EVERYBODY SHUT UP!
OK, sorry.
My email's been down for a few days so I haven't known about the updates in this thread. Here's my stance on the entire SP experience in Xonotic.
1) We have to use monsters, not bots, or the game will become to repetitive.
2) There will be a few nature maps according to my current, completed outline of the story (which I apologize for not having advanced the scripting on much lately. I've been kinda busy with work). These maps will have various terrains (I'm trying to not get repetitive and keep the player on their toes) and will be mixed in with futuristic factories, bases, etc.
3) The weapon's will not change as far as stats on the actual guns, but I think weapon placement will be mostly up to map designers. They will know what weapons will work best in the maps. Beta testers and the like will be able to give them feedback on weapon placement so they can fine-tune it.
4) The majority of my script will consist of cutscenes because those are important parts of the story. There will also be directions for certain level-design elements that advance the plot. However, most level-design options will be left up to map builders to put their own flavor into the game. This is a community project, after all. I cannot (and don't want to) write every aspect of the game and then tell everyone to conform. I'll lay down a skeleton and give the important details, then let the respective members of the community give their input and add their own styles and features (within reason). I'm by no means "running things" but since I'm currently the only one working on a real script (along with Roanoke), he and I are pretty much the ones in charge of that area right now.
5) More on cutscenes: some are "big" and should be rendered as a video (too much action for some machines to handle, or for whatever other reason). Others (most) can (and should be) be rendered in-game by the engine. As far as I know, there is some form of video support in DarkPlaces. If not, I hope someone can get it in (it used to be in there, so it probably still is).
6) Note to Beefeater: There
will indeed be at least one level in which the player faces wild beasts while hiking to a base in the snow (yes, snow. I said there were nature maps
). Actually, I believe there are currently at least
two maps with wild animals. Maybe three, I can't remember...
I think I've got some stuff for everyone in the campaign I'm writing. If not, the community can always give me feedback and a few updates can be drafted in. This is a community effort.