Hi all, I was wondering what you folks thought of my idea. I'm a writer/producer in small films, and as such I think story/flow verses gameplay. I've just found Dungeon Siege and discovered it'd be a good place to bring one of my story worlds to life. Here's a brief overview of my idea. My old website with info is here: http://gozer.fanspace.com/merging.html
The Merge
The Merge is a world in turmoil. Two completly different worlds were, in an instant, merged into one wild and mixed up world. The two world were of very different types, one of Swords and Sorcery, the other of Science and Technology.
Earth 20XX
It's the not-to-distant future, and things are pretty much the same as they are now. Mankind still enjoys killing themselves, while at the same time learning to make themselves live longer. All technologies have progressed normally. We currently have a few oribital stations and a small moon base, all privately owned. The first mission to Mars was under way when the Merge happened.
Thera
Thera was a magical world, full of mystical beasts and wonderous beings. The elves and dwarves lived side-by-side with the youngest race: man. Humanity was on the rise. As the years passed they grew, not only in numbers, but in military might and magical skill. Still no match for an Elf in magic or a Dwarf in strength, man made up for it with wit and bravado. Other races such as the Dragons and Demons also held sway over the land, along with the gods and devils.
Zero Hour/The Merge
At exactly the same time on both worlds, a titanic explosion of immesurable strength occured. On Earth it was the detonation of the first Anti-matter bomb, and on Thera it was a forbidden spell gone crazy. Instead of obliterating themselves, the two worlds broke the bariers between their dimentions and fused into one ever shifting world.
The 10 Years of Chaos.
For the next 10 years chaos reined as continents flooded, old lands surfaced, and both worlds turned upside down as they violently fused together. Whole mountain ranges crashed down from the skies, cities apeared in mid-air (and some stayed there), whole races where wiped out. There was nothing but terror, dispair, and hardship.
As time went by, the chaos the merge had unleashed continued to change, not only the landscape, but the survivors as well. People from the "modern world" (formerly Earth) who believed in things fanatically soon gained those abilities. Gods of old and new manafested for the first time. (It was a REAL mess up in heaven and in hell. The wars that shook the heavens were unprecidented and unheard of before!)
Out of fear and confusion many innocent people were killed, and many a person killed himself after being changed by chaos. Soldiers found themselves under attack by giant wolves and dragons. Wizards found their magical barriers completly ineffective against bullets. Many a monster found itself wondering what that giant tan metal thing was rolling towards it before it died.
After a while, areas of calm appeared, and strong leaders rose up to fill the voids of power and lead the people to peace. Kingdoms were formed and lost. Alliances were made and broken, but over time the chaos of the merge began to settle down. Many seers and prophits saw of an end to the chaos approaching. The people dreamed of a time when they would no longer have to worry about a mountain appearing overhead, and just deal with the everyday troubles of life.
----
The mod I'd like to make takes place in the LAST year of the 10 years of chaos. Most of my stories and further details deal with the years immedietly after the 10YOC.
The mod itself would deal with the players' struggle to survive the end of the 10YOC. The story would take place in Barstownia, one of the kingdoms to rise up during this time. There are three different races living in Barstownia, and three major towns. They are all based off of former Earth towns.
Barstow (formerly of California)
The capital of Barstownia for several major reasons. First, because of the Fort Irwin training center, as well as a marine base, both located in or near the city. During the merge a major keep and it's village merged directly into the town. The two towns overlapped and formed a mixed city full of strange buildings. The landscape changed from a bleak and rocky desert, to rolling plains of green seperated into several valleys. The residents of Barstow have access to both modern and mystical equpiment and people.
Vegas (Formerly the Southwest portion of Las Vegas, NV)
Vegas is now a bustling port town. Since most of the original city now lies in ruins in the shallow waters of the coast, it has become a reef full of sea life, as well as an safe port in the newly formed ocean. Sticking to it's hearatage the city is still a place for gambling and sin of all kinds. Not nearly as well gaurded as Barstow, the city boasts the ability to get almost ANYTHING, for a price.
Needles (Formerly Needles, CA)
Another small desert town over two hundred miles to the south of Barstow. This small river town now found itself on the coast with a small fort in the middle of the town. They also found themselves under constant attack from the south as raiders crossed the waves to invade and pillage the lush green fields of Barstownia. Quickly putting aside their differences the local population joined with the Thera residents and repelled the invaders. As the years went by they turned Needles into a fortress city, designed with several layers of defense, all aimed south toward the sea. They have the strongest military in Barstownia and are constatly alert for any incursions into Barstownia.
