Chaotic Dreams

No, i'm not *that* suprised that i'm updating this. What I *am* suprised is that

the site has decided to add a necessary requirement...a *scrollbar*.

Before, like in the case of the Terrans' page..I would have to try insanely (and

VERY frustratingly) resize everything to fit in this small area that just didn't work

out well with what I needed to do. And at the end..it STILL didn't work out right, which after about 4 hours spent trying to get it JUST right is enough to make you want to

play computer kickball.

Which..I have not done. My computers have issues enough as it is without giving them help. My other one in the process of being fixed as the power supply went out.

So, on a whim, I decided to check out the site and try and remember where I left off

and what I planned on doing next.  To quote Blaskmer.."Did some random good thing just happen?"

Why is it so good? Because it won't take me 4 hours of prodding to get a single page. All i'll need to do is utilize a single template, fill in the blanks..and perhaps fancy it up

a little in the end. I'll save the fancier stuff like artwork and the like for the end to cut down on time...especially since I have a new thing for DCD (Dice Chart Damage) thats been ready to roll for practically a year now, as well as some other things. I *like* this, as it means that i'll be able to do 2-4 races in the spanse of *one*. Or

at the very least cutdown on the production time. PLUS, I might be able to

do that mapping thing after all now. Eenn-tah-rressting.

I think i'll hop to that later tonight, as this will be a busy day on alot of ends. (Now i'm going to have to go through a crapton of notebooks too. YAY!!)

I don't mean the popular song based on Portal, either.

In case you're wondering, this past year has seen me deal with..

-A major injury in both arms.

-Said injury not only causing me incredible amounts of pain but affecting my balance, focus, and concentration as well.

-Getting little to next to nothing i'd like to get done..done...and worse..mostly due to doctor's orders. (It never ceases to amaze me. Oh, yes, we can work you to the bone..hurt the other arm after we've done a job to the first...but you should watch drawing or writing. We'd hate to have your injury get worse."  .........Let's hear it for the marvels of human stupidity in relation to common sense and injuries.)

-Finance issues going up and down and up and down. Not fun, but dealable. :p

Ideas currently on hold, but out there: MMORPG, Windia system revival, Windia book..future store with artwork,t-shirt..etc sales.

I hate having to depend on other people. I really do. The reason is..if other's screw up, that's the akward blame and flame game. Not to mention the drama. However, if its just me..there's nothing to it but that I messed up..and I just fix it and move on. Its never that easy when dealing with other folks. I mean..how many folks "volunteered" to help with Windia?

...how many actually did?

Not very many. The same ones that have either disappeared, bugged me about getting it done..griped that it wasn't as l33t as they liked it..whatever. "Okay..then do this." Few months later...nothing. I don't understand folks sometimes, but again...whatever. Its been to the point where i've considered just shutting the whole thing down a number of times..usually periods of intense depression. I'm paying money to keep this site up..and if its not doing anything...meh.

However, i'm pretty sure that will be the case once my not-so-nice three year old injury is finally taken care of. Well, we'll see. I wonder if anyone actually reads these things anymore? If not, then I guess it still isn't so bad. Private thoughts where no one cares to read. *shrugs* Well...yet again...

...whatever. I'll post another update sometime in the future.

Finally..an update. I'm sure many thought I just gave up, or just plain wondered "Okay, what the hell, Phil?"

Good question.

See, this last LONG stretch I have been left unable to update or even access my site in order to update it. You can thank Microsoft for that. First, they had an error that randomly crashes websites whenever trying to send emails or messages..or even post on blogs. THAT really, REALLY ticked me off to no end.

Then, there was the Active X thing. A window popped up that says "Click here to activate Active X control." Apparently Microsoft and the dude behind Active X controls parted ways, and now you have to click OK to access them, creating a helluvalot of hassles, or in my case..just crashing the site altogether.

Look on the account on Youtube "NichiStateum" for more info, updates, and such on Windia. I have a cam now so it should make things more interesting.

NOW onto what is done, just not up. New characters will be able to start off as any number of primary classes, no longer just the adventurer class. I have these basic classes DONE.

-Almost all of the human tribes are done. Only one is left unfinished.

-Basic chooseable styles: Iaido, FF7 Soldier (80% complete), Lightsaber ( 40% complete.) The rest are being revamped.

Multiple forms of XP, and stuff you can put XP -into-. Some of them, like Crafting, will increase what you can make, and decrease what you need to make it. Others, like Faction..will get you actual awards and benefits for contributing to your respective cause. Still others like Xpertise, are geared from the MMORPG front and will boost your class abilities, OR in some cases grant you additional skills and abilities not on the class page.

