Dragon Star PHP RPG Engine - Development Path

Goals for the Version 0.6.0 (Next Release):

• Inplement map tile settings, such as 'impassable,' to allow for players to not be able to pass under certain conditions.
• Implement GUI components for the map, including menus, a yes/no box and message windows.
• Implement event points. Event points will provide warping, items when searched, and preventing passage without items or completing a quest, for starters.
• Implement NPCs and dialog trees.
• Implement monster difficulty indexes. This will help determine what monsters you fight depending where you are.
• Write a map editor.
• Merge the map and fight code together, making a unified build.
• Implement the option to save a fight for later viewing.
• Implement a 'must see' list of the most outrageous fights for the day/week/month. These will be viewable from the main game page without logging in.

• Edit Items so that certain jobs may or may not use and/or equip certain items, either inclusively or exclusively.
• Convert to using Effect objects to simplify other objects. These will define an ability or item effect.
• Add item use success ratios to items.
• Write documentation for the object library and default impact animation functions.
• Finish writing volume control code for Java sound applet.

• Create status objects that assign statuses (such as poison) to characters.
• Develop status display in stat windows.
• Upgrade the experience system to account for statuses
• Finalize code for team fusion. This will allow for many player controlled teams to play together at the same time. They may even fight each other!
• Implement Game Master code to track players throughout the game. This may even entail writing code to save the states of players throughout combat for analyzing at a later time.

• Improve the monster AI to allow for consideration of multiple actions and account for statuses.
• Add monster affiliations to cause some monsters to not like each other.
• Develop basic politics system to allow for teams to identify and set allies and enemies.
• Alter the party selection menu to target other parties.
• Create the GUI to edit alliances and rivalries.

• Implement a preview for tags so personalities, items, and abilities and can be tested.
• Implement a job analyzer to balance jobs. Allow for head on comparisons of jobs.
• Write a party vs. monster analyzer. Allow for monster indexes from maps to be tested, as well as selected monsters in a party.

• Ensure all code is up to par.
• Release!

• Institute races.
• Implement ability trees. Add experience levels to abilities.
• Design and code fight matchup system, including challenges and duels.
• Write gambling system. Include odds.

• Develop quest generation system, including allowing for the monster indexes to shift as certain areas become more dangerous.
• Develop and write economy systems allowing for towns to grow and flourish.
• Develop political systems to cause those towns to get leveled on a regular basis.
• Develop system to limit access of players to areas, ensuring that the are not just strong, but quest savvy in order to progress through the game.
• Figure out how to enable players to save or destroy towns and kingdoms.