Heroica RPG General Discussion

[Pyrovisionary]

I have a very simple one finished basically but it's a bit weak and I still have 1 or 2 sets that I just don't have the time to build at the moment. I will have time though in a fortnight or so.

[Sandy]

I offered, but you and Kinto shot it down rather quickly.

Read my following sentence. I would much rather have full-fledged quests with actual storylines - even if they were short - than something featuring soulless tutorial battles or tours around Eubric.

Looking back through my PMs, I see you sent me a quest pitch a few years ago that I approved, but it never made it into publication. Whatever happened to that?

[Endgame]

I wanted people to know exactly when 105 was going to start, WBD, so they could plan accordingly. Call it overkill , but I always struggle with signups.

[Sandy]

I can host a small quest that is basically a bunch of battles aimed at lower level heroes once I can get LDD working again properly.

I have a very simple one finished basically but it's a bit weak and I still have 1 or 2 sets that I just don't have the time to build at the moment.

Sounds wonderful! Send those quest pitches my way, people!

[Waterbrick Down]

I wanted people to know exactly when 105 was going to start, WBD, so they could plan accordingly. Call it overkill , but I always struggle with signups.

If you want certain people on the quest, why not private invites?

[Endgame]

Not people specifically - there's a lot of people I want to potentially come (over 8), but I'd like to run it cleanly. Thus the long sign-ups.

[UsernameMDM]

Looking back through my PMs, I see you sent me a quest pitch a few years ago that I approved, but it never made it into publication. Whatever happened to that?

I think that is about the time I went on a hiatus because of my job.

[Bricksandparts]

I think that is about the time I went on a hiatus because of my job.

But he's asking why don't you host that quest if you want to host a quest?

Edited July 4, 2014 by Bricksandparts

[Kintobor]

I'll note that I have tons of quest ideas sitting in backlog if anyone wants to host a quest but doesn't feel as if they have the know-how to create their own. I'm more than willing to help people who might be a little nervous about first time hosting.

[Actaeon]

I'll note that I have tons of quest ideas sitting in backlog if anyone wants to host a quest but doesn't feel as if they have the know-how to create their own. I'm more than willing to help people who might be a little nervous about first time hosting.

After I participate in a quest or two (or maybe a lot more, we'll see), I will definitely be interested!

[UsernameMDM]

But he's asking why don't you host that quest if you want to host a quest?

Apparently I forgot about it. Can't find it in my PMs either.

[Zepher]

If I may offer my input on this general discussion (the revitalization of the story/new characters/attracting new people/how to keep a story alive a few years in). It's not something I really know about, but hoping to go into the entertainment industry it is something that interests me (it's something that EVERY show runs into - how can it stay fresh, but not alienate old fans, etc.).

I have given this a lot of thought in the context of Heroica, and I don't think shorter quests or a revamp or more characters is the answer (though I don't think in small amounts they'd hurt, of course ). I think that long and short quests both have a place, as a side note. People have been clamoring for shorter quests since about the 70s, and I know that QMs have been doing their best to make the game fun for all - but that includes themselves, and I can tell you that it is extremely fun to really build a full LONG story, and satisfying to give a one two punch of a short quest - but that's not really what I'm going to be talking about, that's just my two cents.

I think it is Sandy who hit the nail on the head most of all (a surprise to no one, perhaps). I think we want to return to the feeling of something new - but how can we do that when we have so much beautiful lore? Wouldn't that betray all that? And what fun would it be to re-start exploring the world? No fun at all - but that exploration is what we're actually looking for - more dark corners in the map. But even exploring new territory is growing wearisome, because again we've already experienced that.

So, what you do is change the status quo, not the location. We reinvent the world that the characters live in. I actually strongly disagree with Flipz when he suggested that we're doing that Carter affect thing where we aren't resolving plot lines and relying on twists too much. There aren't enough twists, in my opinion. Everything is rather predictable because we know how this world WORKS at this point.

