MMORPGs and random battles

Resiphiodate · 2004-04-16T17:21:30

I have a theory, that if you were to remove the random battle element from an MMORPG then it could possibly be quite entertaining. I recently tried everquest, and have played a smaller game called deloria, and have read about numerous others, and it seems as if the bulk of the gameplay involves killing monsters and chatting with people. The main focus of the game always seems to be "get the most money, or best weapon, or strongest character..." so on. So I got to thinking, "what if you took away random battles?" A lot of games this would not work for, because there would be nothing left, but if a MMORPG was designed with random battles intentionally left out, I think it could be very interesting. Some outcomes I would predict... The pace would slow way down. I think this would allow for more planning, exploring, and actual role-playing to take place. If a bounty hunter had to go to the local pub to get a contract, track down the bounty, and deliver said services, I think the game would become much more interesting, as opposed to a character going outside the city limits and killing angry rats until he is strong enough to kill angry wolves. In a slower paced environment, more creative solutions to problems could be achieved, the game world might gain a little more structure and civilization... What if your character in everquest (not to bash, it is just a good example) was a city guard. Very boring, because everyone else will be out in the world leveling up, and you would be left to stand around or patrol the streets. But, if the world was a lot more lively, people getting in fights in bars, breaking into peoples houses, fighting and killing in the streets, your job as a guard would suddenly get much more entertaining. What if you were a thief character that could actually spend time casing a place and planning out a heist, rather then killing monsters and taking their money? Keep in mind, I am not saying remove fighting all together, just make it more interesting. If you have ever read a rad fantasy or sci-fi novel, do you think it would have been as interesting if 80% of the book was about the character walking around the goblin camp leveling up? Feel free to post comments, questions, criticism, cookie recipies, so on...

Game Design and Theory Game Design

Started by Resiphiodate April 14, 2004 08:46 PM

9 comments, last by Resiphiodate 20 years, 9 months ago

Resiphiodate

Author

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April 16, 2004 05:21 PM

Yes!
Davek had exactaly the idea I was thinking... I don''t know about anyone else, but the game he described seemed much more entertaining then point-and-click, pick up the gold.

didn''t talk about this in previous reply cause we were writing at same time. =)

MMORPGs and random battles

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MMORPGs and random battles

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