[Crazy Idea] When Will We Get Project: Legacy?

In light of the recently released Galaxy Editor, a thought has come to mind:

Given the wealth of talent that can be found in our community (as seen here, here and here), will/can/should we start a Project: Legacy? By this, I mean a single, unified project to produce a high quality campaign under the SC:Legacy banner. This can be set in an Extended Universe (EU), Alternate Universe (AU) or be an Original Universe (OU). It can also be in any form; whether RTS, RPG or even machinima. The important point is that it would be a coordinated project that comes under the SC:Legacy umbrella that involves a good number of community members. Depending on the scope and 'verse of choice, we could even develop side projects (fanfics, comics, independent campaigns, etc) that are set in this Legacyverse (depending how much control we would want to retain of it).

Things we would probably need are:


Director/Producer:
This person would be in charge of logistics and possibly have veto powers over decisions. His/Her job would be to coordinate the different divisions, find replacements should a member need to drop out for a period of time and to make sure everyone plays well with one another. Depending on the team s/he has, this post can either be a complete doss or the most difficult job of all. Likely to be the 'face' of the project. Moderator experience would probably be beneficial and so a staff member be the best choice.


Script Writers/Character Developers:
The people whose primary purpose is to turn the basic plot into a fully fleshed story with appropriate subplots and identify what assets (characters and models, maps, etc) will be needed. Depending on the project's relation to the core SC universe, they also have to make sure all the details fit to existing lore. Need to have a keen awareness of what is achievable by the rest of the team, be able to turn plot events into playable content and understand how to scale difficulty levels. Likely to be the people in charge of creating the unit template (the stats and other elements of each individual unit) that will be used by the map makers.


Map Makers:
Essentially, the people directly involved in using the Editor. May be able to be divided into Set Designers (maps) and Mission Designers (triggers). Like the script writers, need to know how to ramp difficulty over the course of the campaign.


Art Department:
Primary job is to produce custom models should the need arise. This can be completely original models and animations, cut-and-paste Frankensteins cobbled together from other models, recolors or sourcing models from other places. A second job would be to produce concept art for key characters and locations for use in the loading screen. Much like Map Makers, can be divided into those two roles.


Voice Actors:
Likely to come in much, much later into the project. People with knowledge in sound editting (to create Protoss voices and other special effects) would likely also be needed.


That's the core. However, certain extras would be a huge plus in order to ascend this over other competitors out there:

Cinematics Team:
Obviously, fully 3D cinematics in the style of Blizzard is out of the question due to time, effort and cost reasons. After all, why bother when you know you're destined to fail by comparison? Of course, if it can be done, it would be a huge triumph. However, other methods would just be as useful (whether cel-shaded animation, cartoons or even comic-book style panels) and may even help create a unique touch to the project.


Music Team:
While the game itself already comes with an epic soundtrack, how much cooler would a campaign be if it boasted one of its own? This could be a complete album or select pieces for major themes and characters. Any prodigies with Sibelius or budding musicians out there?



P.S.: To the moderators, the reason I've put this in the main discussion section is because this discussion is not specifically about mapmaking but rather potentially has elements of lore discussion and overall community development.

Sign me up for map tester. Back in the day, I used to love testing maps.

I'm not a mod but this definitely belongs in map making :P Sounds like an ambitious project that could have great results!

The reason I put this in gen. discussion is because part of this thread's aim is to discuss whether SC:Legacy should directly involve itself as a whole into a project (whether a campaign, machinima or whatever); using its name and all.

You have here a voice actor AND a concept artist....the spanish accent gives tastes to any character

I can do voice actor if you need an eastern asian accent I do well to write scripts I always loved these types of team projects

This sounds awsome! Not sure how much i could contribute but sign me up!! I dont have sc2 beta but ive had experience messing around making maps/missions in the broodwar editor. so i guess sign me up for mapmaking or anything else that needs to be done!

edit: ive also been playing percussion in a symphonic band and marching band for the last 9 years of my like so i guess i could be part of the music team also.