I think my point will be best articulated by example. From the beginning of the game, the central plot (the Sandy Plot, which we all know is the plot that really is the beginning/end of the story - and that's not a criticism, I will talk about that as my point two) has been the six houses fighting each other subtly, with rivals of two pairs, and the Wolfgang hanging around. That's status quo, and all other quests MUST conform to that, so there is no shock there. BUT what if (and this is how I WOULD do it, but that's not a criticism either) on Quest 106 heroes had to go retrieve something for Nemo Bonaparte, and when they returned, he was dead! Sure, that generates one more quest (who killed him!) but what it really does for the WORLD is that now there are open seas in Eubric. There are pirates now, pirates aplenty. How do the other houses react to the influx of pirates (this could be a series of quests by a series of QMs). The Ji Pei fill the power void. Automatons roam the streets, the new police force (again, a series of quests that could be fresh to QMs) and Pirates hire the heroes! One of the Veterans just lost a husband, how does she react? The remaining Bonaparte captains - where do they go, what do they do? The point is that it doesn't ignore the Eubric of old. All the lore is the same. Five houses are still in power, and they still squabble, but now they do it with totally new elements. All the events still happened. BUT now we're somewhere new. EVERYONE of the QMs would have to tweak quests they have down the pipeline to correct for this. The stories could still happen the same exact way, but instead of swerving right, maybe they swerve left. It would make us feel like we're exploring unexplored territory again, but there'd still be all the beautiful old stuff to pull on.

My second point - limitation creates art. If I had a quest I had planned for a year from now, and this change occurred tomorrow, I'd have time to tweak it. And it would probably end up a stronger quest for it, because it would force me to tweak it. The world has changed. How do my NPCs react? Their lives have changed, and in a way I didn't plan. So they adapt, and they grow, and their new but still their old selves. And THAT is the reason it's an issue that Sandy and only Sandy steers the main story line. Would it be better if we all could change Heroica? No. Sandy has said before SOMEONE needs to be at the reigns, and that is absolutely 100% true - if we could all change the status quo it would be changed every 3 weeks. But if Sandy secretly gave someone else the ability to change the status quo with one quest: a) we'd be more invested in the story lines of non-Sandy quests, because maybe they can and do change the world of Heroica, and b) Sandy would have to rethink some things. And Sandy, I mean no offense by this. Your quests are wonderfully inventive, and you absolutely consider what other people do, but you're never thrown a curve ball. A personal example: my finale was originally going to take place in the desert of Azzurat, but then you took it from me. Then it was going to take place in the far North, but then Endgame took that. So I had a third idea, and I can genuinely say I think it's better than the first two. But I would have NEVER thought of it if you two hadn't forced me to. So it's not a critique of your creativity - we all just have a tool you don't have.

Anyway, that's my log two-cents. Change the status quo to renew the sense of exploration/finding the world, and in doing so we'll force all QMs to take their stories on a minor left turn and maybe go with their second idea instead of their first, and if there's anything the world of art creation (and I do consider designing quests art - it's story telling, after all) has taught me, it's that revision is what makes something good.

[Flipz]

My problem is that I have tons of ideas, but little ability to build. So if someone wanted to donate a place to build and a few thousand dollars worth of bricks...

In all seriousness, though, a lot of that is my problem as well. There's tons of builders in the history forum and Historica that I'd love to work with, but I'm too intimidated to approach--it just feels like asking them for help with Heroica would come off as weird, or at least would be a hard sell. Heck, Siercon and Coral are part of this game and enthusiastic about building for it, and I still get intimidated talking about building with them. That said, even though that part is a personal issue, a closer interaction with the History forum might not be a bad thing--there are dozens of incredible MOCs in this forum that the History folks never get to see. A little bit more cross-posting might help remind them that we're here, and lead to both more players and more skilled builders joining.

