MMORPG - the basics

trapdoor · 2003-09-24T11:41:06

Well I have a MMORPG partially planned in my mind. I want to make sure i have everything covered. I''m actually looking at one that doesn''t involve your regular experience / character building type system. Something totally different. I''d also like for a total player driven game. No NPC''s giving missions or rewarding the completion of such. People give people missions. People give people rewards. People develop the story. Ignore the difficulty that it will take to make this... I''m looking for anything i''m missing. Well In order for me to plan it, i need to know what kinds of parts there are to a MMORPG. Here''s what I mean: Character classes Combat Environments Experience / character evolution economy mission / quest / contracts alliances / guilds ...... The only MMORPG i got into was Earth and Beyond, and *cough* Toontown. Toontown was for my GF but I still played probably 20 hours worth before stopping. I''d still play Earth and Beyond but I was only a beta tester and I didn''t have the money to afford paying for it once it was finished. So I sit and wait for the money so I can start again.... Anwyay After playing E&B, I have somewhat of an idea of the types of things there are in an MMORPG. I know about the combat system. I know about how you build your character. There''s also your regular RPG economy. The quests / missions are average as always. and you can be part of a guild or even bigger, a type of gonverment. Oh an not to mention the different types of character classes you can be. Well I was wondering if i''m missing anything else important.

Game Design and Theory Game Design

Started by trapdoor September 22, 2003 02:19 AM

11 comments, last by trapdoor 20 years, 7 months ago

Takenoko

122

September 23, 2003 06:23 AM

Class Interaction meaning..

How will each class interact with each other in ways of combat, grouping, socializing and trade skills.

What will each class bring to the table? Why would one class want to trade with another class? Will one class have a special skill that will require other players to interact with them?

For example, in Star Wars Galaxies, I played an Architect. As an Architect, everyone wanted something from me, houses, factories, harvesters. But, there was nothing that another class could provide for me that I would want. If no other class is providing a service for me, then why would I want to provide them a service? It was a one way street.

-Takenoko

trapdoor

130

Author

September 24, 2003 01:36 AM

I would definitely make sure that each class would interact with other classes. Here''s a list of possible classes. If one feild seems slow, it will be possible to change classes... after all it''s just a job. You might need training though.

Police - To protect the universe from your everyday morons and to deal with criminals. They are mainly planet / orbit bound. Not venturing out a lot.
Army{Red - To protect on a larger scale against criminals.
Army{Blue - Same as ^^ but either allies or enemies of other armies.
Technician - Repairs damanged ships - May deal with storekeeper, teacher and people who need repairs.
Storekeeper - Seller of goods. Buyer''s of others. - everyone
Scientist - Wide range from Explorer''s, historians, researchers. - deals mainly with themselves and sells their biggest findings to others.
Medical - Either manages a ship that helps keep people alive (usefull if I put in perma-death) - deals with the hurt and dying.
Teachers - trainers of all other classes. - deals with those who want help.
Freelancer - does what they want. - deals with anyone.
News reporter - reports interesting news... usually live or film type. On major evens like a corporation being world dominating, or the assassination of a major leader. - Deals with top story makers.
constructor - builds things using the needed materials. (only a few can actually build things. - not good at collecting materials though.
analyser - studies new weapons to make blueprints.
spies
Corporate trader
Armoured transporter
smuggler - for when those nasty blockades or martial law is declared.
bounty hunters / Hitmen - "i don''t like him...."
Pirates
bartender - to mix drinks but also to be a source of "information"
Crimelord / thugs - wanted but left alone mostly. like the mafia.
criminals - the wanted solo type. terrorists, mass murderers.

Morons - Face it, they''ll show up.

----

I didn''t know if i could use tables otherwise i would have made it much neater, every class will have a need and each need can be met by someone else. If you can think of other carriers or classes, that''s be nice.

As far as changing classes, some feilds it''s ok but others there''s a penalty if you change at the wrong time... or maybe i won''t let you change. Like if you become part of the police force, you must fulfill at minamum amount of time before you can choose to change carriers again. You can''t become part of the police if you were a known criminal before.

Criminals must be caught before getting sentenced. Hackers (people who break the game, not hackers in the game) won''t need to be caught as they are ruining the game for others with cheating. Some criminals will get sentenced for a few months before being let go on probation much like in the real world. Others might be sentenced to die. (I''ll even make breakouts possible)

An execution would be one thing a reporter would want to cover. I would even want to have the admins of the game spark things if nothing has happened in a while... like putting a hit on the leader of a major corporation. or kidnapping someone.

The ships would also allow people to travel around in while it''s flying. I''d want open space... no paths. Every fair sized ship will have subspace engines capable of flying to other systems real fast. But also to be able to stop in the middle of nowhere to hide. Long range scanners for large army ships to find criminals hiding like this..... soooo many ideas.

Now to program it