+ network subsystem
+ entities
+ camera handling
+ keyboard bindings
+ zones
+ basic travelling: impulse drive, jump engine
+ basic docking
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 0.2.0 - Items and Trading
+
+ Description:
+
+ Ships and stations have inventories, players can buy and sell
+ cargo at a space station. Each item can have a text description
+ and a model.
+
+ Requires:
+
+ player credits (ok)
+ item info + lazy server-client exchange (ok)
+ trading (ok)
+ inventories (ok)
+
+ Related:
+
+ map entity descriptions (ok)
+ eject cargo/tractor beam (ok) -> fx
+
+ player-to-player trading
+ equipment trading
+ model weapon slots and positioning
+
+ Optional:
+
+ dockable player ships (ok)
+
+ fuel system
+ economy
+ per-item adjustabe depletion rate (won't do)
+
+ Implementation:
+
+ inventory + ship statistics window (ok)
+ handle inventory transfer on ship aquisition (ok)
+ eject/destroy cargo (ok)
+ base inventory depletion (ok)
+
+ docking player ships should require owner permission
+ player-to-player trading
+ player shops
+ player must be capable of setting the kind and price of items to sell
+ item 'tradeable' flag
+ shop allows multiple buyers, p2p trading just one
+ player factory ships + base factories, per-item adjustabe conversion rate and ratio
+ e.g. 2 units of niobum to 1 superconductor per 30 seconds
+ player saving and network authentication
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 0.3.0 - Equipment
+
+ Description:
+
+ Players can buy and sell ship upgrades like armor and scanners,
+ this will require additional game mechanics.
+ Players can buy and sell weapons.
+
+ Requires:
+
+ cannons and turrets
+ cannon and turret models
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 0.4.0 - Physics
+
+ Requires:
+
+ collision physics (box model collision implemented)
+ collision meshes
+ targetting
+ explosions, weapons fire and related sounds
+
+ particle systems
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 0.5.0 - public alpha
+
+ version 0.5.1 - bugfix release
+
+ Description:
+
+ All the general large features of the engine are implemented.
+ Create a somewhat polished release with a playable universe
+ to create a platform for bug-fixes and improvements.
+
+ The main goal if the alpha is to create interest for the project
+ and to attract an initial playerbase. At this point, a dedicated
+ 'Official' server is necessary.
+
+ Requires:
+
+ playable, consistent universe
+ general polishing
+ master server
+ player guid
+ player saving
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 0.6.0 - NPC
+
+ Requires:
+
+ factions
+ allegiance
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 0.7.0 - Missions
+
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 0.9.0 - public beta
+
+ Description:
+
+ Requires:
+ stable network protocol
+ background story
+ zip archive support
+ http downloads
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 1.0.0 - public release
+
+ Requires:
+
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ version 2.0.0 - rewrite of the engine
diff --git a/developer/STORYLINE b/developer/STORYLINE
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--- /dev/null
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+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ The Osirion Project - STORYLINE
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ This file contains ideas for the universe background, the factions and
+ the storyline.
+
+ SPOILER ALERT!
+
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+ FACTIONS and PLACES
+
+
+ HOUSE LINDBLADE (protected by the Lindblade military)
+
+ - Lindblade system
+ planet Lindblade
+
+ - Burton system
+ planet Burton
+ Trent outpost
+
+ - Dover system
+
+ HOUSE PRAETORIA (protected by the Praetorian Guard)
+
+ - Praetoria system
+ planet Praetoria
+
+ PROTECTORATE (protected by the Ordinators)
+
+ The seat of the Council and the capital of the central planets.
+ Location of the Allied Intelligence Network headquarters.
+
+ - Protectorate
+ planet Corona
+
+ INDEPENDENT COLONIES (protected by the Colonial Militia)
+
+ An alliance of systems independent from the central planets.
+
+ - Ghant system
+ planet Ghant
+ Alexandria outpost
+ Battleship custodian
+
+ planet Seymour
+ Regula station
+
+ - Brogha system
+ planet Brogha
+ Cantor observatory
+
+ - Antwerp system
+ starbase Helianthos (guards the border)
+ Buccaneer's Den pirate base
+ planet Antwerp?
