Re: [Once development] here I am :) + an idea

[Thomas C. R. <th...@th...>]

Hey!

> Greetings list!

> 
> I ran through the design docs of Once (or what it's name WILL be :),
> and I just had an idea, which I think might make the game more unique.
> I will post here the exact text, what I wrote to the forum. Here it
> is:

cool, we're always open to ideas. I'll give you some feedback below:

> Wouldn't it be better to have something "original" in the game? All
> that stuff in the game, the "levelling" system, predefined magics,
> everything PREDEFINED is all very similar to existing (boring) RPGs,
> like AD&D, etc. The magic system could be made more unique for
> example: to make a mosaic-magic system. The wizard has "words",
> building blocks for his spells, then he would be able to construct
> them himself. This would make a wizard's life harder of course, but
> what do you want from being a wizard? Easy play??? Then go
> hack'n'slash... This mosaic-magic was done in a Hungarian RPG, called
> M.A.G.U.S, and it did VERY WELL. Spell creation would be so much fun,
> you would even need to be careful, not to blow yourself up for
> example. It would be something like programming, but very easy. As you
> gain levels, you get more "blocks" to build you spell from. Also it
> would be possible to "get" these words from great wizards, spellbooks,
> and write them to you own spellbook. Then, make the spells how ever
> you like, and write them to your spellbook for later use (in combat
> for example).

I think i should post my thought to the list as well :-)

I believe that systems in games, and especially MMORPG games should be
easily learnt by players. In a normal (single player) RPG, the players
have a long time to learn the controlls, figure out how to fight,smith,
etc. etc. etc., but in an online world, players are paying for the
internet, and they are essentially competing with other human players.
This is why i have tried to make most of the monsters recognisable to
the players.

There are actually some bits and pieceswhich Caillan and I have
discussed, but have not yet included in the design documents. For
instance, there will be spells which the player only gets if they gain a
very high level in another skill. (actually, throughout the game we are
attempting to make the skills inter-related). Now, i personally think
that your idea is a good one, but i can't quite see how it will fit in
with the rest of the game. AT the moment magic complements the other
skills. Your system, while being very cool and original, would be
considerably harder to intergrate with the rest of the game.

This leave us with several options (that i can see):

-> we take this idea, and completely redesign all the other skills from
scratch, to use a similar technique.
-> we take this idea and modify it to fit in with the rest of the skills
in the game, and perhaps modify the rest of the skills slightly.
-> we reject this idea.

any other options?

I'm open to ideas, and when caillan and I have our nest designers meet
we will surely discuss this idea.

BTW, I really do want to include the rest of the development team in the
design of the game. Just because we are the offical designers doesn't
mean we should be the only designers :-)


-- 

Thomi Richards,
th...@th...