RPG idea

[gritch]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG and I thought I'd run it by some fellow gamers. I'm not a developer, there's no way I'd be able to create this game but the idea has muled over the idea for so long in my head I feel complied to share it with others to prevent some sort of pent up psychotic break... Anyway here goes.

The setting: Long before the Lord of the Rings, during the the Second Age of Middle Age. The nine rings of power have been given to the human lords a mere 50 years ago and while most has led their bearers to acquire great wealth and power, one ring in particular has caused a civil war to break out among a particular nation of men (I haven't decided on an actual kingdom yet). The original receiver of the ring has been killed and his ring lost.
Forgive me Tolkien fans if any of the history doesn't make sense. I'm a fan of Tolkien myself but I find it difficult - near impossible - to keep its history completely straight. Corrections are welcomed and encouraged!

Main Premise: The player is allowed to create there own human character of either gender. It is this character that discovers the lost ring and with its help they rise in power in till they're the ruler of said nation. The ring grants the player tremendous power power but the more they're forced to use it the more paranoid the character becomes. The ring slowly VERY SLOWLY begins to transform into a ring wraith. The more the ring is used the quicker this occurs - the colors slowly been the fade, the character begins to see and hear things that aren't there.

In essence the main character is becoming more and more insane as the plot progresses. But instead of actually changing the way in which the character acts its their perception of the world that is being warped. The player is in full control of their character throughout this entire process but by manipulating the environment the player is encouraged to become insane all on their own. The goal isn't for the game to simply tell the story of a person slowly going insane but rather to make the player create this madness on their own.

I'm afraid I haven't done the concept justice - I'm not a fantastic writer - but I just had to get this concept out of my brain and unto some sort of medium. I'll most likely update this post once I've fleshed out this concept a bit more.

 

[Kaanyr Vhok]

You dont need to describe it any better. Its an RPG where you turn into a ring wraith.

It reminds me a lot of Mask of the Betrayer. Its still original. Of course the thing you are going to have to reconcile is putting this in the hand of the player. Nobody wants to turn into a wraith

 

[gritch]

Of course the thing you are going to have to reconcile is putting this in the hand of the player. Nobody wants to turn into a wraith

That's sort of the whole point. The concept is to twist the entire perceptive of the player in till they willingly become something they'd never want to be. Everything around character is being manipulated in such a way that it makes sense for them to become a ring wraith (or to increasingly use the power of the ring). It'd be hard to accomplish but it would sure make for one great game if someone managed it.

 

[Giantpanda602]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG

Every fantasy RPG is Tolkien-esque. Every. Single. One. They may have changed some back story, but its all the same. Elves are good with bows, love nature, and live in trees. Dwarves are greedy and live in mountains. You're going to have to be bringing more to the table than that.

 

[jumb]

Its an RPG where you turn into a ring wraith.

I assume this is the "tl;dr" version, in which case it sounds awesome!

 

[Thaluikhain]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG

Every fantasy RPG is Tolkien-esque. Every. Single. One. They may have changed some back story, but its all the same. Elves are good with bows, love nature, and live in trees. Dwarves are greedy and live in mountains. You're going to have to be bringing more to the table than that.

That's quite a generalisation, but, unfortunately, generally holds true. One of the reasons I like the Spiderweb RPGs...you have one series about a world in which magic is about genetically engineering plants and animals to fill certain economic or technical niches, you have Nethergate which is about native Britons trying to use magic to repel Roman conquerors...I guess the Exile/Avernum games are the closest to traditional Tolkien rip offs.

(Also, it's probably lucky the OP isn't a developer, or we'd see quite the IP claim)

 

[Hectix777]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG

Every fantasy RPG is Tolkien-esque. Every. Single. One. They may have changed some back story, but its all the same. Elves are good with bows, love nature, and live in trees. Dwarves are greedy and live in mountains. You're going to have to be bringing more to the table than that.

Not Mass Effect, pwned

 

[Giantpanda602]

Mass Effect is science fiction, pwned. Theres a difference.

 

[Vern5]

Sort of sounds like Call of Cthulhu or Eternal Darkness where you start losing your sanity. The only difference is that this game is forcing the player to do it to themselves. Sounds like an annoying mechanic and not very innovative since we're drawing from the old "according to Tolkien" fantasy.

Why not make your own fantasy setting? Hell, you could put the same mechanic into the modern world (gain strength to combat thine enemies by sacrificing your character's ability to perceive reality). It makes for an interesting prospect when you're holding on to what little sanity you have left and waiting for just the right moment to sacrifice just a little more.