+
+ NEUTRAL SYSTEMS
+
+ - Finnmark (Joint Miners Association headquarters)
+ planet Finnmark
+
+ - East End
+ Ensor station
+
+ CORPORATIONS
+
+ - Micron Corporations
+ - AMTEL Tech Conglomerate
+ - Joint Miners Association
+
+ BORDERWORLDS (not claimed by any lawfull faction)
+
+ Worlds destroyed during the war.
+
+ - Kor Glaven system
+ planet Andros
+ planet Corthio
+ battlefield remains
+
+ - Anarian system
+ Anarian nebula
+ Galileo research station
+ battlefield remains
+
+ - Karelian system
+ no Planets
+ Karelian nebula
+ border station
+
+ TSU-KHAN EMPIRE
+
+ - Kiana system
+ Kiana Prime
+
+ Note on names:
+
+ Before the war, the systems controlled by the Great Houses were
+ referred to as the 'Colonies'. The term 'borderworlds' was used
+ to refer to independent systems.
+
+ Since the war, the term 'Borderworlds' is used to indicate
+ systems destroyed during the war, while the term 'colonies'
+ is generally used as abreviation for the 'Independent Colonies'.
+ The Protectorate and the systems controlled by The Great Houses
+ are usually referred to as 'the central planets'.
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+ TIMELINE
+
+ Exodus -5300 years
+ The Year of War -300 years
+ The Karelian Incident -50 years
+
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+ HISTORY OF THE YEAR OF WAR
+ from the House Lindblade historical records
+
+
+Reaching for the Stars
+
+ History of mankind is a tale mostly written in blood and fire. Although
+ there are few written accounts of the events before the Exodus, it wouldn't
+ be hard to imagine why the Homeworld would have been abandoned in the first
+ place: wars for power, territory and resources would be commonplace
+ for almost five millenia to come.
+
+The Year of War
+
+ For the Tsu-Khan, this war was no different. Around 300 years ago,
+ The Empire had depleted most of its natural resources and had launched
+ an ambitious project to find a suitable new homeworld.
+
+ At the time, most of the human population was ignorant about the presence
+ of alien lifeforms in their galaxy. The scant pieces of evidence that did
+ exist were kept secret by the political leaders. The Colonies were controlled
+ by several Major Houses, each with their own agenda's and changing alliances.
+ None of the House Lords had the motivation to order a thorough investigation
+ into a mad man's testimony of outer world creatures.
+
+ The war came without warning. In the Kor Glaven system, on the edge of known space
+ and outside the jurisidiction of the great houses, two new colonies
+ had been founded. The settlers were finishing the construction of their
+ hyperspace jump gate, to connect the system to allied borderworld systems.
+ Unfortunatly, the Tsu-Khan Empire had located a suitable planet just
+ a few parsec away.
+
+ The Andros colony was the first to fall. It didn't take the Tsu-Khan
+ battle group very long to destroy the defenceless setlement.
+ By the time they arrived at the Corthio colony, the colony had scrambled
+ any battleship it could find to fend the invasion. The Colonial fleet was
+ no match for the superior Tsu-Khan ships. In a few hours, the battle was over,
+ and the Corthio colony had been reduced to ashes.
+
+ The story repeated itself across the Borderworlds. These independent worlds were
+ usually inhabited by pacifist who had escaped the turmoil of the central planets
+ or had a mutual understanding with one or more of the great houses. The Tsu-khan
+ did not care, and the majority of the Bordesworlds was utterly obliterated. What
+ remained was a few primitive settlements scattered across the smoldering remains
+ of the Borderworld planets.
+
+ The relations between the Borderworlds and the Major Houses were strained with
+ conflicts of interest. The central planets usually didn't care unless some economical
+ or strategical advantage was involved. Slowly the Houses got drawn into the the war,
+ and after almost a year of hostilities most of the House Lords found their armies
+ involved in a full-scale war. A war, they realised, they couldn't win.
+
+ With the Borderworlds out of the way, and the Tsu-Khan fleet at the border of every
+ Major House, there wasn't much they could do to oppose the Empire. In this darkest
+ of hours a secret meeting took place that turned the fate of history. On a small,
+ neutral planet, near the centre of the Colonies, a number of small ships met in secret,
+ each ship carrying one of the remaining House Lords.