Well, I've always wanted to make a UED campaign...Dunno if I will get to it, I have many crazy ideas that I never do because I get too bored or find no time.
But if we'd be a team, that would rock. I had some good ideas in there.

For cinematics, we can always do them in-engine, or have them done by the dudes who made First Contact. :P

I wanna participate in this! Maybe I can help in script writing and character development, and some minor roles in map making. Whatever is SC:L I wanna get in :)

I'd love to be involved in writing and voice acting. I'm very good at doing different types of voices, and sometimes accents though I can't always be 100% accurate with those. People have suggested I do voice work before, so this sounds like a great way to do that.:D I might also be able to do some map making, but I don't have very much experience with it.

This sounds so great! Also for the reasons you've stated about community working.

If I can add anything it could be in the voice/acting, writing departement/pitching ideas and musicscoring. Even though alot of the work might happen in the US/Canada, we could do alot of things through the community, and maybe even do a EU team. ;P

But anything is possible with such a great community. Would be nice to being added to lore!

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Originally Posted by BusinessMonkey

This sounds so great! Also for the reasons you've stated about community working.

If I can add anything it could be in the voice/acting, writing departement/pitching ideas and musicscoring. Even though alot of the work might happen in the US/Canada, we could do alot of things through the community, and maybe even do a EU team. ;P

But anything is possible with such a great community. Would be nice to being added to lore!

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Agreed. The key is getting both, the community and the staff on board. That way, there'll be solid infrastructure to pass on the work and even a very ambitious project will see fruition. Even if at the end, none of the original crew remain.

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Originally Posted by Alex06

Well, I've always wanted to make a UED campaign...Dunno if I will get to it, I have many crazy ideas that I never do because I get too bored or find no time.
But if we'd be a team, that would rock. I had some good ideas in there.

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What ideas do you have in mind? Perhaps if we start brainstorming now, we can slowly get the ball rolling.

Well seeing as this is a long term project- and the game isn’t even out yet- it’ll give me ample time to get enough money to set up my home recording studio if you ever need original music. But of course, that’ll be one of the last things that will be added.

Maybe some sort of side campaign set during the original game? Possibly how the Umojan Protectorate dealt with the Zerg threat, Protoss arrival, and Dominion incursions?

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Originally Posted by mr. peasant

Agreed. The key is getting both, the community and the staff on board. That way, there'll be solid infrastructure to pass on the work and even a very ambitious project will see fruition. Even if at the end, none of the original crew remain.




What ideas do you have in mind? Perhaps if we start brainstorming now, we can slowly get the ball rolling.

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Add me on MSN: Alex05222@hotmail.com

My ideas included a character that played into the Terran backstory of StarCraft, especially the UED. I had some ideas linking the Xel'Naga, the energy creatures, and the character (well, more like, a group of characters) together.

Early missions would have included a small "rebellion" in the UED government, UED space getting invaded by Protoss (possibly Tal'darim), an alliance with some of the Protoss, a retaking of a terraformed Mars, going through a warp gate, and such.

Then the UED ships head for the Koprulu sector but something happens, causing them to stop and investigate (alonngside some of the Protoss that decided to help the UED), and this would help understand what happened to the original colonist ships that made them travel to the Koprulu sector.

When you think things can't get worse, the UED have to aim past the Koprulu sector, slightly into Protoss Space, where you also encounter Tagal (and perhaps they will have Kalathi alongside them). Then there will be a minor Tagal incursion and what not...

Also, the UED would definitely ally with Umoja and Protoss. (They're a different party than the original UED incursion)

And I was also hoping to have some characters like Taldarin and Stukov appear maybe.

These were some of my ideas, but they could possibly change. I had some of the things much more detailed in my head.

That definitely sounds interesting. The one weak point I can see straight off is that we don't really know much about the Xel'Naga at this point and SC2 seems set to explore the topic. This means that there's a reasonable chance that Blizzard will wind up contradicting whatever we plan either soon after or perhaps even before we complete the project. So, unless you're thinking of developing an AU, I don't see that particular subplot working out.


