6 replies to this topic

[Zyraen]

Seeking Writers and generally any assistance is welcome on a Mod idea as follows Hope it piques your interest, if so feel free to PM me through this forum.

From CoM Topic - A Dying NPC

Hmm... anyone remember Nathan Grey from Marvel? A REALLY long time ago, one of the clones of Cable, who was genetically created by Forge, and was supposed to die when he becomes 21 (or something like that) due to too much power being inside to be able to be contained within his human frame.

I was thinking of creating an NPC like that... maybe not just about power, just poisoned or something, so that he (or she) doesn't have much longer left to live. And he has some things left to settle out, including figuring out his (or her) origins, and as the character levels up, the Stats actually reduce. At higher level, Max Life ceases to increase, then starts to drop, etc.

It'd make a nice romance, I think, but if nothing else, it'd add some feeling of fighting against overwhelming despair that seems to be absent within SoA / ToB, and really I don't think it needs to be a romance to work.

I'm not sure if this idea would be welcome but its a thought There are various ways to end it off, of course.

a) character dies end of SoA or ToB
B) character gets saved somehow!
c) character gets saved but becomes useless (imagine Nathan Grey without his power) has to be coddled (and maybe later regains full strength with even more abilities)
d) most unique idea -
==> character dies / is contained in a vessel (an item) to prevent complete death
==> item can be used to summon the character as a summonable creature that can only exist for a certain amount of time on this plane
==> in this form, either romance (if any) continues OR is a normal summonable OR completely forgets who the PC is to him / her
==> eventual restoration / death? or maybe coming out in a critical period and getting rid of someone for you, before eventually dying for good?

d) being the most unique and weird idea, would probably need a very very unique character to fill in the position.

One possible idea is an immensely powerful celestial being that can foresee the PC's future, and decides to align himself / herself to the PC (if the being is evil) or decides to assist the PC (if the being is good and PC is good). However for this to happen, due to the decision for such beings to not interfere directly with PC's future (Cyric mentioned some unspoken agreement of that kind), this being has to be limited to a mortal's shell, and essentially be cut off from its original power, which will be bestowed back to it at the end of it.

The other way could be an extraplanar hybrid such as maybe a djinni, wraith, or some such creature artificially contained / manifested in a mortal's body through some means (maybe a halfbreed birth or a magical experiment), and that mortal vessel can only hold out for so long as the true maturity and being behind that being emerges.

Or a mix of both the possibilities are quite varied, but the character should not be too powerful. Of course, a plain poisoned, cursed or basically dying ordinary character could just suffice, to make a tragic story.

[Hendryk]

While a potentially good idea, this is way too big for a mod. The storyline would compete with, and often overshadow, the PC's own Bhaalspawn saga. It really wants a TC all its own, I'd say.

[Zyraen]

Ironically, that is one of the problems I'm facing with my current Mod, that basically has an extensive plot in SoA that runs through chapters 2 to 6, maybe even 7, I think.

On the other hand, this tale is meant to be something considerably less than the Bhaalspawn Saga. It is just a "higher" being of some sort (assuming it is not just a poisoned mortal) who allies itself or finds itself allied with the Bhaalspawn (either out of lack of choice, need, circumstance, magical entrapment into a living body, or celestial manuevering to get ahead). In the process, loses all memories, etc.. and runs of course, very good risk of dying.

And very probably, in the process of becoming mortal, falls in love and what not... tragic ending or not, I don't know, and there are so many possible ways the tale could end

Edited by Zyraen, 12 February 2005 - 06:07 AM.

[Hendryk]

That's what I mean. You've "just" given a synopsis of the entire plot of PST there. To rein it in the point where it can possibly be shoehorned into BG2, stick with poisoning by mundane enemies and make those enemies ones that are already encountered; Twisted Rune, slavers, Shadow thieves, maybe deviant Harpers working for Galvary. If nothing that ordinary appeals for your projected NPC, then it's TC time.

[Zyraen]

I find it hard to believe that someone would try to persuade another to convert an idea into a TC. Besides, who would this "main character" fall in love with, who would join as party members, have abilities, be taken care of (while trapped in a vessel) and a whole new host of problems need to be taken care of in a TC, stuff that are total non-issues in the standard course of action. Your suggestion only makes the problem bigger and divert it to areas separate from work on a single NPC. Which is obviously not the point of the Mod.

Besides, Bhaalspawn > Unknown NPC. However, in SoA we already see, not just 1 Bhaalspawn as the PC, but TWO (and hints of a few others) while in ToB we cover the lives of ALL the (remaining) Bhaalspawn and the history of a God and the resultant effects on various characters, including a Greater Demon Prince. And the outcome changes the entire face of Faerun.

So... you're telling me that my idea overshadows all of this? I strongly beg to differ.

Edited by Zyraen, 12 February 2005 - 05:40 PM.

[Amazor'dra]

I think you should create your mod however you see fit--and what you have is a good idea. :thumb:

There is always going to be somebody that doesn't like how you do something, just keep in mind while you are making a mod that you are primarily making a mod because *you* want to, not what everyone else wants.

[Zyraen]

Thanks Amazor, appreciate it. But really, what I need is a group of people to do the writing / banters who I can bounce ideas off to refine the storyline I have in my mind, and for myself I think I can handle all the coding.

As long as school work keeps itself reasonably at bay...

Edited by Zyraen, 13 February 2005 - 03:09 AM.