+
+The Alliance
+
+ This small planet used to be the stage for the House Council, by then a long forgotten
+ tradition, where the Lords of the Major Houses used to work out their differences
+ with dialog, or discuss current events. In the years before the Great War, this
+ tradition had been neglected and oposing views were usually solved with a friendly
+ border skirmish followed by royal monetary compensation.
+
+ These times were over. This war wasn't about money, power or territory.
+ It was about survival and it was clear by now that none of the Major Houses possessed
+ sufficient strength to fight the Empire on its own. A new alliance was formed and it
+ was decided that it should not only include the Major Houses, but also any independent
+ system that was still capable of fighting. The Lord of House Lindblade, who's
+ territory had been on the front line since the beginning of the war, and considered
+ as moderate amongst the House Lords, proposed to assemble a fleet in the Lindblade
+ system to prevent the Empire from gaining a foothold in the Central Systems.
+
+ Within days, the largest fleet in human history had united under one banner. Out of fear,
+ out of hope, but most of all, out of desperation. A news reporter from the era described
+ it as ".. an overwhelming sight of the End of Times, but unlike the descriptions of
+ Armegeddon in the Ancient Scripture, a sight with a sense of honour and dignity ..."
+ and ended his report with the question if they really had any chance against such
+ a formidable enemy. Battleship after battleship graciously drifted in formation,
+ and everyone on board, from crewman to captain, knew this had to be the final stand.
+
+ When the Empire's vast intelligence informed the Tsu-Khan Emperor of this unexpected
+ turn of events, humanity's fate seemed sealed. The orders where quick and decisive:
+ regroup the fleet and prepare to engage the humans. Once dispatched it would
+ take care of the alliance fleet and end human opposition once and for all. The war
+ would be over soon and the Alliance's systems would under the Empire's control.
+
+ It is said that even the smallest person can change the course of the future, and in
+ this case, it was a lonely scientists in the Anara system. His work involved
+ the meaning of life, the universe and related subjects, and ignoring the dangers
+ of the war was his way of dealing with the situation. His latest experiment required
+ him to pilot a tiny and almost unpowered vessel into the Anarian nebula, where
+ he could conduct measurements of the small variations in the local hyperspace field.
+
+ He was performing another scan of the sector when suddenly his instruments went off
+ the scale. To his amazement he suddenly found himself on the edge on area where the
+ alien fleet had decided to regroup and refuel before they sneaked into Alliance Territory.
+ The small vessel, barely powered and only slightly larger than an emergency life
+ support pod, used the high levels of radiation in the nebula to elude the Tsu-Khan
+ sensors and send a warning message the Alliance Fleet.
+
+ With the help of the detailed scientific information about the nebula, the Alliance
+ managed to jump right on top of the unsuspecting Tsu-Khan fleet. Within minutes,
+ the Imperial Flagship, primary target of the assault, had taken massive damage and was
+ burning in the flames of explosive decompression. It was at the heart of the fleet
+ when it exploded, and most of the heavy fighters and cruisers were hit by the shockwave
+ and the massive rain of high-speed metallic debris behind it. Some managed to retreat
+ to Tsu-Khan space, most fell victim to the united firepower of the Alliance fleet.
+
+ News of the victory spread through the Colonies like fire, and the battle became legendary
+ before the Alliance fleet had even returned home.
+
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+ PROJECT::OSIRION
+ Allied Intelligence Network classified documents
+
+
+Project Osirion
+
+ During the war, many great houses conducted experiments in search for
+ advanced technologies to aid in defeating the enemy. One of these
+ experiments was called 'Project Osirion', an experiment involving
+ a new type of hyperjumpdrive, which could work independent of hyperspace
+ jumps holes and cross enormous distances in the blink of an eye.
+
+ The requirments on ship design for this experimental drive unit were
+ outrageous to say the least. But facing imminent defeat, no effort
+ was spared to gain even the slightest advantage. In less than 6 months
+ a new ship was constructed and equiped with the experimental drive unit.
