RMMV Help! Need a Plot

[Switz]

Hello everyone!

Do you have a story you want to see turned into a RPG game, but don't have the time anymore?

I am ready to begin working on a new game after a nice break since our last release. I'm the designer for Nostalgia Addict Games.

Feel free to look at some of the reviews from our current two games at http://nostalgiagames.net

My partner (who is brilliant when it comes to crafting stories, dialogue and characters) just had a baby this week and he will be MIA for a good couple of years so I figure I'll go ahead and least start working on our new game so that he has a lot of material/canvas to start doing his thing.

Me? I can't write. Compared to my co-dev, it's not even a comparison. In the end, he will still be tasked with finalizing the overall story so please be aware of that if you want to help me out. I'm not even going to lie, he might even scrap your entire story and change it to who knows what. However, his expertise in this area....just look at the reviews on our past two games. The man is a gifted writer and VERY particular in what he decides to go with. I've learned to just shut up and design whatever he comes up with

But who knows, he might go with it and naturally build onto your story. Just don't be completely married to the story ending up being exactly like you think it should be is all I'm saying.


What I'm looking for is a old school like RPG story. Such as back from the days of SNES. We like stories that have a lot of military focus such as FF3. We love big baddies that are terrifying strong. And we love dark parts to the story. Either from important character deaths, betrayels or seemingly hopeless odds.

What I'm looking for is just a very quick look at:

1) How the story starts
2) What compels your hero or heroes to start down this path of becoming the main character(s)
3) What's the biggest S-hits the fan moment during the story
4) Who ends up being the big baddy. What is their motivations?

I'll hit you up if I like what you have for more details.


Remember, this is only for folks who wish to willingly let me hear their story and open to us making it into a game (for free). If you want to work on it together and join the team, we can talk about that some more, but to clarify - when it comes to the story, my partner will be the one who ultimately decides to use it or completely scrub it. He will write every sentence in the game.
At the very least, at least most of the environments, maps, lure and locations that resulted from your story will end up in game.

All of this is really just to help me at least start designing a new game with a semi-idea of what the game will be lol.

 

[Lunesis]

Sounds like you'd be better off just waiting for your friend if he has the final say on everything story wise anyways.

 

[Aoi Ninami]

Yeah... writing is the aspect that most interests me, and although I'm working on a project myself I wouldn't mind collaborating on a side project; but "everything you contribute might be thrown out" is a huge red flag.

 

[Switz]

I know it's a long shot. Just a hale mary for anyone with a story they never got to make.

I can't predict what he will do, but I do know he is very picky when putting together a story. No, I don't think he would change up the first and main plot mid part of game at least, but would probably change the end a lot.

For me anyway, I guess you can compare it to the dreaded writer's block. Sometimes images or video help you come up with something to get past that.
For me it's the opposite, I work better when I create towards something that is not the easy way out. Locations that I wouldn't had done on my own if not pushed to bring a unique world to life. Im just not good at thinking what that world should be.

For example, town below took ages. Would had never even crossed my mind to do. But in the story, the town had a secret labarynth of caves underneath that are used to sneak into the valley just outside of town where the castle is.

 

[Anthony Xue]

PMed.

 

[bgillisp]

Eh I'll bite. When I was in high school my friend and I made up these 3 stories. Maybe you can use one of them:

Story 1: The world is being taken over by a lady with her mind control magic (we never named her so use a name generator to get a name). To banish her from your realm you have to find the 7 pieces of a staff that have been scattered around the world and then you can use it to banish her from the world.

The big twist:

Spoiler

She has kids too, and one of them are in your group, which you learn late in the game.

Story 2: The lady has been banished, and 20 years have passed. However she has worked a spell that has allowed her to kidnap the heroes who banished her before. Playing as her kids you need to find a way to the dimension where she is, and then rescue your parents, then take her out for good.

The twist:

Spoiler

She's the pawn of someone called the Dark One, and you in the end break her from the Dark One's spell

Story 3: The Dark One has invaded your world, and conquered most of it. You and a scattered party of orphans due to the invasion band together, and figure out how to defeat this Dark One for good.

This one I have less for as we really winged it for that one, so might not be the best.

Still use any of those if you wish. I'll never make them.

 

[Finnuval]

I'm wondering if you aren't actually looking more for a world builder instead of a story writer. Someone who creates a universe for you where your partner can create a story to take place in and you can build out...

 

[Lunesis]

Honestly, your friend having a baby shouldn't put him out of commission for a couple of years. He probably won't need to put his whole life on hold, just need a few days to get the baby settled in and help the wife, but certainly he would go crazy without having some sort of creative outlet. A couple of months maybe.

 

[ATT_Turan]

Honestly, your friend having a baby shouldn't put him out of commission for a couple of years. A couple of months maybe.

