38 replies to this topic

[razenWing]

When a game boast to have 200 endings, we should be realistic and expect probably just 2-3 core endings with the rest being slight alteration from the core endings.

Which is fine, but as far as story telling goes, if MW4: Mercenary is basic and Heavy Rain is like Super Premium, I think something a little less complex than Mass Effect is probably appropriate for modern branching story telling.

My point...

Since we are mercenaries, we are given the unique opportunities to explore the story branch narration. But what wasn't done in MW4: Mercenary was that the storyboard did not adapt to your action.

For example, say you assisted the Skye Separatist, but accepted an opposite contract the next mission, the Skye Separatist did not go:



So this is what I mean by adaptive storytelling. Your action has consequence on future events, not just a simple branch mechanics.

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There's also another aspect that is very rare in gaming, but could be incorporated: failed action counts. Obviously, it's super frustrating as a gamer if you failed 10 sequences in a roll and got some undesirable ending, but I think that's a more bold way to achieve replay-ability and ending. In real life, if you failed to raid... for example... Bin Laden in Pakistan, you can't just retry the mission 8 times until you succeed. Now, traditionally FPS games, being action oriented, does not take failed state into account. That's more of a RPG territory. However, I can think of one instance in CoD: Black Ops 1 where the decision to shoot or not shoot (and shot location) a particular NPC affects his fate later on.

So on technicality, it's not unheard of to incorporate failed state as part of the storyline.

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What do you guys think? What would you guys like to see in terms of narratives? Simple, straight forward, but well structured like in MW3? Something simple like Mw4? Or more complex?

Comments below.

[Juodas Varnas]

I'd rather not speculate at all.

Any sort of speculation will only lead to disappointment.

[razenWing]

Juodas Varnas, on 06 February 2017 - 12:08 PM, said:

I'd rather not speculate at all.

Any sort of speculation will only lead to disappointment.

You get some sort of reward for making the most posts in the forum? I mean, it feels like you didn't even bother to read anything. You caught the title, decide to reply, but doesn't take the effort to even read what I wrote.

You know how I know? Cause after I submit, I clicked on another thread, read a 4 sentence reply, and wrote my own reply about the same length as yours, came back, and here you are.

Like, if you have NOTHING to contribute, it's literally ok to not write anything. Why you doing this anyways? So people will be impressed by your apathy? Attention much?

[Vanguard319]

Mercenaries fight for the highest bidder, not for ideaology, accusing them of treason is absurd.

[Juodas Varnas]

razenWing, on 06 February 2017 - 12:13 PM, said:

You get some sort of reward for making the most posts in the forum?

I'm pretty sure there was a contest for making more posts than Bishop.

Fine whatever.
I'll just go out on a limb and state that i would prefer a well-written but completely linear story over some over-complicated branching story that ends up as poorly-written drivel.

Edited by Juodas Varnas, 06 February 2017 - 12:22 PM.

[cazidin]

razenWing, on 06 February 2017 - 12:13 PM, said:

You get some sort of reward for making the most posts in the forum? I mean, it feels like you didn't even bother to read anything. You caught the title, decide to reply, but doesn't take the effort to even read what I wrote.

You know how I know? Cause after I submit, I clicked on another thread, read a 4 sentence reply, and wrote my own reply about the same length as yours, came back, and here you are.

Like, if you have NOTHING to contribute, it's literally ok to not write anything. Why you doing this anyways? So people will be impressed by your apathy? Attention much?

You're still an [CENSORED].

To answer your question? Probably similar to MW3 or MW4. You'll have a decent sized storyline with the opportunity to see it from the POV of a few factions that you can play from. It won't be spectacular or brilliant, but it'll be good and might even have good acting and some nice moments.

We don't play MechWarrior for the story. We play it to see the other Giant Robot go boom. Some may play for the story or lore, and I do hope that they enjoy whatever it is in MW:V, but if it's fun to play? I probably will just laugh at stupid dialogue or plot holes and carry on, making other Giant Robots go boom.

