In most mmorpg's when you find an item a description would be instantly available to inform the player of its use. Instead why dont you have a library which you would visit to read up on items/spells/places/history/people/etc Practically speaking do you think you could fill enough books to warrant a library? There would be alot of white space, perhaps players can add comments to the books. Also player could write their own books about stuff, maybe a quest which went funny/interesting. Reading in the library could increase the players inteligence/wisdom Do you think people would find this more immersive or just annoying?

Game developers nowadays can barely convince a player to read the game manual, even with all the pretty pictures, the hardcover, the comics...

They had to come up with the 'tutorial levels' and the in game tips to actually teach the player how to control the game, and some even skip those.

I think it would be even harder to get players in a library.
The hardcore crowd might find it appealing though.

It could work, I think. But, I have to agree that making it an integral part of the game probably not such a good idea, but it depends on what segment of the players you want to cater to as well. (So do not like to read, some do, etc.)

From a practicality standpoint, it's more content that must be created. Must way time/effort of that vs how may you think will use/find fun and so on.

Another nice thing is it makes it easier to make special knowledge harder to obtain (say mage guild only books, or that hermit out in the boonies for instance). The cheat sites of course, almost instantly counter this, but such as it goes.

Fwiw one of the things I'm looking forward to in Oblivion is the in game books, so the idea appeals to me.

I think this would be awesome, I loved the books in Ultima 7, they were completely awesome. I think a library is a great idea! It would also be good for those kids who do nothing but eat and play videogames, atleast they'd read a little bit more if they wanted to find some hidden secrets contained in the vast expanse of your library.

Feral:I'm also looking foward to Oblivion, it's going to be awesome.*Goes to drool over screenshots again.*

What would be gained by bringing your character to the library? If it's just info, then you would probably find it easier to just make some kind of web resource with the information, like the strategy guides Blizzard puts up on Battle.net (see The Arreat Summit for an example). Players wouldn't have to be in-game to acces it, so they'd like it as a resource, and you could put links to it in discussion boards, which would make it more useful to the community. Even if you don't present it this way, it's just a matter of time before some guild does, and then players will just use their website.

You need some good reason to go to the library. Maybe your character can "level" if you pass exams at the in-game academy (where the library is housed). Fourth-tier mastery of golem lore gives all your summoned golems a buff and improves your abilities against them.

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Original post by Riviera Kid In most mmorpg's when you find an item a description would be instantly available to inform the player of its use. Instead why dont you have a library which you would visit to read up on items/spells/places/history/people/etc Practically speaking do you think you could fill enough books to warrant a library? There would be alot of white space, perhaps players can add comments to the books. Also player could write their own books about stuff, maybe a quest which went funny/interesting. Reading in the library could increase the players inteligence/wisdom Do you think people would find this more immersive or just annoying?

Now the only annoying thing about letting people write entries, is the amount of bogus stuff that may make it in there. Someone will definitely start writing crap and bogus info about anything and everything. Kind of like graffitti.

I personally wouldn't mind reading books for specific reasons.

You can have magical books that are blank to begin with, but as you find items and complete quests, the entries related to those items and the stories behind those quests will appear and become legible. As for quests, you can then use the books to find hints about related quests and where to start them. You can do that with maps too, where the books will give hints as to where special dungeons are as you acquire items, levels, or fame, or knowledge (wisdom). It would be a good way to go look up things you can do next. You should also be able to look up synthesis recipes or stuff like that, which is one of the things I really get annoyed at sometimes, not being able to find the recipe to synthesize something, unless I logout and look it up online or do endless trial and error. So, there are many good things that can be implemented with a library.

And here's an additional point, a library card. You get it either through some quest, mission, or just purchase it. Without it, you won't be able to enter a library. With it, you will be able to "check out" a "copy" of a book to take with you as reference. The amount of info in the book may be limited, but it could be kind of like a take along hint book for complex or long quests. If the book is not returned after a certain time, it will then vanish and you will not be allowed to check-out another book for a certain amount of time as penalty.

And like a previous poster said, this will be just alot more work for developers, but will benefit players in the long run, in game.

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Original post by Iron Chef Carnage What would be gained by bringing your character to the library? If it's just info, then you would probably find it easier to just make some kind of web resource with the information, like the strategy guides Blizzard puts up on Battle.net (see The Arreat Summit for an example). Players wouldn't have to be in-game to acces it, so they'd like it as a resource, and you could put links to it in discussion boards, which would make it more useful to the community. Even if you don't present it this way, it's just a matter of time before some guild does, and then players will just use their website.

visiting the library would increase your inteligence/wisdom/knowledge. It would also allow you to use special abilities of certain items. When you first pick up a ring it will be called "ring". When you go to the library and view the correct resource the name will change and you will be able to use for something other than looking pretty.

if there is a bogus entry in a book then you could rate that entry down so others dont trust it. 1 rate per day irl so people dont rate everything down. They could also report the bogus info to the developers who could then delete it if it is indeed bogus.

You could say that if a noob talks to someone in the town they may also be given bogus info.

Common myths may arise which may be interesting.

It could work, but it would just be a thing for players to boost their exp. If you were to make it, make it so once they have read the book they can't go back and get more exp.

i like the idea. The immersion would be better. But it dosnt suit in like a fps game or a diablo game. But more RP heavy games.

And for that matter bogus information books excist all over today. Reserch getting old and untrue and so on. I mean who do belive the world is flat today? but i guess there is books on how it is.

-Athos