I had some discussion about story and presentation, having just done Arah in GW2 this weekend for a couple people. So here are some sort of general thoughts
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It came to me that one place WoW offered a branching story choice was back in Burning Crusade. The Aldor or the Scryers. Granted there wasn't a big impact on your story, save for having the NPCs of one faction hostile to the other. They sort of revisited that in Wrath with the Oracles and the Frenzyheart (Puppy-men rule, fish-faces drool!) and that was on a much smaller scale (confined to just one zone instead of two and related to the overarcing plot to fight Illidan). Neither Cataclysm or Mists of Pandaria had anything resembling that, I think, and that might've been due to overall player feedback. It might also be that any sort of PvP was already hard baked into the game, faction wise, with Alliance vs. Horde. GW2 lacks that, so making choices of joining the Whispers over the Priory doesn't have any PvP aspect.
Yeah - not a lot of impact to those branches, and not really much story. And you could switch allegiance and play through both, potentially, if I recall both in Aldor/Scryer and Oracles/Frenzyheart. I think in MoP, Alliance and Horde allied with different sides in the starter zone, but yeah, again not that much difference ultimately.
GW2 based PVP conflict around worlds (servers) in the Mist. The Orders aren't really in conflict - though I wish there was some more to them, honestly. Of course, when they megaservered PVE content, that made things a little weird for the PVP differentiation.
In FFXIV, you ally with one of the three Grand Companies that serve the major city-states of Eorzia. They are allies in a sense, fighting together against things like Primals and the Garleans, but conflict some over resources, hence are the basis for faction in PVP content.
Yeah, I can see why some people are pissed about Trehearne, but I really think it's misplaced. I don't see a player enjoying 'and in this mission, you'll plot what the NPC does next and send him on his way, while you organize a bunch of other stuff and micromanage'. ;)
Personally, I prefer being the trusted 2nd in Command. You lay out options, I'll give my opinion, you make your decision, and I'll go kick butt for you. And through the entire story, Trehearne emphasizes just how much he values your presence, time and again.
I've always considered the 2nd in Command to be more important than the Commander for getting things done. :)
"Trehearne emphasizes just how much he values your presence, time and again" Doesn't mean squat when the PC still takes a back seat, story-wise to the most important figure in their PERSONAL STORY. The overall plot of GW can focus on Trehearne the military genius, sure, but the PCs own story shouldn't have Trehearne being so central. The PC should find a legacy weapon, the PC should be the one people turn to for answers (Instead of first asking Trehearne who then asks the PC)
Player agency, or, how to make the PC into the Big Damn Hero™. Consider the following scenarios: 1) Cut-scene wherein an NPC subordinate approaches Trehearne, informs him of the options on how to proceed. Trehearne then turns to the PC and asks, "Well, option one or option two?" 2) Subordinate comes to the PC, informs them directly on their options on how to proceed, player then makes the choice
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GW2 based PVP conflict around worlds (servers) in the Mist. The Orders aren't really in conflict - though I wish there was some more to them, honestly. Of course, when they megaservered PVE content, that made things a little weird for the PVP differentiation.
In FFXIV, you ally with one of the three Grand Companies that serve the major city-states of Eorzia. They are allies in a sense, fighting together against things like Primals and the Garleans, but conflict some over resources, hence are the basis for faction in PVP content.
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Personally, I prefer being the trusted 2nd in Command. You lay out options, I'll give my opinion, you make your decision, and I'll go kick butt for you. And through the entire story, Trehearne emphasizes just how much he values your presence, time and again.
I've always considered the 2nd in Command to be more important than the Commander for getting things done. :)
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Doesn't mean squat when the PC still takes a back seat, story-wise to the most important figure in their PERSONAL STORY. The overall plot of GW can focus on Trehearne the military genius, sure, but the PCs own story shouldn't have Trehearne being so central. The PC should find a legacy weapon, the PC should be the one people turn to for answers (Instead of first asking Trehearne who then asks the PC)
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