Role Play Game, General Game Discussion

For the last few days I've been going trough some old RP games, so I was wondering if I could spark interest a creating a new one.

For that purpose, this thread is purely for obtaining suggestion for possible game settings, theme of the game, implementing possible modding options to be included into the game (like the Artifacts game a few years back where every nation started with some unique artifact), possible interest if such a game was to be organized and so on.

I think it would be interesting and helpful to hear opinions and suggestions on the matter, as in what scenarios people would like to play under, etc.

As the creator of this thread I`ll throw in some random ideas and hope people will contribute a bit more. It goes somethings a little bit like this;

A game with a Game Master. A nation there simply for special effects and flavor occupying a central province on the map, not connected to any other and only accessible by means of teleportation. (perhaps the central province would be connected to all capitals and some special provinces but not the other way around. Never modded no map but I think that can be done.)
The central province is perhaps the home of Pantokrator, the Divine Oracle, Crazy Evil Ruler who sets his vassals against each other for his own amusement or something like that, with whom you could gain favor (pray, sacrafice things) to receive some bonuses (gems, gold, items, death of an enemy army or commander...) or anger and receive punishment (hostile rituals spells like rain of toads, fires from afar, mind hunts to some completely anhiliating spells like an army of horrors and such).
Nations might also gain bonuses by fulfillment of certain agendas. Like getting a quest from the main central isle/province dude. Kill said HoF commander in X turns. Conquer said nations fort in X turns. Set the world ablaze with Second Sun. Offer said commander as sacrifice to the horrors, etc.
Maybe each nation would get something thematical and in character and those quests would be set pre-game for every player (nation) for balance purposes.

Nations would be played in character and thematically. Not strictly of course but if Marginon were to side with Ermor there would have to be careful explanation of why, othervice the Game Master might smite that nation down. Also, the pretender of choosing would be correspondingly in character. Abysia should not take Frost Father for example.

Narrative contributions are of course mandatory. After all it's a RP game, and the world has a right to know how that Moloch set Niefelheims capital ablaze.

Also, only important units for prophets, as in no scouts. Prophets should play the role of King. Capital mages/commanders and summons all fine. Background stories to their ascension to power welcomed.
Also, the prophet should be considered the “King” (or some similar rank) of the nation. He must also be introduced in the thread, and he must have leadership (no lowly scout kings!). Events concerning your king prophet are encouraged to be shared in the game thread (especially death and/or heroic feats or the appointment of a new king/prophet).
National heroes are encouraged to be introduced in the same way.

And a last rule to such a game would be NO WANKERS, STALERS AND BAILERS ALLOWED.

Feedback welcomed!

You may try Solium Infernum.
Almost hit the spot.
Capturing Pandemonium.

As a proud member of the pirating community, one which has never and more importantly will never purchase a game, I am sorry to say that game is beyond my reach.
- When I say beyond my reach I mean can`t find no torrent...

Waiting for the admins now to ask me for my Dominions 3 CD Key.

I'm in for a roleplay game.

I have just finished one where all player could post role playing post.
Have a look http://z7.invisionfree.com/Dom3mods/index.php?showtopic=618 (starts at page 5)

But one with a kind of Dungeon Master to guide the stories would work better.

Edit: he... you were there of course

Aghmmmm ahmm, I believe I may have participated in that game, though I guess with being killed by year two I didn't really play a big role...

By Dungeon Master you mean someone to create the setting, shall we say plot of the game (world) and to maintain balance and/or act as an arbiter? Am I close?

I was sort of hoping to go in that direction myself.
Create a background story for the game and set some sort of agenda for every nation.

This sounds really nifty. I don't have any suggestions or ideas to contribute at the moment, but I'll sleep on it and see if I can scrape my brain for something useful.

And, of course, I'd be generally interested.

I guess there isn`t much interest after all.

I`ll try to work out and set up something interestingish in the next few days anyway. GFSnl, Hishtagat, you`re more than welcome to join it if I manage to get set it up.

I think the interest is likely to pick up once there are a bit more details of what the players would be "working" with. So don't worry and just try to brew up some interesting idea for the game.

As a sidenote, is using mod nations going to be okay with you? Funnily enough I'd like to give one of yours a spin, namely Svarogia, assuming we do end up in MA. :>

Hey, I'd be interested if I had any time right now ! I did feel like Heroes suffered from a lack of... something. Mutual experience maybe ? Or a central plotline ?
What I mean is that each of our stories and threadlines was sort of self-contained and going their own way without much "international" coherence or common purpose. So in the end we all kinda just voiced what we were doing in the game at that time, which of course was a fun exercise but in the end not really different from a regular game.