The players would have many choices as the game progressed. Not only can they have swords, bows, and magic, but they also have modern weapons and abilties available as well. Martial arts, Guns, and new "psycic" powers that formed durning the merge. The marital arts aren't just the normal ones that were taught before the merge, now they are more like you see in a Jet Li movie, or the matrix. Practicioners are now able to move much faster and hit much harder than they previously could. Guns are still the end all and be all of an argument. Unfortunetly few people know how to make them, and bullets are scarce. Bullet prices are known to be as high as 1 gold piece per bullet! Brass and lead slugs are in high demand on the resale market, as well as any piece of a gun. Automatic weapons are extremely expensive and only a few military organisations can maintain them in any quantity. In fact, they are so deadly and expensive, that they are banned in Barstownia to anyone except the military. Finally, psycic powers that allow people to read minds, move object, and pretty much do anything that magic can, but differently, have appeared as people "believed" they could.
I belive leaving the world contained to just Barstownia gives it plenty of space to play in, but not so much to get lost. It also allows for plenty of story telling while showcasing much of what my world offers.
I welcome any and all suggestions/comments/ideas/questions on this. Thanks!
Oh, and if anyone is actually interested in reading some of the stories I've written in this world, please say so, I love letting people read my work.
Jim "Gozer the Carpathian" Yee
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Interesting. Reminds me alot of Palldium's Rifts. A very ambitious project, I look forward to the many weapon variations, both new models and code to support them.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Wow. This reminds me a lot of The Longest Journey; check it out sometime. Of course, this isn't a particularly bad thing, since The Longest Journey was the best computer game /ever/, in my opinion. Sounds like there's a lot of potential there.
In short... I like it.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
While I have played a little bit of Rifts I really didn't think about it when designing this world, and also, now that you mention it, it IS similar to The Longest Journey (Which I feel was a great game as well) it's different in the fact that both worlds are ONE. *Shrugs* Now let's see here... where's that join button. ;)
Jim
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
There are a lot of worlds like this, but I think you've created some unique aspects that will really flavor the game. I seem to recall a pen and paper system that was quite similar to this as well...shadowpunk or something like that. It was future tech merged with fantasy...except some of the people became elves/ogres/trolls/etc. I don't really remember it all that well, but it was an interesting concept at the time, and still is in my opinion. I would definitely play the siegelet...if that helps any *grin*.
Scott
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
This story sounds cool. It has a lot of potential. Funny that you guys mentioned 'The Longest Journey'. I just bought it in the bargin bin. I wanted to get it when it came out... but I was too busy to play it.
Looks like your writing ability would come in handy in spinning this tale! How much custom content would this Mod require (and the type of custom content)?
I'm not sure how 'reading minds' would work in a game like Dungeon Siege. How does the game end? Are we racing against the clock to do something?
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Hi all, I was wondering what you folks thought of my idea. I'm a writer/producer in small films, and as such I think story/flow verses gameplay. I've just found Dungeon Siege and discovered it'd be a good place to bring one of my story worlds to life. Here's a brief overview of my idea. My old website with info is here:
http://gozer.fanspace.com/merging.html
The Merge
The Merge is a world in turmoil. Two completly different worlds were, in an instant, merged into one wild and mixed up world. The two world were of very different types, one of Swords and Sorcery, the other of Science and Technology.
Earth 20XX
It's the not-to-distant future, and things are pretty much the same as they are now. Mankind still enjoys killing themselves, while at the same time learning to make themselves live longer. All technologies have progressed normally. We currently have a few oribital stations and a small moon base, all privately owned. The first mission to Mars was under way when the Merge happened.
Thera
Thera was a magical world, full of mystical beasts and wonderous beings. The elves and dwarves lived side-by-side with the youngest race: man. Humanity was on the rise. As the years passed they grew, not only in numbers, but in military might and magical skill. Still no match for an Elf in magic or a Dwarf in strength, man made up for it with wit and bravado. Other races such as the Dragons and Demons also held sway over the land, along with the gods and devils.
Zero Hour/The Merge
At exactly the same time on both worlds, a titanic explosion of immesurable strength occured. On Earth it was the detonation of the first Anti-matter bomb, and on Thera it was a forbidden spell gone crazy. Instead of obliterating themselves, the two worlds broke the bariers between their dimentions and fused into one ever shifting world.
The 10 Years of Chaos.
For the next 10 years chaos reined as continents flooded, old lands surfaced, and both worlds turned upside down as they violently fused together. Whole mountain ranges crashed down from the skies, cities apeared in mid-air (and some stayed there), whole races where wiped out. There was nothing but terror, dispair, and hardship.
As time went by, the chaos the merge had unleashed continued to change, not only the landscape, but the survivors as well. People from the "modern world" (formerly Earth) who believed in things fanatically soon gained those abilities. Gods of old and new manafested for the first time. (It was a REAL mess up in heaven and in hell. The wars that shook the heavens were unprecidented and unheard of before!)
Out of fear and confusion many innocent people were killed, and many a person killed himself after being changed by chaos. Soldiers found themselves under attack by giant wolves and dragons. Wizards found their magical barriers completly ineffective against bullets. Many a monster found itself wondering what that giant tan metal thing was rolling towards it before it died.