+
+ The ship was an impressive sight: several hundred meters of neutronium-enforced
+ carbosteel, thousands of metric tonnes of superconductors and optronics,
+ a monument to human ingenuity and an instrument to survival.
+
+ This ship was christened 'Osirion'.
+
+ The ship's first test flight was a major event. Most secret projects did not
+ generate a lot of attentention, but this flight was a higly anticipated by
+ the top brass from all parties involved, military, political and corporate alike.
+
+ The ship had left the construction yard as planned and had almost arrived at
+ departure point on the edge of the star system when suddenly all communication
+ was lost. Extensive investigations after the incident have never revealed the
+ source of the malfunction, and everything that happened after this point is the
+ result of long-range sensor telemetry.
+
+ The ship arrived at the departure point and the flight continued as planned.
+ A few moments later a massive energy discharge was registered, indicating
+ that the experimental jump drive was activated. Unfortunatly, the order
+ to return to the point of departure after the initial jump, seems to be a part of
+ the plan that never got executed. The ship had literally vanished into thin air.
+
+ The top brass was very upset.
+
+
+The Karelian Incident
+
+
+The Tsu-Khan Empire
+
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+ PROJECT::OSIRION
+ Protectorate Top-Secret documents
+
+What really happed to the Osirion
+
+What really happed after the death of the Tsu-Khan Emperor
+
+Tsu-Khan Empress and the War Generals
+
+The Empress' niece
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+ PROJECT::OSIRION
+ STORY
+
+I. Business
+
+ Alexandria outpost, jewel of the south, or queen of the wasteland,
+ as some higher placed officials like to call it off-the-record.
+ They were probably right too. The wasteland probably referred to
+ planet Ghant, a lifeless chunk of rock holding the outpost in
+ a stationary orbit. Unless you had some pressing matters to handle,
+ this was a part of space you would rather avoid. The only kind of
+ people you could find here were people doing business and people
+ who needed to dissapear from public appearance. Or both.
+
+ The local custom was to mind your own business, and that was exactly
+ what I was looking for: minding my own business. My life on the central
+ planets had become far more complicated than I had planned for and it
+ was time for a change: I managed to get a loan from the local
+ planetary bank and spend it on the aquisition of a small transport
+ vessel.
+
+ The first day of my new life as a spaceship captain. Not the glorious
+ life I had gotten used to, but at least a decent one with its small pleasures
+ once in a while. The small room I rented above the local bar almost felt like
+ home. After I left the central planets, I ended up on Alexandria outpost where
+ the local bartender was kind enough to offer me a job in his modest establishment.
+ He probably did it more out of sympathy then anything else, but as it turned
+ out, I'm great at doing the dishes and I always enjoyed our conversations.
+ That is, until last week, when I met Mister Brent.
+
+ I never really got to know him very well but he must have remembered me from high
+ school. I was sitting at the bar when he suddenly tapped my shoulder. My memories
+ of him were vague. As he sat down, I ordered him a drink. We had some chit-chat,
+ shared a few memories of distant times, but it didn't take hime very long to come
+ to the point.
+
+ Brent was the business type. "The rising star of the Regula mining operations,
+ overseeing all shipments of niobium ore in the Ghant system", to quote his words.
+ His phrases like "A smart man could make a fortune" sounded rather hollow to me,
+ but he did have a point. 500 runs to Regula to pay the loan for the ship.
+ Another 1500 more to get myself a ship big enough to hold a small cabin with all the
+ luxuries a simple life would need.
+
+ Repetetive? Boring? Perfect! Add an autopilot and this life could be more relaxing
+ then a luxury vacation on an exotic planet. With this simple business but rock-solid plan
+ laid out in front of me I managed to convince the manager of the local planetary
+ bank to provide me with the necessary funds for my operation, which I quickly
+ exchanged for Micron Corporation's latest Vector model. It's a small ship:
+ the cockpit, a living compartment with a sleeping corner and a cargo hold
+ just big enough to hold a few metric tons of whatever the owner had in mind.
+ All it misses is a pair of blasters to shoot the mosquitos from the windshield.
+
+ That would have added another 50 runs to the price.
