Concerns about the story development of Ryzom

[ryzloner]

That is a great point. Why don't we see more GM's, event managers and overall people behind the game going around as a character in game spreading lore? Take Mynias for example. Why don't we see him in the courntyside going from town to town (unannounced) to speak of what is going on?

I Agree but I must add that this not only to the gm to talk about what happen but to players too to talk about thier stories and what they've seen.

[sk8rss]

Hmmm....good point, but changing times to me meant that they're starting over in the new land (chapter 1)... There may not be a lot going on right now, people have to get to the point (or at least I'm not there yet) where they're comfortable enough with the game, and powerful enough to actually make a change, or be ready for these changes....

[josephm]

If everyone submits as many bugs as I do (2-3 a day) Gm's don't have much time to do anything. It took Takeshi a while to get me out of a stuck spot today since he was the only GM on and running a tournament. Pretty sure they aren't making mounds of cash atm so we'll have to wait and see.

I'm not saying I don't agree. I agree 100%. How are things going to be implemented so that we can see them affect us more? For instance, the respread of mobs could have been done with small implementations of storyline elements....but that may be to hard to code. I think they just wanted to get rid of all the tickets I posted saying: "1000 mobs in this valley no one travels in. takes me 5 minutes to push to other side, half mobs frozen from lag".

I think True content will be inspired by PvP and Guild missions. I hope despite our differences we can on occaision unite, and raid the Tryker and Matis because they are WEAK

[yy48n19]

I also agree with Raynes here. Last time I was in Ryzom--admittedly, several weeks ago now--it seemed fairly static and empty. The goo event that pitted Matis and Tryker vs Zorai and Fyros seemed like a pretty shallow and black and white affair, pitting one alliance against another. It also showed, and I believe the new lore reinforces, that any individual that wishes to pursue the opposite "way" of his native people--i.e. a Tryker that chooses to follow the Kami or a Fyros that is inspired by the war-like call of the Karavan--has to struggle a lot to travel to the lands of "the other side" in order to be of any value. This is okay; but it does require a lot of work, and I think will severely cut down on people's interest in playing one of these rebel-type characters--which in turn, in my opinion, makes the game much less interesting. Suddenly, you have a very black-and-white, cookie-cutter "Team One" versus "Team Two" campaign going on. But, I digress... let me get back on topic.

One time I did hear something going on along the lines of what marct is asking for more of:

It seems to me the Event Managers should be more in-game spreading lore and information. They could "Embody an NPC" and make that NPC travel around and shout or provide info. Let the community do what it should, and if not pay the consequences. We will mobilize. If all of the vendors pack up from DAV because the mobs are getting closer and more dangerous and all of the sudden you can't sell your higher level items until they are back, people will mobilize.

I was harvesting outside of Fairhaven when I "heard" someone named Sorrowblade, I believe (it wasn't Mournblade, but a similar name), apprehend that Tryker girl that was killed. So, that was an event-in-progress that I witnessed, but I'm not really sure what bearing that has on the greater storyline. At the time, it sounded like there was some military or police officer apprehending a criminal. Later, out of game, and in these forums, I read that a little Tryker girl was abducted and killed. I have no idea why or how that fits into a greater story.

I would like to believe that there is some plan for how the story is unfolding, but with the new lore and the changes in the attitudes and viewpoints of at least the Tryker (don't know about the other races, haven't bothered to check) that was introduced with this last patch, I feel like there is a lack of vision, and things are just kind of being made up as the devs go along. I can appreciate a need for revision and reshaping as things evolve, but, at the same time, these sort of shifts in lore, and basically the history of the world, make me doubtful that everything is running according to plan--or indeed that there is even a coherent plan.

My three and a half cents, give or take a peso.

[jackmor]

[QUOTE=vguerin]I must admit I often ignore anything you post... but I have to say "Spot On" ! Where's the beef ?

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Rayne I also ignor or only get half way through your longer posts. But, This one I had to read because you are right. And I would like to see the same thing. Good post.

[bizango]

I tend to take a different view about the Saga of Ryzom. I tend to look at it as a story WE PLAYERS are creating in a background supplied to us by Nevrax. As advertised, I expect the story to change according to how WE shape the world. I do not view it as a story Nevrax is presenting to us where WE PLAYERS are ineffective in creating change.

There will be some things that happen outside the player's control to provide a background for the story WE create. This is all especially difficult early on while there is no content to support a story, so I view events so far as just warming up to the real stuff that is supposed to start during Chapter Two.

In a regular book, what usually happens in the first chapter? You are introduced to many of the major characters, and you get an idea of the context the story will play out in. There isn't usually much in the way of story advancement or character development.

