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Video Games / Re: Star Wars MMO Design (non-SWG players take)
« on: October 27, 2006, 02:57:15 AM »
I've played WoW, so I suppose that might affect my choices a bit, but here goes:
What Era would you set it in?
Definitely Clone Wars. No question. I mean, the war itself was basically a three-year draw, with no clear advantage until just before the very end- a very MMO-friendly atmosphere. Also, the two factions seemed roughly equal, unlike the guerrilla-versus-empire atmosphere of the classic era. I don't really see how Rebel vs. Imperial combat could be fair without giving significant, unrealistic boosts to the former or drastically handicapping the latter.
How would you deal with Progression?
I would probably have players be basic clone troopers / standard battle droids until the end of an introductory level period, wherein they would transfer their bodies / droid brains into new armor / chassis's (sp?), representing a specific elite class. Both droids and troopers could switch out their armor pieces and buy new weapons to go along with upgraded skillsets.
How would you deal with Jedi?
Nix 'em. Sticking with troopers and droids not only makes it nice and fair, it makes it much more movie-realistic, as troopers and droids, basically, appear to be the vast bulk of the forces. Maybe, just maybe, at very high levels a clone trooper class would have the ability to wield a lightsaber, as there are various references to lightsaber-wielding stormtroopers, and some cut sources would have had references to a similar clone branch. Force sensitivity, however, would be out of the question.
What about Space?
A great way to make the guild system more closely-knit and important would be to include guild-based fleets. Every guild could be based out of a flagship (the largest being Providence-class / Venator-class) and be able to buy other cruisers to supplement its forces. This allows guilds to have a 'home', take up zero ground space, and opens up a new facet of guild-based PvP. Imagine battles between factions, two or three guilds on each side, handfuls of battleships and clouds of players in fighters dogfighting erratically... I can only wish.
What planet or Planets would you set the game on?
Not too many. Having completely different zones necessitates chokepoints, which causes lag other ill effects. Probably two or three major questing / PvP worlds, maybe something like Kashyyyk, Hypori, and Rhen Var, and one or two smaller questing worlds per faction, and then one central command / new player introduction world per faction, probably Kamino and Utapau.
Would you include the personalities of the movie?
Sure. Aside from questgivers, it would be great to let superpowerful guilds spend obscene amounts of money / reputation points to temporarily persuade General Grievous to lead an attack on an enemy bunker or call in Anakin Skywalker to bring down a few dozen pesky droid fighters.
How would combat work?
WoW's combat system seems to work very well, although adapting it to a futuristic, almost wholly ranged-weapon world might present unique challenges. Space combat, of course, would involve more simulation type dogfighting, with direct ship control and spacebar firing.
How would the economy work?
Probably through a global auction system, like WoW. Though it seems slightly out of character for clones and droids to be accumulating wealth in the middle of wartime, it's really the only way to sustain an economy.
What Era would you set it in?
Definitely Clone Wars. No question. I mean, the war itself was basically a three-year draw, with no clear advantage until just before the very end- a very MMO-friendly atmosphere. Also, the two factions seemed roughly equal, unlike the guerrilla-versus-empire atmosphere of the classic era. I don't really see how Rebel vs. Imperial combat could be fair without giving significant, unrealistic boosts to the former or drastically handicapping the latter.
How would you deal with Progression?
I would probably have players be basic clone troopers / standard battle droids until the end of an introductory level period, wherein they would transfer their bodies / droid brains into new armor / chassis's (sp?), representing a specific elite class. Both droids and troopers could switch out their armor pieces and buy new weapons to go along with upgraded skillsets.
How would you deal with Jedi?
Nix 'em. Sticking with troopers and droids not only makes it nice and fair, it makes it much more movie-realistic, as troopers and droids, basically, appear to be the vast bulk of the forces. Maybe, just maybe, at very high levels a clone trooper class would have the ability to wield a lightsaber, as there are various references to lightsaber-wielding stormtroopers, and some cut sources would have had references to a similar clone branch. Force sensitivity, however, would be out of the question.
What about Space?
A great way to make the guild system more closely-knit and important would be to include guild-based fleets. Every guild could be based out of a flagship (the largest being Providence-class / Venator-class) and be able to buy other cruisers to supplement its forces. This allows guilds to have a 'home', take up zero ground space, and opens up a new facet of guild-based PvP. Imagine battles between factions, two or three guilds on each side, handfuls of battleships and clouds of players in fighters dogfighting erratically... I can only wish.
What planet or Planets would you set the game on?
Not too many. Having completely different zones necessitates chokepoints, which causes lag other ill effects. Probably two or three major questing / PvP worlds, maybe something like Kashyyyk, Hypori, and Rhen Var, and one or two smaller questing worlds per faction, and then one central command / new player introduction world per faction, probably Kamino and Utapau.
Would you include the personalities of the movie?
Sure. Aside from questgivers, it would be great to let superpowerful guilds spend obscene amounts of money / reputation points to temporarily persuade General Grievous to lead an attack on an enemy bunker or call in Anakin Skywalker to bring down a few dozen pesky droid fighters.
How would combat work?
WoW's combat system seems to work very well, although adapting it to a futuristic, almost wholly ranged-weapon world might present unique challenges. Space combat, of course, would involve more simulation type dogfighting, with direct ship control and spacebar firing.
How would the economy work?
Probably through a global auction system, like WoW. Though it seems slightly out of character for clones and droids to be accumulating wealth in the middle of wartime, it's really the only way to sustain an economy.