Be given the story or create your own.

Phil

  Which would you prefer to be given a story like final fantasy where you live the given story or how about you were given the freedom to create your own story in a unspoilt world where you have to do everything? When would it be too much, where would you draw the line?

ianubisi

I want multi-threaded, scripted content with the freedom to decide to pursue it or pursue my own derivative alternative.

The Daggerfall series (Morrowind, etc...) is precisely the kind of thing I'm speaking of.  If the spirit of this could be recreated in a MMOG faithfully I would be ecstatic.

squeee

If it is a good story that recieves constant updates from the dev team then the story.  If it doesn't recieve updates then what do you do when you are done?

To create your own there has to be plenty to do and most MMORPG now a days are lacking this on initial release to keep you entertained.

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"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning."
Rich Cook.

"The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That's where we come in; we're computer professionals. We cause accidents."
Nathaniel Borenstein .

pacdude

MMORPG with a story give a reason to play the game.... if there wasnt a story then i guess you'd jus be going around killin stuff for no reason at all 

Koltrane

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Originally posted by ianubisi

I want multi-threaded, scripted content with the freedom to decide to pursue it or pursue my own derivative alternative.

Good answer!  My sentiments exactly, Ian.

The Daggerfall series (Morrowind, etc...) is precisely the kind of thing I'm speaking of.  If the spirit of this could be recreated in a MMOG faithfully I would be ecstatic.

Hear, hear!  Morrowind is the best RPG I've played in the last 2 years and I never met another player driven character, simply because none exist.  Why the Elder Scrolls people aren't working on a massively multiplayer version of their universe (especially when everyone else is working on a MMOG) is a mystery.  That would be a huge MMOG, to be sure!

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Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate. (written on the SW:G CD)

A: 73% E: 73% S: 40% K: 13%

Phil

  The Daggerfall series had the right idea when trying to give the player more freedom within the world and personalise the character they were playing to a higher level than any RPG to date. Although the character still wasnt your own. He/she(cant remeber if you could be a female) had a history. You were on the wrong side of the law. The histroy given doesnt matter, its the fact that the history is linked to the character in such a way that its part of the character you have taken over. Every person who played the game had the same history.

  Yes, you could personalise the character somewhat by answering questions on how you would react in certain situations. This gave the character qualities close to that of the players,that is if you answered them truthfully:). This is possibly one of, if not the best way too allow a player to create their own character for them to live through. But as i said above, your still the same character as the one given to you by the games creators.

  Game players are used to being given the story and the goals to aim for within games. Most dont want to let go, be given the freedom to do what they want, be what they want without any prefabricated goals or personal storylines to their character. In one of the posts to the initial question it says - "MMORPG with a story gives reason to play the game....if there wasnt a story then i guess you'd just be going around killin stuff for no reason at all" - pacdude. This is exactly what im talking about. Give a story but one where its general, to the world the MMORPG is set. Not a personal one. Let the player make the story.

   The second part of the quote happens anyway. Most will eventually find themselfs killing both computer controlled and human controlled characterts at some point. Id say its mainly because the story has run out or its too crap and theres nothing else to do within the world. What if though. As above, the player creates his/her own story, which means there are endless stories to get involved in. Endless! Although this would depend on a few things. The world would have to be full of interesting things, constantly changing. Evolving. Players should be able to do as they please. No more "Why cant i climb that tree?" "Why cant i use that as a weapon?" "Why cant i eat that?" and so on. All those times youve said to yourself, "WHY!?!".

   A world like this would have to be unbelievable. Detailed in everyway, detailed in a new way. And if done, there would be diversity, and with that come all the stories. An endless amount of stories you could join,become a part of and create.

   This was the direction i hoped the original post would lead to within this forum. I hope this one has gotten some ideas and imaginations going. I would love to hear any thoughts you have on this and any related subjects.

Phil

  

Camaalis

I much prefer being able to make my own story.  However, a good solid background story has to be in the game as well as a good atmosphere.

darkman

If you guys enjoy creating your own story so to speak, check out www.wurmonline.com , its a java based game using Open GL, the graphics looks nice for java, and impressive qualities the game will have. Right now, it is in early alpha testing, so don't expect alot, but for now, basically, there are no NPC's in the game (yea, I'm not lying :P), you set the stage for the world, the community bands together or separates, we create towns, or go our own way. You can build houses in the game and stuff, lots of skills, and there are no levels in the game, just skills that you raise. Right now no monsters, but that is expected to be added in soon. Right now we are a fun-loving community, give us a shot .

 

Oh, and I enjoy creating my own storyline, it get's annoying repeating the same thing always, I like uniqueness.

Omol

It really dont matter to me much, I like to be given a story to start with but I always like to add background to my character when I can.

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Omol da'Ox
The Blooded