I went back and reread the 30 October Chapter One introduction. In my view, we are still playing Chapter One and that Chapter Two is about to open. Most of the Chapter One introduction is a storyline explanation for the patch changes being made to the game, that being Nevvy's way of announcing changes and satisfying the RP immersion community who hate seeing world changes that just magically happen without an RP explanation. I support that technique.

(changes that have occured have nothing to do with anything story related).

I think that depends on how you look at it. Sure, merchants & skills & mounts were merely game improvements. I believe the content stuff raynes is looking for in the introduction amounted only to drawing players attention to the antagonism between the kami and karavan camps - pretty sparse, but at that time we all knew there wasn't going to be much in the way of content until Patch Two anyways.

Now, what happened that DID permanently change the world.
*As changed by goo, the critters DID become more difficult to fight and more aggro. Players complained it was inept and unneeded game balancing (instead of maybe just recognising it might be part of the story) and the critters were changed to besome less difficult.

I believe we are still playing out Chapter One, so I'll list some more.
*The guild summit was held. Mynias warned of enemies massing to attack. He appealed to try to get all homins to work together. This event also introduced Mournblade and the Harbingers of Doom as a faction that wants to destroy homin unity - these appear to be major NPC antihero characters and motivators in our world story. The story is advanced but nothing changes here unless WE CHARACTERS choose to do something about it.
*Kamis mobilized Fyros & Zorai to fight against some hordes blamed on the karavan. Likewise, Karavan mobilized Matis & Tryker to fight hordes blamed on the Kami. During these battles, some people got BIG permanent faction changes. Notice the divisive setting here, nothing much changed as long as WE PLAYERS choose to ignore that part of the story being presented.
*Some other events are in the logs, but as raynes says, there isn't any permanent effect on the world, what does occur is Mournblade and Sorrowblade and the Harbingers of Doom surface again to motivate the story and develop their characters, setting themselves up as bad ashes.
*During Chapter One, there have been other changes that were commonly seen as inept balancing and a sinister plot to drive players away from the game (plenty of other threads describing them). As seen from another perspective, maybe they could be part of the changing (and unfortunately unexplained) world story around us.

[xcomvic]

I must admit I often ignore anything you post... but I have to say "Spot On" ! Where's the beef ?

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haha

[bobturke]

There's a story?

OK so I see some pieces starting. I suppose its the start to a long term story, but...

Bedtime

[lupine04]

I tend to agree.. the storyline, setting and lore seems to be very back-seat in Ryzom. Though, I've seen this happen in alot of games. Anarchy Online is one of them.. and Ryzom reminds me of that game in so many ways (mostly good ... There's all this conflict in AO between Omni and Clan and what-not, and aside from being attacked if you wander into contested areas, the impact that story has on the gameplay itself is so remote, you don't even think of it (at least I never did).

I think the sense of "purpose" could be made a little more front-and-center in Ryzom. Maybe that will come with all the larger-scale quests in Patch 2? Not sure.

On the other hand, you don't necessarily want it going too far the other way either, or you end up with FFXI which, while it has a fantastic and very entertaining way of conveying the various struggles, lore and overall storyline, on many levels, can feel too much like a "hand-held" gaming experience.. too linear and guided. What FFXI did very well in the process, though, was to give a great feeling of accomplishment and that you were truly part of something larger than yourself, or even your given starting city. If you let yourself get drawn in, it really did feel epic. At least for me and some others I've spoken to.

As for implementation... perhaps it could be approached in a Morrowind-like manner. The task before you is made clear, but in more of a "nudge and wink" manner. You can take it on and become part of the goings-on.. Or you can just do your own thing and remain blissfully ignorant to what's unfolding around you. That, I think, could allow for the depth of plot that some people enjoy (like myself) while leaving it open enough for those who don't.

So, there's sure to be a middle ground in there somewhere. I think the inclusion of quests of a larger scale, given by "important figures" in any given society, or even cross-society (Matis might need to go help the Fyros with something as a shared effort against the Kitins, etc.. ). Make people feel involved on a larger scale (as in scope, not necessarily number . I don't know if this happens later on or not, or if it's in the works.. but basically, it seems to me that for all the lore and background Nevrax have come up with for this game world of theirs, I don't ever feel like I'm a part of a living history, so to speak.

Just my two cents.

[lyrah68]

My issue is not MISSING story so much as the Lore being SO contradictory. In one spot it says this, in another spot it says that. History has been written and contradicted.

Plus the concept that people of the EXACT same fame are antagonistic...Come on The fame system is ALL fubared. They need to figure out who is REALLY friend and who is really foe.

Before I do ANYTHING but "home town" missions for quick cash (fame is piddling on these, so these are NOT the way to build fame if you are sane), I want to see the factions worked out sensibly thank you.