Yeah, this. If you can't make any free time for years after a kid, that's something wrong with you. When I had my daughter, I had to skip my regular weekly gaming group for...maybe a month, because she didn't have established sleeping at night times yet, and my wife and I existed in this half-asleep haze.

But once she started getting put to bed, there was no reason I couldn't do things. And something like this, where it doesn't rely on other people's schedules, I could've been writing things the entire time.

I agree with previous posters that the whole description of the situation is basically a red flag Presuming your description of your partner's situation is accurate (although it seems bizarre to me), you're asking someone to work with you for years on the story for a game that someone else might take one look at and throw out.

I would never agree to that, and frankly it sounds rude. It's basically saying "I want you to put in substantial work with me, but it has no value compared to the first opinion of this uninvolved party."

For that matter, if your partner is saying he's out for years, why wouldn't this game be finished by then?

 

[Switz]

Not looking for long term commitment. I'm not against teaming up and bringing another on to the team and split profits, but more than likely the story will be from someone who just doesn't have the time anymore.
Just a story people. No script, just a overall story to help turn the gears of imagination and start creating a themed world with a overall goal in mind. Mixed in with a few random questions over the years and optional play tests if they want.

I have gotten two stories already that are leaps and bounds above what I myself could ever think of on my own. The two so far already have me thinking of a art direction I've never tried before, but can see it working very well overall. Got to remember, I'm just designing the maps, enemies, artwork, etc. Pretty much in the blind. At the very least, if they can all be themed around one of these stories or others who may show up and tell me there story, at least it gives my partner a healthy head start and template to begin doing his thing.

I know my co-dev well. I've worked with the guy every single day for 5 years on our last game. I know exactly what he is capable of and know he is a very committed person. I will not rob him from being a new parent until the work is more manageable because I know him - he will dive too far into the development of the game. That's why I'm trying to get a good head start to significantly decrease the work he will have to do in the game.

 

[Cythera]

Hold on. Are you looking for story ideas for inspiration, or story ideas to actually develop?

If the second...You mentioned in your first post people can give their story ideas to you for free, so I just assumed this would be a non-commercial game with credit involved. But your last post, right above mine here, mentions profits. So the intention is a commercial game? Using someone else's story idea? If so, that should 110% be outlined in the original post so people know you want to make money with their idea. And that they won't receive any of the profits.

If you're just looking for inspiration, try a random plot generator. They aren't award-winning ideas by any means, but they can certainly spit out key places/themes/protags and antags that can inspire a whole world and story. Heck, even those one-line inspiration sentences can get you started!
I get it; you have a partner and you value his writing and input. So why don't you try to generate inspiration for him while you wait for him to return?
You'd have starting points for him to jump off, and that reduces his workload.
Far better than asking someone to spend time and effort contributing to your project, for free! Only to have all their work be scrapped anyway.

 

[RCXGaming]

split profits

Is it free or not?

In the end, he will still be tasked with finalizing the overall story so please be aware of that if you want to help me out. I'm not even going to lie, he might even scrap your entire story and change it to who knows what.

Why even ask for recruitment if you're not even the guy responsible for what we'd be doing? Writing for a long time just so your friend can scrap the work for whatever reason on what you implied to be a commercial product.... nah, that's hella suspicious and rude regardless.

I feel you'd be better off doing what @Cythera said since this project very much feels like a two man effort between you and your friend - any third party would be unwelcome no matter what you do.

 

[Switz]

Again, not looking for a script.... Guys, this is not as sinister as it sounds lol.

All of us here at one point or the other decided to make a game. It's fair to say most give up.

Maybe you had a awesome idea for a story, but realized it's a ton of work to make it into a game?

I'm not looking for an entire script, just that idea that you had and don't care how it happens, but want to see that idea turned into a game one day.

Literally, all I'm looking for is barely 5 paragraphs explaining your dream game you plan to not make. Assuming the grand plot is what I believe is a epic story and fits what we like to create, that'll give me the inspiration and general goal to start developing. The artwork, the style, the ambiance. I plan to go full custom this game.
I'm also not against going the co-dev collaborating route (and splitting profits), but it won't be to write the script sorry.

Yes this will be a commercial game. Sorry if that seemed shady not mentioning it, bit out of practice posting here. It took us 4-6 years to make each of our last two games and expect this one to take the same amount of time. Every single day, 2-8 hours a day to make a 50-70 hour game. It's an insane amount of work but we love what we do.

 

[Anthony Xue]

Wow, this escalated quickly.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a folder full of ideas for plots, characters, world design etc.; I'd need something like 37 lives to make all of this stuff into actual games. It's also not like NAG will make millions with this, and I get cheated out of millions by foolishly submitting an idea. Basically, he's offering quality execution (which is rare) in exchange for a baseline story (which usually come a dime a dozen). So, if one of my ideas ends up being the foundation for something along the lines of Divided Reigns (well, and I get story credit), that would be fine with me.

