[Concept] Remember Faceless Warrior RMXP

Design Document for:

An RPG Maker XP Game by BlueEagle7

I knew him before he led our warriors to death,
Before he descended those shadowy depths;
I was but a child then, as were we all.

Cast mercilessly upon our lonely shore—
And spurned by we who
Took him as a wraith
Cursed to silently wander our hills.

We heard not his feet as they passed by our windows,
We uttered not his name on our lips.
It is said his name was known not even by he.
Yet I knew him.

Synopsis
Washed ashore a lonely isle you are fevered and weak. You must find warmth and shelter if you are to survive.

You awake, recovered in the simple comfort of a half-way house. But though the body is rested, in the darkness of sleep there lingered an echo of whispers. A foreboding presence – or memories of a tortured past?

Spurned by the people, you wander amongst the hills. With each day that passes you venture deeper into the rocky crags and further into the mysteries that cloud this windswept isle.

There are some that say you are the cursed-born of the watery deep. To the down-trodden you are hope smouldering in a dark hour. Your lips are silent to your past, will your future too, remain in darkness?

Premise
You are a nameless and silent castaway washed ashore a windswept isle. The inhabitants meek out a harsh existence on this cruel landscape, whose distrust compels you to live the life of an outcast. Making your living from exploring the wilderness, grander threats are revealed. Political upheaval, military raids from the mainland, devastating squalls, landslides and plague. And amongst all this, the mystery of your own identity.

Mood
The mood of the game will generally be lonely dramatic, epic, lonely and tragic. There will be times of innocence, light-heartedness, horror, despair and tragedy. The tone of the game will be mature but never explicit or suggestive.

Plot

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The plot includes several main story arcs centering around various conflicts.

1) Search for identity
The main conflict is between the player and the player-character. The player intends to find out the identity of the PC, however, the PC through ignorance or intent, is silent about the matter. As NPC’s are encountered, possible clues are revealed.

2) Exploration of the Island
This it the relationship between the PC and the island’s geography The PC appears to have an inherent desire to explore every aspect of the island. Obstacles include:
•   Mountain ridges that separate sections of the island from each other.
•   Cave systems that are often partially observable, but are not immediately accessible.
•   Wild beasts that attack the main character.
•   Slow supply of items.

3) Sense of Belonging
This is the relationship that the PC has with the inhabitants of the island. He quickly develops a certain role, one of protector and leader, yet is considered an outcast and is mistrusted.

4) Love Interest
Selena and the PC respect and understand each other, but the PCs desire to search the island, and his unresolved identity prevents this from happening.

5) Other threats
The island is also raided by mainland armies, suffering from storm damage, and the plague. There also seems to be an oppressive force tormenting the souls of the island’s people.

Characters and Setting

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Setting
The setting is a harsh, remote island community living in the bronze age. Although there are references to myth and magic, and the inhabitants have a superstitious and mystical perspective, actual manifestation of this is not prominent through much of this game.

Characters
There is one playable character (PC) and many non-playable character (NPCs). The main characters are:

1) Cast-Away (PC) in the silent protagonist type. His background is unknown. His physical stature is average, but he has a weakened right arm. He is observant and silent.

2) Selena (NPC) is the PC’s love interest. Her mother (daughter of chieftain of LoDebar) died in childbirth. The community branded the daughter as cursed. This forced her father, a poor fisherman to raise his only child by himself outside the main township. When he failed to return from a fishing trip, she began to support herself. In she time took in all orphans who were cast out of the township. Mysteriously, this was a growing number.

3) Laithain (NPC) is the main antagonist. He is amoral. He is Chieftain of the Lee side of the island. He gained political control of the Lee Side by deeds now covered over and hidden. He is a man of great physical stature, of manipulative intellect, but of feeble character.

Graphics

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Graphics include the game play map, character sprites, action animations, menu visuals and cutscenes.

A visual style for the game is yet to be decided. Some ideas for the tone of the graphics are realistic, or pseudo-realistic, sparse, deep, muted, earthy, sketchy, blurred, rich, impressionist. High level of detail is not necessary, as long at the theme and mood are conveyed, it allows a high level of interaction. Details may be implied or suggested rather than explicitly stated. It is not intended to be bright or cartoon-like.

