[Arc ID: 294363] Learning Curve


airhead

 

Posted

I am in the process of writing a 5-story arc which is, when it is done, supposed to guide new characters onto the road of crime fighting.

I would love some feedback on the first two stories done so far.
Thank you.



Main Hero: Flame Blade (Scrapper lvl 50; Katana/Regeneration)
Main Villain: Elenor Seahawk (Mastermind lvl 44; Necromancy/Poison)
My Arcs: #337278: Learning Curve
Fight my Brute: SMASH

 

Posted

Since the arc is barely 40% complete, I don't think anyone will get to it soon. Also, you need to say more about it here in your post, otherwise nobody will even know if it's interesting.

But I gave it a shot (assuming it to be the arc number in your signature). It looks like I'll be molly-coddled through some missions by your hero, who is "one of the highest ranking heroes in Paragon City", and "just like Back Alley Brawler" (training young heroes). That all probably makes you happy, but I'm not sure how it makes any players happy. Heroic arcs typically (although not always) center on the player as being special.

It's a level 1-14 arc. The contact starts out by saying it's okay to fail if I don't have what it takes to be a hero. (Typo: skulls -> Skulls). This sounds more like a level 1-5 arc, and even then if I've done the Outbreak Tutorial then I've proven myself to be a hero already.

Nonetheless, I enter the first mission, expecting some kind of interesting lesson. I collect some artifacts - could use a description of what I found, for sure (ideally different for each artifact). Maybe even a Clue for each. If it's really intended as a lesson, you could put some learnings in here.

I defeat Thighbone. He said "Aehaed$", looks like you have $name$ where you should have $name. After defeating his group as well (might indicate that in nav text, or else make the objective boss-only-to-complete) I get a Clue - that has only a title, and provides no information at all towards the plot, or the lesson. I clear the Defeat All map, and get a Clue that also says what I've done, but doesn't advance the plot or the lesson.

I stopped at this point. As a lesson (learning curve), it's not there. It looks like you're learning to use the MA system, which is great. Going forward: The key to having people appreciate your story is to think about it from your player's perspective, not when-you-were-a-player. Flame Blade was a cool hero for you, for all the reasons in your head - but his "ranking" is not interesting to others. Think about why the player is there, what fun will they have? What experiences do they have already, if you're still planning to write a lesson? (Probably been through Outbreak, and more if you allow higher levels). And play other story arcs, to see what you enjoy from them. It's often about how a story made you, the player, feel.

Good luck!



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