I also assume the "everything might get thrown out" part simply stems from OP not wanting to step on the toes of his long-time game design partner whom he obviously admires and who probably has no idea of this posting

But then, as he's already received some ideas, this thread has apparently already fulfilled its purposes. Why am I even writing this?

Happy crafting, everyone.

 

[Switz]

Anthony hit the nail on the head. Correct, my partner doesn't know I'm posting this. If he did he would stop me and say he will brainstorm a story. Trust me guys, I know this guy. He will get WAYYYYY too into it. And he just had a baby. He needs to focus on what's really important.

And still looking for ideas. Remind everyone, game will be the typical 50-70 hour game. LOTS of plot twists. More wanting to contribute equals higher chance I might see parts of the story that piece together with someone else's.

I am still looking for a start game. I'm torn between a slower start like the current ideas given or a fast/hectic start. I do plan to get very artsy in this game. Already got my new sketch pad ready to go and working on type of art style I'm dreaming about every night. Just need a story to help put it all together.

Guess I just have a weird brain.

 

[bgillisp]

Honestly if you wanted to expand and use what I posted there go for it. I didn't expect anything at all with that, and I'm never going to get to it. In fact if someone else sees it and wants to make that game, go for it. I'd like to see it when done if I could, but even that is not required.

 

[Switz]

@bgillisp I got to admit, I am leaning towards the female opening main character theme. We haven't done one yet. Always been the sterotypical soldierly alpha male. And the art style I'm thinking of does fit more with a more feminine theme too.

 

[Anthony Xue]

Anthony hit the nail on the head. Correct, my partner doesn't know I'm posting this. If he did he would stop me and say he will brainstorm a story. Trust me guys, I know this guy. He will get WAYYYYY too into it. And he just had a baby. He needs to focus on what's really important.

And still looking for ideas. Remind everyone, game will be the typical 50-70 hour game. LOTS of plot twists. More wanting to contribute equals higher chance I might see parts of the story that piece together with someone else's.

I am still looking for a start game. I'm torn between a slower start like the current ideas given or a fast/hectic start. I do plan to get very artsy in this game. Already got my new sketch pad ready to go and working on type of art style I'm dreaming about every night. Just need a story to help put it all together.

Guess I just have a weird brain.

I can certainly understand your partner. He probably regards your games as his "other babies", and of course he would care too much to let someone else handle them

But then I don't quite understand the rest of this posting. I thought you were just looking for an initial idea, a brainstorm? Going beyond this doesn't make much sense if your partner is supposed to enter the process later on and probably rebuild everything from the ground up. Otherwise I could easily take another look into my notes folder and provide you with plot twists and details until Tuesday or something, and so could @bgillisp probably, but why would you yourself put work into something provisional?

If you really intend to gather sufficient material to have a full plot that you can build upon, I think you should eventually knock at your partner's door and tell him that a little detour doesn't mean you want a divorce

 

[Kyuukon]

* Throws a Plot *

 

[h0tWalker]

You sound really excited when talking about one of the ideas as you mention and trying an art style you never attempted before. Considering you won't be doing the story work, and seem uncertain about the use of these stories, aren't there better ways to invest time before the next project? I get it, your friend isn't as strict as you made him seem in the opening post, and you have chemistry, but his the writer and your doing the visuals (right?). Your thing is the snes era with military focus and just knowing your jam there is big. If your not gonna do the story anyway, why not start creating towns, attempting a new art style, check out different projects or artists? Having an idea to base it around is good and all, but the core of it is the same as the previous projects anyway. Perhaps a concept for the art, maps, etc. is one of the game worlds 10, 50 or 100 years after the initial story? Perhaps base some minor characters of the old ones. Sure, its not 100% new, buts its building of an already established foundation that can easily be converted as well as it's a familiar world / style.

As for characters, imagine one character. A woman, she looks rather sad. Why is she sad? Her son is being dragged of to military service, and the soldiers aren't known for being kind to others. That sentence establishes her son as a character with a few different traits you can choose from. And that established a visual idea of his appearance.

I don't really have the ideas you need, and while everyone has different fields of expertise, everyone can learn. You just need some motivation and the magic words "I will make it". You might not get anything good for days, but just taking a few minutes of the day, just like I take a few minutes for language lessons, I'm slowly getting there.

Know this isn't what you asked for, but as others pointed out. You open the post with asking, and close it with "oh btw, its prob gonna be trashed". Then there is probably people who want to hold onto their ideas as well. Hope this can be of some use, although you probably already gave this a shot. That said you already made two games, so whats stopping you from this little challenge? Cause even if you don't believe in yourself with this, I do.