Big-picture plot-related story mechanics (favor? whatever?)

[voodoogroves]

Was at lunch chatting with a buddy of mine about some of our favorite RP games. He's a DDOer, but not very active ... and one of the reasons why is that ultiately, your choices don't matter as much in a RP game.

Sure, there's plot.

Sure, there are favor rewards.

What he wants is for-that-character relevant in-game choices. Not build or gear, choices.

For instance, the choice to take the Silver Flame or Emerald Claw trinket in the Necropolis. Would it be nifty if, for instance, your choice locked you out of using certain hirelings? Wyoh just won't work for the Emerald Claw, dontchaknow?

Or maybe you only get the best house favor reward for the house you turn in first ... your chosen house.



This kind of thing could add a depth to the game that isn't there, with minimal work just expanding on the existing favor system. What if, instead of Coin Lord Finishing School giving you bonuses to several, you had to choose?


Anyway ... just thinking out loud ...

[Xenostrata]

I approve of more RP related game developments.

I don't approve of more RP related game developments that cut off pieces of the game, or limit my choices. One of the cool things about PnP was that you could do anything you wanted, regardless of alignment. Your alignment would change if you did anything radical, but that was how it was.

Changes I would be fine with:

• Character alignment, influenced by in-game actions
• NPC interaction altered by the character's alignment/past actions.
• More RP focused storylines

Being limited to one favor house in place of another, or being inable to access certain game options: not so ok.

[Vellrad]

I like options and choices.

[katana_one]

Maybe not lock out some house favor, but make it harder to gain favor with an opposing house? Meh. Not sure how that would work, either.

Different dialogue on some quests? Nah, nobody ever reads the dialogue again after the first run.

Slightly better end rewards on quests favorable to "your" house? Hmm. Not sure.

I like the idea of what you're suggesting, just not sure how to implement it.