After a while, areas of calm appeared, and strong leaders rose up to fill the voids of power and lead the people to peace. Kingdoms were formed and lost. Alliances were made and broken, but over time the chaos of the merge began to settle down. Many seers and prophits saw of an end to the chaos approaching. The people dreamed of a time when they would no longer have to worry about a mountain appearing overhead, and just deal with the everyday troubles of life.
----
The mod I'd like to make takes place in the LAST year of the 10 years of chaos. Most of my stories and further details deal with the years immedietly after the 10YOC.
The mod itself would deal with the players' struggle to survive the end of the 10YOC. The story would take place in Barstownia, one of the kingdoms to rise up during this time. There are three different races living in Barstownia, and three major towns. They are all based off of former Earth towns.
Barstow (formerly of California)
The capital of Barstownia for several major reasons. First, because of the Fort Irwin training center, as well as a marine base, both located in or near the city. During the merge a major keep and it's village merged directly into the town. The two towns overlapped and formed a mixed city full of strange buildings. The landscape changed from a bleak and rocky desert, to rolling plains of green seperated into several valleys. The residents of Barstow have access to both modern and mystical equpiment and people.
Vegas (Formerly the Southwest portion of Las Vegas, NV)
Vegas is now a bustling port town. Since most of the original city now lies in ruins in the shallow waters of the coast, it has become a reef full of sea life, as well as an safe port in the newly formed ocean. Sticking to it's hearatage the city is still a place for gambling and sin of all kinds. Not nearly as well gaurded as Barstow, the city boasts the ability to get almost ANYTHING, for a price.
Needles (Formerly Needles, CA)
Another small desert town over two hundred miles to the south of Barstow. This small river town now found itself on the coast with a small fort in the middle of the town. They also found themselves under constant attack from the south as raiders crossed the waves to invade and pillage the lush green fields of Barstownia. Quickly putting aside their differences the local population joined with the Thera residents and repelled the invaders. As the years went by they turned Needles into a fortress city, designed with several layers of defense, all aimed south toward the sea. They have the strongest military in Barstownia and are constatly alert for any incursions into Barstownia.
The players would have many choices as the game progressed. Not only can they have swords, bows, and magic, but they also have modern weapons and abilties available as well. Martial arts, Guns, and new "psycic" powers that formed durning the merge. The marital arts aren't just the normal ones that were taught before the merge, now they are more like you see in a Jet Li movie, or the matrix. Practicioners are now able to move much faster and hit much harder than they previously could. Guns are still the end all and be all of an argument. Unfortunetly few people know how to make them, and bullets are scarce. Bullet prices are known to be as high as 1 gold piece per bullet! Brass and lead slugs are in high demand on the resale market, as well as any piece of a gun. Automatic weapons are extremely expensive and only a few military organisations can maintain them in any quantity. In fact, they are so deadly and expensive, that they are banned in Barstownia to anyone except the military. Finally, psycic powers that allow people to read minds, move object, and pretty much do anything that magic can, but differently, have appeared as people "believed" they could.
I belive leaving the world contained to just Barstownia gives it plenty of space to play in, but not so much to get lost. It also allows for plenty of story telling while showcasing much of what my world offers.
I welcome any and all suggestions/comments/ideas/questions on this. Thanks!
Oh, and if anyone is actually interested in reading some of the stories I've written in this world, please say so, I love letting people read my work.
Jim "Gozer the Carpathian" Yee
Interesting. Reminds me alot of Palldium's Rifts. A very ambitious project, I look forward to the many weapon variations, both new models and code to support them.
Wow. This reminds me a lot of The Longest Journey; check it out sometime. Of course, this isn't a particularly bad thing, since The Longest Journey was the best computer game /ever/, in my opinion. Sounds like there's a lot of potential there.
In short... I like it.
Thanks,
While I have played a little bit of Rifts I really didn't think about it when designing this world, and also, now that you mention it, it IS similar to The Longest Journey (Which I feel was a great game as well) it's different in the fact that both worlds are ONE. *Shrugs* Now let's see here... where's that join button. ;)
Jim
There are a lot of worlds like this, but I think you've created some unique aspects that will really flavor the game. I seem to recall a pen and paper system that was quite similar to this as well...shadowpunk or something like that. It was future tech merged with fantasy...except some of the people became elves/ogres/trolls/etc. I don't really remember it all that well, but it was an interesting concept at the time, and still is in my opinion. I would definitely play the siegelet...if that helps any *grin*.
Scott
This story sounds cool. It has a lot of potential. Funny that you guys mentioned 'The Longest Journey'. I just bought it in the bargin bin. I wanted to get it when it came out... but I was too busy to play it.
Looks like your writing ability would come in handy in spinning this tale! How much custom content would this Mod require (and the type of custom content)?
I'm not sure how 'reading minds' would work in a game like Dungeon Siege. How does the game end? Are we racing against the clock to do something?