RPG Help

[Cobra]

I'm developing an RPG with some friends for private release.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas they wouldn't mind sharing with me that you think could inspire.

The game is an apocalypse story. A young, soon-to-be married thief performs an act of righteousness just before his death by betrayal. He is given a second chance at life as a demon by means of a contract with the Devil. The terms of the contract realize the end of the world unbeknownst to him, so he agrees. He is sent to a time that is not his own to exact the deeds, and quickly realizes the only way to return to his time (and his betrothed) is if he follows orders. But those that know the truth behind his deeds get involved and try to stop him.

The game is set in a steampunk era of city states and spralling territories of kingdoms and democracies. Not unlike what Squaresoft did with the Ivalice timeline.

Any thoughts or questions?

 

[Dissident]

Is this for a videogame or P&P?
Do you want help with the system or the story/setting?

 

[Cobra]

I don't actually need help. We're in the midst of outlining the general flow of the story. I was just seeing if anyone had any commentary or ideas that they never thought would see the light of day. : D If someone came up with something interesting (ranging from a possible ground breaking ending to the concept for an in-game puzzle to something as simple as the color of the hero's clothing), I'd love to use it!

Edit: This is a video game.

 

[PonderedMusings]

Since we're INTP's here, I'll be honest. Not to hurt but to help.

I'm not crazy about the backstory to the main character, kidna feels a little cliche or even edging in on lame.

It has some potential, but i think you need to get mroe out of the box with it.

How bout instead of being betrayed, dieing, and becoming a demon; he steals a pendant(implied to be for the female interest, but not said directly out loud). He places it around his neck, only to find himself launched into a strange and unfamilar place. (here you can start to introduce perhaps an ambigous person, possibly a villian, but unknown to the player) who tells the thief whats hes taken and what he needs to do to return home. Or, when he arrives, he could possibly end up in the middle of a murder scene, or something along those lines, perhaps instead he actually helps someone incredibly famous(princess, or what have you depending on the setting) and is made famous for it, making his tasks harder to carry out under all the attention.

I know I put alot out there, but feel free to tell me what you like and don't like, or add and change bits. A good begining setting and plot can make all the difference, IMO

 

[Cobra]

I'm not crazy about the backstory to the main character, kidna feels a little cliche or even edging in on lame.

Hahahahaha. Wow. Talk about honesty! Do you really think it sounds cliché? Okay... Hmm. I'll take your opinion seriously. I want commentary! I'm not afraid of criticism, so I appreciate that. I'll be honest, too, and say I've heard the opposite from those who have come into contact with it. (Can you elaborate more on this? It's really important for me to know what makes a person's opinion theirs!)

I think summarizing the story is hard to do without making it sound silly... I'm going to refrain from disclosing too much detail unless someone actually requests that more be said about the plot. I don't wanna type-type-type away any minimal interest this thread might have to the other posters.

How bout instead of being betrayed, dieing, and becoming a demon; he steals a pendant(implied to be for the female interest, but not said directly out loud). He places it around his neck, only to find himself launched into a strange and unfamilar place.

Now see... Hmph. Originality doesn't seem to shine through with this suggestion, but I don't dislike where you're going with this. I've seen distant incarnations of this in the popular anime series, Inuyasha, Quantum Leap/Stargate SG1/Sliders (those are basically the same show lol... which never stopped me from watching them rofl), quite a few Zelda titles, even in some of my favorite FF's.

We originally had developed a sort of strange, abstract idea where the love for this woman and the hatred of this betrayer (his supposed best friend selling him out) created such polar emotions so strong that God and the Devil's power were reawakened and a "prophecy" was born. The idea was that God and the Devil were "dormant" because people's lack of faith in the world had diminished their existence. This prophecy born would reignite their power and send him into his situation. It's difficult to articulate, so it was ultimately written out of our current story draft... I'd like to know your opinions of it.