As for other ideas, I was originally contemplating creating a squad-based RPG-style campaign featuring a group of outlaw mercenaries (or retrieval experts, as they call themselves) working out of a modified Hercules transport that doubles as their home. The story begins with their first job where they team up with other mercs to transport a mysterious package. Nobody knows its contents but it's likely illegal, stolen, alien or all the above. The job goes off without a hitch and one of the other mercs is impressed enough to pass them another job. After awhile, this first mission comes back to bite them in the arse when they encounter some of the other mercs to find out everyone else on that mission's dead. And that they were probably next. As a result, they need to get to the bottom of the plot lest they wind up dead.

Naturally, there will be other jobs from other characters as well; and a storyline for each mercenary on your team (I'm envisioning five, with a sixth near the end). Also, instead of levelling up, the mercs instead use their reward money to purchase better equipment.

I can set up a custom forum for this project and make a mod out of whoever wants to be the project leader. I wouldn't drag any existing staff into this though. I'm wary of these kind of projects - they rarely see the light of day. :p

If this ends up going somewhere I'd be willing to code triggers/do general mapmaking (though my terrain needs work :P)

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Originally Posted by mr. peasant

That definitely sounds interesting. The one weak point I can see straight off is that we don't really know much about the Xel'Naga at this point and SC2 seems set to explore the topic. This means that there's a reasonable chance that Blizzard will wind up contradicting whatever we plan either soon after or perhaps even before we complete the project. So, unless you're thinking of developing an AU, I don't see that particular subplot working out.

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Oh, but I haven't planned on exploring the Xel'Naga. :P
Just linking the characters to the Xel'Naga, because of something they have in their DNA, but nothing major or that will certainly be contradicted.

Sounds like a great idea. Count me in. Voice acting, mapping, triggers, story or whatever you need.

Hm... my previous writing project died. So very saddening, that. I'd like to be able to get into another one, and writing for a StarCraft II campaign? That'd be killer, especially considering my lack of programming abilities. I'd like to think I'm fairly good. I'd try my hand in voice acting if I had the equipment, but I don't, so I won't.

(Huh. This is my first post here I think. I've been here a while, though.)

I've fleshed out my Umojan idea a little more. It can follow a junior officer on the Umojan fleet as a POV character. He is just beginning to come to terms with his latent psionic potential. The campaign can open some time after the fall of the Confederacy.
A strengthening Dominion launches an invasion of the Umojan Protectorate with the intent of forcing them into the Dominion. Near the end of the battle a Protoss ship which escaped Auir shortly after the destruction of the Overmind warps in and is shot down. The injured Protoss is taken in by the Umojans and starts to train the young officer in his psionics while also sharing his technology with his new allies. Think an Obi-Wan/Luke Skywalker relationship with the yet-to-be-named officer and a Thor (from Stargate) relationship with the UP.
Throughout the campaign the UP will fight the Dominion, UED, Zerg, and rogue Protoss. At least one of the Zerg missions could be an attack on Tarsonis to grab some sort of abandoned psi-tech or something. Over the course of the campaign the POV character will gain more psi abilities, and might draw the attention of Kerrigan. Also, as more Protoss tech is adapted into the Umojan fleet new units and upgrades will be unlocked with more Protossy looks and abilities. Maybe a Battlecruiser/Carrier mix, or a blinking Ghost. In terms of abilities, maybe after a certain number of missions give all units at least temporary shields. Since it's only single player we don't have to worry about balance and can go balls to the wall with cool stuff.

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Originally Posted by mr. peasant

Things we would probably need are:

Script Writers/Character Developers:
The people whose primary purpose is to turn the basic plot into a fully fleshed story with appropriate subplots and identify what assets (characters and models, maps, etc) will be needed ...

This one u can ask KD about, on our own little project this was my job and Im very good at making epic detailed storys that TIE-IN with others to make a good, complete storyline


Map Makers:
Essentially, the people directly involved in using the Editor. May be able to be divided into Set Designers (maps) and Mission Designers (triggers). Like the script writers, need to know how to ramp difficulty over the course of the campaign.

Im a Terrainer through and through. And im quite anal when it comes to making things detailed XD


Voice Actors:
Likely to come in much, much later into the project. People with knowledge in sound editting (to create Protoss voices and other special effects) would likely also be needed.

