Short episodic RPGs. Are they worth the time?

[Mage Heart]

I was thinking about making an episodic RPG of sorts. These would last around an hour and have an almost shut door endings where there could be more to happen in the story but, if there isn't another game made then the ending would still be satisfying. Each episode would be a new game and would be set to where you have the best current equipment of the last game.

I am wanting to know if this is a good idea or is it one to scrap?

 

[Warpmind]

I... kind of like it.

Might like it more if you went through the (extensive) effort of having a save game transfer system included, as well, for an "Ironman Mode" or something (meaning you might not start the next game at default level, giving a bigger challenge toward the end), but a series of episodic games work seem to work well for the Adventure genre, and the RPG genre isn't that different in narrative terms...

 

[Mage Heart]

I... kind of like it.

Might like it more if you went through the (extensive) effort of having a save game transfer system included, as well, for an "Ironman Mode" or something (meaning you might not start the next game at default level, giving a bigger challenge toward the end), but a series of episodic games work seem to work well for the Adventure genre, and the RPG genre isn't that different in narrative terms...

I figured most of the episodes could rehash old areas too along with new ones of course. I mainly wanted to focus on my Grimoire feature which would be the main selling point of the game.

 

[Kes]

Some points were covered in this thread which was about episodic games, and in this one.  Although neither thread was about exactly the same thing as this one, there are some general points which you may find useful.

 

[Seacliff]

It's not a BAD idea, but I think people would enjoy it more if you had an alpha demo that you update every chapter or so. That way you can allow the ability for more customization on your party. If you just update to a new game with all the best equipment in the previous episode as your starting equipment, then it feels like your forcing the player to play the game your way.

But that's just me, maybe it might be best to tell the player how to play. But if I grind to max level at an end of an episode only to find out I'll start out on the next episode on the same level even if I didn't grind, I'd get a bit bummed down and would just drop the game.

Again, not a bad idea, but I just don't think it would work with RPGs.

 

[Indinera]

If they are going to be only one hour long, make them story oriented rather than gameplay oriented. It's frustrating to get involved in some gameplay mechanisms and see them stop so early. Then again, it might be the same with the story. All in all you should go for 3-4h per episode at least IMO.

 

[Mage Heart]

I can find an easy data tranfer that would be nice because I wouldn't be changing any of the database IDs in terms of skills and items only adding.

 

[Dragnfly]

I wonder about the difference in detail between "episodic with closure" and "sequel". They're both a group of games with some connections (if only thematic) which end. New episodes aren't always planned and neither are sequels. Is it only the carry-over that sets them apart? Everything I think of that calls itself episodic specifically has very open endings.

As for carry-over, maybe a newgame+ script? Sadly the only games with newgame+ to come to mind are for Wolf, not RM.

 

[Kes]

I've played a number of episodic games - I suppose the best known RM episodic games would be the Millennium series - and I think maybe you are underestimating the amount of work involved in ensuring a player can import everything properly and at the same time cater for new players.  If you don't cater for new players (set up default levels, skills, items, gold, everything in fact, as if they had played the earlier episode(s) competently, give them the necessary background of the story etc.) then you will have far fewer players.

If you haven't tried them, I suggest you look at least at the free demos of the Millennium games here to see how the openings are done.  They are excellent games in their own right, and a useful learning tool for what you are thinking of doing.  

Picking up on Dragnfly's post, you have to plan all this in advance.  Trying to wing it as you go along will probably cause you a lot of grief.

As for RM stories with Game+ I know that there are a lot, because I've played them, but no title comes immediately to mind except, maybe, Last Scenario, but that was made with XP not Ace.

 

[Wavelength]

It sounds fine.  But focus on building an hour or two of good story and gameplay first, then worry about the direction of your series.

 

[Mage Heart]

It sounds fine.  But focus on building an hour or two of good story and gameplay first, then worry about the direction of your series.

Exactly. I want to make the first game so if it doesn't turn out quite that great people wouldn't be disappointed if there wasn't a second or a third.