Story Time

Throughout the week, I've taken a look at the possibilities of mechanics behind the game, and given my own analysis as to how they can work in a game setting. Almost any and all combinations of class and combat systems can work if done properly, and it is a very heavy and daunting aspect to designing a thick RPG. Yet today, we put that on the back burner to talk about the last major component behind a game of playing roles, the story.

For this topic, I already know the general direction I wish to write in, and I kind of have an idea of what the major plot device could be, so this entry will be a bit shorter than the previous. First on my talking list is how I go about writing a story, watered down of course, because I could be here all damn day talking about the finer points of my world building techniques, which make almost no sense anyway.

My World Building Process

When making a brand new universe from scratch, I take two different approaches depending on the worlds purpose. For something like my Magestone Chronicles, a story few people outside of my circle know of, I take a wider approach. I build things like the deities, the landscape, and historical events first, and then zoom in on the finer bits one at a time. This is not the style I'm really going for with this, though, as it isn't a game that would need a sequel, spin offs, or anything like that.

This style of world building, I have coined "One Hit Wonder-World". It serves the purpose of telling 1 story, and that's it. From a game world perspective, this means I only have to focus on what is necessary for the game itself. I don't give a damn about what happens across the sea (If the world has one. And heck I may not even care enough to think about whether or not it does). This gives the strength more to the characters and the main plot, instead of where the characters fit in history.

To do this, I come up with the main plot point first. When that is done, I try to figure out how to make it believable in context, and why it's happening. Then, who is involved? What are the general possible outcomes of the plot, depending on the actions (Or lack thereof) of the main character(s)?
With the big picture plotted out as vaguely as possible, it is time to "draw a map" of the world. Typically this just takes place in my head, and morphs over time to fit into whatever is going on. The final form of the land is hardly ever definite; even in my long going project, it changes at least once a year, up to 5 times!

The Writing Style
This is the fun part! I like my worlds how I like my women: Well spoken, well thought out, and clever. The only thing missing is red hair, but I think if you gave a planet any kind of hair-do, it would look rather stupid, so I just keep the hair on the ladies.
I employ a few different styles for each new universe I make, mashing them together in different combinations to make each one feel different than the last. Some are bright and shiny, some diabolic. Some are grim, some are over the top. For this one though, I want to try something I actually (Believe it or not) have never tried before...

Fourth wall breaking humor. After playing Cthulhu Saves The World, I've been obsessed with the concept of not only breaking the 4th wall, but tearing it down to pure rubble. This is a huge stretch for me, I've never done it before. I know I can incorporate my sense of humor into it easily, but making it work is going to be the hardest part, because I'm not just rusty at it, I'm fracking unforged for it.

How Will It Work?
Thats a great question, me! Well, think about the first section. Go back and read it, if you must, I'll wait.
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Done? Good. Now, the first thing I said I do for a small world is to come up with the plot point first before anything else. While I was racking my brain for a plot point, I was reaching into my sack-o-writing styles, and pulled out the 4th wall, and thus, the plot has been laid! In egg form, it hasn't hatched yet, that will be a few weeks of incubation under my bum first.

The world of <BLANK> is in danger, for the mystical walls that separate their world from those of "The Creators" are being torn down by a mad man bent on achieving the power of creation! With the first 3 walls falling rapidly, it is only a matter of time before the 4th is breached...

Yes, the plot point is actually about the fourth wall being broken.

I like this idea, and I'm going to really try my hardest to mold it into something special. One reason I like this idea is because of the art style for the game. Being made of crayons and grid paper, the game automatically takes you out of the world from the aesthetics alone. Any attempt to subvert that would be really difficult, due to the inherent "silly and cute" look of it. Heck, as I work on a test portrait, which you will see in due time, it already looks cheesy, the exact way I had hoped it would look. The obvious mistakes of color leaking onto other "pixels", the limited color pallet, the thin blue lines that dictate the "pixels"... It just looks too "obviously hand-crafted" to try and pull it off in ANY serious manner. Hell I could hardly take the art seriously myself if it weren't for the vision I have of it being fricken AWESOME!!!

I'm excited.


Weekly Summary
This was a short week, as I started on Tuesday, and Tuesday was just an intro post anyway, and I skipped Thursday due to massive brain storming on my part. Tomorrow is what I will from now until release my only day off each week. Even if I don't actually blog that day, I am still working on it. If I have all my fingers that day, I'm either typing, writing, or coloring. Heh. I wanna know if any other person designing games can say "Oh yea, my job involves coloring with crayons." I may not be getting payed for this but damn it, I may as well make it a job, right?

So this week, we went over my ideas for classes and combat, and how each different form functions along with ups and downs for each. Then, I stated the direction I wanted to go in terms of the story, and... Thats it!

Tomorrow, though it will be my self designated "day off", I will be working out which direction I want to take my class and combat system in. So far, I have had only ONE PERSON indulge their input! One!
I'm not saying I need help, I'm saying I want to help you. I want to make a game you guys (And girls) want to play! If you never pipe up, or say what you wish to say, it will never happen! Hoping that someone else will say it won't work, either. Chances are, they won't, because they are thinking the same thing.

While I don't plan on having the class and combat system ready to begin the design phase until the end of next week, that doesn't mean you shouldn't act on any ideas you may have to contribute. I love hearing about what you guys think is kick-ass, because that is what a game should be at the end of the day: Kick-ass!

I would prefer to see any thoughts or ideas you may have to be put in the comments section of this blog, not messaged to me privately. Why? Because your thought can begin a whole discussion between you, me, and any one else who may have something to contribute as well. I'm not asking you to design the whole game with me. I'm asking you to say things like: "Hey, know what would be cool? Giant moose robots from space that shoot acid out their nostrils!" or "I think a cool side quest would be to rescue a stranded meerkat from the evil clutches of the underwater amoeba-men ." Maybe even something as simple as "I think you should have a Tennis Player class, because that would be cool." (For the record, not *everything* can/will be put into the game... No Tennis Player class).

And share with your friends! Send them a link to the blog! Let me know that you did so, as well! Of course, this would be a lot cooler if you were already a regular commenter, and then your buddy comes through and is all like "Hey, I'm his/her friend, cool stuff man!", cuz then we can be all like "Nice dude!".

I'm tired, this is tough work, this game stuff.

That is it, and I wish you all a fantastic day of rest tomorrow! Make sure to come back on Monday, for I have something a little more satisfying, as the concrete for it has been set, it just needs to dry!