Checked out my Moddb site for my total conversion and had just enough words of encouragement (almost 2000 views, 14 followers) to push me over the motivational threshold. Made the phase transition from "thinking about possibly working", backburnering, to diving into the multiplex of dev applications and cutting the ice.
It helps that I got a couple features up and running within the first few hours. Usually it takes at least one all-nighter and an anurism to get any sizable piece of functionality up and running in an old rust-bucket engine like Deus Ex, with the programming and content entailed.
I've got the Augmentations screen in the process of being replaced with new installable "mods" such as a layer of wearable solar panel trim that can be stitched into your duster. In keeping with the favela/wasteland theme, there are no "batteries" or biocells to be bought at Wal Mart, so you've got to generate (or steal) all the electricity you need yourself. The "Skorched Urth" wearable photovoltaics work like an inverted augmentation that replenish energy reserves while active (and in sunlight), rather than depleting them.
In line with this, I'm thinking about some other skills I might add such as "sewing", which would assist with making mods to your cyber-urban hermit getup, which will be constantly falling apart and needing to be patched up.
The facial-identity stealing camera also requires more skill to use -- you need a direct frontal headshot, and the aiming is very shaky, so it will make it a little more challenging than a simple "point-click" affair to pull off the Shang Tsung thing.
I also added some game missions which can require with the "Nohface" digital facial biometrics masker. If, for example, you are able to successfully capture the facial profile of one of the CyberSec humanoid 'security' drones, you can mask yourself as one of these robocops and threaten thugs and others into doing what you want under threat of arrest, or death.
Along this same line, I'm considering adding a "charisma/pursuasion/acting" type skill which will affect your ability to convincingly impersonate the individual you're electronically masquerading as. Being able to literally become anyone would make many aspects of the world a piece of cake, it would seem. However, the consequences of being caught stealing others' identities would be equally dire. There are also the ethical considerations of identity theft and framing of others. I think this will make for an interesting and relevant new game dynamic, anyway, and expand the depth of character for roleplaying.
I think the key for me, given that I'm pretty much one-man-army on this, for now anyway, will be figuring out the maximum work-to-affect leverage points, the smallest changes that I can manage in whatever free time I can spare that will produce the greatest returns in terms of the vision and gaming experience.
Will post some pics when I get to that comp with the goodies in it.
Still looking for anyone who wants to throw in a voice or two! Also looking for any art anyone can spare. I need like menu stuff, inventory images for items interface etc., concept art. I'm not a pro by any means at that stuff and it usually takes me forever, so if you can pump out like a character sketch or a weapon icon or any kind of concept/ambiance art to flesh things out it would be super awesome sauce. Also still looking around for music!
