Archive for the ‘pet projects’ Category

Froznovia time

The map now features a rack-mounted WURMTEK-branded dot-matrix clock panel. It uses the new time system established in the world of Froznovia after “The Incident”:

Without getting into the nitty-gritty, after “The Incident” the world was forced to adapt to a new reality, and that’s when the new time system was adopted:

• The Incident marks Year 0.
• Years and months do exist, but it is common to count days since The Incident.
• 10 cycles (Zyklus) per day.
• 100 “minutes” per cycle, each with 100 seconds.

Protektor console

The “Warden” role is now officially the “Protektor.” The console features green phosphor CRT and Fraktur rendering—a fitting touch for WURMTEK.

The console now handles shift changes every cycle. It releases the Protektor shift card for 100 seconds, allowing anyone to take over. If no one takes it, the current Protektor is allowed to remain on duty for the new shift.

Which means:

• AFK Protektors can be replaced by an active player during and after shift change.
• The role cannot be hoarded indefinitely anymore.
• Private role-play groups can ignore this system.
• Busy instances won’t get stuck with an AFK or bad Protektor.
• Shift change is synchronized across all live instances of the map.

Overall improvements

• Fixed incorrect shaders on most map labels.
• Added clean stenciled labels to the cell doors and the elevator.
• Added two paper pads with Froznovia-themed forms (purely for world building and RP hooks).

Map Versions: 12/12 vs 30/30

There are now a 30/30 and a 12/12 version of the map. They are completely identical, save for the max player count.

12 is better semi-public RP instances, and easier on your PC. Use it, or don’t if you prefer hosting crowd baths. Your call.

I’ve worked on this the entire night. And then I had lunch, and picked up the groceries, and then I crashed. Hard.

Initially, it didn’t take long to master the basics of render to texture. It will become tricky when I rely on them too much, and it starts affecting performances. The elevator is going to need one too for its own control console, but that’s a problem for future me.

For now, I’m working on this one with two layouts.

• Main layout: Displays the warden/Protektor name, states a few things, like the rules, mentions the next shift change, indicate the lock state & whether it can be taken. Still, it’s a lot for such a small display.
• Shift change layout: Hides the current warden/Protektor, inform of the shift change, time remaining (possibly) and a much bolder invitation for someone else to take over.

I’m not sure what other screens to use. The media player is still the way it is, partially because it is recognizable, but also because that’s a fairly complex layout, and I’m not going to touch this for the time being.

I tried to spice things up a little bit by having the black WURMTEK units with their branding, versus the little olive/beige Valkorian power distribution box at the bottom with some Cyrillic serial number.

Oh yeah. And the official warden name is now Protektor, warden implied the highest authority. Under the new system that would be Protektor-Kommandant or Protektor-Aufseher. I realize some dipshits who should not be given inspiring titles will love the new name. But so be it.

Also yes, that’s the MiniATM model. Sue me.

I’ve completed a couple of things about the map that I think I should have mentioned before:

• Fixed a small issue where a deposed Warden would be able to re-spawn from the current cell.
• Prisoner case files for Froznovia characters. (Hans, Alina, Mika, Sofiya).
• Case files for the “VR” residents too, (two at the moment).
• I’ve added an early version of a clock that tells the in-universe Froznovia time.
• A copy of the Cell Block D-5 map is now live on the VRChat Labs, configured to a 12/12 player cap (as originally intended).

I really would like to find a way to present/hint as the existence of Erika von Kroenen and Gregor Petrovich within the map too, but I’m not sure yet how. Staff files could be interesting, but their presence would make no sense. Putting their faces on the security cards later would be an option, but it still feels like a stretch.

I’ve tried getting some modeling done this week, but I’m not getting any of the important things done.

I drafted two parts: a lore dump about a defunct company: “Sonne Mond und Sterne” (using it worries me because it is a big tangent from the Froznovia setting), and a half-finished scene between Erika and Mika.

I’ve updated the Patreon-only release of the Froznovia paperwork batch. There were a handful of fixes that I had to apply. I also resolved some consistency issues, cleaned up the source files & made them available.

