20 réponses à ce sujet

[miskatonica]

 ... or do you prefer the single-protagonist-focused storyline?
If you're familiar with Suikoden III (and other games that employ a similar mechanic) you probably know what I mean.

If you're not, the basic gist of Suikoden III's gameplay was: you play as 3 different characters with storylines that run parallel to each other. For the first part of the game you had to complete each storyline up to a certain 'chapter' that brought all 3 protagonists together in the same place. Notably, each storyline had events unique to it AND events that were shared, but shown from different perspectives.

F'r example, one event was the burning of one of the main characters' home. In his storyline, we see how he comes home to nothing but a smoldering wreck. In another storyline, we find out HOW the village was actually set on fire, because one of the other characters was actually there to witness it.

After each storyline was done, you had to choose which of the main characters you wanted to play for the rest of the game (in-game, this translated to which character took the mantle of the "Flame Champion" -- a fairly significant game decision that changes the scenes you get and how things resolve further down the line). You had complete access to the abilities, and companions that you had from the other 2 storylines after that point, and you were working towards a common goal. Heck, you could even play from the POV of the ANTAGONIST in your post-game save!

I figured the multiple-POV thing could work well for showing how stuff is going down with different groups like the Wardens, the Seekers, Hawke's ragtag band of misfits, etc, since group-related conflict is very much what it's shaping up to be. I'd much rather SEE than just be TOLD about what's happening, and it's just not realistic for ONE character to be involved in EVERYTHING.

I suspect it would be a pain in the ass to code and script (and replay), and it would sacrifice a lot of customization (each protagonist being limited to a class, stories/quests being very linear). It might be fun, though. What do you think?

Modifié par miskatonica, 01 août 2011 - 06:32 .

[Macropodmum]

I think I prefer having one character and building relationships with those around me...but then I really hate movies that skip all over the place too

[Torax]

The player is the protagonist in about all role playing games. It's why people tend to play them. They play the pivotal role in the game. Be in the Champion of Kirkwall, The Hero of Fereldon, Darth Revan and so on. Also to try and write the game to have multiple protagonists would actually pretty much remove concept of having a protagonist in the first place...

Protagonist - the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work.

When you start having multiple "Protagonists" may very well just come across as not really writing them out equally and where you should have just written them all as characters and not particularly protagonists by definition. Also by doing that the player will have trouble caring about their characters as much if they're controlling multiple and naming them all and so on. In the end the second you get in the multiple protagonist scenario you start to detract from the main character and just almost make everything the player is controlling as filler and less investment on their character in the first place.

[Merle McClure II]

Single character, but please, this time use the Mass Effect 2 style of weapons and armor.

[Shadow Fox]

No this aint a JRPG. *yet*

[miraclemight]

Please leave these kind of storylines with multiple protagonists to Funcom.

[miskatonica]

Torax wrote...

When you start having multiple "Protagonists" may very well just come across as not really writing them out equally and where you should have just written them all as characters and not particularly protagonists by definition. Also by doing that the player will have trouble caring about their characters as much if they're controlling multiple and naming them all and so on. In the end the second you get in the multiple protagonist scenario you start to detract from the main character and just almost make everything the player is controlling as filler and less investment on their character in the first place.

I don't really see why you couldn't have multiple protagonists (or at least points of view) in a video game-- it's done all the time in novels, but maybe it wouldn't translate so well to a different medium. But it's a fair point that the writing wouldn't be equal (and based on some of the writing that's been produced in DA2, there's a real possibility of that... ) so it's probably best if Bioware sticks to one character.

IMO, Hawke (being a voiced protagonist and having a more clearly defined history) is already pretty close to being a 'character' -- which I actually enjoyed? He might not have been as customizable, but it felt nice to play as someone who had a defined stake in what was going on (your mileage may vary on that, obviously) vs. a character whose personality was almost entirely up to you. I actually engaged with the game better, that way. 

I just figured it was an interesting idea to be able to play, say, a Chantry Seeker from one end and an apostate mage from another, without the mood whiplash that comes with being able to ~save apostate mages~ in one breath and say ~all magic is evil~ by the next. 

Hnnnh. Thinking about it, maybe just having the option to choose different *backgrounds* for your character (that have a relevance to your perspective of the game's events, and not just as flavor/side comments) would be better? I'm probably overthinking this.

Arcane Warrior Mage Hawke wrote...

No this aint a JRPG. *yet*

As much as I love my JRPGs, I would find it pretty horrifying for Dragon Age to turn into one... Though I certainly thought the dating sim-esque elements were rather JRPG-y. 

[Giltspur]

Multiple protagonists. I've seen that somewhere before...

Oh right.  A Song of Ice and Fire (better known to some as Game of Thrones, due to the HBO series that takes its name from the first book).  It's pretty cool though.  Now if only we had a fantasy RPG that took inspiration from it...ah, I'd even post at forums for such a game.

At any rate, I've always thought the idea of a story told mostly from the perspective of a new character but has "chapters" where you control either Warden or Hawke would be interesting.  I don't think Bioware will go that route since it would probably require a multiplication of effort by Bioware.  I think it's a cool idea though, certainly.

Modifié par Giltspur, 02 août 2011 - 02:28 .

[Sajuro]

Arcane Warrior Mage Hawke wrote...

