My intent was to create potential end game goals that might appeal to different players/MCs. The paths don’t quite match up with the four worldview types, but it’s pretty close…
End Goal 1 Become a Grade 9 = either self or retribution, depending on how you play it…
End Goal 2 Help Booksmart save the world = probably altruism
End Goal 3 Gather Zenith army = either self or altruism, depending no how you play it.
End Goal 4 Make Speck 7 World’s foremost team = straight up loyalty run!
And yes Goal 4 has been sitting there the whole time, and MC will give it thought in the next update, and then all four End Goals will have been officially introduced.
If I had to guess the potential popularity of End Goals, I’d guess I’d rank them 4, 1, 3, 2, but readers surprise me all the time, and I wanted at least one End Goal that might allow a more cerebral/less violent path.
I’m also aware that some folks want to do things themselves, while others want lots of company, so…
End Goal 1: I don’t need anyone! (except maybe some help from Downfall)
End Goal 2: I just need one person.
End Goal 4: I just need my BFFs.
End Goal 3: I need EVERYONE to join forces!
EDITED: Okay, I’ve spent the day playing around with the “Speck 7 playing a Fantasy RPG” idea, and I have a premise, and the first 2,500 words. I am working VERY quickly on this.
Warning: The RPG game will be VERY light on mechanics. The focus will be on the story, hopefully some humor, the Speck 7’s interactions with each other, and my attempts to give the player/reader varied choices.
I’ll keep testing/feedback in a private thread because I don’t want to clutter up this thread.
So if you’d like to read/test and give me feedback on the RPG scene, send me a PM (please don’t comment below) and I’ll invite you to a private group.
Interesting goals, I think I will stay with the End Goal 1. Downfall is one of my favorite characters, she remembers me of a female and powered version of Punisher, so the path where my MC interact with one of my favorite character and become as powerful as a Grade-9 Zenith, is the best for me.
I just don’t know how the nanobots can be trained to become more powerful, but I’m interested to see it.
I’m altruistic but Booksmart is not trustworthy and her methods are 100% dystopian so I’m gonna have to go with Zenith army or stick to loyalty instead. I appreciate the huge diversity in choices for end goals though. That’s impressive.
The opening scene of the first game has us face off against three members of the Diabolical Dozen, thinking about how we were betrayed by someone we trusted, so it will be interesting to see how we ended up in that situation in this game.
How many characters do you need? I figure five and then maybe a few more for the MC to choose from.
Most new players to TRPGs tend to go with their ideal selves or a super edgy character. I imagine CW would know enough about party chemistry to steer them more toward the first option.
I’ll leave the naming open to others. Here are the character types I imagine each person would play.
Crook’s Character
Crook’s aesthetic and distrust of authority give him a Robin Hood vibe, and maybe he might lean into that because he wishes he were more like the folk hero
Archer class
Criminal background
Roleplayed as a dashing rogue with a heart of gold but somewhat dubious morals
Dirty Girl’s Character
DG would probably enjoy a flashy class with a dark aesthetic, and nothing is flashier than magic. I feel like DG would love having a pointy witch hat.
Witch class
Con Artist background (I’m a little partial to fortune teller)
Roleplayed as fun loving and charming
Stoic’s Character
Stoic would probably have the most trouble getting into character. If she didn’t really want to play but was kind of roped into it, she might prefer to play a mute, or at least a person of few words. Her loyal nature would be best shown as the party tank
Defender class
Monk background
Roleplayed as the quiet type (or perhaps not really roleplayed at all)
Synergy’s Character
I figure Rey would probably like playing a traditionally heroic class. Bonus points if you have someone joke about him being “a shining Rey of hope”. His background lends to the fact that he came to Speck to control his powers out of a sense of responsibility rather than personal desire
Holy Warrior/Paladin class
Country bumpkin background
Roleplayed as someone who strives to always do the right thing
Tress’s Character
Tress is the type of person who needs to believe she is special. Her status both as a noble and a sorceress would emphasize that, and her background would give her the opportunity to act with authority. The added dynamic of contrasting her high class magic with DG’s more dirty magic could be fun.
Sorceress class
Noble background
Roleplayed as kind, if somewhat controlling
This party composition is set up so that every role is already at least partially filled, allowing the MC’s character to be of any archetype.
As for the MC, someone could probably put together a table of choices based for their class, background, and roleplay style. If not, I can do it tomorrow morning.
If you’d like to read what I have thus far, PM me and I’ll add you to a private group but I don’t want to clog up this thread with this little side project.
And honestly I’m moving fast on this and the Speck 7 kids already have characters…you were pretty close on a couple of them!
