It sounds really interesting, and it’s definitely my kind of game. Though with only girl ROs, I probably won’t play it. But I do wish you a ton of luck!
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like i mentioned, the idea is still rough in terms of development, but i will most likely include male ROs in the future, that is if i can think of any more characters, my brain runs out of creativity juice sometimes…X_X
but anyways, thank you and i also wish the best of luck to you and the other creators!
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So, hey, the talk about fantasy fatigue made me think of my own old fantasy story, and although it’s not very serviceable in its current form (way too many POVs and fixed plot directions), and although I’m not sure whether or not I’m going to try to make a game of it (I like the world a lot, and have a lot of worldbuilding done for it, so the thought has some appeal), I feel like rambling and could use some soundboarding, so please bear with me.
( 
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It’s a pretty standard high fantasy story: usurper kings, rival kingdoms, cryptic prophesies about chosen ones left by ancient oracles, world-ending dragons, wolf pantheons with rainbow bridges between worlds. The world is pretty much a standard high fantasy world too, with standard fantasy species: humans, elves (now remember, this was inspired by [my mental image of] Tolkien and not DnD, so they don’t have pointed ears), werewolves, centaurs, unicorns, giant wolves, magical ravens, interdimensional aliens.
The catch: I have no idea what part the MC should play. I can’t just make them the main character of the original story, because, like I said, multiple POVs, and also I feel I couldn’t give enough playroom for the character, but on the other hand I have this whole world and am not using it for anything, and it even links to my other projects…
Someone please poke my brain to some direction.
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You know what would be kind of cool, the perspective of a cozy tavern keep. Just somebody trying to get by in a world that’s in constant chaos. While everyone else is out adventuring you’re doing dishes, hiring bards, collecting quests and information, and maybe if you’re really ambitious you could leave behind the cozy life for an adventure of your own
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The pointed ears are debated within LOTR fandom as well. There are arguments for and against, but elves had pointy ears long before Tolkien or D&D came along. But that’s a tangent.
Are there any circumstances in your setting that are good jumping off points for strife, conflict, struggle, and change? It’s my feeling that in a game, the player generally wants to feel like they have impact on the world and can make choices that affect it or their place within it. If they’re just touring the setting through a window on rails, that’s better material for a novel or film or something.
If you have hugely setting-important plotlines worked out for other projects, try to look around at the edges of those for aspects surrounding that story that are worth a closer look, but which won’t have a place in or impact on your original story.
Is there an organization in your setting that is cool and interesting and full of stories that the characters in your original story only come into brief contact with or hear about without really exploring it?
Is there a conflict in your setting that serves mainly as background and isn’t looked into very closely in your original story?
The thing that makes a great setting IMO is that there are many stories that can be told there, varying greatly in who is involved and the themes and topics explored. If you just have one story that you’re trying to connect additional threads to so that it can be experienced in another way, that’s more difficult to work with, and an easy recipe for the player to feel like a spectator in someone else’s story.
Of course the tangent would derail things.
I didn’t mean to imply that all elves or even the elves in LoTR had pointy ears, merely that it’s not a settled issue with a correct answer. If I were to write a story today and merely mentioned that a character was an elf or a human or a hobbit without specifically describing their ears, people would create their own picture in their mind of their ears absent my mention of them. If they expect elves and hobbits to have pointy, leaf-shaped ears, they will imagine them that way, and if not, they might not. Tolkien did not say one way or the other in his text, nor did he invent elves, and his elves diverged from the elves in the folklore he himself was referencing, so it’s a muddy hill to plant a flag on. Suffice to say, D&D didn’t invent pointy-eared elves, and Tolkien did not reject them. So if it is very important to you that people understand your elves don’t have pointed ears, it might be worth pointing out in the work, otherwise people are left to their own devices.
I think mentioning that they look indistinguishable from humans in your work is certainly a fine way to dissuade readers from believing they have pointy ears and assuring them they are not the size of wildflowers or prettier or taller or more regal or possess an internal glow or whatever.
Just read that back and you’ll get my point.
