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Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Story discussion - The hero vs the nameless figure
Wandering Mist
Member, Founder, Kickstarter, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
As a story narrative in an mmorpg, do you prefer your character to be the hero of the land, or a nameless figure who is part of the larger group?
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A hero is someone who stands alone at the top, someone who is the strongest. That is pretty much impossible in an MMORPG ;D
A nameless figure has to stand strong with his allies in the face of danger, band together if you know what i mean. That is way more fun in my honest opinion
That is how I feel about it too. I'm curious to hear if anyone has any reasons for wanting the hero storyline in an mmorpg.
The story is made by guilds and alliances. Not by npcs
It is kind of awkward when you are standing around a NPC with like 30 other players and the NPC is all like "Your the hero, only you can do this quest that no one else is special/powerful/etc enough to handle." and your staring at all those other people.
Quests and content should aim for world / game immersion, ie, you are an ordinary person who has chosen to do something a little out of the ordinary. That doesn't make you comparable to the gods.
i want recognition for what i do with whom i do it.
a reputation system which choices and consequences and storyline decision making is what i like.
There should be reason to engage with the story. A chance for glory is important for protagonists and in games alike.
Did you play a Paladin in WoW Legion? No? Then one little thing: It was really awkward, when you recieved THE ASHBRINGER, and you just throught "Awwww yeah, i am the one!" And then you leave the cutscene and all around you are other people with THE ASHBRINGER and suddenly it just became meaningless. XD
I would like to see a very meaningful, in depth, reputation system in Ashes, that includes NPCs as well as societies. That way word can spread of your deeds/actions, but not be THE ONE, but perhaps any societies or professions you belong to will get residual accolades because you are a member; such as, "the Iron Lion is seen as a protector of the people because it has people like you."
Formerly T-Elf
“Yes Hero, how can I help you?”
“Um, yeah, sorry to seem like I’m prying or anything but I could swear I just overheard you tell that bard that he is the Chosen One.”
“That is correct! He rescued the Oracular Goose from the bandits hiding in the Cave of Doom, thus fulfilling the prophecy and proving that he is the Savior of All Men, the Chosen One of the Gods.”
“How did that goose make its way back to the cave after I...? Never mind, so you’re saying we are both the ‘Chosen One’?”
“Indeed, you are both the Great and Glorious Hero of Legend.”
“Okay... So then how many ‘Chosen Ones’ are there exactly?”
“Oh I lost count long ago. I would guess it is in the thousands by now. Please forgive me, I believe I see the Chosen One coming our way and she bears the Oracular Goose in her arms! Truly, we are saved!”
“Whatever. Crazy old fart.”
Formerly T-Elf
That doesn't necessarily mean I'm a hero. I was the Charles Darwin of Wizard101 because I mapped out pet abilities and devised a reliable method for breeding their traits.
Gaining recognition among NPCs helps with immersion.
Doesn't necessarily have to be recognition as a hero.
I think a middle ground needs to be found in this case. I like the ground idea of those returning to Verra being a team of heroes rather than being an individual saving everything and everyone
What actually happens between the NPCs: The old man actually pays you to steal the goose from a vigilante group that tries to find a way to kill his dark lord. The vigilantes in turn wait hidden in the chicken coop, where the old man keeps the goose. The moment he turns his back on them, they steal the goose back.
The important part here, the goose is in actuallity the dark master imprisoned in goose form!
(Loved your ministory btw @atama ;D)
Being called the "Charles Darwin" of Wizard101 is recognition of your deeds from the other players on the server, not the NPCs. I think this means a lot more than being called a hero by NPCs. One thing that has always bothered me about hero stories is that many times, the heroic feats your character performs require very little effort from you as the player. Yes my character may have taken down a dragon that was plaguing the land, but all I did as the player was press 2 buttons. The title of hero doesn't feel justified or earned.
On the other hand, if you become recognised by the other players for doing something, chances are what you did had a big impact on the server, and is something that not many others can do. Anyone who played WoW during Vanilla or TBC probably remembers the top guilds and/or players on their server. If you were part of only 1% of players who killed a certain boss, that meant something, and other players respected that.
I find the former much more true in MMOs. Everyone knows the name of the troll guild or Zerg Guild everyone loves to hate.
Not really.
I’m Atama.
Your actions fill up the auction houses with lumber and rock.
Ner' a grumble for the lack of renown.
You are the true heroes.
I don't feel like a nameless nor hero, but a strong and upright character.
You're bleeding for salvation, but you can't see that you are the damnation itself." -Norther
Feeling like I've built up recognition and rep with the NPCs is great for story, but I'm not really interested in being thought of as a hero.
The problem with themepark MMORPGs is that everyone does the exact same quests, so everyone is the hero, really.
In Ashes, the devs have stated that we're heroes just for returning to Verra.
And we were the best of the best on Sanctus.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Formerly T-Elf