Plot Help?

[Last of Academe]

I have noticed that I seem to be able to develop some sort of basic idea for a story but fleshing that story out becomes somewhat difficult...

I originally intended on using a plot idea that I had tried to develop into a web-comic with some friends some years ago.

The main character has recurring dreams in which he is a fighter or some kind... I believe in the web-comic he was a magic user but this isn't necessarily detrimental to the story. Upon going to school and doing other ordinary real life tasks he realises that he recognises people in real life from his dreams, eventually discovering that the world that he dreams is real (possibly after sustaining an injury within a dream and realising he has the same injury upon waking, or some sort of key item being with him that he obtains in a dream) and that when we sleep we go to this "Dream World".

It is broadcast on the news that there is a series of reports of people falling asleep but not waking up, seemingly slipping into a coma. It is then up to the main character, and a part of other people who have realised that the "Dream World" is real have to investigate why people aren't waking up and are getting stuck in the "Dream World". Originally, I was going to play on some sort of "Sandman" story, in which the antagonist was manipulating the "sand" that the myth claims is sprinkled in the eyes of children to make them fall asleep... but I never really decided on a motive.

However, as much as I've had a lot of positive feedback from people who I've explained the idea to I can't seem to get myself all too enthusiastic about doing it.

This is where I need a little assistance in the way of suggestion or inspiration.

What I would like to do is a game that uses some sort of beast system. I'm undecided on whether this would be characters having a shapeshifter ability... whether it would be a capture/battle system much like Pokemon, although I am aware of how complex such a system can get... whether it is to be a single pet system where either one or some of the characters have a certain pet that can be used or summoned in battle... I had the idea to possibly include some sort of skill tree that would allow the player to customise their beast, ie. if they were to select more speed based skills for their beast then it would look more like an agile creature, maybe some sort of large cat or bird... and if they were to focus on strength based skills then it would make the beast look more in the way of maybe a bear or some other heavy set animal.

The other thing that I would like to include is for the story to require the player to be involved in some kind of tournament.

I appreciate all and any help. Feel free to maybe pick elements from my original 'dream' idea, or include some of your own.

Thank you.

 

[BeardBro]

It's generally a good idea to nail down your story before exploring gameplay and the features therein. Combat centered around beasts might be fun, but what does that have to do with the story? Are there beasts in the Dream World? What's the purpose of fighting with beasts when you can personally slug it out with an opponent?

When I find myself losing interest in a project, I throw myself a curve ball and add a random plot twist to my story. The plot twist doesn't have to be relevant at first; exercise your creative muscles and connect the dots. Chances are, if you're not interested in your project, no one else will be interested either.

If you're having trouble with 'creative curve balls', here are some ideas:

What if the Dream World is a parallel universe? Actions in the Dream World have an effect on the real world, but are these actions having unexpected consequences?

Or, perhaps the protagonist's best friend in the real world suddenly disappears. When our hero enters the Dream World that night, we discover that, somehow, the real life friend was kidnapped by the villain using a cross-dimensional transportation spell. What would happen when the real life friend meets his Dream World counterpart?

Anyways, I hope this helps. Shelving the project for a couple of weeks can also be beneficial; this gives your brain a rest and allows you to return to the project with a fresh and open mind.

 

[Last of Academe]

Thanks for the words of wisdom.

I understand what you mean regarding the inclusion of a game mechanic purely because I want it in there, rather than because it fits. I was likely to use the beast system in a separate game to the Dream one, and I've also had my eye on one or two ideas for a post-apocalyptic game despite it being done to death. Trying to keep away from overused elements (ie. zombies). But there is the danger, of course, that I'm going to end up with a surplus of starting ideas with no flesh to them.

 

[Apollo]

Actually, adding on to that advice. You need to ask yourself what concept you want to explore with a game, without making a specific story. Chances are your story will go through several major changes throughout development as far as setting and characters. Ask yourself what the tone of the piece is, what's at the core of your story. Romeo and Juliet would be just as riveting if it was set in 3002 and the main characters were called Rubin and Periwinkle. Like with that timeless story, find what's at the center of you story, that central concept, and focus on that, not the setting or characters specifically.

 

[Tai_MT]

Actually, adding on to that advice. You need to ask yourself what concept you want to explore with a game, without making a specific story. Chances are your story will go through several major changes throughout development as far as setting and characters. Ask yourself what the tone of the piece is, what's at the core of your story. Romeo and Juliet would be just as riveting if it was set in 3002 and the main characters were called Rubin and Periwinkle. Like with that timeless story, find what's at the center of you story, that central concept, and focus on that, not the setting or characters specifically.

Um...  You do know that Romeo and Juliet is a love story between a 28 year old man and a 12 year old girl, right?  I don't think it'd be riveting in 3002, unless it was a major plot point that pedophilia was unbanned or Juliet was no longer 12, a la "West Side Story".  I'm sorry, I had to make that joke, I could not resist!

As for the topic at hand:

It is generally a good idea to start with a concept.  This applies as much to writing actual stories as it does writing stories for video games or movies and etcetera.  You need to decide what do you want your story to accomplish and what do you want to explore within it?  Once you figure that out, you need to begin writing the setting.  Create events or a world that revolve around what you want to accomplish or explore.  If you wanted to explore the nature of society as a whole, you begin writing concepts of how you can accomplish this.  Start with a few short stories on whatever you chose.  Pick and choose the best options from each.  Now, create your world based around these stories.  Answer all the basic questions.  Who, what, why, where, how.  These are very important to telling a story.  Try to keep answers to these questions as non-cliché as possible.  When you start dabbling into cliché, your story gets fairly predictable.

Once you've got that down (as well as a few characters), you can start rolling with the plot fairly easily.  Just answer where your characters come from and what their ultimate goals within your story would be.  Presto, magic plot.  Once you have the beginning and the end, it isn't too difficult to create content as you go and as you explore the game making program.  Give the characters some pretty solid personalities as well.  The more fleshed out the basic bits of your story are, the more believable your story becomes.  Also, the more fleshed out, the easier it is to create new content and keep the story moving.

The most important question you can ask yourself when creating plot is "why?".  Why does the Conglomerate want to commit mass genocide against the Takiya Clan?  What motivates the main character to stop them?  Is he even motivated to stop them?  If so, why?  Why not?  Why wasn't he killed with the rest of his clan?

Just keep asking why.