No this aint a JRPG. *yet*

They already do have the "wear the same outfit in the desert that you do on top of a mountain" part already

[Valthier]

I think multiple protaginists is an interesting idea, but the problem comes when they're all together. Since you'd have to either A) pick dialogue for each of them in a conversation, which can be clunky Have the game take over the others going by their choices/personalities (Just like how DA2 could set a dominant personality, it could do the same for pro/anti magic and so on), which might still end up with the others seeming "out of character" from what the player imagined through subtle touches that the game might not notice or C) have each of the protagonists already be rigidly defined enough that they'd already have a character that's easy enough for an NPC'd version to be "in character" to, which would hamper roleplay options.

That said, I do think it's a neat idea, I'm just not sure it'd work with the kind of malleable protagonist you usually play as in Bioware games.

[Giltspur]

Yeah, if they did, I think it would be best if the threads don't intersect.  I wouldn't ever want to "lose" control of a character I in a previous game had controlled.

So it would have to be something like 1) Chapter in Orlais with the new character as you try to avert an invasion of Ferelden 2a) Chapter in Ferelden where Warden is advisor or wife/mistress to Alistair 2b) where Warden is husband to Anora 2c) and so forth for other possibilities.  You could even have chapters in different orders.  Maybe a "Morrigan Warden" has a chapter in Black City or Arlathan or Orlais with Morrigan instead of an Alistair chapter in Ferelden--but it could take place later in the game instead of at the same time as the "Alistair Warden" would have had.

Modifié par Giltspur, 02 août 2011 - 03:30 .

[miskatonica]

Giltspur wrote...

Multiple protagonists. I've seen that somewhere before...

Oh right.  A Song of Ice and Fire (better known to some as Game of Thrones, due to the HBO series that takes its name from the first book).  It's pretty cool though.  Now if only we had a fantasy RPG that took inspiration from it...ah, I'd even post at forums for such a game.

At any rate, I've always thought the idea of a story told mostly from the perspective of a new character but has "chapters" where you control either Warden or Hawke would be interesting.  I don't think Bioware will go that route since it would probably require a multiplication of effort by Bioware.  I think it's a cool idea though, certainly.

Haha, maybe I should have mentioned that as my example, since it was certainly in my mind when I was writing this post (and is probably material more people are familiar with). I love those books, though I've yet to read the latest one.
Annnd back on topic: yeah, I don't think it's ever likely to happen in DA3.  There would just be too much to keep straight. That said, if anything significant is going to be happening somewhere that my character would eventually hear about... I'd really rather get the chance to play it out or at least see a cutscene rather than have an NPC tell me 'Oh, btw, X, Y, and Z happened, be concerned." I know it's probably more realistic when you're playing a character like Hawke with a limited perspective, but still!

Valthier wrote...

I think multiple protaginists is an interesting idea, but the problem comes when they're all together. Since you'd have to either A) pick dialogue for each of them in a conversation, which can be clunky Have the game take over the others going by their choices/personalities (Just like how DA2 could set a dominant personality, it could do the same for pro/anti magic and so on), which might still end up with the others seeming "out of character" from what the player imagined through subtle touches that the game might not notice or C) have each of the protagonists already be rigidly defined enough that they'd already have a character that's easy enough for an NPC'd version to be "in character" to, which would hamper roleplay options.

That said, I do think it's a neat idea, I'm just not sure it'd work with the kind of malleable protagonist you usually play as in Bioware games.

Huh, yeah, I can see how that'd turn into a trainwreck pretty quick. <_

[drunk_monk]

Thats what I am hopeing for I think it would be cool for hawke and the warden to both be protagonist and It even makes sense because they are both missing

[Icy Magebane]

Eh... I've enjoyed that type of game in that past, but it's not really what I'm looking for right now. Maybe a different franchise, but not for DA3... I'd rather they just focused on telling one protagonist's story with each installment. I don't know... I'm not completely against the idea, and I'd probably try it if they did it this way... but I'm not really in favor of it.

[elfdwarf]

would be interest see
hero fereldren or substitute warden in Orlais and champion of kirkwall in Tevinter
but would be lengthy game and will cover two country in game but doubt ever happen

[Huntress]

I want 1 hero, I was very happy with the warden been the hero until I realize s/he couldn't because s/he is part of a neutral Order.
Am cool with that!
Now what about Hawke? can this character be the hero of Thedas or yet people wants another hero.. thats what bothers me of DA games, the need for 1000000 hero's and then get mad because nothing F..ing fit together.

Modifié par Huntress, 03 août 2011 - 07:20 .

[Rath_01]

I would prefer one main hero to focus the story on and build relationships with their companions and accomplishing some epic task instead of some kind of muddled group effort were people would play smaller parts.

[Uzzy]

Hmm. DA2 with a Templar protagonist, a Qunari protagonist, a Mage protagonist and Hawke? That would have been very, very interesting. So sure, why not?

[jamesp81]

Prefer single protagonist.

But being able to recruit protagonists from DAO and DA2 to your party in DA3 could be fun.

[Cyclone Prime]

No.

[Kaiser Shepard]

Normally I would probably be in favor of such an experimentation. But after DAII, I'm not really sure anymore. I don't particularly like how the team handled the whole "set over a decade" thing, nor how your concrete choices (or lack thereof) didn't really affect the course of the story.

For now, I'd rather seem them play it safe and make another game the quality Origins was.