Guilds and Factions will be getting a revamp. You'll be able to get new powers of authority to wield your guilds as a mighty tool much more effectively. This might be anything from ordering an assassination, to hiring a backup NPC for a mission, to even ordering a "Mage Strike" (Think Bombing strike..) or a Supply drop with valuable potions and such.

Given the last quest, the ability to rezz is changed a bit too, for on the spot healing and back into the action. We will see how it goes. The spell lists will also be getting some updates, and some like the Mage (Basic class) will have the option of choosing spells from multiple branches.

In Windia III, the fighter classes and similar really got a raw deal as opposed to magic wielders. This time, the playing field has been leveled. For those of you that like info gathering, and so on..there are different makes of weaponry and such to make your character more unique. So if you find a piece of weaponry in some dungeon...a Gather Info roll will tell you possibly what type it is, what race made it, what tribe it is normally found in..etc. Identify, Gather Information, Lore..they are your friends, USE THEM! (I'm putting them in most classes at different levels for a reason. They will hopefully keep you alive, lmao..)

Thats it for now. More later, pending any other interruptions of doom.

~Phillip "Azarel"

Its been a hellaciously wild ride this last year or so.

I could get into it, but I really don't feel like it.

What i'm HERE to talk about is progress.

Alot of progress is being made. Especially the combat system, which is about finished. All that is left is figuring out what i'm going to do about psionics. It ended up being revamped as I ended up seeing all sorts of interesting fights and knock-down drag outs that made me thing "HELL yeah, now this is the kind of stuff we need to see in windia!"

Needless to say, after many a long night, a playtest, and a frustration, I figured it out. Then, after a random idea or two, I figured out and playtested some better ways of doing the mass unit battles. Love it? Yes yes.

Came back and saw they changed a few things in freewebs, but that I can get a domain name and the like as well as bigger space, etc,etc. As I could likely use that, there should be a new site up within the next TWO WEEKS. Aka, a revival in the making and on the move.

Okay, thats all for now.Later. :p

Things creep along where they can. I'm trying out the "Free AOL" thing i've heard so much about.

DamienShadow88 is the name, by the way.

It works, but i'm noticing one interesting element. Everything seems to work but the chatrooms. Hmm. No chatrooms on there? How very odd.

Oh well. Right? Nostalgia. It gets one going.

Speaking of which..Windia is on the move. Needing to do is put some cash back into the site, and theeeen some updates back up on this thing, like Templates for making things much easier.

We're on the move.

Its funny how life works.

No sooner than you get into a swing of things than life leaps up, bites you in the ass, and you're busy again.

I'd suppose by now if anyone actually comes here anymore and reads this they wonder why I just don't give up and save myself the stress.

I just can't, though. :p

Job transfer, 40 hour weeks, moving to a bigger apartment, a girlfriend, and ontop of that, baby on board! 8 months until I become a father.

Wow.

Just wow.

In the meantime where I have time I seem to always be working on something Windia-related. Arms and equipment is the big thing...characters have to go into battle with something! I think I really want to incorporate a factions-type element of play in which characters can attack waypoints, some of which always remain in certain Factions hands except for a massive SL.

I have much in the way of things to do for this. @_@

But i'll get it done, at least this one last time. After that, life will likely take over and between writing and kids, who knows what is going to happen. That....and i'm certainly not getting any younger. Going on 26 years..and I started this all when I was 15 years old..started writing alot of parts in it when I was 6 years old. Who knows what will be happening in 10..even 20 years from now...and I wonder who will still be playing?

So then...I suppose...one last Hurrah...before life takes over. The show must go on.

I look forward to seeing you there...and it being as memorable a chapter as all of the other ones have been.

I've changed things a bit. It has been a monumental PAIN IN THE REAR..between everything and its brother, sister, and cousin..getting in my way. Including injuries. GOOD GOD how much of a pain in the ass that is.

The STORY is going to be right smack dab in the entrance...I think. I might just link it up, but for now, find what is written at

www.freewebs.com/chaoticdreamsinc/home2.htm

not htm, but html, okay? Okay.

The main aggravation at the moment seems that I'm going to have to re-edit EVERY toolbar on the little link pictures bit. Ah and gah and ugh. BUT, it will be worth it, dammit. I had to create a new entrance area, since it wouldn't allow me to change to a template. Grrr. Just grr.

 NOW..the real challenge. To see how much of this I can get done before something else flies at me,lol.

