quote: Original post by Nazrix


That's a very incredible revaltion, Wav. I really think you're right. It ties together nicely with what I was posting about on the Cheese thread. In a story-based game we should take advantage of the fact that the outcome of events does not have to be beneficial as long as they're interesting because they're experiences. In a game where there's no narrative you're usually playing to win, so a bad outcome is a failure and is meant to be avoided.

quote:

"""" "'Nazrix is cool' -- Nazrix" --Darkmage --Godfree"-Nazrix" -- runemaster --and now dwarfsoft" -- dwarfsoft --pouya" -- Nazrix

Need help? Well, go FAQ yourself.

quote: Original post by Chai Peddler

First, think heavily of some theme (or themes) that you see runs throughout world history. This is the key. The theme can be something personal, or just something you see as true, in a historical perspective.
[/qoute]

Okay, let''s say you pick "conquest" as your theme.

Then, after satisfying yourself that it works, write a story. The story must be written to span several millenia. For example, a story of seven immortal sovereigns who were created by The All for the purpose of guiding and developing The All''s seven chosen peoples.

Right, Alpha Centauri sort of has this. The characters are actually well developed for a 4X empire game. They have differing goals, differing personalities, and differing philosophies that all give their conflicts character.

quote:
Every number of turns, a meeting of the Seven transpires, where you insert a video clip, unfolding more to the story. Video clips are chosen based on the conditions of the game. For example, if two players are at war, play a film displaying that out in some dramatic fashion, keeping your theme in mind.
Finally, have a final video clip (or several for multiple endings) to finish the story, bringing the story''s theme(s) to fruition.

I don''t think you''re taking into account the repetitive nature of gameplay. How do you get story when you could be fighting someone 50 times?

Having characters and themes may be a start, but it''s really not enough. Alpha Centauri has seven characters and a theme (the settling of a new world). It even has text based interludes where you discover more about the planet you''ve settled. There is even a victory movie.

But playing it doesn''t seem to create a story. It does create a timeline, but because of the freeform nature it''s very hard to get the kind of drama and pacing that makes for good story. Even when things work perfectly and there''s enough tension it feels not like a story, but… (wonder of wonders ) a strategy game.

Maybe I''m not completely understanding what your saying, but it seems to me that to put an story into Civ, you''ve got to take away a lot of the player''s freedom. You could show movies when cities are captured, or technology discovered… in fact, Civ mostly does this now… but I''m having a hard time seeing how they wouldn''t just be disconnected movies as they are now.

——————–
Just waiting for the mothership…

quote: Original post by Anonymous Poster

The question is not "How would you add story to Civilization?" but rather "Why would you add story to Civilization?" (besides getting fifty bucks from you, that is