I’ve also added the prisoner case file cover sheet template. And I’m finishing up an update on the case files available in the Prison Cell Block D-5. It’s boring stuff, I just made the photos muddier, and I’m trying to make everyone’s fingerprints unique and to shift everything around just slightly.

There! More documents, mugshots this time! I’ve been practicing filling these out and giving them a little bit of character. Two based on avatars, and two that are Froznovia OCs.
Not entirely satisfied with those, I’m waiting for some artworks to make them a little more unique looking.

I have, so far, resisted using the triple mugshot format. But that’s only because it doesn’t fit.

Yes. Alina was always based on Ariane Yeong.

I’m also adding this new template to the Patreon rewards.

These are also in the prisoner file pad in Prison Cell Block D-5 in VRChat.

I don’t know if this will be anyone’s cup of tea, but I decided to release the Froznovia paperwork I’ve done so far.

• F-29 Requisition form.
• F-83 Transfer form.
• FZ-17 Disciplinary report.
• FZ-22 Interrogation report.

I’ve exported them in PDF for people who want to print them for their own nefarious uses (yes, I met those people).
And as 1920×1080 PNG files.
I haven’t finished cleaning up the source LibreOffice Draw files but I will release those too once they are ready.

If that’s something you’re interested in, I’ve made it available on Patreon.

Well yes! I’ve been playing Signalis again, how can you tell?

So this is yet another idea for horrific, dystopian, prisoner living conditions. If you pack these tightly enough I believe you could have 6 in 9 square meter? Crazy, I know.

The thing that has been eating most of my time is building these official forms that are designed to match the Froznovia aesthetic and linguistic madness.

• F-29 is a procurement form.
• F-83 is a prisoner transfer form.
• FZ-17 is a Froznovia-specific report for prisoner punishment. I’m still working on it…

These are VERY fun to make and have been put together in LibreOffice Draw. Probably not the best tool for producing prints, but it is simple enough and does all the things I wanted.

Very fun, but also very slow. Getting the right terms in multiple languages and keeping layouts consistent takes more time than I’d like. What am I going to do with these? I don’t know… they make nice props in SL and VR, and I could release printable files if people want to use them for IRL role-play.

Regrettably, the medication I have resumed is making me incredibly sick. Nevertheless, I knew it would happen. I’ve been there before, so I know what it should feel like. It still sucks.

I re-unwrapped the bayonets and textured both to their final resolution (1024×256). I still need to make the LOD models, and I probably still need to design some kind of scabbard for them. Maybe not required, but if I integrate them to the doodle & strike system, it’s as good of a place as any for the holder.

I’ve updated the VRChat Cell Block D-5: Portals are now disabled because (for some reason) some people would try to poach visitors away from other instances. I also did a few minor housekeeping things, such as moving the stools away from the walls. Nothing groundbreaking. There is a stun prod on the table, it’s not finished, it’s a reminder that I need to finish it.

Lastly, I’m reworking the dead realm elevator. I’ve been fond of the Protektor elevator from Signalis from the very first time I saw it. Time to pay some respect to it. I’ve joined a few pictures of that part. Not sure about the way I’ve labeled it yet, if I stick to the Froznovia lore, there should be more Chinese than German on those labels.

Messy sleep, messy life. It’s too hot.

Mostly some UV unwrapping today, sorry.

Oh, yeah and the low-poly for the butcher blade, it’s got like, 300 triangles of saw teeth.

On the upside of things I believe that I have secured access to a certain medication again. But it’s going to make me sick to get back to it so… Maybe I’ll do that Sunday evening or Monday morning.

The low-poly for the warden’s hat is nearly finished. I checked the polygon count and got kind of upset. It had a handful of triangles above my existing model, though it was more optimized and more detailed. And so, I took a hacksaw to it and trimmed all the excess fat. I’m going to give it a test ride, just to see if I like it.

On the gun side of things, I’ve finished (overly)detailing the grip plates and compacted all the UVs into their final form, added a textured section and more markings, with the addition of the Froznovia procurement mark, I wonder if I should update some of the other products in this line to reflect the updated “identity” of it.

I also don’t think I ever uploaded a good picture of the back strap so here is one.