Secondary plotline?

[KingSpoom]

Okay, to give a little background, the type of thing I am talking about is like what is done with FF8.

*FF8 Spoiler?*

While playing through the game, you are often take control of a different character, in a different time. Although the plot may end up connecting, there isn't much of a connection at the start. I forget the exact details

*End FF8 Spoilers?*

So, how do you guys feel about having another "game" going on inside the real game? Not only are there just cutscenes, but there are interactive parts as well. I've always thought that the introductory parts of a story are the most interesting. This may be one reason I like Naruto, as everyone's past is constantly being introduced and explained. So a second game, with introductory parts, given in doses that aren't controlled by the player seems like a plus to me. I do think, though, that it has to be connected to the real game in some way. Maybe you learn something from it, maybe it was a story that leads you to the same place, maybe it's the secret origin of the vilian and you couldn't tell until the very end... either way, it will probably turn out very well for the game.

Your thoughts?

[Doan the Nado]

At first I was going to vote "so-so" because you said the plots were unrelated. I instead voted great. I think the quality of a good other can be seen in how he seemlessly brings together many different plotlines. This is what makes Tolkien's books so good. That's not quite to the extent of what you're talking about (I don't think), but it is an example of telling a few different stories that all meld into one.

I definitely agree with you that the funnest parts of RPGs are usually the intros. The uniqueness of playing a new character with new story and new abilities is really fun. When I played EQ online, anytime I would get bored with my current fighter, I'd go make a new one, which explains why after 6 months of a lot of playing, I only had 3 approximately level 20 characters. If you can incorporate something like that into an RPG, I think it's a great idea. Just try to avoid that annoying thing where you still have all the same items even though you're controlling a completely different group of people.

[Draygone]

Unless it's explained how that happens like it tries to do in FF8.

I like the idea also.

This is what makes Tolkien's books so good.

Is this the same person who made...um, can't think of the name of the book. Something about shoes, treasure, and a mountain that looks like a hand giving a thumbs up.

[The Final Rune]

I like the idea of secondary plots. It gives you the notion that the player's adventure isn't the only thing going on in the world. Of course you don't have to always let the player play the second plot line, you can just let them in on it by spilling the events into the players path once in a while and by having people in towns fill the player in one the details.

[Jugem]

It all comes down to how well you can pull it off. That idea has some potential, but you shouldn't be controlling a bunch of different characters/experiencing different plotlines just for the sake of doing so. They should be related in some way, and it should make perfect sense to the player why the game was set up this way after the player has finished the game.

[vespuleth]

hmmm... i think it can be done well. but, i dont like having to control so may different people. it makes me detached from the main character. and i was never really interested in the laguna story. but, i do think itd be interesting to see implemented.

[Neo Samurai]

The problem with such an idea is that it may throw people off. When I play a game, I want the main story to remain the main. A second story could be distracting.

However, I betcha you can pull it off, KingSpoom, knowing you. ;D

[Dungeon Warden]

I like the idea of a second story and also worry that if it is not done well it can annoy the player. It will be interesting to see what you come up with.

[Deleted]

p068.ezboard.com/fagetecfrm20.showMessage?topicID=2413.topic

Me and a guy named Vember talked about something like this back a month or so ago and a lot of what I said then is what I'd say now.

Edit: Here's the best quote from me from that topic for this topic:

"What I was thinking for say is each main character ('bad' and 'good') would start out in different places of the world, and through various story things go through different dungeons and do different things/go different places/get different party members, and eventually later on meet up. This would allow for different perspectives in many ways, and the player would only see one perspective at a time then maybe later see another perspective, for example early on there could be a war going on between two nations and each main character is in a different nation and hears the townpeople talk poorly about the other country and such, maybe where one country's a religous peaceful country and another's a conquest-seeking war-monger country (like Brigandine's Leonia and Norgard for example ), or something. This is why I say you could have more than two teams even, such as a nation of Elves, Humans, and Humans and the player chooses out of three main characters, each being from each of the three nations, and gets diffferent characters/dungeons/story/etc. based on who they choose, possibly in the end coming to have a similar goal such as saving the world or the like."

I think it could be good if done well and bad if done poorly. It should fit together nicely and progressively start to make sense as the game goes on. It's quite two-sided, like how it can keep things fresh but distance the player from the characters and such. I think in most cases I'd rather see a second game with a second main character, but it all depends (I expect you to have already thought this out pretty thoroughly and that you have something planned).

[KingSpoom]

As bad (or foolish) as it may sound, I got the idea stuck in my head because I don't know how long my game will last (playthrough time). I do have several opportunities where said deviations from the normal plotline could occur, and most of it actually writes itself. That said, I can't go through with it until I get the key scene that would tie it all together. Really, I don't want it to just dribble off and disappear. If I can't come up with anything by tuesday, maybe my brother can lead me somewhere. I do think I'm on the verge of discovering what I need though.