I Want to Crush Your Dreams.
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The Establishment
Member # 6
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 17:09
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Too add: It does not even have to be the soldiers, just an important aging Imperial governor or something has demanded that they make him an alicorn potion so that he can extend his life another 10-20 years. Suppose the Imperial official is protecting the unicorns from extermination for this reason alone. -------------------- Your flower power is no match for my glower power! Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5861
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 17:17
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quote:I like this one. What I'm going to do is the daughter is real, but not sick. Mage has her locked in her room and drugged so that you believe she is sick. Unicorn leader sacrifices his life for hers, you get reward and the promise that the child will be healed. Next day daughter wakes up from drugs (unfortunately for the mage) and sends you a mental call. You meet her and find out that the real mage is her and that she's not a child - her father is a fake, learned the unicorn killing spell from her and wants the immortality bit from drinking unicorn's blood - the blood of the one that just died. He wants to do that then capture all the other unicorns and take their blood as well. You kill "mage", and you get rewards. EDIT: I wrote this before I saw some of the previous posts - so scratch this idea, at least the last half of it [ Sunday, January 08, 2006 20:32: Message edited by: iluvhorses ] Posts: 72 | Registered: Sunday, May 29 2005 07:00 |
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The Establishment
Member # 6
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 17:27
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quote:Seems VERY cliched and we are back to a "mwa, ha, ha!" style villain with shallow motive. Why is the party even needed? Why does she manufacture an overly complex ruse and not just kill the unicorns herself? This is probably more untenable than any of the other four options you had discussed previously. -------------------- Your flower power is no match for my glower power! Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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BANNED
Member # 4
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 17:32
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quote:You see all of this? This is concentrated absurdity. 1. How can a girl give out a "mental call"? 2. Why? What makes this a good story? Girl instantly pops in, reveals bad guy, then what? You kill him? Why not just have the daughter legitimately believe that she'll be cured, and then have the party demand to see the child after the unicorn makes his sacrifice? Of course, that could lead to a few things- maybe Imperial soldiers ambush the party. Then, maybe the mage escapes during the fight, but the party catches up with him. The party goes ahead and kills him off, but they're too late- the Unicorns without their leader have already been subjugated. Party is forced to flee the valley. The end. (Although perhaps the party, in the mage's tower, actually could find some of the alicorn elixir and feed it to the still-imprisoned sick girl as a sort of extra, moral bonus.) -------------------- * Posts: 6936 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 4445
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 20:13
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quote:I neglected to mention that the scenario takes place in a ruin. I like your suggestion that the adventurers are not simply hired, but I don't think they should exactly be students of the Archaeologist. Rather, I'll say that they're students at the university where he teaches. They aren't archaeology students, they're military/magic students, and they're coming along as research volunteers, because the archaeologist doesn't know what's in the ruins, whose location he has learned of through some cliched means. I chose bugs to infest the ruins because they have the potential to be quite nasty while not being in any way supernatural. Basically, they're just the justification for bringing non-archaeology students along. I'm thinking though, that I might put the ruins in the snow and use some sort of Yeti/Abominable Snowman creatures. Or, perhaps, something using the swamp dweller graphics from ASR. Anyways, the nasty but not too challenging infestation defeated, the party and the archaeologist discover, in a place of prominence, an artifact. After messing with it a while, the archaeologist realizes that it is some sort of incredible advanced information repository, and starts reading from it. Perhaps, he even shares some information with the party, and they get boosts to certain stats/spells. As it goes on, he becomes more and more engrossed in the artifact. Eventually, the party gets bored and goes to sleep. When they wake up, Herr Professor has vanished. Without their chaperone and ticket home (try returning from a UROP without the sponsoring prof), the party goes into the ruins to look for him. When they find him, he is seated on a throne in the ruins. The throne room has remnants of an ancient battle everywhere. The party is relieved to see the professor, but he doesn't seem to know them. Instead, he seems to think that they are uppity slaves, and he reads some spells from his artifact, teleporting the party into a dungeon. I'm thinking the cell the party winds up in will just have a crumbled wall - the "professor" doesn't realize that the city is a ruin. While in the dungeon, the party should notice yet more signs of ancient violence - skeletons in loin-cloths weilding crude weapons collapsed next to ones decked out in flimsy ceremonial gear. Eventually, as they approach the throne room, they should find one, massive, armored skeleton holding a wand/orb/spell-casting item of some sort. When one character uses this on the "professor," the character should be transported to some abstract astral arena and square off with the shade possessing him. I can't really figure out a way to work a moral dilemma in there, except maybe for the party to run away or to just kill the professor instead of exorcising the ancient ghost. Posts: 293 | Registered: Saturday, May 29 2004 07:00 |
