9 replies to this topic

[Creovex]

Any chance we can get an intro to this game, in graphic novel style, created by Alex to set the tone and lore for new players? Just spit balling ideas here… but….

?Thoughts?

[masCh]

Can you give this a look to see if you like it?

http://mwomercs.com/...14#entry4459514

[Mudhutwarrior]

No one cares about the lore. They want an interesting game that isn't such a grind.

I actually was given a couple of the books and the writing was so terrible I just laughed and threw them in the trash. I single handed sail and can be alone for a couple of weeks at a time so I read voraciously. Not that crap though.

[GRiPSViGiL]

No need for fluff when actual gameplay need improved to the core...ya I am looking at you pertaining CW PGI.

[FupDup]

You can have the lore stuff as "sprinkles on top" in a few places, like maybe mech or weapon descriptions (ala MW4), but they need the mechanics to not be so hidden/undocumented more than anything.

An in-game "Mechopedia" with up-to-date descriptions of all the mechs, equipment, and other stuff would be nice.

[TheArisen]

FupDup, on 05 June 2015 - 12:10 PM, said:

You can have the lore stuff as "sprinkles on top" in a few places, like maybe mech or weapon descriptions (ala MW4), but they need the mechanics to not be so hidden/undocumented more than anything.

An in-game "Mechopedia" with up-to-date descriptions of all the mechs, equipment, and other stuff would be nice.

Can I like this more than once? I want lore sprinkles!

[TLBFestus]

I like that idea.

PGI would like it too, they just have to figure out how to monetize it and it will be done.

[Alistair Winter]

Mudhutwarrior, on 05 June 2015 - 10:49 AM, said:

No one cares about the lore. They want an interesting game that isn't such a grind.

I actually was given a couple of the books and the writing was so terrible I just laughed and threw them in the trash. I single handed sail and can be alone for a couple of weeks at a time so I read voraciously. Not that crap though.

This is false, and the basis of your assumption is also very thin. People do care about the lore. For example, when you really look at the quality of the writing for the in-game lore of most computer games, both fantasy and science fiction, it's usually pretty bad all across the board. Even games where the fans are really fascinated by the lore, like World of Warcraft, the lore is really bad. I wouldn't read Warcraft novels even if I was paid to do so.

But even so, you need at least a basic backdrop to make the players a little bit invested in the story. Personally, I was really surprised to learn just how bad Battletech lore is. Even as someone who was a long time Warhammer 40,000 fan (a universe built on tropes and clichées and blatant plagiarism) I was just blown away by how stupid Battletech lore is, when you really look at it in depth. But like I said, I was surprised, because the full depth of this stupidity was never an issue in the computer games through which I came to know Battletech.

The people who made previous Mechwarrior and MechCommander titles did a fairly good job of building on Battletech lore, without really going into so much depth. They steered clear of the stupid stuff, for the most part. And I think that's still possible to do with MWO. In Mechwarrior 2 and MW2:Mercs, the devs did a good job establishing the setting without going into detail.

I think a good example would be Master of Orion or Endless Space, two different sci-fi universes. They both give a fairly shallow presentation of the different factions and the conflicts in the game, but it's still enough to provide some context and make things interesting. You need a little bit of information, you can't just have Blue team vs Red team, which is basically what MWO has become. Different factions with different flags, all completely anonymous and interchangable unless you actually do research on your own.

[Johnny Z]

There is room for improvement in Battletech lore there is no doubt. The roots of Battletech were the best in my opinion and the addition of the Clan factions was a good one although not in very well done way. Lots of room to add to the story and atmosphere though. A Shadow Run direction rather than Warhammer direction would make this game epic.

The Battletech story and atmosphere will live longer than any game and I hope they get it together.

Edited by Johnny Z, 05 June 2015 - 09:37 PM.

[bad arcade kitty]

Creovex, on 05 June 2015 - 09:41 AM, said:

Any chance we can get an intro to this game, in graphic novel style

onii-chan, will show me your mech, please? ...oh, it's so big, onii-chan (: