An intriguing RPG plot. . .
by Kevin James · in Torque Game Builder · 08/03/2006 (8:30 am) · 31 replies
What are some ideas that you have for an intriguing RPG plot.
Too many big name games are the standard plot. Your character, being the ultimate embodiment of everything good and just, vs. Some other guy, with all the generic aspects of the typical archetype of the antagonist. (Evil in everything he does, no hope of redemption, merciless, with perhaps a touch of an maniacal laugh.) A lot of games I liked were like this. Both Dungeon Siege I & II, Darkstone, Diablo I & II, even Neverwinter Nights and Morrowind somewhat. Perhaps if we start introducing more interesting plots into our indie games then there will be more of a market for them. But as I said, even though those plots were straight out of the cookie cutter, people still like them. There should be a small percentage of people that yearn for something new, even if that something new is just something less used than most.
An example:
How many of you have seen Unbreakable by M. Night Shaymalan (I'm pretty sure I spelled his name wrong, lol) If you haven't seen it, go to the nearest video rental and rent it then watch it. I don't want to give away the ending, but that movie is an example of a interesting plot that isn't black and white to the last pixel.
So what are some ideas that you would like to share. Don't be afraid to share ideas that place yourself as the ultimate protaganist and your enemy as the ultimate evil-doer. I have to admit that the idea brewing my mind was black-n-white, but it has some interesting twists that kept the attention and the brain stimulating beyond: I MUST DESTROY EVIL-DOERS NO MATTER THE COST!
Lol.
Too many big name games are the standard plot. Your character, being the ultimate embodiment of everything good and just, vs. Some other guy, with all the generic aspects of the typical archetype of the antagonist. (Evil in everything he does, no hope of redemption, merciless, with perhaps a touch of an maniacal laugh.) A lot of games I liked were like this. Both Dungeon Siege I & II, Darkstone, Diablo I & II, even Neverwinter Nights and Morrowind somewhat. Perhaps if we start introducing more interesting plots into our indie games then there will be more of a market for them. But as I said, even though those plots were straight out of the cookie cutter, people still like them. There should be a small percentage of people that yearn for something new, even if that something new is just something less used than most.
An example:
How many of you have seen Unbreakable by M. Night Shaymalan (I'm pretty sure I spelled his name wrong, lol) If you haven't seen it, go to the nearest video rental and rent it then watch it. I don't want to give away the ending, but that movie is an example of a interesting plot that isn't black and white to the last pixel.
So what are some ideas that you would like to share. Don't be afraid to share ideas that place yourself as the ultimate protaganist and your enemy as the ultimate evil-doer. I have to admit that the idea brewing my mind was black-n-white, but it has some interesting twists that kept the attention and the brain stimulating beyond: I MUST DESTROY EVIL-DOERS NO MATTER THE COST!
Lol.
About the author
Computer security, digital forensics, and platform jumper enthusiast. shells.myw3b.net/~syreal/
#22
But I disagree to make the badguys simply insane. Insane bad guys are overdone. Especially if they're albino, have a strange Oedipus complex, carry big swords, can can cast a spell that implodes the sun and a few planets along the way... :)
But seriously, insane badguys are nowhere near as interesting as bad guys who are completely sane.
08/18/2006 (3:35 pm)
I agree with Jesse and Thomas that RPG's really lose that sense of scope by the end of the game - becoming powerful enough to destroy planets to kill the main bad guy.But I disagree to make the badguys simply insane. Insane bad guys are overdone. Especially if they're albino, have a strange Oedipus complex, carry big swords, can can cast a spell that implodes the sun and a few planets along the way... :)
But seriously, insane badguys are nowhere near as interesting as bad guys who are completely sane.
#23
08/19/2006 (7:27 am)
To boost the replayability of a game it is a good idea to let the player be able to join the bad guys. The bad guys should have a community at least equal to that of the good guys so the player can survive on either side. In Freelancer you can be a bad guy (pirate), but it its a lot harder than being "good".
#24
08/19/2006 (10:29 am)
Alternately, insane protagonists, especially the player, make very interesting characters and provide creepy, but sometimes amusing gameplay.
#25
But don't do amnesiacs. That's a bit overdone.
08/19/2006 (10:35 am)
I think Max Payne was one of the best executed "insane" character's I've seen.But don't do amnesiacs. That's a bit overdone.
#26
08/19/2006 (10:36 am)
Oh, and though open-ended gameplay gives more freedom, it doesn't make it easier to tell powerful narratives.
#27
08/19/2006 (11:13 am)
Indeed, the plot is completely seperate thing, though changing sides could be described as changing roles in the plot. It doesn't affect the actual plot, just the way you see it.
#28
Except... instead of Jesus her name's Kaylee.
And she's trying to stop the Apocalypse because it's really a ploy by God to get people into believing in him.
And i'm planning for it to be a whole epic episodic 2d scroller/shooter/hack-n-slash game. But I need to get the gameplay down first.
Anyway just thought i'd share.
08/21/2006 (12:10 pm)
I'm actually working on a game that's religiously based... Kinda. Basically it's the whole end-of-the-world/rapture/apocalypse thing where you play as the reincarnation of Christ. Except... instead of Jesus her name's Kaylee.
And she's trying to stop the Apocalypse because it's really a ploy by God to get people into believing in him.
And i'm planning for it to be a whole epic episodic 2d scroller/shooter/hack-n-slash game. But I need to get the gameplay down first.
Anyway just thought i'd share.
#31
Depends. It's pretty popular. Two anime come to mind...
Chrono Crusade - In the first episode, a young nun controls a demon to fight other demons and they fire guns with crosses on it and cross shaped bullets. In order to get the best weapons to fight demons she (the nun) has to flash herself at the lusty old inventor.
Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne - The main character is the reincarnation of Joan of Arc, who has to fight the Devil by stealing beautiful artwork that has been possessed. If the Devil takes all the positive energy from such beautiful artwork, then the Devil can destroy God with all the energy he has taken. Jeanne uses a "rosary" (which looks more like a wand from Sailor Moon) that transforms into the various tools she uses for her capers.
It just seems to me that the Japanese completely miss the point. But they come up with really interesting ideas in the meantime, like Evangelion. And I can't argue that they make a pretty mint from it.
08/23/2006 (11:26 am)
@Sam:Depends. It's pretty popular. Two anime come to mind...
Chrono Crusade - In the first episode, a young nun controls a demon to fight other demons and they fire guns with crosses on it and cross shaped bullets. In order to get the best weapons to fight demons she (the nun) has to flash herself at the lusty old inventor.
Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne - The main character is the reincarnation of Joan of Arc, who has to fight the Devil by stealing beautiful artwork that has been possessed. If the Devil takes all the positive energy from such beautiful artwork, then the Devil can destroy God with all the energy he has taken. Jeanne uses a "rosary" (which looks more like a wand from Sailor Moon) that transforms into the various tools she uses for her capers.
It just seems to me that the Japanese completely miss the point. But they come up with really interesting ideas in the meantime, like Evangelion. And I can't argue that they make a pretty mint from it.
Torque 3D Owner Jesse Liles