Idk how good id be at this but if u want an American with a slight irish accent im ur guy :D

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Im in too. I enjoy being part of big community projects, especially in ones who ive spent my past years with!

So did Gradius make the forum for this? Would be nice. It kinda gets hidden behind the bunch of new maps with the editor.

im in too if this project really gets on the way.

i could do maps, triggers and even some bad english with german accent synchro stuff.

lika in most movies the prejudice stylus german blonde military guy, thats insane or something ^.^

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Originally Posted by BusinessMonkey

So did Gradius make the forum for this? Would be nice. It kinda gets hidden behind the bunch of new maps with the editor.

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Not at the moment since nothing concrete has been laid down.

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Originally Posted by Gradius

I can set up a custom forum for this project and make a mod out of whoever wants to be the project leader. I wouldn't drag any existing staff into this though. I'm wary of these kind of projects - they rarely see the light of day. :p

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And tis a shame. Without the site's active participation lending legitimacy to the project, it wouldn't really be 'Project: Legacy', isn't it? My aim wasn't to specifically create a campaign but to get the community involved together as a whole in a project of some kind.

Voice Actor Lylac At your service ^^ I can't edit sound bites But I can record the ones I make.

I believe we are in need of artists, yes? Well, I can be one. I'm not the greatest but I am good, especially with Protoss or humans that are wearing uniforms or armor. I'm also really good at drawing the Zerg so if there were any new strains, I could come up with a picture for them. Although Gradius is hesitant in involving any of the staff, I might be willing to join, assuming of course that you think my art is good enough. :p

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Originally Posted by mr. peasant

And tis a shame. Without the site's active participation lending legitimacy to the project, it wouldn't really be 'Project: Legacy', isn't it? My aim wasn't to specifically create a campaign but to get the community involved together as a whole in a project of some kind.

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Campaigns or any large projects are not built on a simple desire to have the community involved. They are built, and most importantly, finished, by a group of dedicated members who have enough passion, skills, and time to follow through. To put it simply, these members will not be content staff members (except maybe Fyrinite, since modding is his specialty), because they already have important duties that help support this site's core features. Also, the fact that nobody has stepped up yet to spearhead this large project makes me doubly wary of lending any more support than I need to. And like you just said, you're not specifically looking to create a campaign, are you?

But nothing is to say the project wouldn't have legitimacy. If there is any real interest in getting a campaign done, there would be a forum and moderator for the project. We could also advertise it on the front page and our other outlets (i.e. if you make a sample cinematic trailer we could put it on our youtube).

I hear ya. And fully understand. Which was why I haven't really commented on it until answering BusinessMonkey's question. When I first started this thread, I was partly being sneaky in trying to see if any such project was being worked 'in-house' by the staff. Though, I'm one to talk seeing as how I lack any of the necessary skills (including organisational) to pull this off. Hence, why I raised the question to the community; to see if it would inspire any of the budding campaign makers to think big by tapping into SC:L.

I would like to maybe volunteer my art talents (models, 2d graphics) and maybe some (slightly newbish) mapping skills. i've never created any models for sc/wc before but willing to learn. i'm working on a degree in game art so anything i can put in my portfolio is a plus. :)

i have some crap examples of my art on my website http://www.aliencowz.com and my blog, also found on my site.

I shall find something else to do then.

I'd like to offer up my writing and 2d drawing talents. I'm no good at computer modeling or animation though. My art would probably be strictly story element type stuff.

I am ok with 2D drawings but my blood influences my art to lean towards the anime-ish style =/ Hard for me to draw any un-cartoony things

Well, I've been holding off on posting here for a while. I'm not sure if I'll be free enough to actively contribute, considering SC:L work and university coming up.

But I'm interested in participating in a large mapmaking project. I'll help as much as I can; I can do writing/scripting and terraining/mapping... I suck at art and coding. XD

There's also some stuff that me and some other members worked on (HellishProphet, Psi Warp, and Gradius are a few that are still active), but I'm not sure if I should contribute that to this project. I still plan to go back to that other project to finish it.