(here you can start to introduce perhaps an ambigous person, possibly a villian, but unknown to the player) who tells the thief whats hes taken and what he needs to do to return home.

"The Devil's Advocate" is a frequent protagonist in this adventure. He writes up the "Purgatorial Contract" that the main character signs that is riddled with "fine print" head-to-toe that ultimately becomes the backbone of the first half of the game. He returns at the beginning and end of each of the first few chapters (and continues to appear throughout the game speaking on behalf of the Devil) to speak about what has happened, and what will happen following. He pretends to be trying to help the hero, but, in fact, is just using him to ensue Armagheddon. Each time, the hero gets more and more aggravated that the tasks spelled out in the contract are actually candy-coated to seem ordinary, but they keep causing very significant and catastrophic events to occur as their double ententre.

Or, when he arrives, he could possibly end up in the middle of a murder scene, or something along those lines, perhaps instead he actually helps someone incredibly famous(princess, or what have you depending on the setting) and is made famous for it, making his tasks harder to carry out under all the attention.

I think this is a wonderful idea for a part in the game! I might even use it! This could be perfect for a segue into the current chapter we're writing. We're trying to find an "in" for a part where a person of great importance takes sides with the party's cause. We couldn't figure out a way to make him controversial enough, but you've given me the idea that we could make him some sort of legislative figure who plans to advocate amnesty for the hero after he's charged/accused of causing the havoc that the first two chapters have wrought. Thank you! It will need some tweaks, but this is good.

Does anyone else have questions or ideas for me? I really like this! Thank you, PM!

EDIT: So much for not "type-type-typing!" lol

 

[Artifice Orisit]

Is this RPG combat focused or not?

Finding a New Path: Ask yourself "what elements are common in existing games?" not just in terms of gameplay or story, what underlying rules remain to be broken? If the player dies in most games one of two things will happen, respawn or game ends, but why must this be so? Suppose for a moment that after the player dies the game may reflect this in some dynamic way, perhaps the player will be presented a new path with new challenges. One idea I've been playing with is having the player's character take debilitating wounds, and be forced to play the game a different way as a result.
E.g. Suppose the guy from "Dead Rising" gets really badly wounded in combat, cut to scene showing another character saving his life; now having returned to the game he could be disabled in some way, for example his legs are now useless.
What happens now? Just because he can't use his legs doesn’t mean he should give up, the game has just changed, it hasn't ended. There may even be advantages to approaching old problems in new ways.

Find the gaming conventions, study them, then make new ones.

 

[Cobra]

Is this RPG combat focused or not?

It is. It's worth mentioning that we're not making this from scratch. Aside from the artwork (sprites, avatars, monsters, some of the chipsets that we will have to develop ourselves to accomplish certain scenes), the programming is simplified. Advanced scripts are also possible, but we are unfamiliar with this as of yet. The program is based off of "events" and "switches" that make everything happen that you'd expect to happen on a map made up of squares painted to look like scenery. 16-bit. Classic RPG. It's called RPG Maker VX. Think FFXI. That's pretty much what we're able to accomplish with this.

Ask yourself "what elements are common in existing games?"

We won't be reinventing the wheel with this game, but we would like to have some original outlets. No ground breakers, but definitely some interesting aspects that you won't find in other games. I'll tell you this, though: it won't have anything to do with how the game is controlled.

what underlying rules remain to be broken?

I like the way you think, Cognisant!

Suppose for a moment that after the player dies the game may reflect this in some dynamic way, perhaps the player will be presented a new path with new challenges. One idea I've been playing with is having the player's character take debilitating wounds, and be forced to play the game a different way as a result.

This is REAL genius. I'm bringing this up at our next game meeting. Thank you!!

Find the gaming conventions, study them, then make new ones.

Sound advice! Cognisant wins the post of the day. I wanna welcome so many more people to send their thoughts my way! You guys have really great ideas! I'm so glad I posted this!