It should sound something like: “LiliArch didn’t mention it, so I pictured it, no matter what was intended.”
Your readers are quite likely to come from varying backgrounds with their own elven folklore. Celtic, Norse, German, modern cinema, tabletop games, whatever.
You’re the author, the only one who can put their foot down in the text on whatever matter. If you want readers to make the same assumptions you do, communicate them to your readers.
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Some did, maybe. Certainly not all. But that’s folklore for you. Also I have no claim what’s considered canon in LotR circles; only what was my personal impression when I read it, and that didn’t include pointed ears.
Anyone willing to do a game where you are a vigilante either in the style of Paul Kersey in the Death Wish movie series or Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher?
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Are you asking if someone would be willing to play it or write it?
No, I’m not interested in writing such a story.
I could be interested in playing through one depending on the specifics.
Both
Sorry, got lost on elf-tangent… I’d like to claim they’re based on my local folklore, but that’d be a lie, my mental image was based on the mental image I got from Tolkien. It does match my local folklore though. Probably not a coincidence.
Anyway.
I mean, if I’d set it happening at the same time the original story does (which I’d like to do, because I love that stupid prophesy and how it makes people to act), pretty much the whole known world is at war.
It’s more a background connection, really. About history, and the worlds being connected.
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Before I give actual advice, I have to say that I would have a very hard time picturing elves without pointed ears 
. I think that’s something that you’ll inevitably fall into whenever someone uses something from folklore or culture in a different way than is expected. That’s not to say you can’t do that anyway. Just, don’t be surprised if people imagine your characters a little differently.
Now on to the actual advice for your main character: who/what are the major characters/components/groups of the story? You mentioned a usurper, maybe they have a child who needs to solidify their claim. Or that prophecy, maybe the seer decides to get involved, or the one who initially hears it. And the rivaling kingdoms, maybe the ruler or one of his servants can be the MC?
How about the POV characters, do they have a connection in common (a lord they all serve, a school they all went to, a tavern they all enjoy, etc) that can lead on to the MC?
Does one of the POVs know about and/or participate in a majority of the events? They could be reworked into a MC.
Really, anyone could work. You just need to find someone who can have autonomy over the story
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And I have hard time picturing how there could be debate about whether or not someone is an elf if they looked different from humans. 
But yeah, if a reader doesn’t want to picture that, they can do what they wish, as long as they don’t come complaining when narration doesn’t match their mental image.
It’s been a while since I went through that in depth, but from the top of my mind: the usurper, who wants to stay the king; the usurper’s son (a prince), who has a bad relationship with his father (and ends up siding with the rebellion); the usurped king’s son (a prince) who gets roped into being a chosen one to take back the throne; the knight bodyguarding this chosen one and training them; the leader of the rebellion’s troops (some kind of a noble who’s a wizard); another character releated to the prophesy who gets accidentally plopped into the world from another one; the character looking after the previous one; the king of another kingdom, where the “chosen one” was raised after his father was killed by the usurper, and a knight from that kingdom, who’s the “chosen one”'s friend; the queen of yet another kingdom, against whom the usurper is waging war; an innkeeper and his son, who are located in a pretty central location; a couple of deities trying to stop everyone from destroying the world; and a few characters who appear in a scene or two.
The seer is long dead, though. Or assumed to be one, anyway, it’s always possible she’s just hibernating (she’s an ancient dragon, and the prophesy is ancient too).
I’m putting “chosen one” in quotation marks, because while they fit that role, the usurper king’s prince does, too (and really, what their “chosen one” status actually covers is simply existing in a single part of the events. It’s a very vague prophesy that people assume means more than it does.)
“Elves look like (sometimes really pretty) humans” is real folklore, too. (Really, the only benefit for being an elf in this setting is that you’ll live longer.)
I mean, I don’t know what else to do if mentioning that they look indistinguishable from humans (well, the ones that don’t look like other creatures, or trees, or rocks…) isn’t enough?
I didn’t mean to start an argument, sorry. Just explain my thought process. (I personally had never heard of pointy-eared elves until I saw some DnD-based stuff, which is why I associate them to that. Tolkien didn’t mention it, so I didn’t picture it, no matter what he intended. Like I said, elves are part of my local folklore.)