[Oberost]

Juodas Varnas, on 06 February 2017 - 12:08 PM, said:

I'd rather not speculate at all.

Any sort of speculation will only lead to disappointment.

razenWing, on 06 February 2017 - 12:13 PM, said:

You get some sort of reward for making the most posts in the forum? I mean, it feels like you didn't even bother to read anything. You caught the title, decide to reply, but doesn't take the effort to even read what I wrote.

You know how I know? Cause after I submit, I clicked on another thread, read a 4 sentence reply, and wrote my own reply about the same length as yours, came back, and here you are.

Like, if you have NOTHING to contribute, it's literally ok to not write anything. Why you doing this anyways? So people will be impressed by your apathy? Attention much?

Juodas was actually on spot with his comment. Give PGI record on providing what they've promised, speculating about something that is planned to be delivered in 2018 is pointless, and in the end will only cause disappointment.

I'll take his comment as an advise...

[Coolant]

just solo play with objectives and quality A.I....I personally don't really care about story.

Edited by Coolant, 06 February 2017 - 01:18 PM.

[roboPrancer]

I would rather they spend their time trying to keep the gameplay interesting, rather than focus on gimmicky multiple ending stuff. If you want multiple endings just get George Ledoux to give a concise summary for each plotline.

[Zolaz]

The story is going to revolve around buying mech packs and taking over planets for no reason. It has worked so well in MWO, why change it?

[Shiroi Tsuki]

Can I speculate random battles in a bunch of maps with no overarching story line?

Story wise, I'm speculating it has the same depth as Armored Core 4 (which is basically do enough contracts in each chapter to unlock a chapter final contact to proceed to the next chapter) or maybe go slightly deeper like in Armored Core for Answer, which is basically AC4 but certain contracts will lock out other contacts, have 3 different endings that is pretty much determined on the final chapter and what contracts you take on the previous don't really matter. Have some mechanic where you have the option to go solo or bring some buddies with you, but you pay will be divided during missions

Edited by Shiroi Tsuki, 06 February 2017 - 01:37 PM.

[B L O O D W I T C H]

I'd be fine with a well written linear story with maybe a few branches like heavy gear or armored core games had.
Tho, i'd join in to the "better have no expectations at all then another huge let-down" giving what PGI all had promised and actually delivered in the past.

[SmokedJag]

Vanguard319, on 06 February 2017 - 12:15 PM, said:

Mercenaries fight for the highest bidder, not for ideaology, accusing them of treason is absurd.

There's one MW2: Merc mission which is certainly treasonous in every sense of the word. The Combine never figures out to punish you for it though, even if you flaunt your, ah, suspicious ill gotten gains in front of them in the final campaign.

[Scout Derek]

SmokedJag, on 06 February 2017 - 01:56 PM, said:

There's one MW2: Merc mission which is certainly treasonous in every sense of the word. The Combine never figures out to punish you for it though, even if you flaunt your, ah, suspicious ill gotten gains in front of them in the final campaign.

*steals Kodiak from Kurita, Kurita still contracts you missions*

lol.


But for my ideal for how MW5 Mercs will be is simply this:


Like MW4 mercs, you are sponsored ( or get to choose) which merc unit/company you are sponsored by. You can choose them or make your own unit. From there, you go through the tutorial, then, the first mission which is taken by a misc company, and from there you move onto other planets where you do contracts for units. Most likely I'm guessing it's going to take place in Steiner Territory Judging from the Voice of the actor in the Pre-Alpha video, but could be wrong.

Gunna be alota space bucks if you wanna go from Davion to Steiner Territory

[Felicitatem Parco]

razenWing, on 06 February 2017 - 12:13 PM, said:

Like, if you have NOTHING to contribute, it's literally ok to not write anything. Why you doing this anyways? So people will be impressed by your apathy? Attention much?

