DevTeam Interview - What to ask? (answers on 6th page!)

[Captain frakas]

M&B is not an action RPG, it's a SANDBOX Action RPG. Thus, there is no defined story. I don't really understand the fuss about this. M&B has more immersion than, say, diablo, an action RPG with story.

Sandbox action RPG have stories.

Yeah, there could be a good story, but then again, someone has said "all rpgs at least have a tiny story", that's what I'm responding. Having a story just for the sake of having a story would end us up in discussing "geez, get a real story or just keep the game sandbox!".

Well, I imagined that the m&b dev team can imagine a good story. (And tiny story can be good. The size doesn't not matters). No need to do crap when you have the capacity (as everyone) to make a good story.

IMHO it's a bad design decision that could will be interpreted as rather motivated by laziness rather than a real design for the game.
It's not really a problem as mods can add more consistent quest and better immersion. But does the press journalist and peoples disappointed by a game that they will find repetitive will search if there are mods for this game ?

But I can be wrong : as always, wait and see.

Sorry to have bored you with this advice.

 

[EasyCo506]

Considering how the game plays, what with the factions making peace and war off and on, I can't really see any good major story line that would really fit this game.

I could understand if the option you choose at the beginning (why you chose to leave) creates a small quest for you to do, like if you chose revenge, then a party could be spawned and maybe you could make it your goal to take them down. That's really the only way I see this happening.

Now can we please let go of this story thing and get back to the interview? If you want to whine about the lack of a major central plot, do it in a thread in the suggestion board; not here.

 

[calimer]

One question that I didn't see asked is what he plans to work on in the future.  I know that a while ago there was talk of m&b 2  as the next project, which could possibly include MP.  I'm sure he is probably focused on this release and hasn't thought too much on and probably wants a break, but I'm sure ideas have crossed his mind.  Perhaps someone could shed some light on this, and eventually hopefully him   Take care.
-calimer

 

[GaGrin]

You don't need all the elements in a story to be fixed in place to make a narrative.  It doesn't need to be linear and if this game had more political/economic style parts it would probably evolve naturally out of the enemy reactions to the player.  As it is, nothing is personalised enough to become narratively important.

 

[dirtbag]

Too bad there aren't any real immersing features like hunting

Well even it would be a great thing to include, don't forget that Mount & Blade in the first place has always been a medieval battle simulater, something like that.

 

[Coenraad]

A game without story is TRUE sandbox. A sandbox game has a goal, not 20 missions. Crysis had sandbox missions, but it wasn't a sandbox game. And the goal in Mount&Blade is to conquer everything and everyone! And that is one the million things I love of Mount&Blade.

Mount&Blade, do what you want, when you want, how you want!

 

[Ringwraith #5]

See, and that's where we don't see eye to eye. I think of conquest and battle as a means to an end, not an end in itself.

 

[m9212]

just to the people that NEED a story there is such a thing as a mod so in stead of looking at M&B like make your own story you can look at it like "download" your own story and to the people that don't know a good source of mods would be that unofficalrespority
 

 

[Merlkir]

*I can has interview?*

 

[Swordy McSwordington]

If there will be any small bugs, I'm pretty sure the community here takes care of them quite fast. Also modders can finally port their mods to a version they can be sure of never changing again. That will allow them to work on huge mods without fearing of getting incompatible after few months repeatedly.

A story is entirely possible in mods.  It's entirely possible for the M&B team's next project.  What is the point of complaining about it now?  I haven't been able to figure out why anyone is still talking about a story.  ¿End of subject?

Also, a comment on marketing: Way back in 19-.808, a friend showed me this game where you ride horses and kill people.  Simple.  And I got a hold of a demo and got to level 6.  They told me I had to buy the game to continue playing.  Suddenly I realized how horribly addicted I'd become.  I was failing classes, I forgot about friends and family, and I even forgot that I was an alcoholic.  All I wanted was more slaughter (via horse).  So there was no option really.  I had to buy the game. 

I used to have a life.  I used to have dreams.  I hope the game is marketed the same way.

 

[Ringwraith #5]

I was failing classes, I forgot about friends and family, and I even forgot that I was an alcoholic.

Now that's therapy for you! Replace one addiction with another, only this new one costs you money only once and doesn't damage your health (aside from getting a fat ass from sitting at the computer all the time).

 

[X-Warrior-X]

I was failing classes, I forgot about friends and family, and I even forgot that I was an alcoholic.

Now that's therapy for you! Replace one addiction with another, only this new one costs you money only once and doesn't damage your health (aside from getting a fat ass from sitting at the computer all the time).

  i went from almost 400 pounds to 239...so its like weight watchers for me so ty for mount and blade whoever made it.

 

[Weaver]

hey Armagan, i have always wandered why did you make M&B's world so westernized. there isn't even one distinct turk or arabic faction. (okay, khergits resemble mongols and i knows that some turks think mongols are also turks. but anyway it's just some random nomad faction in a western setting). imho, placing the whole story in a muslim themed setting would be very fresh and appealing. why did you decide to make another medieval european action-rpg instead?

 

[Agent Griff]

I don't know if Armagan will answer that, but I think that a westernised setting would appeal to larger audiences who are used to sword & sorcery games like Neverwinter Nights, Diablo or whatnot and fans of books and stories set in such a fantasy setting, like ASOIAF or LOTR to some extent.

As it stands now, M&B is the perfect book for an ASOIAF fan. No magic and no horse-**** like Elves coming to the rescue or evil Orcs. Just plain medieval bone-cracking in which the villains are whoever you think they are and everyone is morally ambiguous. Like in real life.

 

[EasyCo506]

So when will we see the final interview?

 

[Ollieh]

Are the pics coming up anytime soon?

 

[X-Warrior-X]

Question(maybe too late?)

-Will the flat chest on female characters wearing armors be fixed?

No, this isn't a fantasy MMORPG that has no idea of what women in armor actually look like.



Serious note: armor should actually protect the person wearing it, and thus will be thick enough to largely mask the female form and offer enough coverage that she isn't half naked.

What I actually said was aimed towards softer armor such as shirt, tunic, nobleman outfit and maybe leather. They should atleast change a little bit of shape when wore by a female. I know that a plate armor changing size and shape when wore by a female like in Oblivion is laughable.

you just wanna see some side boobie  thats what they made sword sisters for best infantry/cavalary there is....i got bout 1500-3500 of em

 

[EasyCo506]

...The point of that post was?

On-topic: Is the next interview going to be after the release?

 

[Sibilance]

Will there be a new thread for this upcoming interview you haven't yet posted? This one's getting rather thick and bushy.

 

[Maelstorm]

Hey guys. I have arrived at my place but currently having some various problems that keep me busy (one of them being a bug infestation!). It will come but the time, I can't say now. Can't be too late though!