+
+ The first two runs went smooth. Nothing unexpected. Pick up supplies at Alexandria,
+ fly all the way to the Regula mining operation station, exchange the supplies
+ for a shipment of karpax ore and head back. I had just hit the impulse drive with
+ the third load in my cargo hold when I noticed something out of place.
+
+ A blip. And a big one too. No civilian vessel had an EM radar signature that powerful.
+ I peered through the windows and as planet Ghant grew bigger on me I could clearly
+ distinguish a second bright spot next to the familiar one Alexandria had become to me.
+ I quickly requested the computer for an identification and it didn't take it very long
+ to come up with an answer. Battleship Custodian. Colonial Militia registration number
+ CM-2542. It must have jumped in when I was docked at Regula.
+
+ Curious. While the Ghant system was officialy under the jurisdiction of the
+ colonies, nobody had any real business here. Niobium was without doubt a valuable
+ commodity, but since there was no real shortage of the oremy guess was that the
+ military's interests would lie elsewhere. For now, I decided to ignore the matter.
+ I wasn't about to meddle into military affairs and let unfortunate circumstances ruin
+ my life again.
+
+ Nevertheless it was hard to ignore the massive battleship looming over the outpost,
+ but I docked and went straight to the bar. The bartender looked at me as I walked in
+ and pointed me to my regular place at the bar. "I'll be right back", he said,
+ and disappeared into the kitchen compartment. As on most quiet evenings, the
+ regular customers were kind enough to leave my seat unocupied and it didn't
+ take the familar surroundings long to ease my exited mind into a more relaxes state.
+ "Here you are, one cup of steaming hot chocolate milk. I'm not sure how or where
+ you got it, but I am sure it is the real deal. No one would get it into his mind
+ to synthesize anything without having an actual market for it."
+
+ As usual, my bartender was right, and that was exactly why I liked this stuff, even if it
+ costed a small fortune. "But then again", he continued and turned has eyes towards the large
+ space window at the other end of the bar, "life can be full of surprises."
+
+II. Surprises
+
+ It was hard for him to hide his unsettledness. "I just had a talk with the station supervisor
+ and the commander of that battleship floating out there". "The Custodian", I replied. "I had
+ the ship computer run an ID on it". "You'd better take care of that fancy new ship of yours",
+ he said. "They were here to inform me that the Colonial Militia has decided to assign a detachment
+ to the Ghant system, effective immediately. All fleet operations in the system will be under the
+ command of the battleship Custodian. They also dropped some kind of communication sattelite
+ in the center of the system. God knows what these guys are up to."
+
+ The military is always involved in business the common man would rather not know about, but I had
+ to admit, it just didn't sound right. A battleship in the Ghant system was curious, but a
+ more permanent presence didn't make any sense at all. I picked up the small metal spoon lying
+ next to my cup and stirred my hot milk. "I wouldn't worry too much. They've probably discovered
+ some interesting radiation in the neighbourhood and now they want to turn it into a weapon. You
+ know these kind of people, if it goes kabooom, they immediately like it." "Besides", I continued,
+ "the system has been quiet for months. I haven't seen a pirate in ages".
+
+ The tone in my voice couldn't hide my longing for more dangerous and exiting times,
+ but those days were over. I had chosen a new path, and I was not about to ruin my plans
+ because of a few curious events. I emptied my cup and wished the bartender good night.
+
+ I couldn't sleep that evening. I didn't know what troubled me more: the prospect
+ of my new life, the memories of the old one, or the strange events of today. When a man
+ is troubled, he has to start walking and with the silence of the night as a blanket,
+ I got out of bed and went out on a stroll.
+
+ 2 am standard colonial time. Nights in space are something to get used to: without
+ the sun to rise and set, dusk and dawn become rather hollow definitions and
+ only the clock dictates when it is time to go to sleep. Nevertheless, the atmosphere
+ of the night still permiated the station: most of the establishments were closed and
+ the sound of busy peoples voices was replaced by the quiet hum of the electrical
+ installations.
+
+ I wandered aimless through the empty corridors until I reached one of the large
+ space windows on the upper level. It was almost like the vast, empty space
+ behind it was reaching out, trying to stir something in the back of my mind.