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Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 20:15
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Moral dilemmas are not required for a good scenario. Yours may not need it. -------------------- Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens. Smoo: Get ready to face the walls! Ephesos: In conclusion, yarr. Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5861
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 20:57
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quote:Well, you were the one to initially suggest the blood drinking, but I've scratched that idea anyway. quote:How so? Please enlighten me. I started with something simple, which is what I was initially told was all I needed: unicorn is dying, bad mage is killing unicorn, kill bad mage, save unicorn, get reward. Alright, I admit, the bad mage does need some sort of a motive other than "fwah ha ha". So then I'm told, make it moral (or political) dilemma, someone must die in the end, no happy ending either way. Look guys - I'm a girl. I like unicorns. I wanted to make my first scenario about something i like, especially since i'm extremely new to avernumscript. I like fantasy, and I also like happy endings. All three are what I get for being a girl. So can someone please tell me how I can make a convincing scenario about unicorns that isn't corny(aka girly or cinderella-like), that is simple to make, that has some sort of a happy ending, and that people will actually want to play. That's all I'm asking. I'm going to stick with the sick child ruse, but beyond that I'm clueless. Also - I'm planing on naming the scenario "Amari's Love", Amari being the unicorn leader who is dying. Perhaps that might help in the suggestions area. Posts: 72 | Registered: Sunday, May 29 2005 07:00 |
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Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 21:28
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I was referring to PoD Person, but I guess I can address your idea, too. I don't see a heck of a lot wrong with your very first idea, except that the evil mage needs some justification. It would be fine just that he's sick and needs alicorns to survive. He could be written as a very believably desperate but selfish and cruel person. You have to kill him to save the unicorns, but you feel a little bit sorry for a moment when you realize that you can sort of identify with him. Or if you want an even more cut-and-dry happy ending, maybe he makes money selling them in some sort of black market, like ivory; greed is also a very understandable motivation, but it's less sympathetic. A motivation needs to exist, and it needs to be realistic, but not all people are self-sacrificing and noble. You can create a bad guy who is motivated by greed or revenge or hatred as long as there's some reason for it, and greed is pretty easy to justify (he lives in a nice house and wants to keep it). Honestly, after a certain point, it's better if you just choose an idea and get to work making it. -------------------- Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens. Smoo: Get ready to face the walls! Ephesos: In conclusion, yarr. Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 3220
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 21:35
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The headmaster of my scenario's school is a shady character, and I'm toying with the idea of making him the head bad guy for the sneak-off mission, but I don't know if that's too silly. Posts: 437 | Registered: Sunday, July 13 2003 07:00 |
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Shock Trooper
Member # 5459
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 22:04
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What I'm working on right now: "It's just a remote valley plagued with a rat infestation. What COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG... more wrong?" Needless to say I'm not being very serious with this one. Basically the party is a bunch of level one nobodies who are looking for a quest so that they can be heroes and such. So they wander into Untitled Land (I'll probably keep it untitled, since I already figured out why it would be untitled.) and soon find out that the land is infested with rats. But who is behind the rat infestation? Is it just a rat catcher the villagers beat up and rolled around in tar and feathers or is it... RENTAR-IHRNO? No, most definitely not. I don't ever plan on using vahnatai in any form in any of my scenarios. -------------------- These are my scenarios. I may have too much free time but I really don't care. Backwater Calls, Magus of Cattalon, Rats Aplenty Get them here Visit The Lyceum for all your rating needs. Posts: 211 | Registered: Sunday, January 30 2005 08:00 |
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The Establishment
Member # 6
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written Sunday, January 8 2006 22:13