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Blasphemy! Elves must have pointy-ears!
Two ideas immediately come to mind. First is the Baldur’s Gate 3 treatment. The player can pick from a cast of pre-existing characters or create one their own. No matter what, the story would be mostly the same with a few extra, exclusive scenes for each of the non-customizable character.
Second, don’t give the option to create their own character. Instead, the story jumps from POV to POV and players will control all POV character one at a time. “The Aegis Saga” did that.
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I mean, my point was simply to explain what I meant by “based on Tolkien = non-pointed ears” (based on my personal mental image I got from when I read LotR as… 15? 17?), not to say that I shouldn’t tell in-story that my elves look like humans. Probably not the best choice of words from me, but I am too tired.
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I understand
One reason I asked is at the moment I’m not confident in my writing abilities.
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Brandon Sanderson tells me the best solution to that particular problem is to write. It’s a skill that can be honed through practice, not some gift that executes itself through an author’s natural talent. You will be more confident in your writing as you gain experience, which is the only way it will improve. I believe there are authors here who have better advice than me, but it seems there’s also a good community of beta readers who are happy to help with works in progress, if you are willing to share your progress and sift through their advice for something constructive.
I wish you luck!
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Had an idea, wanted to see if people would be interested in it.
Genres and tropes: Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Reality Show, Adventure, Action
Project Title: The Ultimate Galactic Survivor
In the distant future, humanity has expanded beyond Earth, colonizing numerous planets in different star systems. The most popular reality show, The Ultimate Galactic Survivor, challenges contestants to survive and thrive on alien planets, each season starring its own unique and unpredictable ecosystems. The show’s latest season takes place on planet Velathia, a recently discovered alien world rich in resources coveted by the corporate overlords, filled with neon-lit ruins, and bioluminescent flora and fauna.
Contestants are selected from various backgrounds — scientists, farmers, engineers, survivalists, and even celebrities. They are dropped onto Velathia with minimal supplies: basic cyber tools, seeds, and a single change of clothing. The goal is to survive, farm their food, craft their clothing, and build a community, all while competing for the grand prize: a fortune of interstellar credits and the title of Ultimate Galactic Survivor.
Core Mechanics
Cybernetic Enhancements: Contestants must leverage their cybernetic enhancements to survive. This includes augmented reality interfaces for mapping and identifying resources, robotic limbs for strength and precision, and neural implants for hacking the environment and other contestants’ gear. They must manage their cyberware’s energy consumption, often relying on Velathia’s unique resources to recharge.
Survival: Contestants must adapt to Velathia’s environment, dealing with extreme weather, alien wildlife, and limited resources. They must find clean water, build shelters, and hunt or forage for food. Each contestant has a unique skill set that can aid in survival, but cooperation is often necessary to overcome the planet’s challenges.
Cyber-Social Dynamics: Neural implants allow for direct mind-to-mind communication and manipulation, leading to complex social interactions. Contestants can hack into each other’s systems, steal resources, or sabotage cybernetic enhancements, adding layers of psychological and technological warfare.
Farming and Crafting: Similar to Stardew Valley, contestants must cultivate alien crops, raise native livestock, and craft clothing and tools. The alien nature of Velathia’s flora and fauna means they must learn new farming techniques and discover which plants are edible or useful. They also need to gather materials to craft clothing suited to Velathia’s varied climates, from its scorching deserts to freezing tundras.
Social Dynamics: While contestants must work together to some extent, they are also competitors. Alliances form and dissolve as they strategize to outlast each other. Contestants can trade goods, share knowledge, or sabotage each other’s efforts. Personalities clash, friendships form, and betrayals happen as they navigate the social intricacies of the game.
Challenges and Rewards: Regularly, the showrunners introduce challenges that test the contestants’ survival skills, ingenuity, and teamwork. Winners of these challenges receive valuable rewards, such as advanced tools, extra supplies, or clues to hidden secrets of Velathia.