With upcoming changes in work (including hourly schedules, maybe going to day sides..w00t!)..ALOT of stress off of my shoulders (See my Xanga for details.)..and all of that jazz...things are starting to really look up for this place for the first time in a while. I'm not really sure why things seem to repeat in the ways they do...BUT..this time around there will be backups and the like kept to keep it from repeating again. Alot of changes being made, things actually starting to get done. W00t and w00t again.

Now onto the huge news..the snag I hit with the style systems is not only SURPASSED..but added onto and somewhat simplified to make it even better than I could have considered it when the concept hit. Its even made so that during those old tournament types (Bodukais) that we had, one can now use Style skills in that as well..which with stances and what have you..it should make things alot more interesting.

Also, there will be a Simple Spar type for those new to the game..so they can learn and progress into it...AS WELL AS a new feature I came up with today...

...Training! A character can now spend a IRL week and train, as long as they have the cash and so on to take care of themselves as far as food and boarding go. This will be a GREAT option for those that have to suddenly up and vamoose for whatever reason, or have busy schedules. Of course, the flip side is that a character has a slim chance of over-exerting themselves to death..but that is a very, very,very slim chance.

Even if someone ends up in recovery status (i.e. in a hospital or whathave you) from Windian events, you can still gain from Procing and all of that good stuff. (Gee, and here you all thought I was just sitting around on my bum twiddling thumbs.)

The site still looks like crap, mainly because the layout is getting tweaks and changes and i'm trying to make an actual stylesheet out of it so that it is *naturally* the way I want it..alot less fuss..but, if not..so it goes. I should have something up fairly soon, or as the situations allow.

Now then...as far as time management goes, that is on the (hopefully) positive change side. Can't say for certain, but its a BIG step and a necessary one if i'm going to be running this place again. W00t, w00t, and w00t again.

For those wondering why the heck the site went from cool space them to white and blue/red, its because I'm working on a new layout to put up here due to my new web editor. Its ALOT better, and much more how I wanted it to be.

In other news, last night completed one new class and one new race to the Windian list:

The Class: Channelers. They can channel spirits through them to do some pretty nasty things to the opponent. This can, however, backfire if they are not careful. They have 4 upgrades, depending on how you go about the class.

The Race: Shapeshifters. They look overall like humans, but theycan shapeshift to look like things they have seen or researched, taking on attributes of those things except for HP, MP..etc. They can also later on morph different parts of their body. No "official" name for em yet.

The forum may be dead. The former people may have forgotten, or just don't care anymore. I may well be talking to thin air. BUT..i'm going to do what I can..as long as I can manage to do it. That has to count for something.

To all you guys that want in, here is what I want..or rather, need.

1) Someone with some sort of knowledge of HTML. In in particular..dealing with forms, and linking to pictures.

2) I need a hand with things. SO, if you really want to help out..take your favorite race and give me a rough synopsis on at least 6 or 7 tribes for that race. Use the humans for an example. Racial abilities? Knacks? Let me know.

3) For those of you with the flashbang love of spells,psi, and the like..use Shadow Magic as an example, and lets see what you have. While i'm working on my own magics, I can add or work with whatever is thrown my way.

4) If you would like any places, religions, etc added in, now is the final call for it.

This is it, and I mean it. I'm going to work my ass off with what little time I have, but if you *seriously* want this thing up and running as much as I constantly hear..then stop saying it, and start showing it. Everyone wants to help and then weeks go by and I rarely see a thing. (Some people, however, in the past HAVE contributed some really cool ideas..and for that, thank you!)

Also, for those of y'all that contribute something that in full gets translated over and may be used for story purposes..(such as Randy and the Scorpion Clan..)..I would like to know whether you wish full credit on this or not..so if and when the day comes that that ends up in one of the books i've written..you can be properly credited or get a piece of the pie. (I refuse to cheat anyone. :p)

That said, i'm gathering up some more of my things so I can hammer a bunch of it while i'm out bowling with co-workers. (Yes, the one time i'm out enjoying myself,lol...but this has to get done.)

I've left some pretty good examples, by all means follow them. SP issues? Depends on the race die. 1-2d= 20 @ 2pL. 3d = 30/3pL, 4d = 40/4pL. No 5d,lol.

1d are the small or the weak races..or your average animal. 2d is humanoid races. 3 is for superhumans, and 4 is for elementals and supernaturals..except for spawns which are 3 (They were humanoid and now superhuman.) As you can see with the humans, there are many offshoots, possibly race dice wise as well.

All in all, this is something to remember. We want something that a player can have fun with. If you want to give them race abils up to Lv.100..well, its not an easy task..but give it a try! All in all, have fun.

But lets get this damn thing done already.