+ I wasn't sure why but I could not shed the feeling that some event was about
+ to unfold. I turned around to head back to bed when suddenly felt a faint
+ tremor going through the station. It was hardly noticable and most people
+ would probably ignore it, but I knew exactly what it was.
+
+ When a ship drops from hyperspace into normal space, it will send a small shockwave
+ into the surrounding area. This is not a shockwave of something traveling through space,
+ but rather a disturbance of the fabric of space itself, with a distinct rythmn
+ an experienced pilot can easily recognize. I could have ignored it too and
+ go back to sleep, but the intoxicating effect of the mystery dragged me back to the window.
+
+ A ship had arrived, and it had to be close. Hyperspace-tremors do not travel very far
+ and it would take one hell of a pilot to make a jump this close to a gravitational well.
+ The slightest miscalulation would have spread out his atoms over the face of planet Ghant.
+ The bright moving spot between the stars had proven he was either very good, or very lucky.
+
+ The design of the ship was unfamiliar. It looked like some kind of a patrol craft,
+ armed to the teeth and ready to defend itself if it were necessary. Fortunatly,
+ it looked like the pilot had a more quiet evening in mind. In a gracious arc,
+ he approached the station and soaring like a an eagle he started the final approached
+ to the docking bay.
+
+III. The suit
+
+ A wise man once said: "Curiosity is mankind's greatest gift. But it is
+ also mankind's greatest curse." I didn't have to take him for his word:
+ I've been in situations before were I wasn't supposed to belong,
+ and me intuition told me that ship was probably something I didn't want to know about.
+
+ By now it was almost 3 am and I was almost certain I was going to regret this nightwandering
+ episode when my alarm clock would obnoxiously announce the next morning. Almost, because
+ by now I had learned that no regrets and focus on the task at hand was usually the wiser
+ course of action. Right now, the task was finding some sleep.
+
+ I turned around, walked to the elevator at the end of the corridor and pressed the button.
+ After a few seconds the doors opened with a joyfull chime and I stepped inside. "Level 6".
+ The elevator seemed to consider my request when the doors finaly closed and it started
+ moving upward. I leaned casually against the back wall, my right hand trying to catch the
+ yawn escaping my mouth.
diff --git a/developer/TASKS b/developer/TASKS
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebc9e2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/TASKS
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ Project::OSiRiON - TASKS
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ This file contains a list of reasonable easy tasks than can
+ be done by anyone who is interested in contributing to
+ the project. No programming skills are required to
+ do any of these.
+
+Create skyboxes
+
+ The program Spacescape is a freely available tool to
+ create skyboxes with stars and nebulas.
+
+ http://alexcpeterson.com/spacescape
+
+ Note that this tool only works on windows, attempts to run
+ it in linux with wine have been unsuccessful.
+
+ I wrote a small shell script to rename its output to osirion
+ conventions:
+
+ http://ingar.satgnu.net/osirion/files/util/rename-sky.sh
+
+Ship definitions
+
+ A lot of ship definitions in base/ini/ships.ini are incomplete:
+ price, cargo hold size, jump drive, dockable and movement
+ specifications have to be added and tweaked where necessary.
+
+ Note that 'mass' can not be set through the game's 'specs'
+ command. As a rule of thumb, define mass first and tweak the
+ other specs accordingly.
+
+Cargo definitions
+
+ Add cargo definitions to ini/cargo.ini.
+
+Cargo models
+
+ Each cargo definition needs a model to represent the type of cargo in-game.
+
+ Required models:
+ - Iron (ore)
+ - Niobium (ore)
+ - Liquor (bottles?)
+ - Carbosteel (plating / blocks?)
+ - Superconductors (fancy magnet thing?)
+ - Optronics (optical chips)
+
+Trade definitions
+
+ Add trade definitions to the world ini files.
+
+ The easiest way to do this is by thinking in trade routes:
+
+ - A base resource is sold at the source location, with unlimited supply
+ amount = -1
+ price = low
+ e.g. iron is mined and sold at an iron mining installation
+
+ - The resource can be sold at a good price at a target location that probably needs the resource
+ amount = 0
+ price = high
+ e.g. a carbosteel forge will buy the iron at a good price
+
+ - On the route from source to destination, the resource can be sold along the way. The price
+ increases with distance from the source location.
