I can tell you that at work, I got inspired to work on my mod again, but who knows if I'll actually work on it tonight. Today was more of a general recovery-from-yesterday's-devastation plus catch-up-on-life day. I actually would have better luck talking about yesterday, where my girlfriend and I started watching a new anime, a magical girl anime. I don't remember the full title; all I remember is the protagonist's name, Asuka, being part of it.
We've only seen six or seven episodes, but so far, I really really like it. It has a genuinely interesting take on the concept of magical girls, and has an amazing capacity for worldbuilding; right off the bat, so much of the setting is given to you in so little time, but in a way where you're able to perfectly digest it. It doesn't drag on, it's not an info dump, not an exposition overload, and not done too subtly to miss it all; you can reasonably follow what's going on.
It's got a really good sense of pacing and strong characterization focus, with a continuous sense of intrigue. Some things are fairly predictable, but the show uses these predictable plot devices in a thoroughly entertaining way; it doesn't need to be original to still be good as a narrative, especially when it's framed the way it is. The concept's probably not the most original, but the execution of it is clean, pristine, and ridiculously well-done.
Quite worth the watch.
Especially since the characters are gay as gay can be. (Not that they've shown an actual kiss, but they've done everything short of it, with fairly explicit dialog, fairly explicit emotions expressed, and fairly explicit gestures that in Japan are "basically more intimate than any kiss".)
It surprised me, since I'd never heard of the show, yet it's just that good. I'm kinda assuming it's fairly newish, because if it wasn't new then I'd surely have heard of it if through nothing else my TVTropes binging. (Granted, been doing less binging these days than I used to, butstill.) Not a bad find for something we decided to more or less watch on a whim.
I guess I can also talk some more about the civ mod, even if I don't end up working on it tonight. (We'll have to see.)
Basically, there are three things I need to get done in order to get the scenario playable.
There's plenty of features that I want to include, but these three things are the things that need to be done for it to be passable.
One, I need to complete the world map. This is the main hurdle, because if you don't have a map, you can't so much as even playtest the scenario. The map needs to be there.
Two, I need to have the techs laid out and in a coherent fashion. This is almost just as important, because if you don't have the techs set up properly, then your game is literally unplayable.
Three, I need to have the documentation for everything set up before I work. This is necessary because it minimizes the chance of errors, makes the process less haphazard (if I'm doing one thing here and another thing there, the result is going to be a mess, whereas if I have everything laid out, I have a structure of exactly what I need to do), and basically gets me so that I can get everything done right.
Everything else will flow from there.
Science adviser giving commentary, optional, but nice touch.
Scores are something which will guarantee I'll keep playing the scenario over and over again, but ultimately aren't needed to make the game playable.
Resource display is something not needed to be playable and is an aesthetics thing.
Music is something to enhance the game, but not critical.
Heck, even setting up civ contacts is something not crucial, even if it's preferable.
I just need to get the work done.