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Story telling?
dominia
Member Posts: 191
Coming from a FFXI background I was wondering how stories in instances are told?
Are there cut scenes (FFXI and GW), scripted scenes (where everyone is stationary except the actor npcs like LotRO) or is the only storyline info coming from npc's talking (WoW).
I understand the DM helps enrich the atmosphere but I'm really looking for epic, cinematic storylines. Any thoughts?
Currently Playing: GW2
Retired: Shadowbane, DAoC, WoW, FFXI, Eve Online, SWToR
Comments
DDO does not have cinimatic or scripted story lines like that. No cut scenes, most of the story about a quest is written and the DM in the dungeon does some talking but not so much story line.
Is this included for the high level dungeons as well? I can only assume so.
What is your oppinion of DDO's story telling then if you can onyl get plot from quests? Tons of dungeons with loosely based objectives mentioned by the npc's?
Currently Playing: GW2
Retired: Shadowbane, DAoC, WoW, FFXI, Eve Online, SWToR
The Aphelion MMO Blog - GW2 Initial Impressions
You get the normal story through NPCs and the DM voiceover at certain points (there are the odd bits of NPC scenes like a thief running away, or waiting for the library caretaker to be out of sight, a dragon in a mind contest with a mindflayer, an inevitable stomping along on its mission down another passage, or mirrors showing your altered image as a devil, actually quite a few bits thinking about it
), the real difference is the quality and uniqueness of the quests themselves (think of the best instances in other MMOs, this is what all DDO quests are like, if not better). They almost play like a story, especially if you do them with friends for the first time.
A RP guild is where you will probably get that extra layer, the environment and quests are a very rich backdrop.
Edit: You do get events in dungeons as well, doors will slam shut, walls will slide to one side to expose an ambush, coffins will burst open, floors will fall away, oil will flood the floor sliding you towards spinning blades, NPCs will sound the alarm, fire jets will shoot up melting ice, puzzles will need to be solved, tombraider type leaping between ledges will be required..... and a lot more.
There is story telling, its just a different type of story telling. The difference is mostly in the point of view. Most game stories are given in a cinimatic almost omnicient 3rd person point of view. DDO stories are from your character's point of view. What do you see? What do you hear? Often, what you notice is even based on character statistics like 'listen' and 'spot'. Play a dumb brute with your head in a tin can and you may not even realize you're in a dungeon let alone why you are in that dungeon. Play a character with keen senses and you'll be filled in on lots of details along the way.
I guess in DDO it feels a lot more like your story rather than a story.
There's actually quite a bit of "story" taking place during the adventures. the core background and direction of the "story" is experianced in the dialogue when gaining or advancing quests although most quests have regular situations which require skill based checks that enhance the DM's Narration and frequently give hints. During a quest you will experiance various triggers from NPC's or environments which will enhance the story and further your progression towards completion. For instance, there's a DM Narration that informs you of the sound of cracking ice when you ring a gong...dare you ring it twice?
DDO has one of the best directed experiances in an online mmo and I could not thin of anything remotely similar in any way. As with most online game content, you're not required to read the dialogue but you're bound to start asking questions along the way if you've missed directions or hints.
The story of each quest is told by an NPC usually and it is most read and not voiced over. The DM adds to the feel of each quest but does not really tell a story. Since I do not really like story based games DDOs way of doing it is great for me. Cinematics and cut scenes work better for me in single player games. In MMOs they tend to get in the way. GW cut scenes were cool the first time but some were long and in a group all it takes is one person wanting to see it to make me sit through it for the fifth time. No thanks.