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Sorry if we are frustrating you. It's difficult to learn how to write an exciting story and we all know I have yet to master it. Actually the blood drinking was suggested by Ephesos, but that is a small point. I believe Ephesos was referring the Harry Potter plot. It is true one does not need a moral dilemma to make a good scenario. However, what one needs is for characters to be real and their motivations to be believable. The thing is there are very few people out there who do evil things because they believe they are evil. Everyone has rationale behind what they do. So here are some questions: 1) What does the villain gain from killing unicorns? 2) Why does the villain need the party anyway? I'll offer a similar suggestion that I had earlier without a moral dilemma that I feel would make a good scenario. Generally I don't like to get this detailed, but in this case I will. The main characters are as follows: An Imperial Governor The Governor's granddaughter A local mage which you are apprenticed to The eldest unicorn The scenario takes place during the reign of the oppressive Hawthrone III. You recently left the academy and have been accepted as an apprentice to a wizard in a remote forest village. The village is small, but is home to an important Imperial Governor who lives in his manor with his orphaned granddaughter. The wizard is in his early thirties and has a wife and two small children. Upon arriving, the mage is seriously bothered. He tells you his dilemma of having to find a cure for a rare and horrible disease that the governor's granddaughter has. WIth all of his research, the only option is to get an alicorn potion, a draught that can heal the most serious wounds, cure any disease, and even stave off death for decades. The governor arrives soon after this first meeting and asks about progress on the cure. He hands him a blood colored potion and tells him, here is the potion he asked for and that he working on procuring an alicorn. Your master introduces you to the governor, he smiles, and invites you to visit his mansion. Not wanting to refuse an invitation of such an important person, you oblige. In his manor he introduces you to his sick granddaughter as he gives her a spoonful of the blood colored liquid. He urges you to reason with the unicorns as your master has been unable to do and convince them to give up an alicorn. So you go into the forest to find the unicorns. You meet the leader of the unicorns. A curious thing about unicorns is that they always tell the truth and can always tell if someone is lying. Also, killing a unicorn curses a person to a lifetime of misfortune and pain, therefore the mage or the governor cannot get the unicorn horn himself. The leader of the unicorns is now over 400 years old and his health is failing. You speak with him about the governor's granddaughter and his plea. The unicorn is touched and gives you his horn, knowing full well that he will soon die. You take the alicorn back to your master and he is able to make the alicorn potion for the governor. Late that night, you hear an argument between two men outside. You creep around the house to get a closer look. It is your master and the governor. The governor is apparently not satisfied with one alicorn potion. He knows that by sipping the amount over time would only prolong his life by another five or ten years at most. The governor wants more and threatens the mage and his family that he will have them sent to Avernum. He also tells him to supply more of the blood poison so he can keep up the ruse of a sick granddaughter. He says to tell the apprentices that the alicorn was not enough and another is needed. The governor leaves and you confront the mage. Your master tells you that he does not have a choice. He is doing this to protect his family from the governor's influence. The mage's wife overhears the conversation and now also knows the truth. She convinces her husband that he has to tell the unicorns of the lies he created. You and your master head into the forest and meet the unicorns and tell them the truth. The leader is still alive, but barely. The mage begs for forgiveness from him. The dying leader offers it on the condition that he free the governor's granddaughter from the wicked man. You head to the governor's manor. You and the mage stand outside. The governor looks out of his balcony. The mage tells him to release his granddaughter, he laughs, and orders his guards to kill the trespassers. Suddenly creatures emerge from the forest and help defeat the guard. Your master is wounded and you go on ahead to find the granddaughter. You manage to find the governor fleeing with his granddaughter. You trap him, he sets the sick girl aside, and pulls out the alicorn potion. He drinks the rest of it and gains incredible strength and vitality (normally he would drink it slowly over years to prolong his life rather than waste it all). You fight the governor and are able to kill him. You bring the granddaugher outside. The unicorns have shown up and they heal your master and the granddaughter. They offer to find the granddaughter a caring human home. You are also informed the leader has passed on. The unicorns express sadness at their leader's passing, but they understand that all things must die eventually and that death is a part of life. The unicorns offer a bit of natural magic (+1 nature lore and an item that can be used for healing once per day). The mage returns with his family; he knows they must leave here soon and go somewhere far (probably settle in wild Valorim) where he and his family can live without so much fear of the Empire. He sends you back to your school to find a new master, but not before offering you to view his spellbooks. THE