 

[Yozuki]

Scroll down along the left side, pick a category and away you go.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage

This will list most of the common cliches, stock ideas, and things everyone thinks of, as well as some of the lesser known plot points, characters and whatever else you can name. If this doesn't have it, it probably is original.

Maybe.

 

[Cobra]

Wow! Thanks, Yozuki! I'm sending this to the guys right now. So helpful!

 

[Yozuki]

Wow! Thanks, Yozuki! I'm sending this to the guys right now. So helpful!

Dude, I rock.

 

[PonderedMusings]

Ok, I'm rather shitty at quoting post parts, but I'll give you my responses to what you said.

Firstly, thanks for taking all of what i said the way i meant it, honest criticism meant to help.

I agree that pendants aren't too creative, and the sliding thing has been done, but those were only quick pitch idea's.

The main concept I thought felt strong was the idea of his theft being the action that ports him, and it possibly being linked with his girl.


The first thing I will say overall with the info you gave me is what I'm by far the most sure of, so hear me out on this.

The concepts of;
best friend betrayal
God and devil powers
becoming a demon(biggest one, i would personally cut that entirely)

are very very done, and its hard to not make them lame or boring.

I mulled over the general feel and progression of your plot and came up with this

Take and leave what you please, and tell we what you think of it.
I'm also going to be generalizing things, so that you can add your own creative touch to this.

A theif steals some sort of object, or activates some sort of device that teleports him into the middle of a murder scene. Disorented and confused, he is quickly aprehended by the law force of the area. He is easily convicted and sentenced to death(perhaps a language barrier causes this, or he just ended up very close to the murder weapon, w.e).

In steps the head figure of this culture, town, or civization. He offers to save the theif, and even help send him home, Granted he follow his instructions. Here you can send him on those missions of small significance. (steal some random thing, redict soem mail, w.e and then do the concept you had of small things having wide and bad effects.)
He starts to get really angry with this guy for tricking him in these ways,speaks out and the, we'll call him "mayor", traps him in a ruin (think aladin getting eaten by the cave of wonders type deal)

While hes trying to find a way out, you could maybe introduce a type of destined figures into the story using some wall paintings or w.e

I would really shy away from the god and devil angle, but also I think you should really try and shake it up here.

Really mess with the concept of a destined hero(the theif) and a destined villian(mayor guy)

I don't want the theif to be super just and good, I wanna see the player unsure who the bad guy truly is. All the theif wants is to go home, and he has to topple the mayor to do so. Don't reveal who is who till its dramatically best to do so.

Also, If you want my recomendation on how to do a new type of "destined hero and villian" how bout this?

One figure is the embodiment of the people's selfishness and xenophobia, the other is an embodiment of the people's desire to see power wielded to change the status quo.

This allows you to really mess with the player, not letting him figure out which figure is the good guy, or even which figure the theif is. Hell, you don't even have to tell them.

You can then have him return in some way to face off against this mayor person.

Thats the general progression I think allows for you to have a compelling, not-too-run of the mill plot, that is easily controlled when it comes to gameplay length(the sections of "Intro, Missions, Cave, Faceoff" can be either very short or very long as the concepts are quite flexable). It also allows for alot of creativity.(The place he warped to's culture and style, the mystery of the theif and "mayor"s roles, maybe soem ancient clues or artifacts in the ruin he explores, the mayor himself, the ending and true natures of the characters) There are alot of options I think. I personally am invisioning the place he hails from feeling slighty westernized Edo, and the place he warps to a sort of cyberpunk Arabia. With a sort of Visor overlord. The idea of a cyberpunk Arabia can be really streched and ran with, because the simplisity technology wise of the Arabian setting can effectively let you pick and chose what tech you want present, and I personally think the clashing of the two sets a very cool stage for a mystery adventure.

 

[Red Mage]

I loved the old Nintendo FF games, especially the first one. The later Playstation ones, not so much. I think I heard about RPG Maker like ten or so years ago and always wanted to play with it.

