klatremus on 26/9/2014 at 19:53
Quote Posted by nicked
A predefined pre-mission synopsis could work, but you run the risk of either making it so specific that it's difficult to get creative with the mission design, or so vague that there's no point having it in the first place.
This is a very good point. I think the main purpose of this discussion now should to find that balance, if indeed this is the way the contest is going. I think there should even be a few suggestions perhaps through a poll where forum members vote on what pre-defined story/theme/concept the contest should...well...contest.
But I do think every contestant needs to have
the same pre-defined story to work with. If different authors have different stories, that would defeat the purpose in my mind. But unlike Brethren, I think playing 5-10 missions based on the same story could be fun,
if done the right way.
Azaran on 26/9/2014 at 23:49
I'm all for a fall/winter contest, but I think we should start talking about the Halloween contest, it's getting to that time of the year ;)
Xorak on 26/9/2014 at 23:53
Although I'm not entirely sold on the predefined story, I think it could only work if every mission had its own predefined story. I don't think it's fair to players to force them to play the same story over and over, where the story is reduced to a perfunctory thing in the background: i.e ~rolls eyes~ "now I have to find a way to reach that book in order to make the story progress, even though I already know what the book will say."
Another option is that a bunch of different possible themes (wizards, escape, hammerites, thieve's highway, etc) are put into a hat and each person draws 2 or 3 of them and tries to combine them into a workable mission. And if you don't like what you get, you can redraw.
Tannar on 27/9/2014 at 00:27
The idea of a pre-defined story has been raised several times in the past and each time it is shot down. I suspect that the players are more interested in this type of thing than the authors. I see that DrK is for it (I saw you pointing at me) but I doubt many authors will be. At least, that seems to be the pattern in the past. And I can understand why. If I was an author, I wouldn't want to be constrained in that way.
So I don't think I am for this idea in general, but if it were to be done, I think that you would need to limit it to something really, really simple such as a single objective.
For example: "Find out who is after you!"
That way, the author has complete control over the story he/she wants to tell, the setting, etc. And they could add any other objectives they liked so long as they kept that initial one and based the story around it. Each author would likely come up with a completely different interpretation so the players would get unique missions with only that one common thread.
SneakyGuy101 on 27/9/2014 at 03:01
I'd go for the pre-made story, it's less hard thinking for me to do :laff:
I'd also love to see the outcome from different authors with how they make it play out and with they're different missions. also the thought of another contest is great and I'd love for another contest :cheeky:
nickie on 27/9/2014 at 06:39
Quote Posted by Azaran
I'm all for a fall/winter contest, but I think we should start talking about the Halloween contest, it's getting to that time of the year ;)
I'm pretty sure I read that Halloween has been cancelled this year.
Quote Posted by Tannar
So I don't think I am for this idea in general, but if it were to be done, I think that you would need to limit it to something really, really simple such as a single objective.
For example: "Find out who is after you!"
That way, the author has complete control over the story he/she wants to tell, the setting, etc. And they could add any other objectives they liked so long as they kept that initial one and based the story around it. Each author would likely come up with a completely different interpretation so the players would get unique missions with only that one common thread.
Exactly. And nicely explained. But it's not going to work as a contest if only a couple of authors think they'd like to do that. I still like the idea better than others but maybe fortuni's themes/Xorak's "bunch of possible themes in a hat etc." could be interesting.
fortuni on 27/9/2014 at 09:19
Quote Posted by nickie
maybe fortuni's themes/Xorak's "bunch of possible themes in a hat etc." could be interesting.
i vote for Fortuni's idea.....:cheeky:
nicked on 27/9/2014 at 09:33
A single given vague objective is probably the best way to go for the set story option.
"Find out who is after you" is a good one.
"Steal the strange artefact" could be another.
Something vague that could be expanded upon and given context by each author.
DrK on 27/9/2014 at 12:22
A single objective could be interesting as well, but I think it should be an unusual objective. "Go there", "kill him", "steal this" or "get out" have been done hundreds of times already, and if it's rather simple there's no challenge whatsoever for a contest.
How about things a bit more complicated like "get rid of the (multiple) evidences", "find the recipe and create the antidote", "frame someone", "free these people" and such. Something involving multiple tasks from the player, and gives a lot of freedom for interpretation or multiple opportunities for the author.
Quote Posted by Azaran
I'm all for a fall/winter contest, but I think we should start talking about the Halloween contest, it's getting to that time of the year ;)
It's way too late now. Even if it was for a 48h contest again, the preparations takes quite some time.
pwl on 27/9/2014 at 14:06
I don't care much for the beauty contests, they look fantastic but are kind of boring.
My favorite type missions are Thieves highway, Forrest, and huge cathedrals.
