I'd like to invite you to dream a bit about how Div 2 could be set up. Not in controls and tech stuff or in graphics => but in zhe PLOT!
Please, only post ideas for a worked out plot, if you can.
[color:"yellow"]This is my plot now - maybe you have a totally different one? I'd love to hear it. [/color]
My suggestion:
Main NPC in Verdistis:
Isolde (Damian's witch love was killed by his foster Dad, thus leading to BD), Penumbra (assassina from Div), Josephine (Black Ring member from Div) were all relatives => a mighty female clan, who faked, they would serve the Lord of Lies, but had other secret intentions => taking over Rivellon.
The only survivor at the moment is Penumbra - and as she grew old, she spent her time, telling other young females in this clan about their mighty ancestors. She knows, Damian is roaming Rivellon now, on the hunt for his foster Dad, but doesn't really care. She's dreaming more about how her young female relatives could take care of the old dream => a matron, experienced in the art of assassinating, stealing and killing with a licence.
So, the story starts with a few youths crouched at her feet and she relates what has happened so far - out of her point of view, of course. She's quite tolerant, therefore she shares her knowledge even with young males, why not? If they do the dirty work, the females can take over in an elegant way; but she's very open to sharing power. She's in Verdistis, BTW and teaches you her skills, you can practice them via subquests. And you can't leave Verdistis until to the end of Act 1. One of your first tasks would be to get one of the noble houses => either Patrick's or Dante's. No, they don't live anymore, but their relatives are weak, corrupt and good to discharge. This point will be the place to build up a trading company for cash.
Main NPC in the Dark Forest:
At the same time - in another town - hmm... maybe somewhere in Dark Forest, the Warrior Guild? The Divine Order is recruiting new disciples, as their founder was successfully killed by Damian. The gamer learns the other side of the story. There is a fight for power going on there, so this Order is weak. Sadly, assassination, poison and discriminating is a popular fashion to try and gain important positions. The gamer will have to create order in there. This will allow the gamer to practice skills and learn via sub-quests. In order to maybe recruit a small army of paladins/warriors, this point will be the 2nd main house. And you can't leave this area on the mountain peak, until the Council mage intervenes.
A bit about controlsSo, the game could have you steer 2 chars - one in Verdistis, one in the Warrior guild, until plot ends meet at the end of Act 1 maybe. From then on, the game is pretty non-linear - leading to Rivellon and from then on to other unknown areas - you will meet beyond others, an aged Geoff, Kroxy and Otho, of course.
In any case, these 2 chars will have to meet and carry on together - I dream of them fighting against each other, but I think, this is too complicated, so both should cooperate. And for those liking love stories => the female Verdistis char and the male Warrior guild char might have a few banters - or for those not liking this => just a comradeship. There's nothing against trying to cheat each other or getting the better of the other, though. Just this => they have to be opposite gender IMO (or male Verdistis/female warrior).
Council HallNow, how to make both meet? I think, we need a catalyst for this => an old mage, maybe. A bit like Elminster - located in the Council Hall, where both chars have to learn from him and maybe learn a third side of the story so far. He will not join, but be a teacher for the mage path and forward the plot in certain situations by popping up. This section is neutral, the mages have not taken side for either party.
The enemy => as ever, the Black Ring. Dragon riders, Black Ring members (with the stunning spell), double-crossing NPC as agents all over the areas. So, both chars will have to take care whom to trust. In some cases, the assassina approach of the Verdistis char, in other the Warrior Guild char are the better choice.
The goal is clear in an unclear way => either the Verdistis side wins wanting to rule the whole world, not minding the Black Ring really, or the Order side wins, wanting to get rid of the Black Ring. So, Romeo and Juliet need to cooperate and decide how to go on. This would be in single mode, of course. The MP part would result in both contrahents fighting each other? I have no ideas for MP, as I don't like this way of gaming. But, I guess => single/MP have to be different, right?
TwistsAs the WG char is not welcome in Verdistis - this town is in the hands of Penumbra's guild - your V char will have to take over. Same for the Warrior Guild in the Dark Forest, your V char is not welcome there. This will result in NPC not trading or giving info the one char. So, you will have to keep this in mind. Fans of the WG, V and Black Ring members are spread all over the neutral territories, so it might be interesting to see different approaches. Why? Well, I try to prevent building up one char at the expense of the other one.