END Basically, we have no real moral dillemma for the party. The governor was old, but wanted to live longer. He did not dare kill the unicorns himself, nor did the mage do it because of the curse. He needed to trick someone to intervene on his behalf and convince the unicorns to give an alicorn willingly, for no rational person would kill a unicorn. That is why he made his granddaughter sick, so that he could fool you into telling the unicorns the story. The unicorns can only somewhat detect lies, but they can only see intent. If one honestly believes a lie to be true, the unicorns will believe it is true. This incorporates the mage, a ruse of making a sick family member, and the unicorns. It would require three towns (perhaps a few more for multiple levels): mage's house, governor's manor, and the unicorn grotto, and one outdoor section (which could even be optional). The motivations for the characters are decent: 1)The mage is generally good, but driven to evil by the desire not to see his family not be harmed. He is also able to redeem himself at the end. 2) The governor has a lot, and people with a lot tend not to want to lose it, even by death. He sees his struggle against death as one of survival of the order he made in Empire. Like many in the Empire, he sees humans as a superior race and all magical creatures as resources. He believes he is doing the world a favor by keeping himself around. 3) The leader of the unicorns is generally a caring creature that was able to give her life for a human in trouble, or so he believed. The ending is more or less happy for most: the unicorns are free of the wicked governor, the governor's granddaughter will get a good home, the mage was able to redeem himself and will find new opportunity in the wild land of Valorim. Anyway, I hope this is an idea of how to do something. As always, feel free to use any of it that you like. At very least, I hope you enjoyed reading my story. -------------------- Your flower power is no match for my glower power! Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5861
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written Monday, January 9 2006 09:22
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I really like that! I will change, however, the unicorn leader dying of old age. I've done a lot of research into unicorn legends and unicorns can only be killed, not die of natural causes. It has also been said that the actual removal of an alicorn would kill the unicorn. So I was thinking that the unicorn leader, believing that he/she is helping the girl, willing gives up his/her alicorn knowing that it will kill him/her. The rest I will use, if you don't mind. Thank you for your help. Sorry I was getting a bit frustrated. I just was being told different things at different times by different people and was getting confused. My intro pages into the game will explain a lot of the unicorn lore to the player: alicorn potions, how unicorns die, the curse of killing a unicorn, etc.... Also, if there are pictures i want to use in the intro pages, how do I do that??? Now, to start designing. oh boy, it's gonna take a while :) (school starts in a week and a half). Posts: 72 | Registered: Sunday, May 29 2005 07:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 5576
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written Monday, January 9 2006 09:41
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To put in intro pictures, you need to, put them in the .cmg file if on a Mac, or in the scenario folder as a bitmap if on a PC, and then in the Blades Editor program select Scenario->Set Intro Text X (where X is 1,2, or 3). There is a small box in the corner of the resulting dialog box in which you enter the number of the picture to be displayed with the text. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the whole process, so please excuse me if some or most of the above is stuff you already know. If you haven't already, be sure to look at the BoA Editor Docs, which are bundled with the editor program. -------------------- Überraschung des Dosenöffners! "On guard, you musty sofa!" Posts: 627 | Registered: Monday, March 7 2005 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 3442
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written Monday, January 9 2006 10:34
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quote:Erm, maybe I'm out of place for offering advice here, but I'd not do that. The original idea was great fun on it's own, and to factor in all kinds of double plots and twists meaks it a little... I dunno, but I get the feeling I wouldn't. Of course, it wouldn't involve any more work, so go for it if that's what you want! -------------------- And when you want to Live How do you start? Where do you go? Who do you need to know? Posts: 2864 | Registered: Monday, September 8 2003 07:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 3220
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written Monday, January 9 2006 18:47
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quote:Hey, no problem. Anyone who wants to advise certainly may. I need all the help I can get, considering I can't seem to make a dungeon with proper back walls yet. Story I can do. I think it may be the other bits that will get me. Posts: 437 | Registered: Sunday, July 13 2003 07:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 6652
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written Wednesday, January 11 2006 03:07
