Narrative story

[merlekitty]

I wonder if it's plausible to have a narrative story in a video game without having a main character - or more accurately, the main character is you. In most games, there is a defined main character and an antagonist that drives the main character's progression through the story

Comments

[boxie]

Griefing if confined to a certain set of limits could be an effective form of the narrative. Its a matter of how much is acceptable within the confines of the story, and can you bring them back in a believable manner.

So basically, mistreat NPCs, you get poor discounts on items, and maybe they don't give you premium quest lines to work on. Play nice with NPCs, better items, discounts and extra quests.

As for the narrative, it could exist in a bit of a pick your own adventure type fashion. Or another method could be, have certain areas that aren't affected by story. Basic things like repairs, housing or other game essentials should happen in a town where you can't affect things.

From there, you could have towns, villages, roads, and what not where you can be hated and basically ruin the story if that's what you really want to do. This would give players a bit of choice because they could aid in defending the city or help raze it to the ground.

The biggest mistake I would avoid making is don't make players choose a side. You can find lots of reasons for players to interact in a pvp environment, but don't start off by splitting your player base. Keep in mind there is a social aspect to these games, so you want players to be able to communicate even if they are fighting against each other.