Comments on: The plot thickens… http://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/ Independent Games Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:01:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: monkkonen.net – Independent Gameshttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-471 monkkonen.net – Independent Games Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:28:21 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-471 [...] I talked about choosing a better plot for the beginning of the game. If you want to keep the beginning a suprise, don’t read any [...] [...] I talked about choosing a better plot for the beginning of the game. If you want to keep the beginning a suprise, don’t read any [...]

]]> By: Edhttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-457 Ed Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:50:48 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-457 Hi,Well, I quite like the Golem idea myself.I can't remember the name of the book, but it was one where there was a golem - the protagonist - and he had some quest to do... aided by his friends and being chased by his enemies. It all turns out that he was an experiment, and that the whole thing was a sham. Everything was set up to see how it would react... Hi,

Well, I quite like the Golem idea myself.

I can’t remember the name of the book, but it was one where there was a golem – the protagonist – and he had some quest to do… aided by his friends and being chased by his enemies. It all turns out that he was an experiment, and that the whole thing was a sham. Everything was set up to see how it would react…

]]> By: Villehttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-429 Ville Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:00:40 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-429 That's a pretty interesting approach. I haven't really started working on the town yet, so I don't know how ending the curse will go. But it will just be a step on the way towards the real goal, so it could very well be a game mechanic like that. That’s a pretty interesting approach. I haven’t really started working on the town yet, so I don’t know how ending the curse will go. But it will just be a step on the way towards the real goal, so it could very well be a game mechanic like that.

]]> By: DRLhttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-426 DRL Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:18:26 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-426 Maybe you can explain why Bobby is a skeleton with something like "Bobby tried to stop AAA, who after taking some damage, cast a spell upon Bobby, turning him into a skeleton". I say this because you mentioned "Brother Bobby", which to me at least, seems to be an human. Maybe you can explain why Bobby is a skeleton with something like “Bobby tried to stop AAA, who after taking some damage, cast a spell upon Bobby, turning him into a skeleton”.
I say this because you mentioned “Brother Bobby”, which to me at least, seems to be an human.

]]> By: DRLhttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-425 DRL Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:15:45 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-425 "Capital city is plagued by a curse." That gives me an idea. Phearps you can add some way to measure the current power of the Curse, so the player knows how strong it is. Initially, it is only in the Capital city, then it starts to spread to nearby towns, cities, farmlands, ect. corrupting/taking control of everything there. Maybe one way of losing the game could be when the Curse grows strong enough to take control of you, but you can delay this by becoming stronger (for example, gaining levels) while as the Curse becomes stronger this time shortens (of course, for the 'Curse takes control of you' stuff you need to be in a place controlled by the Curse). The player can stop the advance of the Curse in some places if he is present there and fights it´s minions (zombies or whatever they are, but they are under the Curse´s control thus they help to spread it). The more the areas controlled by the Curse, the stronger it is, and so stronger are it´s minions, and thus it becomes harder to defeat. (For a nice twist, the Curse´s minions should not weaken as the Curse does. So the player has to think it 2 times before letting the Curse take over a town).Well, I think it is an original idea, though given how I explained it, I am quite sure that it would not be in the actual game. (But if you can make a mod with a "while you are there, in other places stuff does happen" ability then I think it would be cool. Maybe even I could do it?)Anyway, the King plot seems interesting enough that way ville, althrough you may agree with me that there is allways room for expansion/improvement. “Capital city is plagued by a curse.” That gives me an idea. Phearps you can add some way to measure the current power of the Curse, so the player knows how strong it is. Initially, it is only in the Capital city, then it starts to spread to nearby towns, cities, farmlands, ect. corrupting/taking control of everything there. Maybe one way of losing the game could be when the Curse grows strong enough to take control of you, but you can delay this by becoming stronger (for example, gaining levels) while as the Curse becomes stronger this time shortens (of course, for the ‘Curse takes control of you’ stuff you need to be in a place controlled by the Curse). The player can stop the advance of the Curse in some places if he is present there and fights it´s minions (zombies or whatever they are, but they are under the Curse´s control thus they help to spread it). The more the areas controlled by the Curse, the stronger it is, and so stronger are it´s minions, and thus it becomes harder to defeat. (For a nice twist, the Curse´s minions should not weaken as the Curse does. So the player has to think it 2 times before letting the Curse take over a town).

