Using Your Character Description Field
By
Alari_Azure,
Posted on: 2009-06-02 16:54 in Mission Architect
[ QUOTE ]
How many other builders (particularly those that like to build story-centric arcs) change the character descriptions in the field provided when you're using custom NPCs. For example, I'm creating an extended battle arc, so each time you see an NPC, he or she is more tired, with more injuries, etc. So, each time they appear, their description changes.
My other question is, how many people really make an effort to right click and info NPCs each time they're in a different misison?
[/ QUOTE ]
I try to spend time make my Custom chars have info, and do change it at times in the mission arc.
Also I always sit there with the info read to be read when running Mission Arch Arcs .. I like to read what people put in the info.
Take Care,
BinkDeBook
Virtue: CaptainMayhem-50 Inv/SS Tank; NaomiArmitage-50 DM/Inv Scrap; Captn Randomizer-50 MC/Kin Cntrller; Murky Thecat-50 Claws/SR Scrap; Professor Junk-50 Bots/Traps MM; +Others Arc Id #77311, #227436
Especially if I'm reviewing, I will take time to examine each custom character's bio. Re-named standard NPCs, not so much.
While the absence of detailed description text isn't an arc-breaking problem, it's one of many personal touches that really make a MArc stand out.
Rise of the Copper Legion (#60280; with soundtrack)
The Fractured Dreamer (#498588; with musical theme)
"Now Leaving: Paragon City": original composition for the end of CoH
Honestly, I read each custom guy's description once and then don't bother after that. So if you have a recurring NPC I probably won't bother to read his bio after the first time, unless he looks different, or has different powers, or gives some other indication that he's different this time. But I'm sure some people will.
Eva Destruction AR/Fire/Munitions Blaster
Darkfire Avenger DM/SD/Body Scrapper
Arc ID#161629 Freaks, Geeks, and Men in Black
Arc ID#431270 Until the End of the World
How many do? No idea, but I know I do.
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
I always like to read bios for custom characters. Even standards, if they are renamed bosses, etc.. It's a really good way to add a bit more background to a story. Personally, I have written bios for all of my customs. Some of them that I only use as 'occasional' characters have their own unique bios, too. I can't wait for I15 so contacts can show their bio info, too. I think that will be a great help in explaining how they happen to fit in as a unique 'contact' for missions.
No AV/EBs Deal with The Devil's Pawn-207266 Slash DeMento and the Stolen Weapons-100045 Meet the Demon Spawn-151099 Feedback
I love to read the bios and read them on every new enemy I come across. It's nice to be rewarded with additional content when I click for info 
That said:
<ul type="square">[*]If the first few I click on have the default bios then I will stop checking minions & lts and only click on named bosses.
[*]I don't normally check to see if standard group bios have been changed except on named bosses.
[*]Once I've read the bio for a custom enemy I do not continue to click in later instances unless their appearance has changed.[/list]
Unique bios really add a lot to the immersion of a MA arc and I've noticed some authors use them as a chance to tell a whole other story within the arc.
Craft your inventions in AE!!
Play "Crafter's Cafe" - Arc #487283. A 1 mission, NON-COMBAT AE arc with workable invention tables!
I don't tend to write very long character bios, but I usually add little jokes to them. Like clues and other texts that don't get displayed automatically to every player, I try to make them short, funny, and put occasional "easter eggs" in them. But to advance the plot, I use mission start statements, patrol and boss speeches, and exit pop-up statements.
One design contains an American Woman. Her bio: Stay away from me!
<《 New Colchis / Guides / Mission Architect 》>
"At what point do we say, 'You're mucking with our myths'?" - Harlan Ellison
How many other builders (particularly those that like to build story-centric arcs) change the character descriptions in the field provided when you're using custom NPCs. For example, I'm creating an extended battle arc, so each time you see an NPC, he or she is more tired, with more injuries, etc. So, each time they appear, their description changes.
My other question is, how many people really make an effort to right click and info NPCs each time they're in a different misison?
The SOLUS Foundation - a Liberty and Pinnacle SG
"The Consequences of War" - Arcs # 227331 and 241496