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Can we do plotlines for BOE here? If so, here goes: The Empire is trying to colonize a remote, swampy island off Valorim. Unfortunately, the island is infested with gremlins. Much tougher, more magically skilled gremlins. Gremlins who want to keep their homeland. A full Imperial task force has been sent out. The party is soldiers for the Empire, stationed in a fort. The party maybe does a few minor quests for their mage captain (I'm trying to keep it short), and then the fort gets attacked. Gremlins flood the fort, the pary fights their way to the center and sees a gremlin mage dueling the captain. The gremlin mage, beaten, casts a spell on the party in desperation. You black out. The pary goes through a few dream sequences before they come to a wall. They've dreamed of the wall before, but this time they see a door. The go through the door,and suddenly wake up. With a sudden flash of realization, they understand that they have been charmed by the gremlins. They've been fighting for the wrong side all along. They must sneak out, and after that I'm not sure. Suggestions? -------------------- But I don't want to ride the elevator. Posts: 420 | Registered: Sunday, January 8 2006 08:00 |
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The Establishment
Member # 6
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written Wednesday, January 11 2006 06:55
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A few hints of suggestion: Skip the "first few minor missions". It would be interesting to have the fort be completely out of food from the beginning. The soldiers are starving and are getting desperate. I'd make the gremlins just very mischievous and always stay in hiding making stealthy kills; the powerful magical race is old hat. On a side note, for a longer BoA scenario, you could make food a usable item linked to a special node, if you do not eat for one day, you suffer consequences (like reduced endurance or something until you eat). Although I would keep it short enough that it probably would not matter. Have the party go out and find food. It's risky, but the situation is dire. Party finds orchard of fruit or something. Gets 'charmed' by Gremlins. Have eating the fruit make you feel a strange care-free sensation or something. Not knowing you have been charmed, you return to the fort with fruit, but the soldiers "attack you" once you are past the main gate. Actually, this is part of your perception. The party is told that they have to escape by opening the main gate (allowing the gremlins to enter). Wake up, return to gremlin fort, find gremlins engaged in huge party at fallen fort. Soldiers are kept for jeers and the such. You have to free the soldiers and defeat the gremlin leader. With their leader gone, the gremlins flee. This scenario is probably pretty short and simple. Probably only requires 3 towns (fort, the orchard, and the ruined fort) and 1 outdoor section, but still has enough plot twist to be interesting. [ Wednesday, January 11, 2006 06:58: Message edited by: *i ] -------------------- Your flower power is no match for my glower power! Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 6652
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written Wednesday, January 11 2006 12:47
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Sorry, I'm not making myself clear. There is no scene in the scenario where the party is charmed (except in recalled dreams). Charming makes every gremlin seem like an imperial soldier and every soldier like a gremlin. The whole fort is a gremlin grove, as is it's occupants. Subtle clues will be dropped throughout. The "gremlin mage" casts a dramatized version of Unshackle Mind. You're idea is cool, but not my scenario. Also, I plan to have a final fight with the fort's commander. -------------------- But I don't want to ride the elevator. Posts: 420 | Registered: Sunday, January 8 2006 08:00 |
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The Establishment
Member # 6
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written Wednesday, January 11 2006 14:06
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Okay, sounds interesting; just offering suggestions. Keep in mind this is NOT a topic for just posting scenario ideas that you have no intention of putting to scrutiny or even seeking advice on. So my question is, what sort of advice do you want with respect to design? [ Wednesday, January 11, 2006 14:06: Message edited by: *i ] -------------------- Your flower power is no match for my glower power! Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 6652
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written Wednesday, January 11 2006 14:51
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Thanks for understanding Stareye. It's just that I started making the original plotline already (not far at all) and don't want to change it. What I want help with is the huge gap after you wake up and sneak out. I want it to end pretty soon, but a staight-out fight with the captain turned gremlin seems like a bad idea. Also, I'm open to any suggestions changing parts of the earlier plot (just NOT the whole story). I think I'll put just one minor quest at the beginning, so the player get used to the fake world before it is shattered. Maybe you have to fetch someone gremlin wine as foreshadowing :D -------------------- But I don't want to ride the elevator. Posts: 420 | Registered: Sunday, January 8 2006 08:00 |
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The Establishment
Member # 6
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written Wednesday, January 11 2006 16:38
