Game Conceptualization: Eras, Rivals and Companions

Hey folks, Unfortunately due to external circumstances the amount of time I could put toward working on this project was cut quite short, so my progress since the last update has been very minimal. So tonight I'm just going to rant about a couple of design systems I'm thinking of. So the seasonal system for my game will revolve around the concept of Eras. An era is a period of time where specific kingdoms reign, and there will be an overarching plot that ties them together, but the story itself will evolve from events and player participation. I can't recall if I mentioned this in an earlier post, but kingdoms will be lead by NPCs. They will be playing a non-graphical XXXX-lite game between themselves, which will decide what events get pushed to the world state. Players are immortal agents, traversing various eras and exerting their influence to guide the outcome of era. They do this by supporting or ignoring the NPC kingdoms and the events they generate. Along their travels, the players will encounter folk heroes who may join them as Companions aiding them in various game systems, and provide additional story elements. Each companion is a bespoke character, and their story will be the same for all players. An example could be "Meldrith Bladesong, Elf Warrior" If I have any co-op or PvP game modes where players will encounter the same companions as each other, I am thinking that players will see their companion as "Meldrith Blasesong", and another player's Meldrith as "Elf Warrior". Companions grow alongside players, gaining experience from various activities, and players can customize them and their equipment, and decide how their talent trees evolve, however they are mortal and can only exist within the current era... unless the player maximises their progression during the era, upon which the player can grant the companion a portion of their immortality, and allow them to follow the player to subsequent eras. Finally rivals are NPC's inspired by Shadow's of Mordor's Nemesis system, but the rivals will be bespoke characters with their storyline. They'll challenge the player at occasional intervals. They have strengths and weaknesses for the players to exploit, and level up with each encounter. Upon reaching the culmination of their story arcs, some may offer to join the player as a companion. Anyway, that's some of the things I'm contemplating. Feel free to ask me questions, and good night! Cheers, Dan

May 12, 2025 - 03:20

Game Conceptualization: Eras, Rivals and Companions

Hey folks,

Unfortunately due to external circumstances the amount of time I could put toward working on this project was cut quite short, so my progress since the last update has been very minimal. So tonight I'm just going to rant about a couple of design systems I'm thinking of.

So the seasonal system for my game will revolve around the concept of Eras. An era is a period of time where specific kingdoms reign, and there will be an overarching plot that ties them together, but the story itself will evolve from events and player participation. I can't recall if I mentioned this in an earlier post, but kingdoms will be lead by NPCs. They will be playing a non-graphical XXXX-lite game between themselves, which will decide what events get pushed to the world state.

Players are immortal agents, traversing various eras and exerting their influence to guide the outcome of era. They do this by supporting or ignoring the NPC kingdoms and the events they generate. Along their travels, the players will encounter folk heroes who may join them as Companions aiding them in various game systems, and provide additional story elements. Each companion is a bespoke character, and their story will be the same for all players. An example could be "Meldrith Bladesong, Elf Warrior"

If I have any co-op or PvP game modes where players will encounter the same companions as each other, I am thinking that players will see their companion as "Meldrith Blasesong", and another player's Meldrith as "Elf Warrior".

Companions grow alongside players, gaining experience from various activities, and players can customize them and their equipment, and decide how their talent trees evolve, however they are mortal and can only exist within the current era... unless the player maximises their progression during the era, upon which the player can grant the companion a portion of their immortality, and allow them to follow the player to subsequent eras.

Finally rivals are NPC's inspired by Shadow's of Mordor's Nemesis system, but the rivals will be bespoke characters with their storyline. They'll challenge the player at occasional intervals. They have strengths and weaknesses for the players to exploit, and level up with each encounter. Upon reaching the culmination of their story arcs, some may offer to join the player as a companion.

Anyway, that's some of the things I'm contemplating. Feel free to ask me questions, and good night!

Cheers,
Dan