Well, I think it is an original idea, though given how I explained it, I am quite sure that it would not be in the actual game. (But if you can make a mod with a “while you are there, in other places stuff does happen” ability then I think it would be cool. Maybe even I could do it?)

Anyway, the King plot seems interesting enough that way ville, althrough you may agree with me that there is allways room for expansion/improvement.

]]> By: Quicksand T.http://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-423 Quicksand T. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:17:49 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-423 Holy crap, some of these responses are enormous.Personally I didn't dislike the plot in the demo, although I was a bit unclear on the whole portal thing, especially the relationship between where I started and the world on the other side of the portal. Maybe I skipped over some important exposition so I could get back to dragging thing around (I love the physics in this game!).Personally I would have the plot start the same, but then take a twist. For example, your starting character could die or get The Curse part-way into the game. Then your control could switch to another character, taking up the original mission or maybe even working against it. Like this short film: http://vimeo.com/5510477I'd like to see Bobby the Skeleton in the actual game, too. Maybe you could sail by his island at one point, but never actually interact with him. That would be cool. Holy crap, some of these responses are enormous.

Personally I didn’t dislike the plot in the demo, although I was a bit unclear on the whole portal thing, especially the relationship between where I started and the world on the other side of the portal. Maybe I skipped over some important exposition so I could get back to dragging thing around (I love the physics in this game!).

Personally I would have the plot start the same, but then take a twist. For example, your starting character could die or get The Curse part-way into the game. Then your control could switch to another character, taking up the original mission or maybe even working against it. Like this short film: http://vimeo.com/5510477

I’d like to see Bobby the Skeleton in the actual game, too. Maybe you could sail by his island at one point, but never actually interact with him. That would be cool.

]]> By: Villehttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-422 Ville Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:41:38 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-422 To be frank I never thought of the golem idea much myself, but you do make it sound pretty interesting. It could really affect gameplay in ways that have never been used before in an RPG - just a matter of thinking what a golem can do. I think I'll investigate this further.Up until now I was thinking about the king plot. I know it's a bit traditional, but it would go something like this: -The player is on his way to his crowning and wedding with the princess BBB, Baron Asrald as a child, brother Bobby and his trusted Wizard AAA. -After they reach a mountain pass, Suddenly AAA turns on them and apologises. The baron runs, and AAA taunts him. -The player and BBB are turned into stone by AAA. -AAA turns to pronounce the reign of his evil invisible master CCC. -30 years pass. -The good wizard Samuel unstones the player. -The player can ask Samuel what has happened: -Baron Asrald has just brought him here and left to capital to find BBB. Capital city is plagued by a curse. To be frank I never thought of the golem idea much myself, but you do make it sound pretty interesting. It could really affect gameplay in ways that have never been used before in an RPG – just a matter of thinking what a golem can do. I think I’ll investigate this further.

Up until now I was thinking about the king plot. I know it’s a bit traditional, but it would go something like this:
-The player is on his way to his crowning and wedding with the princess BBB, Baron Asrald as a child, brother Bobby and his trusted Wizard AAA.
-After they reach a mountain pass, Suddenly AAA turns on them and apologises. The baron runs, and AAA taunts him.
-The player and BBB are turned into stone by AAA.
-AAA turns to pronounce the reign of his evil invisible master CCC.
-30 years pass.
-The good wizard Samuel unstones the player.
-The player can ask Samuel what has happened: -Baron Asrald has just brought him here and left to capital to find BBB. Capital city is plagued by a curse.

]]> By: Amarthhttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-421 Amarth Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:13:05 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-421 The golem idea might have more merit than I would have thought initially. Thinking back about P:T, the fact that you couldn't die (a rather unique PC trait) was central to a whole lot of things. It was important in gameplay, as you could experiment. It was important in the story, in various sorts of ways (explore your previous lives, find out why you are immortal), it was used in at least one puzzle, ... Making the PC a golem (or, well, any slightly abnormal idea might work) might give you a lot of interesting options to put in the story, gameplay, combat, puzzles and, well, everything. The golem idea might have more merit than I would have thought initially. Thinking back about P:T, the fact that you couldn’t die (a rather unique PC trait) was central to a whole lot of things. It was important in gameplay, as you could experiment. It was important in the story, in various sorts of ways (explore your previous lives, find out why you are immortal), it was used in at least one puzzle, … Making the PC a golem (or, well, any slightly abnormal idea might work) might give you a lot of interesting options to put in the story, gameplay, combat, puzzles and, well, everything.