I recall Burnsaber once hosted a game with himself as the central "Ubergod" GM who'd set forth challenges and achievements for the players to compete for on top of beating each other upside the head ; and rewarding those who did complete those challenges in meaningful ways (be it free gems, free SC chassises, free items etc...). I wasn't in the game, but I followed it with interest.
Here's the thread if that's the kind of thing you're looking to run, or you're looking for inspiration or something.

Hishtagat, I was kinda hoping to get some more details and thoughts on the matter myself before organizing anything, therefor this thread. Anyway, I`ll certainly try to get it started now. We can certainly make changes and get feedback during sign ups.

As per mod nations, of course. Most of the MC will be allowed, with the exception of some which I, personally, consider a bit unbalanced. Though you should know I will update Svarogia a bit before the game. I know I`ve been saying this since autumn but I really will. You can expect some nerfs and fixes, nothing major. Mostly just a quick fix for Osenja enslave attack which will dropped to 15 and some minor tweaks. I think I posted the change log in the thread a few moths back.

Kobal2, I remember there was something like that and was meaning to dig it up. Thanks for the thread. I`ll inspect it a bit more carefully but that`s generally something I was looking for. A central plot-line like you said.

I'm actually not yet familiar with how Svarogia plays, so I'll be getting to know the nation proper after the changes already roll out then. The general look'n'feel of the nation is really neat though and that's why I want to give it a spin in a roleplaying-flavored game.

And yeah, changes and feedback during sign up process itself sounds like best bet to me.

Hmm, I'm not exactly sure how I would organize it myself.

A central plot line set by the Game Master with periodical interventions, boons and/or penalties seems the way to go. The game master should be able to grand wishes/gems/items but also cast overland spells like Fires from Afar and Wolven Winter, dispel and cast globals.

It might be an idea to make remote summoning spells specifically for the Game Master's nation. So he is able to far summon hero's (like Bogus) and other units to help/penalize nations.

And of course have a map that is filled with all kind of interesting independents that carry recoverable items. I though someone made a map like this not to long ago.

About nations choices, I'd like to reserve MA Pangaea.

I think I have a pretty good idea of what to do, though it`s a bit complex for me to create so it will take a few days.

In short, there will be a central plotline, and each nation will receive numerous quests to complete over certain amounts of time. Depending on how and IF you choose to complete them at all or not, you will receive specific boons and traits and further sub quests depending on your choice.
By gaining traits you will develop your character, nation, your story, etc.
Like if I order someone to assassinate an allies pretender you will gain some specific boons and some backstabber trait or something. Naturally, after gaining such a trait you are expected to play in the spirit of a backstabber and so on. So depending on your actions you will build your character and play in that manner.

Unlike Legendary Ordeals by Burnsaber where you know what to expect after each task or quest, here you`ll play blind, meaning you won`t know what to expect.

I am definitely interested.

One question in these games that always come up is whether you can "win" the game - and if so, how? Separate win conditions? Gather all the artifacts and defeat the overlord?

And, if you can not really win, when does the game end? It sort of needs some kind of ending, as it would be sad if a game like this ended because everyone lost interest in the end.

If time allows, I will play when the time comes.

Separate win condition would be very hard to balance so it will be victory by gathering victory points in a sense.

Achievements, titles and capitals will be gathered for victory points.

Achievements will be known from the start and there will be 3o-ish of them. Each achievement will be worth 1 vp and will bring some sort of boon once it`s completed.
Also, achievements will have bonuses/challenges which will bring you a little extra prize.

Titles will be gathered by main quests and depending on how you complete them you will gain a specific tittles which can than be advanced trough further sub quests.
I`m in the process of creating the tittle system but there will probably be a couple of main quests which will be followed by sub quests and in turn each of those sub quests will gain you a new tittle, worth more vp, after completion.

A crude example of the tittle system,
Fighter - Mercenary - Gladiator - Arena Champion
--- 1vp ------- 2vp ------- 3vp ---------- 4vp ------

Gaining titles will also gain you boons, but tittle specific boons. For example someone who gains a tittle for blood magic will gain blood slaves and blood items and such.
But all will be explained in much more detail when I create the game.

And of course capturing a capital is an achievement by itself too so doing so will also be worth a certain amount of vp too.

Capitals won`t be worth too many vp however, in case someone decides just to grab a lot of caps and win thereby completely ignoring the central plot of the game.

And what is the actual plot of the game you ask?
To became the champion of the arena, to master the schools of magic, to plague the countryside at night and inspire fear.
To gather titles and power, to became a living legend and ascend to godhood!