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AllureOfTheStars / Allure

Allure of the Stars is a near-future Sci-Fi roguelike and tactical squad combat game written in Haskell; please offer feedback, e.g., after trying out the web frontend version at
http://allureofthestars.com
GNU Affero General Public License v3.0
213 stars 16 forks source link

Improve scenarios and their descriptions, especially the embarrassing cliche sewers scenario #82

Closed Mikolaj closed 3 years ago

Mikolaj commented 6 years ago

The current definitions are in this file: https://github.com/AllureOfTheStars/Allure/blob/master/GameDefinition/Content/ModeKind.hs#L47

Let's think about changing both the gameplay and the prose (world-building, character development, plot development, literary fun). No problem if gameplay temporarily lags behind the prose or the other way around. Please remember that at least the first couple of scenarios also act as tutorials.

Mikolaj commented 5 years ago

I'm yet undecided if we can afford to never use the second person ("you") and introduce the backstory of the crew only via them taking part in short scenarios (so they experience the story, not hear about it, which is way better) and some scattered hints in third person. The world setting can surely be told in third person only. Not sure about the game manual (PLAYING.md) from which the first page of help screen, with the backstory, is copied.

OTOH, if the 3rd person says "to be honest", it's as intimate as the 2nd person, so this is not as clear-cut. Also, some in-game texts tease the player ("for real, this time"), which is also not the neutral 3rd person, but an engaged narrator avoiding eye contact.

Mikolaj commented 5 years ago

End game (win, failure, etc.) messages are now defined per-scenario, so that's one more place needing a strong prose. Feel free to change the existing blurbs. Also, now we have 3 kinds of texts: 1st person plural, 2nd person and 3rd person. I have no idea whatsoever if it adds to the immersion/mood or just the opposite. [Edited.]

Mikolaj commented 5 years ago

Right now the texts are fleshed out a lot and contain a nice mix of hints and inconsistencies relate to the hero social status and gameplay mechanics to let the player derive his own conclusions and create his own justification for gameplay quirks. So at this point, I'd rather not have it enlarged, but condensed, improved in all kinds of way, etc.

Mikolaj commented 3 years ago

I think, the texts are now focused on their tutorial function and in this role they are best improved based on feedback from first time players. Also, gameplay is definitely lagging behind the plot plans from the wiki, so there is going to be disconnect for now. Closing in favour or future tickets asking for specific things, e.g., improve prose as soon as the other aspects are fixed or improving plot once we are ready to implement it.