What do you want in your program?

[Teddust]

I'm currently writing up a spec sheet for a java based chat program for playing RPGs. I had written one previously, which included dice rolling, character sheets, file sharing, room listing and the like but required IE 5 and windows to run. This one, I plan on writing so any computer with a java enabled browser can run it.

What I'm looking for are ideas that will be implemented into the program. I want it to run from the web instead of requiring a download and install, though if having an install of a program so it runs while offline is important, I will look into that option. However, these are my planned features.

Version 1 Features

• IRC Style chat with multiple colors - including /me command, /dm command (text only goes to DMs), /whisper and status commands (afk and the like)
• /dice command which allows for any xDy style dice, with modifyers, replaced rolls (10D6 reroll 6's), etc.
• Windows to display HTML for character sheets, story or anything else
• File sharing between players
• Status for DMs, allowing them to ban, send files to all players and roll dice privately
• Maps with JPG or GIF backgrounds and overlayed grids, updateable by the DM
• Room listing IRC style, with number of players and who's playing (should be a given, but you never know...)
• User profiles, verified accounts (by e-mail) and the ability to message anyone who's logged in, not just those in your game
• Bans by IP and by Account
• SMALL memory footprint and quick response, even on 28.8k (it's chat, no reason to go slow)

Planned Features for Later

• Plug in modules for mapping, character creation, random encounters or anything else (receipe sharing if you like)
• Built in support and rules for gaming systems that wish to be included (in character creation and in help files)
• Anything else suggested that is reasonable (programming in every WotC book is NOT reasonable)

To start, this will give just the ability to chat to other players with dice rolling and character sheets. However, it is being designed from the ground up to connect with other modules so that design upgrades are not difficult. What I'm looking for are suggestions on what you want to be able to do with a WebRPG type program that you're not charged to use and is must faster and less buggy.

If there are certain types of dice rolling that you want to be able to do, tell me. If you want to be able to sort the user list by order of the second character of the third name, in decending order, tell me. Anything else, tell me.

If anyone is curious what my first effort at this looks like, send me an e-mail and i'll be happy to send it to you. Of course, the room server is now offline, but you can still connect by IP and roll dice and test it out. That should give you an idea of what I'm aiming for as a beta, then adding mapping and DM tools for version 1.0

John
john@vgonetwork.com