Exploration: Velathia is dotted with ancient ruins and mysterious structures that hold secrets and advanced technologies from a long-lost civilization. Contestants who explore and uncover these secrets can gain significant advantages. However, the ruins are often dangerous, filled with traps, and guarded by alien creatures.
Origins of the MC
Players can choose the main character’s origin. An origin indicates their background and dictates their skills.
Celebrity Influencer:
Background: The celebrity influencer built a massive following through charisma, social media prowess, and public appearances.
Skills: Exceptional social manipulation and charisma. Able to use neural implants for mind-to-mind communication and persuasion.
Robot Engineer:
Background: Specialized in designing and repairing robots used in various industries, from mining to agriculture.
Skills: Proficient in building and repairing structures, creating tools from limited resources, and problem-solving.
Ex-Military Survivalist
Background: A former soldier who served in various off-world conflicts, trained in survival tactics, combat, and leadership.
Skills: Expert in combat, survival skills, and tactical planning. Proficient in hunting, foraging, and building shelters.
Craftsman
Background: A versatile artisan skilled in making various crafts, from pottery to textiles, using traditional techniques passed down through generations. Entered the show to explore the potential of alien materials for their crafts.
Skills: Diverse crafting abilities, including pottery, weaving, and leatherworking. Skilled in improvising with available resources and creating useful and beautiful items.
Ex-Con, Corporate Spy
Background: Formerly employed by one of the mega-corporations, the corporate spy specialized in espionage, data theft, and corporate sabotage.
Skills: Expert in hacking, stealth, and manipulation. Proficient with neural implants for infiltration and sabotage, as well as advanced knowledge of corporate technologies.
Still plotting out this idea and am very much still in the early stages.
I wanted to know if there was any origin that people would really like to see.
Also, I’m not sure what to call the reality show. Its based on Survivor, but is it okay to have Survivor on the title? I’m not sure.
Do people like this idea? Should I continue it? Any comments welcome.
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Sounds like several possibilities if I’m understanding things right. To be honest I was a little confused if you were going to keep the multiple POV aspect or change it to single POV. If your keeping the multiple POV, you’d need something to overarc them, so I thought maybe the MC could be one of the prophecieis or one of the ancient oracles…just one idea.
Otherwise, if single POV, being an usurper king or an a scion of an usurper king sounded fun; being an ancient oracle still seems descent.
If I ever get the free time myself, I’ve had a game idea on the back burner for a while a little related to all that, loosely inspired by Terry Brook’s Druids from the Sword of Shinnara series. In the series, the druids kind of influence major events and then go to the druid sleep for decades, which would work nicely for a IF game where I’d have someone a bit similiar (maybe Sages living outside of the normal flow of time) go back and forth between the world they influence and their haven.
Anyway, on the elf ear question, yeah, I to find it hard to picture them without pointed ears. Back in the day when I did fiction workshops thats one thing readers suggested was changing my elf and fey characters to give them wings and all sorts of random things … idk…depends on what your going for.
Yes, reminds me a bit of one of my favorite games of all time, A Story Besides…lots of room for more stories of NPCs in a fantasy world. Offers a fresh perspective on the fantasy world and its tropes, and I like the idea of making it a cozy fantasy game. Love cozy fantasy.
Ha, I think a lot of people would like that sort of game. Especially if you know guns enough to make the punisher character and his gear pseudo realistic; there is a ready audience.
This sounds like a very solid foundation for a game. The background/classes you have idea boarded sound very interesting.
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I think a semi-customiseable “wild card” entrant could be fun. A man on the street type pick, where the last contestant is literally just someone they dragged in off the street. You’d have to pick the customisable aspects to provide of course, but there should be something that everyone already listed doesn’t have. Also probably it’d be someone poorer-skilled than the above examples, who all would have had to apply/audition.
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Thank you! I’m really glad someone else thinks this idea sounds interesting!
I love this idea! I think I will add it, since it sounds fun. They can choose their cybernetic enhancements and skills, but they would definitely be a person off the street. I think that sounds very interesting, thank you so much for your comment!
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