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By
Sean Fish
[Author's
Bio]
Gamasutra
September 24,
2004
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MMOG
Resource Guide Sponsor:
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 Resource
Guide
Weaving
the Threads:
Storytelling in City Of Heroes
Taking
Missions Further: Creating Story Arcs
After City
Of Heroes' missions, the next step of story complexity is the Story
Arc. This is a series of missions and errands which all tie together to
form a more complex whole. A Story Arc might focus on an evil plot perpetrated
by one villain group, or it can be used to illustrate a conflict between
several groups. Story Arcs often focus on an epic threat to the city,
and they can be used to draw the players toward new areas, such as the
city's Trial Zones.
The final
type of zone that the players in City of Heroes are introduced
to is the Trial Zone. In addition to having the thickest concentration
of enemies, these zones also provide monumental tasks for players to overcome.
The more difficult the trial, the greater the reward is for defeating
it. Players are sent to trials as part of the story development. Infernal
and Minx, in the example, end up following a lead about Outcasts and Trolls
doing battle in the Hollows, a zone that is being implemented in our current
free expansion.
This zone
utilizes another storytelling technique that we have adopted: using a
specific zone to tell a story. The first contact in the zone is Lieutenant
Wincott, a police detective who is trying to keep the Trolls from taking
over the Hollows completely. The players begin their journey through the
story of the Hollows with him.
Minx
and Infernal gazed down the street over the police barricade. Glimpses
of roving bands of Trolls could be seen in the distance.
Lieutenant David Wincott spoke quietly but firmly,
almost managing to keep the weariness out of his voice. "We have
managed to hold them back, but we haven't made any progress in taking
back Eastgate. I don't have the manpower to hold out here indefinitely.
I'm glad you're here."
"We will aid you as much as we can, Lieutenant
Wincott. On this you have my word." Infernal's terse words had
the weight of an oath.
"What's our first move, L.T.? I'm anxious
to see if that thick green hide can stand up to these." Minx brandished
her claws with a flourish.
"I'm sorry to say that might have to wait,
Miss Minx. The first thing I need you to do is help me deal with an
even more immediate problem. The Outcasts have moved into one of the
nearby neighborhoods to hassle their rivals, and my men are getting
caught in the crossfire. Will you help?"
A firm nod and a strong hand on the Lieutenant's
shoulder was Infernal's only reply.
"Not a problem at all," exclaimed
the exuberant Minx, vaulting over one of the barriers, "There's
no reason we can't deal with both threats. Two heroes, no waiting."
"One last thing…" As Infernal
moved to follow, something in the Lieutenant's tone stopped both heroes
in their tracks. "The Trolls, I think they have my son. If you
see him…if you find him, bring him back to me."
Wincott's shoulders slumped ever so slightly,
and his exhaustion was suddenly apparent.
Infernal and Minx exchanged a glance. The young
heroine started to speak, then stopped herself and pointed at her new
teammate.
K'varr D'shall, binder of demons, hero of Paragon
City, spoke with clarity and conviction. "We will do this thing,
Lieutenant Wincott, even unto our dying breath."
The heroes'
journey through the Hollows has begun. Solving the trouble with the Outcasts
will lead them deeper into the zone. After that, their path leads underground,
to even greater dangers. As the players are led to explore the new areas,
more pieces of the story are unfolded before them. These tasks will bring
them into contact with other heroes and continually provide opportunities
to form new alliances and friendships.
The Hollows
gives players the satisfaction of working their way through a gauntlet
of challenges and potentially performing a great task given to them the
very first time they speak to Lieutenant Wincott. Successfully solving
Wincott's mystery wraps many threads together, and provides a richly rewarding
experience for the players.
Conclusion:
Toward a Living MMO World
We at Cryptic
are constantly searching for new ways to add to the fabric of our story.
Telling a story over the course of an entire zone is the latest technique
that is part of our process for creating an online world. We will continue
adding new ways of bringing the story to the players and when we do, we
will make certain that it adds to the whole.
The initial
Contacts and tasks are only the beginning of the story that characters
will find in Paragon City. As they increase in level, the stories they
started with will connect to other villain groups and zones. The players
will finish off many of the stories by completing Task Force Story Arcs.
These are very challenging Story Arcs that require groups of heroes to
complete. Many of them will bring them into direct conflict with the arch-villains
who are in charge of the organizations they have been fighting all along.
This gives the players many accolades to achieve along their path to the
top, with an obvious hierarchy sometimes absent in games which just create
larger monsters, divorced from any kind of organization.
In the future,
we will also be weaving in many more events... Some of these events will
be small and only affect a few, but others might have far reaching effects
on a zone or even an entire villain group. These sorts of permanent alterations
to the tapestry will enrich the living feeling of the world - the Rikti
alien invasion which ended the Beta Test is a startling example of a worldwide
event with significant consequences.
From the
beginning, starting with one thread, each player will weave his or her
own part of the huge tapestry of story that lies within the City of
Heroes.
Infernal
and Minx stepped out of the building and onto the streets of the Hollows.
The area clearly showed damage from the event known as the Hollowing.
The buildings were dirty and cracked and the street fell away to open
dirt in the distance.
"Those Outcasts are tough cookies, Infernal.
I could barely stay on my feet, and that guy Frostfire was brutal! We
could have used a hand in there."
The axe wielding tanker simply pointed over Minx's shoulder as a golden
metal figure landed behind her and approached.
Purple circuitry glowed as the female figure
spoke in a gentle but hollow voice. "Are you in need of assistance
with the trouble in this zone?"
"I guess that all depends on who you are
and what you can do." Minx snapped back, her hackles rising slightly
at being caught by surprise.
"I am designated Luminary. My creator,
Positron and my…teacher, Bastion suggested that I lend my aid to
others who might need it. I can utilize light amplification by stimulated
emission of radiation to injure my foes and heal my allies. Who might
you be?" It might have been Minx's imagination, but she was sure
her heightened senses detected a different inflection, almost a challenge
in that last question.
Infernal might have noticed too, because he
stepped forward to make introductions. "I am K'varr D'shall, known
as Infernal. And this is Minx. We are on a quest to restore the village
of Eastgate and reunite a brave man with his son."
"That is a commendable goal, Infernal.
This one would be honored to assist, if that is acceptable to all involved."
Luminary's gentle tone was back.
Minx cocked her head at Luminary for a moment
and the shrugged. "I guess between the two of you, I better be
the informal one. Besides, I have to admit, healing sounds pretty good.
Welcome to the team, Lume'." Minx's tone was mostly playful.
"Thank you, Minx. I am glad to assist."
A nod from Infernal got the heroes moving farther
into the Hollows. Minx leapt to a fire escape as Luminary hovered into
the air. Infernal strode down the middle of the damaged street, filled
with a sense of purpose. He knew not what danger they would face, but
he felt confident that he and his companions were up to the task.
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