+ amount = 0
+ price = medium
+ e.g. the iron ore can be traded on a supply station along the route
+
+ After finishing a route, traders like to take back other profitable goods,
+ therefor it is generally a good idea to provide a trade route in the opposite
+ direction to the same area.
+
+Models
+
+ Required objects
+
+ - Iron mining facility (Finnmark system)
+ - Carbosteel forge
+ - AMTEL optronics production plant
+ - Border Guard station (Karelian system)
+
+Documentation
+
+ The list of attributions needs updating
+
+ Most of the documentation needs updating:
+ doc/attribution.html List of attributions
+ doc/guide.html Player guide
+ doc/manual.html Engine user manual
+ doc/world.html Editing the world
+
+ Hints from this document can probably be added to the main documentation.
diff --git a/developer/TODO b/developer/TODO
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16e08b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/developer/TODO
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+ Project::OSiRiON - TODO
+
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+general:
+ documentation cleanup
+ finish player guide
+ update user manual
+ server-client event system, hit-once lightweight entities
+ explosion events
+ sound events
+ world sounds
+ weapons
+ ship improvements (radars, shield, armor)
+
+inventory:
+ beam and eject cargo (commands implemented, needs UI and general FX)
+
+filesystem:
+ write a filesystem based on streams
+ write handlers for zip
+ write handlers for gz
+ fs_homedir, to define the writeable directory
+ fs_datadir, readonly package datadir
+ fs_base, fs_mod, fs_game, to be used by modules
+
+model:
+ support 'angles' key on the 'misc_model' map class (and possibly other classes as well)
+ .obj support
+ .md3 support
+
+ .ase submaterials (ok)
+
+core:
+ BUG dedicated server does not show chat messages (to be verified)
+ fix game.ini load/save sequence
+ fx events: jump events, tracktor beams, weapons fire
+ pause game loop when there are no players
+
+ optimize KeepAlive sweep performance (ok)
+
+network:
+ protocol description (incomplete)
+ zone chat
+ group chat (requires player groups)
+ rcon authentication, rcon command, servers must be able to disable rcon
+ rconpassword: send md5sum instead of plaintext
+ player authentication (player guid), admin rights
+
+ add server-side distance check before sending entity updates
+ detect and disconnect clients behaving badly
+ let server track Entity::State changes
+ fix lag/client interpolation
+ client prediction, replace SUP network frames with PHYS frames
+
+ EXT messages, update extended property "ext id prop value prop value etc", type checking/seperator etc..
+ EXT zone/color/shield/armor/health
+
+ reliable network messages (e.g. entity create/die)
+
+client:
+ have the trade menu show depleted shop items with their sell value
+ add map window target model
+ tracking camera absolute speed/position
+ correct hud target/target hoover inconsistencies
+ reset info text scroll when showing buy/trade menu
+ enable chat window player list selection
+ create hud concept artwork
+
+ fix camera frustum clip (size issue, postponed)
+
+render:
+ fix skybox envmapping -> cube map
+ star light strenght
+ general globe texture distortion, texture coordinates seem to be off
+
+ skybox (ok)
+ globe texture distortion at the poles (unfixable, won't fix)
+
+ui:
+ modelview lighting (-> it uses current zone lighting)
+ unify event handlers, expand Event class and make derived event classes
+ slider mouse dragging (ok)
+ listview scrolling
+
+sound:
+ entity/event positional sounds
+ jump drive sound events
+ client-side control of impulse initiate / impulse loop sound sequence
+
+ suppress error message spam if the sound subsystem failed to initialize (ok)
+
+game:
+ add Ship::ship_dock, making docking indepdendent of player->view()
+ when the goto command is used to target another player, you should appear next to him instead in front of him.
+
+ ship health/shield/armor
+ add fleet support
+
+ set planet safe distance to 5 km (ok)
+ fix 'give ship' and 'buy ship' destroying inventory (ok)
+
+data:
+ update starsystem roadmap
+ rename skies (lindblade1, lindblade2, ...)
+
+automake:
+ resolve build dependency issues