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Dialog as Exposition vs. Prose

AJ · 2000-09-24T06:07:49

Two types of in-game description: "Jev is sitting at the breakfast table, staring down at the counter. When he sees you, his sad eyes brighten-- but only a little. ''Pirates. Three days ago. They killed Mara and took your son. I tried to stop them, but I...'' He doesn''t finish, and just goes back to staring at the table." OR "After taking your money, the old trader turns to you. His voice is a low whisper. He tells you that the pirates visit this place a lot. They''re from Cygni 59, he explains. But he doesn''t know where, exactly. He thinks they''ll be here next month. You get the impression that for a few more credits, he could be a lot more certain." Excusing my ability as a writer (), if you were to encounter one or the other of these forms of description as NPC interaction, which would work more for you? One is more descriptive, the other more explaining. Technically in writing you''re supposed to show, not tell. Yet the second example could be coded into an engine, and capture some of the low-level detail that won''t be possible in an RPG for some time to come. ''Course, as a coder, I like the second one , but that doesn''t make it acceptable for an RPG. -------------------- Just waiting for the mothership...

Game Design and Theory Game Design

Started by Wavinator August 31, 2000 08:03 PM

9 comments, last by Wavinator 23 years, 9 months ago

Anonymous

September 24, 2000 06:07 AM

"The chalice with the palace has the potion with the poison, the vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true."

from a Danny Kaye movie, I forgot which one.