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I'm not sure I fully understand. At first you say the party gets charmed, then it is not, and then it is. I am not sure I know exactly when the party is charmed and when it is not and what is "real" and what is not. A few questions you should answer: 1) Why does the Empire want a remote, small, swampy, and otherwise seemingly unextraordinary island? What can they gain by a settlement? 2) The gremlins. Does the Empire know about them before hand? If so, why doesn't the Empire just do a full assault on them? 3) The first mission. What does it have to do with the main plotline? Why does the party need to do the mission other than to make the game longer? I would suggest doing the hunger thing I stated above as it makes a dire survival need. 4) When exactly does the charming go on? Who is the "wrong side" that you mention in your original post? 5) So the party wakes up. Why do they fight the fort captain? 6) How is the party going to get off this remote island after they sneak out? -------------------- Your flower power is no match for my glower power! Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 6652
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written Thursday, January 12 2006 02:35
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Okay, I'll do the hunger thing. It has far less holes than my plot, and probably way easier to make. 1. Fruit & Wine. The whole place is one big orchard. Unfortunately, the gremlins murder anyone who goes out, and the soldiers can't send a big force for fear out gremlins taking the fort. 2. Empire does not know about the gremlins, and their first attack destroyed the communication devices. 3,4: Adressed by switching to hunger plotline. 6: Maybe a powerful mage was held captive and charmed just like you. After you kill her controller in the final fight, she comes to and makes a portal? I'm just throwing reasons around randomly. Here's what I'm thinking: Fort is starving, you're sent out on last-ditch attempt to get food. Find orchard, grab a bushel and eat some. Charmed by gremlins. Get back to fort, open gates. Gremlins stream in, you are knocked unconcious. Dream sequence (I just really like dream sequences) Wake up uncharmed in a cell, fight to center. FINAL BATTLE: I'm not quite sure what this should involve. Help? [ Thursday, January 12, 2006 02:36: Message edited by: WonkoTheSane ] -------------------- But I don't want to ride the elevator. Posts: 420 | Registered: Sunday, January 8 2006 08:00 |
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Triad Mage
Member # 7
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written Thursday, January 12 2006 03:05
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Aww, the hunger thing is boring! I liked the charming plotline, and I understood it fine. I think it's a great idea if done properly. -------------------- "At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander ==== Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy Encyclopedia Ermariana - Trapped in the Closet ==== You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse! Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00 |
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The Establishment
Member # 6
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written Thursday, January 12 2006 06:40
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For the record, in my last post, I was just saying use "we need to get food" as the motivation for your minor quest you want to do. I don't want to discourage your ideas, just want to challenge them and make you make sure that they make sense in addition to offering suggestions as to alternate methods of a approaching a similar situation. Your idea has a lot of potential, I just couldn't entirely make sense of it after reading it a few times the way you had written it; that's the main reason why I wrote up a alternate idea, because I couldn't fully understand it. I'd recommend you do something you want to do and has your own ideas, but that you really clearly work them out so other people can understand them. In somewhat response to Drakey's assertion: Hunger would serve as a hook or motivation to begin the plotline, a logical reason everyone can relate to. The charming would still be the focus of the story, the hunger just something to give the player a sense of urgency and direness. Then you have the choice of making the player aware he is slaughtering his fellow soldiers or not. Both are intriguing: Suppose as you suggest, everything changes so the player thinks he is slaughtering gremlins. The value you get is the "Oh, crap!" moment when the party wakes up. The other one is to make the player fully aware of his charmed state. Emulations sort of explores this concept. Both can be really good and effective. I'm leaning toward the first one becasue (1) it has not been explored as much and (2) it has shock value. I hope I've made you aware of a couple design choices you have in creating a storyline. Oh and, Drakefyre, when are we going to see that great scenario you intend to release? :P [ Thursday, January 12, 2006 06:50: Message edited by: *i ] -------------------- Your flower power is no match for my glower power! Posts: 3726 | Registered: Tuesday, September 18 2001 07:00 |
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Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
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written Thursday, January 12 2006 09:24
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Yeah, I understood the "charming" plotline also, and it seemed fine. I don't know why there has to be much more to the scenario than that — they just figure out that they've been fighting for the wrong side, and then somehow they have to break the spell, and then they run home. That's plenty for a first scenario. -------------------- Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens. Smoo: Get ready to face the walls! Ephesos: In conclusion, yarr. Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00 |