[Actaeon]

So basically: shake it up a bit

I think that what you said made a lot of sense. I think long quests are awesome and I would love to go on one. I also think short quests are needed for the new guys for reasons I mentioned above.

My problem is that I have tons of ideas, but little ability to build.

I have a decent collection. I'd be happy to help build. I'm probably not as skilled as many builders, but if you want, I can help you. It would be great experience for me to see what goes on to make a quest

[Pyrovisionary]

*Snip*

To gain that I suppose we need incredible Qm cooperation, like the trilogies. However the problem with that is that the Qm's characters can't go on quests. Although I do love the idea! It's pretty cool when an NPC mentions some Player caused event and you think "I did that!" Imagine that times 1000.

So basically: shake it up a bit

I call for a HEROICA APOCALYSPE!!!

Edited July 4, 2014 by Pyrovisionary

[K-Nut]

I think that what you said made a lot of sense. I think long quests are awesome and I would love to go on one. I also think short quests are needed for the new guys for reasons I mentioned above.

I love short quests, and I've been around since day one. I like to at least attempt to alternate between a longer quest and a shorter quest for both player preferences and character preferences. Shorter quests allow for me to unwind as a player after a huge fiasco like Quest #79 and even my current quest, and it seems like my character would like to take a break from large earth shattering quests.

And I completely agree with you, Zeph. Something huge like that could shake up the status quo a ton. Like I said, I love long quests and short quests, and both have their advantages. Long quests can definitely progress the main story along with allowing the heroes to be able to have better interactions with each other, whereas shorter quests can allow heroes to just have a good time questing and not worrying about how their actions could affect the entirety of the story.

[Actaeon]

I call for a HEROICA APOCALYSPE!!!

Somehow I doubt Sandy would be too happy

[Wedge09]

If anyone need an hand for hosting a not too complicated quest I have the next 1/1.5 months free, so ask.

[Endgame]

I call for a HEROICA APOCALYSPE!!!

*Coughheroesdon'tscrewitupon105cough*

Nah, I kid.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Endgame

[Pyrovisionary]

Just wondering, what's everyone's favourite character out of Heroica? I mean from films, books, videogames, etc.

[Capt.JohnPaul]

I am interested in hosting again, but it would be the end of summer.

[Zepher]

I'm not saying a radical change, though. See, this would still have about 80% of the old Eubric, there'd just be a little twist, and quests elsewhere would only be marginally affected. It's just like adding a new shade we haven't seen before, but the story continues! We still have Heroica and the Wolfgang to fight, and the Shadeaux and Hinckwells are still at it, and the Watch is still around, but everyone has something new to deal with, so how does that change things, and how do things stay, at the same time, very much recognizable. It's mostly about making us the players/QMs think in a new world where we can still tell any and every story from the old.

[Emjajoas]

I'm back (and feeling better), guys! Sorry I was away.

From what I gather, Endgame's having his Grand Finale?

I didn't miss sign-ups for that yet, did I?

Also, as far as hosting quests goes, it's something I want to get into-- however, I don't have very much by way of lego pieces, and what I do have is packed away. I can't really build much, and I feel like for a lot of quests, the sets really give it an extra "oomph," as it were. That being said, if someone would be willing to collaborate with me on a quest, I'd be more than willing to give that a go.

Just wondering, what's everyone's favourite character out of Heroica? I mean from films, books, videogames, etc.

The dreaded question. If I were to try to answer that, it'd end up being a really long drawn-out essay about every single character I have considered my favourite at one point or another. I don't think any of us need that.

Did I miss anything else? I tried skimming the topic but there's uh, a lot of text.

[Endgame]

You have until August 10th to get in. You have a looong while.

Also, Masson will be present for a lot of it, as well as some Proggs, so if you want to pick up on those stroylines...

[Emjajoas]

I definitely want to get in on your finale, if I can-- especially if Masson and the Proggs are going to be involved. I'll be signing up as soon as Em gets back from 98.