Pacing would probably be key with such a dangerous system in place. If the player panics and starts using up their sanity left and right to combat threats that aren't actually worth it, then players will start to become confused when they have to spend half of the game listening to and seeing things that aren't really there. Of course, if not enough dangerous moments are put in place, players could go throughout the entire game without knowing what complete loss of sanity (humanity) would be like.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG and I thought I'd run it by some fellow gamers.

Have you considered cutting Tolkien out of it? Just making it about a character who finds a mystical mcguffin that gives them great power, allows them to become a ruler, and then slowly drives them mad, transforms them into a monster, and causes the character to lose everything would keep the really cool concept without attaching it to that particular IP - especially since I think it's actually rather difficult to make a Lord of the Rings based game without paying someone for the rights to use Tolkien's work (his son or grandson holds the IP, I believe).

Cause I'd buy that game. Less so the Tolkien one - I find his world rather dull. And overdone.

 

[Shade184]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG

Every fantasy RPG is Tolkien-esque. Every. Single. One. They may have changed some back story, but its all the same. Elves are good with bows, love nature, and live in trees. Dwarves are greedy and live in mountains. You're going to have to be bringing more to the table than that.

*ahem* I don't know what people are playing these days, but Morrowind is about as from from Tolkein as you get. Elves in that game live in volcanoes. The dwarves mysteriously vanished before anyone remembers. People ride around on giant insects, and the land is ruled by living gods.

Quite a generalisation you've got there, hehe.

 

[blankedboy]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG

Every fantasy RPG is Tolkien-esque. Every. Single. One. They may have changed some back story, but its all the same. Elves are good with bows, love nature, and live in trees. Dwarves are greedy and live in mountains. You're going to have to be bringing more to the table than that.

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG

Every fantasy RPG is Tolkien-esque. Every. Single. One. They may have changed some back story, but its all the same. Elves are good with bows, love nature, and live in trees. Dwarves are greedy and live in mountains. You're going to have to be bringing more to the table than that.

*ahem* I don't know what people are playing these days, but Morrowind is about as from from Tolkein as you get. Elves in that game live in volcanoes.

Yeh, but there are still dwarves (and dwemer) and the elves look mostly the same.

What really needs to be done is FUCKING ZENOZOIK.
Somebody go tell ACE Team to stop pissing around with their physics boulder game and make that fucking masterpiece already. Zeno Clash can't go unfulfilled.

 

[Mr Pantomime]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG

Every fantasy RPG is Tolkien-esque. Every. Single. One. They may have changed some back story, but its all the same. Elves are good with bows, love nature, and live in trees. Dwarves are greedy and live in mountains. You're going to have to be bringing more to the table than that.

Yeah, I have to say I cracked up when I read that line.

Anyway, I really like the idea of slowly losing your mind, seems good if you incorporate it into gameplay. You arent going to get the rights or permisson from the copyright owners of LOTR though. So you can do one of two things

Make a new world that fits in with your Ring Wraith chracter theme

Change all mentions of a "Ring" to "Necklace".s

 

[Kaanyr Vhok]

That's sort of the whole point. The concept is to twist the entire perceptive of the player in till they willingly become something they'd never want to be. Everything around character is being manipulated in such a way that it makes sense for them to become a ring wraith (or to increasingly use the power of the ring). It'd be hard to accomplish but it would sure make for one great game if someone managed it.

Here is the problem. Everyone is going to know what the game is about. The only way you could hope to fool people is if you had a random twist or if you lied. Like lets say only 1/3 of the PC's in Skyrim were really dragon born and you dont know until later in the game. That would fool a lot of people. Or, maybe the ring could cause you to think you are turning into a wraith when you arent wearing it; then the user feels normal for long period when they are wearing it, but they are really getting worse... It would really take some doing to fool people.

 

[gritch]

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG

Every fantasy RPG is Tolkien-esque. Every. Single. One. They may have changed some back story, but its all the same. Elves are good with bows, love nature, and live in trees. Dwarves are greedy and live in mountains. You're going to have to be bringing more to the table than that.

I'd have to disagree with you there. There are plenty of RPG that aren't based on Tolkien's archetypes (granted most of those are JRPG but still). The concept of creating an western RPG that doesn't use even a few of Tolkien's basic premises is almost impossible. Every western person now things of elves a certain way and dwarves another - all determined by Tolkien. It's as if one were to use the color red to show healing effects of spells and green to show damage - it would just confuse the hell out of the players.The fact that both of us actually spelled "dwarfs" as "dwarves" clearly illustrates that.

I've got this idea for a Tolkien-esque RPG and I thought I'd run it by some fellow gamers.

Have you considered cutting Tolkien out of it? Just making it about a character who finds a mystical mcguffin that gives them great power, allows them to become a ruler, and then slowly drives them mad, transforms them into a monster, and causes the character to lose everything would keep the really cool concept without attaching it to that particular IP - especially since I think it's actually rather difficult to make a Lord of the Rings based game without paying someone for the rights to use Tolkien's work (his son or grandson holds the IP, I believe).

