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RPG story concept (More details forthcoming... Eventually.)

Stumpmaestro · 2014-12-28T14:13:38

Hey everybody, I've posted in the game design forum and rather erroneously alluded to the plot of my game there. The plot I have brewing is littered with Ancient Greek Philosophy and Mysticism as fundamental building blocks of the plot, and I am working conscientiously in creating a plot that can contain and communicate these ideas effectively. The most important thinkers are Heraclitus and Aristotle as of now. The most important things within the game itself is pacing- but I was wondering if anybody could supply a modicum of feedback. Primary inspirations include: The Name of the Rose (the film based on the book by Umberto Eco), Brave New World (by Aldous Huxley), Ancient Greek Philosophy, Pessimistic thinkers. I'll give an example of an antagonist and a small introduction to how the game might begin... ___________ The world you're more or less plunged into is in an unsteady state. Much like in FFIX, there is a country that is maximizing their military power (Alexandria) under a new senatorial body- they are only combated by a party of more conservative members who believe this extension will cause a collapse in the future. They have an analog to look to. The Church body at this point is at the dangerous point of utter collapse, having had to relinquish much of its extramundane authority to new fragmentary faiths and governments. This Church, associated with the country that is expanding militarily, is struggling to maintain its power and is being outmoded and pretty much replaced by the State-as-faith. This government is not totalitarian, they just have an unparalleled army structure and material resources. The conservative party is the only one admonishing the new senators. This is exacerbated by the presence of a renegade cleric who claims the current church is heretical, waging provincial skirmishes in the hopes of having others defect to his side. He possesses an unreal power that he calls "The Flame of God's Great Angel" that is capable of bringing throngs of challengers to the dust of the earth- his zeal is unmatched. Granted that he has this power, the central government pays lip service to the faith of the realm by hiring out mercenary groups to aid the local militia under fire of the cleric. The Church understands that it is borderline powerless in this scenario and lets the State call the shots. Now for the antagonist I'd like to discuss. This renegade cleric received his power from an associate of the 'angel' that he refers to as the source of his power. This man is a wizened, furtive, and inscrutable monk who speaks quietly and carefully: for now my name for him is Bacchio. He is actually a man that precedes the common age by 1,500 years- and he is the unofficial co-founder of the faith that is now in jeopardy. Those many years ago, he participated in a few wars of religious legitimacy with his partner, the 'official' first 'pope' of the realm now regarded as a saint. They had a clash of ideals following the war. Bacchio refused to make his religious thought palatable to anybody but the 'mystics', and in the wake of the war he was seen as a liability to lasting holy peace. Resultantly, this first pope put him to death. Bacchio's fragments remain a cornerstone of the religious texts though- for he managed to write them anonymously at the time. They all discuss a 'Flame of God' that exists beyond the beyond- and only the properly faithful can adequately embrace it. Thus by the time the game begins, many in the Church see these fragments a prophetic- not realizing that the author himself is alive and manipulating the campaigns that are taking place. The angel he works for is really calling the shots- but to what end? I intend on having the game's plot begin with the protagonist, a member of a hired out mercenary force, losing his entire squad in battle to this 'angel' who conspicuously leaves the main character and his squad leader- a woman, alive. The others he brutally murders and I intend on having this form the 'groundwork' of the plot. You will seek to understand the religious war at work, and coming to grips with this opens up the plot to the mysteries at work throughout the rest of the world. Any thoughts ?

Writing for Games Game Design

Started by Stumpmaestro December 20, 2014 08:41 PM

9 comments, last by Stumpmaestro 9 years, 6 months ago

Stumpmaestro

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Author

December 28, 2014 02:13 PM

I honestly don't want anyone stealing this, its very unique! Please refrain from posting anything else regarding the story on this public board. I'd like to share my story idea for a game to you and see if you like it, pm or email me your story ideas and I would love for you to see mine!