Valentines Day

Last post I mentioned that I had written an outline for the game. This still holds true, but as I have been working on fleshing out conversations from that guideline I have been finding that there are parts of the world that are in much further need of development. By this I don't mean monster types or magic systems or even cultures.(This is to be a short game!) Fleshing out the story means more characters to help move it along, which may mean more opportunities to utilize the choices mechanic I want to make use of. Now, these characters will not be part of the main crew (except one, hahaha) Sadly more of the NPC variety, but just HOW MANY NPC's are needed in a game to make it work is surprising me. What also surprises me is that I didn't realize it before. xD

Due to a growing number of NPC's (with there own personalities) the number of spaces in which they exist is also growing. Which means towns or camps or random encounters in a barren desert *cough cough*. These developing additions have opened up a unique underbelly of content I have not encountered in other creative projects I have undertaken. {dnd modules, short story's, long form stories...etc.}

I think this is because in most of those other mediums, the 'player/reader' is  easily directed down one path or another that will eventually lead them to an intended goal. For example, its not too hard to switch up a characters dialog in dnd. If the Players need to know that the woods is the best place to find something, but they refuse[more likely forgot] to talk to the old woman, the inn keeper can drop the hint instead. Allowing them to play how they want but still giving information at the same time to use when they are ready.  In a pre-programed game however where dialog is locked down that tactic is not as much of an option. I don't think a game should have the same rigid telling of a written story either. In my own way I am figuring out how to 'balance' these two things in the storytelling.

For those of you that read this far(thankyou!), what do you prefer? 

P.S.- In a couple BETA updates I hope to make clear why all of this is of interest to me at this time. Meanwhile, I am still working on delivering the promised updates as typed on the homepage of the current game. :)