OK not sure if you are still looking for advice but just playtested and here are my thoughts:
Is there a coding or continuity error? - For some reason selecting “Yes, but I hate every minute of this march. My anger fuels me so much that I ignore Rain entirely.” seems to raise my Jokester personality. I’m assuming its supposed to be brooder?
Can a scene be restructured to be more effective? - Not entirely sure. The only thing I can think of is having more of a relationship with Downfall for the more “pro-Downfall” MCs and those who became teacher’s pet in the first novel (and continued working with her in the second). While I think the whole grade 9 thing is kinda going for that, I am more talking about how Downfall speak to you. Maybe if you got teacher’s pet for Downfall she just assumes you want to get more powerful, whereas currently I not feeling like she is treating me any differently that she would treat anyone else.
Pacing - Hard to tell, but seems perfect to me. I like the mix of moments with your characters and the action.
Choices - A) Appears to be balanced from what I can tell. B) Yeah I seem to always be clear on what I am going for, didn’t have any moments where I felt “wow I read that choice completely wrong lol”. C) Yeah I thought it was pretty clear what would pursue goals and I’m glad that they didn’t come across as condescending hints. I think once you introduce all the goals, you will need less and less markers for which choice is pursuing which goal, but for an intro they were perfect IMO.
“Fun Factor” - its a great intro. I laughed quite often (with the story not at the story lol). I would have liked more details of what everyone has been up to since I last saw them and what their pursuing but I’m sure that will come as the story progresses. Maybe crank up more of the romance interactions. I love it when Stunner calls me hotness, but more of him (and other ROs/NPCs) acknowledging your relationship would be great. I guess if you want something specific: maybe something like when you choose to watch the press briefing next to stunner he hugs you and gives you a quick kiss while Dirty Girl yells for us to get a room in the background.
And obviously typos and small grammar errors. - Blank tilts his face up to the rocky-skinned girl and says, “Look I know you’re scared, but we need on the perimeter.”- Assuming it should be needed.
Hopefully something in this wall of text is helpful.
Awesome write-up. That was very helpful, if mostly to confirm that I’m on the right track, and you even addressed the elements I mentioned in my OP, which are the things I value the most. Thank you.
And yes, I could definitely sprinkle in a few more dialogue tweaks based on the teacher’s pet thing with Downfall, and your dating partner, if any. I think those sorts of tweaks give both the reader and the author a lot of bang for the buck!
I thought I had most of the variables I need to carry over included in the Downfall character creation, but with her being such a main character in Part 3, I need to include the “teacher’s pet” question in the next update for sure.
But yes I remember you from the very beginning! And I found the old thread for CCH1 that dates back to February 2014, so more than 6 years old! Good times! I will say goodbye to my babies for the rest of 2020.
It seems like a long time ago when the MC and Stunner were getting into fights over Stunner’s helmet at the Speck Community College gym.
Like @markamadeo mentioned, some more familiar or intimate language with our favorite teachers like Downfall or our RO would be amazing. I wonder if there’ll also be any scenes with the other professors whose favor we’ve gained? Like, will we see Nil, McCormick, or the Hedonist if we were their good noodles in the first game and continued the mentorship in the second? Will Downfall comment on how the MC dealt with the Wyvern?
For CCH3,will I have my detective gear in CCH2 or will I choose my own like smoke grenades,Electric staff,hacking kit or throwing weapons similar to the batarang
@VelvetDivine, I’m not sure that I can bring everyone back, but there will definitely be some cameos. I just have to figure out what is feasible and what’s not. And after this first big action sequence is over (which it pretty much is), I’m focusing on getting MC settled in their new school and there will be talk about “Where is McCormick?” for sure. And there will be four teachers this year, a mixture of old and new. (teaser!)
@Sum_1, that stuff is either burnt to a crisp or at the bottom of a bond in Tyler Park. Your new abilities are much much much much better.
@Lover_Elliot, Nope no villain options. Most “edgy” option is to be selfish and power hungry.
On another note, but really in response to the same quote, I’ve been thinking about all the complaints about losing our gear from the first the books much the same way as I think you’ve been looking at it @Eric_Moser, “we’ve gotten a huge stat boost, so why does it matter?”, but then I realized maybe people aren’t missing the stat boosts those items gave but rather the “coolness” of having them. Like the rifles we get from Prestige are cool and whatnot, but they’re standard issue, so everyone has them. It’s more militant and less “superhero like”. I think maybe giving the MC an armory to select new gear from instead of just equipping us with a rifle might fix this. Just my thoughts.
