What do people think this idea, in the game their are several sets of unique items, such as the zodiac stones. Now each stone has its own ability that can be used only once and then the stone shatters, however if you collect all 12 they can allow you access to an even greater prize. So basically each part of a set can be used or the entire set can be collected and used for something else. It will be clear to players when they have found a collectable item although it will not be immeditly clear as to its purpose or to what set it belongs to. Anyone see anything wrong with this? ----------------------------------------------------- "Fate and Destiny only give you the opportunity the rest you have to do on your own." Current Design project: Ambitions Slave

Sounds like it could be fun. It actually reminds me a bit of Wishbringer, one of those old Infocom text adventures.

You were given this stone called Wishbringer and when you possessed specific items, you could wish for certain things. They were mostly one-shot deals and they were usually very helpful for some situations in the game (though I don''t think they were completely necessary) but could be used at any time. I don''t think there was any specific advantage to having all of the items though... so there really isn''t that much correlation... so... I''m not sure why it reminded me of it...

Anyway, the idea could be cool but a fun twist would be to have certain items belong to more than one set. So say a special umbrella (still thinking Wishbringer) was an ingredient for a rain spell, an ingredient for a levitation spell and could also be used for a pole vault to get over an electric fence (I realize that''s silly, but bear with me). Do any of these once and the umbrella is destroyed. All three uses could come in handy in a game but none would be completely necessary to complete the game. That would mean the player has to make the choice about how to use the umbrella. Some players might not like that depending on the style of the game (if RPG-ish, I know there are people out there who get annoyed by not being able to get absolutely EVERYTHING in a single playthrough) but I still think it would be cool.

-Auron

i have mixed feelings on this one...

if the player collected all 12 and then the big prize wasn''t truly great, they would feel ripped off. this could also happen if they used an item before they found out they could save it for the set.

one the other hand, it could lead to interesting gameplay decisions, which are a good thing.

i like Auron''s idea about having items fit in more than one set. that way, you can use a few of them but still have access to at least one of the big prizes.

quote:Original post by krez
i have mixed feelings on this one...

Same here.

quote:
if the player collected all 12 and then the big prize wasn''t truly great, they would feel ripped off. this could also happen if they used an item before they found out they could save it for the set.

Also, it feeds into the problem of players hoarding a resource because they don''t know if they''ll need it later, or making the game very difficult for themselves because they don''t know how to weigh the prize versus their current situation.

quote:i like Auron''s idea about having items fit in more than one set. that way, you can use a few of them but still have access to at least one of the big prizes.

I second this, and would vote for giving hints to players as to what the great prize is at the end.



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Just waiting for the mothership...

Personally, if I pick up some great object in an RPG and theres only one of it, I tend to never use it until its absolutely needed, or I least the last time the item''s usage is meaningful. I''m more likely to spend an object if I get more than just one.

As for collecting a set, but getting screwed if you miss one or use one, thats easy, I''ll just never use them. Why even make up some usage for the item? I''ll never see it''s animation.

There seem to be mixed response to this idea. I hadn''t thought of making pieces part of multiple sets, and I''m not sure how it could work. I''m a little surpised at the idea to be honest, I would think people would be turned off by having a single piece part of multiple sets. Since it means that if you use it you loose the ability to complete both sets and also it means that you can''t complete both sets in the same game.

quote:
... vote for giving hints to players as to what the great prize is at the end.

That can be uncovered through researching the item, although it may not tell you excatly what the completing the sets does it will defently hint at the possibilites.

quote:
As for collecting a set, but getting screwed if you miss one or use one, thats easy, I''ll just never use them. Why even make up some usage for the item? I''ll never see it''s animation.

That is in entirely your choice. If you want to jelously guard each piece of treasure you find and never risk using them you can. Then again you may decided to use the the pieces rather then collect the entire set its entirly up to you.

That brings up one last question, that is of set interconnectivity, would you be even further turned off it you need to complete one set to gain access to the a piece of another?


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"Fate and Destiny only give you the opportunity the rest you have to do on your own."
Current Design project: Ambitions Slave

I am reminded of Diablo, except that the set items were not one-shots. But then there''s the gems : You can insert them immediately into socketed items for a moderate bonus, or you can wait, combine three gems using the Horadric Cube, and insert your new, higher-level gem for a better bonus. Or wait and level up through all five gem levels, by which time you have such good magic items that no socketed item can compete. So your design would have to be better than that.

Yes, that would be a problem. You''d have to leverage power levels on things so that it would actually be worth collecting everything in a set. If, by normal game circumstances, collecting a whole set gets you a weapon/spell/whatever that is only slightly more powerful than what the player should have available by the time it''s possible to collect everything, then it only might be worth it to some players. On the other hand, if you make it two or more times as powerful as what''s otherwise available at the time of completing the set, it''d be very worth it to horde them all; but then you''d also have to factor in some small disadvantage to the completed items'' effect so that it wouldn''t be overpowering to the game as a whole.

It''s always a tough balance when designing these types of things. Don''t get it quite right and you''ve probably created a severely lopsided game situation.

-Auron