Cause I'd buy that game. Less so the Tolkien one - I find his world rather dull. And overdone.

I thought about removing Tolkien from it but I really couldn't find a really satisfying idea that didn't rip off from the LOTR so blatantly that people would notice. What people don't understand about middle earth is there is plenty more to it than what occurred in LOTR. The book Silmarillion (which unfortunately I have not completely read yet) chronicles the many ages before the LOTR. There is an immense amount of story that most people have never actually been exposed to. This game isn't trying to retread the same setting of LOTR but show the world as it was before the fall of Sauron. I think there's still plenty of interest to be found within the world of Tolkien.

I'd like to comment on a few more of you guys' replies but I've got to head out. I'll rebuttal more this afternoon.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Nobody wants to turn into a wraith

*cough*Raziel [http://legacyofkain.wikia.com/wiki/Raziel]*cough*

The only difference is that this game is forcing the player to do it to themselves. Sounds like an annoying mechanic and not very innovative since we're drawing from the old "according to Tolkien" fantasy.

And as for addressing both points and any future ones about this matter; you're not being forced into anything. Because as far as you are concerned ingame, you'll always be doing the right thing in the head of your characters. It's a really interesting concept. It takes a look into a genuine portrayl of the descent into insanity. In your mind nothing is changing but the world around you.

I really like the sound of it. If you can somehow surgically remove traces of Tolkien from it it'd be even better!

 

[dogenzakaminion]

Cool idea, though I guess the implementation would turn out with some people wanting to be "good" and never use it to lessen their corruption. Others will always use it to become a wraith so they can be badass and insane. Although the idea of a quasi morality system implemented in actual gameplay is very cool And the idea of having the character be insane to showcase the difference in perception could lead to some really deep writing.

 

[Jordi]

I don't really see how it could work. If you want to discourage players from turning "insane" then you are going to have to make insanity annoying for the player, and that is very risky, because they might just think the whole game is (or has gotten) annoying.

And what will you do when the player is actually disciplined and doesn't overuse his power, so he won't become insane? Then you have no gimmick anymore. (Not that that's absolutely necessary, but it's the only thing that can be discussed here aside from ripping off Tolkien.)

Maybe it could work, but I don't see it.

 

[Brainpalm]

You could do it like Amnesia:The Dark Descent. The going crazy bit that is. I think?

 

[Vern5]

Nobody wants to turn into a wraith

*cough*Raziel [http://legacyofkain.wikia.com/wiki/Raziel]*cough*

The only difference is that this game is forcing the player to do it to themselves. Sounds like an annoying mechanic and not very innovative since we're drawing from the old "according to Tolkien" fantasy.

And as for addressing both points and any future ones about this matter; you're not being forced into anything. Because as far as you are concerned ingame, you'll always be doing the right thing in the head of your characters. It's a really interesting concept. It takes a look into a genuine portrayl of the descent into insanity. In your mind nothing is changing but the world around you.

I really like the sound of it. If you can somehow surgically remove traces of Tolkien from it it'd be even better!

I meant forced in the context that the player's insanity is self-inflicted rather than in Call of Cthulhu where you'll see something sanity-breaking by accident. Imposing the act of deciding to sacrifice one's sanity is an innovative idea by itself. Also, doing the right thing and insanity are very subjective. It is impossible to give one defining, genuine portrayal of losing one's mind because of how many forms insanity can take; it's an umbrella term.

Thank god somebody still remembers Legacy of Kain. But, Raziel did not want to be a wraith. In fact he hated it as well as the Elder God for making him into one.

Cool idea, though I guess the implementation would turn out with some people wanting to be "good" and never use it to lessen their corruption. Others will always use it to become a wraith so they can be badass and insane. Although the idea of a quasi morality system implemented in actual gameplay is very cool And the idea of having the character be insane to showcase the difference in perception could lead to some really deep writing.

Absolutely under no circumstances must this idea be tainted by a moral choice system. Classically, Moral choice systems offer rewards based on how many points the player has achieved on a scale of "morality". If you externalize the rewards of choosing to be or not to be moral, then the impact of those decisions comes down to "how many points of evil/good do I need for this random perk?" Let the moral choice be in the mind of the player. The effects of the player's actions can be reflected upon by the character's descent into insanity and inhumanity so there is no purpose to ruin it with a sliding bar of morality.

Let the entire act of sacrificing the character's humanity be viewed as morally grey and any moral choices be based upon the character's actions. An evil looking creature can still achieve good deeds, if he so wishes.