SkillsI'm thinking of this =>
survivor path => mainly taught in Verdistis. And here I'd like a new skill => bribing/blackmailing/coaxing/diplomacy.
It would depend on your intelligence! So, you can talk NPC into something... Now take kidnapping e.g. => wouldn't it be nice to get an NPC do something for you, cause you kidnapped his favourite doggie? No, wives/kids might not be a good idea, maybe the NPC is glad to be rid of them? Or... a nice slow working poison - and bidding the antidote, if the NPC obeys and signs a letter e.?
warrior path => mainly taught in the Warrior Guild - a new skill would be intimidating. A nice way to get your results, without having to kill, because your V char believes in living victims (she prefers to live off milking cows and not dead beef <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" /> )
mage path => Council Hall. These rooms will have path mages
neutral path => some skills may be vital/important for both chars, such as alchemy, wisdom, trading etc.
AS the WG and V char are seperate at first, they will be restricted to the skills of their environment first. Base combat skills (melee/ranged) are surely taught a bit in Verdistis, but this part is NOT heavily combat oriented and on ground level, the sewers will not be accessable at first. The WG char will be involved in combat, but this dungeon crawl is limited to the area, the gamers know from Div.
As soon as both chars meet, they can be teachers for the other, but have to meet attributes for this.
In some cases, they will have to act seperately for quests.
switchingIn the first act - you will have 2 icons => WG and V. So, if you're fedup with one area, you switch to the other one (like with the BF icons). Main goal - leading to the Council Hall mage to intervene, is in both cases a responsible position in either guild (Penumbra's and the warrior's).
Further procedureV and WG char have gained their responsible position and are both in possession of an insignia => a special guild ring, giving you special attributes, can't be transfered or switched. These rings will be entrance keys to some dungeons or areas, upon showing them to NPC, you get valuable info, trade special secret items. These items will result in ONE set for each char, so, you'd better not lose that ring <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
The WG char will be asked by the guy (he supported to make a leader) to go to Verdistis and find support against the Black Ring members, even paladins need money <chuckle> - as chaotic power is strong again. I'm thinking of Dragon Riders, and mages being able to summon the cute Sand Demons/Devils of the Wastelands <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> - He will have to survive the Dark Forest to reach Verdistis and can't access the areas there (Dwarven Hall, Imp Castle => Ha, the Black Ring members are there etc.)
The V char will be asked by Penumbra to take a stroll through the country sides and set up trading posts. As a practical person, the existing ones should be taken over, but the Ars Magicana traders won't be too happy about this. Stormfist Castle is without a ruler and has become a trading post as well - Aleroth is a thriving tiny village with a few traders - the destroyed orc village was built up and you find orc trading there. Methods to convince these races to "join" the assassin merchants (errhm) could be a bit like the Godfather Mafia method, remember the skill I mentioned? "Diplomacy"? Would be interesting, how dwarves react to this... or the elves....
As soon as both leave the WG/V, the Council mage intervenes and teleports both to the Council Hall => 2 cut scenes, so both chars meet for the first time there. The WG char needs money (assassin merchant guild), the V char needs a bit muscular power for her diplomacy goal. Both dislike each other at the first glance.
Now... what will the Council Mage want? Hmm, Stormfist is without a ruler, right? Both will have to find living relatives of the royal family, hopefully one without wearing nappies <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> - why? Well, a ruler could legitimate the assassin merchant guild and maybe provide the warrior with cash for his Order. And the mage knows where a relative lives... but this is what the Black Ring members know as well... a small rat race begins.
To make it complicated => I'm thinking of a spoilt, clumsy youth here. Someone in need for training, an annoying young adolescent would-be-ruler, the 3rd to join the 2 for a short while => learning a bit about this country and the people. Don't worry, after a short companionship, the Council mage will take him to Otho and the Patriarch for further lessons <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />
You think, he could be a fighting companion? Nope, sorry. He will annoy and bother you all the time, ask a lot of questions, wishes royal treatment (so, don't dare to give him bread only or a sleeping mat on the ground or rags to wear...) If you don't take care, he will annoy NPC, so keep a rope and gags handy. Combat will make him scream at first - he's untrained, what about fighting lessons from the WG char? Threats/bribing/diplomacy could be another way to make that chap cooperate.
OK, that's it - that's my plot dream..