Sound

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Background music, sound effects for game play and menus, music effects will be used. Sound stories during some major cut scenes may also be used.

The audio style is intended to reflect the mood and the setting. Sound effects are to be minimal and unobtrusive. There are to be no vocal sound effects. Music is to reflect the setting. Most of the music is to be tribal or natural, reflecting the natural environment of the island. Instrumental tracks are suitable but orchestral styles are to be kept to a minimum. Electric sounding instruments are not wanted.

Common Questions

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What is the game?
This game is a fantasy action RPG game.

Why create this game?
This game is created in order to express the theme of identity and culminating in unexpected but satisfying plot twists.

Where does the game take place?
The setting is a remote Bronze Age island. Its people proud and self-reliant, but they contend with the harsh realities of frequent devastating ocean storms, political unrest, pillaging by mainland raiders, volcanic activity and plague.

What do I control?
The player will control the movement of the player character throughout the island as various paths are opened up. The player is able to converse with the inhabitants, fight battles on the game map using the dagger as a melee weapon, the crossbow as a range weapon, or traps and explosives as delayed weapons. Items gained can be cached for future access throughout the game.

How many characters do I control?
You control only one character throughout the game.

What is the main focus?
You are to explore the island and interact with the NPC’s. By doing this you will come to a better understanding of the identity of the main character and shape the future of the island.

What’s different?
In this game the focus is on interaction of the player character with the island.  It has a clear theme and mood, original and mysterious plot that develops its theme, with satisfying plot twists.

General Features
The features of the game intend to focus primarily on interaction with the environment rather than on multiple player-characters, weapons, equipments and magic skills.

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1.   Main menu system
•   Equipping crossbow bolt types
•   Selecting melee techniques
•   Setting traps
•   Using items
•   Saving/loading games

2.   Item Menu systems
•   Item limit system
•   Caching system
•   Craft system for traps and explosives

3.   NPC Interaction system

4.   Active Battle System Blizz ABS

5.   Auto-Revive System

Key Gameplay Elements

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Key plot elements are accessed through the following:
•   Interacting with NPCs to gain clues regarding the island and its history
•   Battling wild animals and enemy soldiers using melee, range and delay weapons.
•   Exploring towns, wilderness areas and cave systems
•   Making new paths throughout the island through interacting with items and setting off explosives
•   Storing items in caches around the island.

Hours of Game play
It is intended that game play lasts no longer than 20 hours.

Victory Conditions
Victory is achieved when the general safety of the inhabitants is secured, the player resolved his identity and his past history is revealed.

Design History
I am currently near the end of the concept phase of the project, and in some areas begun the mock up phase. The mock up phase involves creating an interactive model of the systems, that does not perform the functions. For example, a mock crafting system that allows you to use the menu and produces the selection sounds, but does not manipulate the items.

Concept: Partially Complete
Mockup: Partially Begun
Working Demo: Not Begun
Complete Game: Not Begun

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Plot Concept:          ########## 100%
Character Concept:                ##### 50%
Setting Concept:                    ########90%
Mapping Concept:                  ##20%
Messaging Concept:               ########80%
Movement Concept:               ########80%
Interaction Concept:              ########80%
Title Concept:                         #########90%
Menu Concept:                       ########90%
Weapon Concept:                  ##########100%
Item Concept:                        #####50%
Caching Concept:                   #########90%
Crafting Concept:                   #10%
Character Dialogue Concept: #######70%
Battle Concept:                      ######60%
Graphics Concept:                  ##20%
Sound Concept:                     ##20%
Cut-Scene Concept:               ####40%
The higher the percentage, the more firm my ideas.

Request feedback
At this stage, I am not recruiting. I simply would like to get a little feedback on the concept so far. For example, if you have skills in graphics or sound, what style would suit this game? Or if you are a scripter, how difficult will some of the menu systems be?

Credits to Christ Taylor for his design document template.

Looks pretty neat BlueEagle. I am looking forward to seeing how this project progresses.

Looks nice!

Hope its good cause i wana try it out.


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