Meaningless post, sorry.

 

[Cobra]

The concepts of;
best friend betrayal
God and devil powers
becoming a demon(biggest one, i would personally cut that entirely)

are very very done, and its hard to not make them lame or boring.

Tell you what: I'm not entirely convinced. Bring some examples to the table. Come'on! lol

I know what you're saying, but we're not reinventing the wheel here. These are classic plot lines. If you're not into classics, I won't be able to please you. That's something I know will happen. Not everyone will be pleased. I know what you're getting at, though, and I LIKE it! I love when a piece of the story is something I've NEVER heard before! It's exciting! But unfortunately I'm also a sucker for the classics. :-O

It would do you justice to explain something... The game's story is almost entirely written as it stands today. I don't want to discourage you from giving me really great ideas to ADD, but it wouldn't be fair of me to let you keep trying to write a new game.

The description in the beginning stands. I've ALWAYS wanted to write an apocalypse story. I love the concept of angels and demons. It's like royalty. That shit is golden. The story is also the product of a ten-year long story that has rarely ecaped my brain and onto an applicable media about me, my friends, and some other acquaintences and enemies we grew up knowing. THAT's why, man. Hahahaha. Sorry! I'm not out to make money. And I'm not out to make a completely innovative, never-before-seen video game. I'm simply trying to get the whole story OUT of my brain before I die. I tried writing comic books (and illustrating them). That was taking forever. Hi, I'm an INTP.

So now that THAT's out, I'm STILL interested in your ideas. You have awesome ones. It's just... I'm working with limited software and within the plot line's restrictions.

Now! Here's my question to you!: Are there any PARTICULAR things about the elements of my current plot line that make them unsavory for YOU? What would make those things fresher for you? Can you think of anything? Now THAT would be MOST interesting to me! A hater finding ways not to hate it!

One figure is the embodiment of the people's selfishness and xenophobia, the other is an embodiment of the people's desire to see power wielded to change the status quo.

This allows you to really mess with the player, not letting him figure out which figure is the good guy, or even which figure the theif is. Hell, you don't even have to tell them.

Hey! That's pretty good! I like it! Yoink.

Obviously I can't base my game off of it, but I'm gonna work it in. That's like... a pretty ingenius starting point for a plot! And not telling them would be so assholish. I love it.

I personally am invisioning the place he hails from feeling slighty westernized Edo, and the place he warps to a sort of cyberpunk Arabia. With a sort of Visor overlord. The idea of a cyberpunk Arabia can be really streched and ran with, because the simplisity technology wise of the Arabian setting can effectively let you pick and chose what tech you want present, and I personally think the clashing of the two sets a very cool stage for a mystery adventure.

Okay my favorite part in the whole post is your take on the cyberpunk Arabia. I've been trying to think of an awesome setting for some of this game, and it's been on the tip of my tongue. THAT'S AWESOME. Cyberpunk Arabia... Like Tatooine! Only with cooler tech.

My other ideas are more steampunk than cyber. I have a vision of this world... it's recouping from a near-end. It's nothing like the world the hero comes from... But it's strangely nostalgic. Some of the places are the same. Some of them are completely different. He's like an alien recognizing things he's familiar with from his time.

This world is also in direct tandem with another world I've been writing about. This is the world right before the world is met with another near-end. A near apocalypse.

I won't forget these ideas, man. You're really actually helping even if it doesn't feel like it.

 

[PonderedMusings]

If you do it old school style, the demon angel thing doesnt seem to bad

But please stay away from that whole.

I AM MAN WHO IS ALSO A DEMON, YOU CANT UNDERSTAND MY TORMENT!

cause im not a fan of that particular trope

 

[Cobra]

Hahahah. Really? I've actually never heard that one! Okay. I promise.

 

[Felan]

Dude, I rock.

You do rock. Awesome site link.

note: Not part of this game effort, just really like the link.