Actually, insulting PGI on the MWO forums gets you 40 Reputation Points per post. You can accumulate reputation points and cash then in toward Salt Credits that are tradable on other forums such as Reddit, etc. You'll notice that the people who insult PGI at any chance are the saltiest folks around, and that's because they keep exchanging their RP for SC.

An interesting point is that insulting PGI when you're wrong or basing your insult on incorrect information not only generates the same # of RP per posting, but also gets you a chance for a 3x multiplier because you can then insult the person who proves you wrong followed by an unrelated insult toward PGI to maximize RP from a single exchange.

___________

In terms of a storyline, I kind of foresee them funneling into a "... Until the greatest threat the Inner Sphere has ever encountered..." type of segue to the Clan Invasion...

Edited by Prosperity Park, 06 February 2017 - 03:08 PM.

[BLOOD WOLF]

I think they can make a nice simple story as long as they do a good job of connecting the plot. Couple with unique and fun game play and as much mech customization as possible in that era.

[razenWing]

I am actually surprised by the response so far. So most of you actually prefer a MW3 style story telling with possible MW4: Merc sophistication.

A linear storyline is not bad. It can provided a more cinematic experience, barring that the execution is correct. For linear action game purposes, I really like Cod: MW2. A lot of people like MW1 better, but I thought MW2 is the right amount of cinematic feel the game needed.

[Scout Derek]

razenWing, on 06 February 2017 - 07:07 PM, said:

I am actually surprised by the response so far. So most of you actually prefer a MW3 style story telling with possible MW4: Merc sophistication.

A linear storyline is not bad. It can provided a more cinematic experience, barring that the execution is correct. For linear action game purposes, I really like Cod: MW2. A lot of people like MW1 better, but I thought MW2 is the right amount of cinematic feel the game needed.

considering in mw2 you're a annonmous MechWarrior, it would be an ideal choice.

Mw4 Mercs could be considered the continuation of mw2 Mercs, but one difference is you're not annonmous anymore, you're a Merc who graduated from mech academy on the free world named spectre, who supposedly took the side of Davion and won the civil war for davion, or helped the revival of archon Steiner if you will.

Linear is good, but in today's time I feel that people like the freedom of choice rather than be restricted. and here there's nothing holding pgi back from making it a free will of choice rather than restricted.

Either way, I'm sure there will be more to discuss in the next year or so on the game.

[cazidin]

Scout Derek, on 06 February 2017 - 08:08 PM, said:

considering in mw2 you're a annonmous MechWarrior, it would be an ideal choice.

Mw4 Mercs could be considered the continuation of mw2 Mercs, but one difference is you're not annonmous anymore, you're a Merc who graduated from mech academy on the free world named spectre, who supposedly took the side of Davion and won the civil war for davion, or helped the revival of archon Steiner if you will.

Linear is good, but in today's time I feel that people like the freedom of choice rather than be restricted. and here there's nothing holding pgi back from making it a free will of choice rather than restricted.

Either way, I'm sure there will be more to discuss in the next year or so on the game.

Looking at PGI's resources and their leadership, Linear is really their only hope. Maybe with a Mission Select/Custom Mission game mode. Most open-world YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING RPG games tend to be a shallow ocean.

Btw when can we have you back as a Community Moderator? The new guys are a bit... aggressive.

[Scout Derek]

cazidin, on 06 February 2017 - 08:10 PM, said:

Looking at PGI's resources and their leadership, Linear is really their only hope. Maybe with a Mission Select/Custom Mission game mode. Most open-world YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING RPG games tend to be a shallow ocean.

Btw when can we have you back as a Community Moderator? The new guys are a bit... aggressive.

True, and hopefully the linear will allow some interesting choices that alter the end greatly.

Also.... I doubt I'll ever be a moderator again. With the way I think about people on here and how I talk, there's most likely no way they'd want me back on the team. Especially the aftermath of it.