]]> By: Endymionhttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-420 Endymion Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:57:04 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-420 Dwarf one isn't so bad as long as he ends up outside the house and reason for his escape is related to the plot like curse being a product of a monster that attacked the mines, causing the dwarf to go on a quest for revenge without having much interest in the curse. So maybe monster should be product of the curse or whoever made curse so that dwarf would go after it after defeating the monster.Thousand year old king would allow for him to have a opinion on the current state of the world which might provide some interesting dialog. But how would being a king make him more qualified to stop the curse instead of any random dead person? Why would the wizard except him to even want to stop the curse unless he was famous for loving his kingdom and being ready to help it in any way possible. Being a king isn't necessarily very enjoyable. But if he had just decided to go explore the world for a while(why would powerful people die of old age?) and then returning to find his home in trouble then it'd be much more reasonable.Golem seems like the best idea and would definitely be interesting and allow all kind of cool things. Being simply made by the wizard isn't necessarily that interesting. Being made thousand years ago by some great person who ordered him to guard something for hundreds of years and developing some level of self awareness while at it and then someone coming and taking whatever he's guarding and damaging him badly in the process and then being fixed by a curious wizard who found him laying amidst junk and rubble would be interesting. So after waking up the golem would have no idea how long has it been and what to do except that the item that gave him a purpose and spent many long years together with is missing. This would leave the player quite free to decide what he wants to do and be in different situations even more so than if he was some random person. Also meeting "old friends" who he met before he out of boredom started developing personality and paying attention to unnecessary things unrelated to his tasks sounds neat. In addition golem's physiology should allow all kinds of interesting modifications and other stuff. Dwarf one isn’t so bad as long as he ends up outside the house and reason for his escape is related to the plot like curse being a product of a monster that attacked the mines, causing the dwarf to go on a quest for revenge without having much interest in the curse. So maybe monster should be product of the curse or whoever made curse so that dwarf would go after it after defeating the monster.

Thousand year old king would allow for him to have a opinion on the current state of the world which might provide some interesting dialog. But how would being a king make him more qualified to stop the curse instead of any random dead person? Why would the wizard except him to even want to stop the curse unless he was famous for loving his kingdom and being ready to help it in any way possible. Being a king isn’t necessarily very enjoyable. But if he had just decided to go explore the world for a while(why would powerful people die of old age?) and then returning to find his home in trouble then it’d be much more reasonable.

Golem seems like the best idea and would definitely be interesting and allow all kind of cool things. Being simply made by the wizard isn’t necessarily that interesting. Being made thousand years ago by some great person who ordered him to guard something for hundreds of years and developing some level of self awareness while at it and then someone coming and taking whatever he’s guarding and damaging him badly in the process and then being fixed by a curious wizard who found him laying amidst junk and rubble would be interesting. So after waking up the golem would have no idea how long has it been and what to do except that the item that gave him a purpose and spent many long years together with is missing. This would leave the player quite free to decide what he wants to do and be in different situations even more so than if he was some random person. Also meeting “old friends” who he met before he out of boredom started developing personality and paying attention to unnecessary things unrelated to his tasks sounds neat. In addition golem’s physiology should allow all kinds of interesting modifications and other stuff.

]]> By: DRLhttp://www.instantkingdom.com/2009/11/the-plot-thickens/comment-page-1/#comment-419 DRL Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:06:52 +0000 http://www.monkkonen.net/?p=681#comment-419 @Vynzs: That is how I pointed it out in 'Idea #1'.Regarding the plot, well, I agree with Amarth´s point of view. However, since you asked ideas for the plot ville, here are some: 1)You are the Baron, but a spell (cast by the Curse´s creator) teleported you out of Driftmoon and made you forget who you are. Now Samuel, your friend, told you that your son (yeah, he also tells you that you have a son) did not make it out as planned, and tells you the only way to find him is to travel to Driftmoon. Then the monk there tells him he too, is infected... Now you go on a quest to end the Curse and save your son. [The player discovers more about his past and who he really is along the way...]2)You are a nobody, just some random guy that is a flunk at school. However, you have a power that not many other humans have - the power to understand, as well as use, magic. But you do not know this - you are just someone. Then one day, a mysterious man, by the name of Samuel Shipwright (Hopefully I wrote this correctly) comes to you and tells you that he needs help to end a terrible evil that plagues his homeworld (or 'homemoon, he,he...) and tells you that he is assembling a team of young people who will help him free his world. Of course you do not believe him. But then he takes out his 'Elemental Stone', and as soon as the stones touches you, it starts to shine stongly. He tells you that you, along a few other individuals, are capable of learning how to use magic, and he will teach you how to do so if you agree to help him. (You there, of course, agree...) Then, he takes you (and the others) to Driftmoon, where you start to learn magic. Soon, however, the Curse reaches the town you are staying at, and you are forced to disperse (and then gather togheter again) by the order of Samuel the Wizard. So, your quest to gather your companions (and to end the Curse after that) begins...Possible plot additions to this are: *One of Samuel´s students falls under the influence of the Curse´s creator and, opposite to his/her original goal, becomes your enemy and tries to stop you. *Samuel IS the curse´s creator. However he needs to sacrifice several selected individuals (proficent in magic) in order for the Curse to gain it´s complete power. You discover this near the end and try to stop him (you do so along any still-alive student that came with you from Earth, who depending on how long the fight lasts, might be 'sacrificed' during it). *YOU are the Curse´s creator. However, some unknow force (gods, wizard, spirits, ect.) gave you a second chance to correct your wrongs. Your memories are gone, as well as your power. But soon you start to recover both and, at the end, you must choose to either end the Curse or take control of it.Well, those are some ideas... Hopefully something can be made out of this. @Vynzs: That is how I pointed it out in ‘Idea #1′.

Regarding the plot, well, I agree with Amarth´s point of view.
However, since you asked ideas for the plot ville, here are some:
1)You are the Baron, but a spell (cast by the Curse´s creator) teleported you out of Driftmoon and made you forget who you are. Now Samuel, your friend, told you that your son (yeah, he also tells you that you have a son) did not make it out as planned, and tells you the only way to find him is to travel to Driftmoon. Then the monk there tells him he too, is infected… Now you go on a quest to end the Curse and save your son. [The player discovers more about his past and who he really is along the way...]

2)You are a nobody, just some random guy that is a flunk at school. However, you have a power that not many other humans have – the power to understand, as well as use, magic. But you do not know this – you are just someone. Then one day, a mysterious man, by the name of Samuel Shipwright (Hopefully I wrote this correctly) comes to you and tells you that he needs help to end a terrible evil that plagues his homeworld (or ‘homemoon, he,he…) and tells you that he is assembling a team of young people who will help him free his world. Of course you do not believe him. But then he takes out his ‘Elemental Stone’, and as soon as the stones touches you, it starts to shine stongly. He tells you that you, along a few other individuals, are capable of learning how to use magic, and he will teach you how to do so if you agree to help him. (You there, of course, agree…)
Then, he takes you (and the others) to Driftmoon, where you start to learn magic. Soon, however, the Curse reaches the town you are staying at, and you are forced to disperse (and then gather togheter again) by the order of Samuel the Wizard.
So, your quest to gather your companions (and to end the Curse after that) begins…

Possible plot additions to this are:
*One of Samuel´s students falls under the influence of the Curse´s creator and, opposite to his/her original goal, becomes your enemy and tries to stop you.
*Samuel IS the curse´s creator. However he needs to sacrifice several selected individuals (proficent in magic) in order for the Curse to gain it´s complete power. You discover this near the end and try to stop him (you do so along any still-alive student that came with you from Earth, who depending on how long the fight lasts, might be ‘sacrificed’ during it).
*YOU are the Curse´s creator. However, some unknow force (gods, wizard, spirits, ect.) gave you a second chance to correct your wrongs. Your memories are gone, as well as your power. But soon you start to recover both and, at the end, you must choose to either end the Curse or take control of it.

Well, those are some ideas… Hopefully something can be made out of this.

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