PS:N Story/Lore?

[Bruttal]

i think the story/lore should be in game out of game in the box live and breath the lore/story so much so that if the devs ever make any changes to the game the have to go back and see if it still matches the lore.

[Lonehunter]

Originally Posted by Raymac

There needs to be a context for why we are all killing each other.

But why? You know there are plenty of successful multiplayer FPSs that have no story what so ever. I also think most of the people who have got on the PS train lately heard about it because of the battles, the scale, the cooperation, the customization. Why each empire is here has very little to do with it.

[FortunadoAE]

In another thread I suggested that PS:N should take place 2,000 years in the future.

So yeah, there's a story, but they've been fighting so long that it's not really important and most people don't remember anyway. They just keep fighting.

[Oty]

Originally Posted by Lonehunter187

But why? You know there are plenty of successful multiplayer FPSs that have no story what so ever. I also think most of the people who have got on the PS train lately heard about it because of the battles, the scale, the cooperation, the customization. Why each empire is here has very little to do with it.

I can only talk for my self but I grew attached to TR for its traditional values etc. and it somehow gave a bit of extra experience since it accutally felt more that you were there taking part in a real war. just as BF1942 made you feel extra involved in ww2 when one played through the campaign mode with the descriptions of the war progression. and even though I loved and still do love BFV/2/2142, those games lost a tiny part of their soul when that mode was taken away (in my opinion). However it is true what you say that PS wouldn't die without the backstory, but I think, for many, it adds a little bit extra and should defently be expanded. with no backstory one could kindof just strip the empires down to the name of the colors like TF2? (please dont do that).

i say develop the story so that those who are interested can enjoy it but don't make gamplay depend on it... just make it decoration.

[Lonehunter]

Oty I have some similar feelings as you do. I love being the bad guy, the ass hole, the oppressor, the tyrant, the TR was my calling when I started reading what little story they had. But there was never really much else, and that was a let down to me. I would rather they put a lot more effort into it, or none at all.

I just don't want any half assedness

[BlazingSun]

I would have hoped for a rewrite of the story (+urban warfare +different 3rd faction)

In short, something among these lines:

Humanity set out to colonize new planets. The ever growing and wealthy colony on Auraxis (population ~ 100 mil.) is ruled by the NC. There are cities and other 'points of interest' on the planet (powerplants ... atmosphere generator in a huge icecave and so on).

All the colonized planets rule themself. The earth still has the highest population and still has a lot of problems, which enables the Terran Republic to establish a military regime (Humanity will never learn apparently). In order to keep the "support" of the population, the TR sets out to conquer the colonies in need of recources.

The NC on Auraxis can not be defeated that easily though and the war lasts for years. To make things more interesting, an alien race returns to their old homeworld and wants to erase all the humans from the Planet. (3rd faction).


Alright, this would definitely not win a prize for creativity .. we have all seen that before, but it would give the war more meaning. As I said before somewhere the fight over random bases in the middle of nowhere in Planetside was kind of silly. Urban warfare would be great, but that would mean humanity must have colonized the planet quite some time ago. An actual alien race would also have been more interesting than some tech freaks in purple fish suits ...

[Rbstr]

I'm OK with lots of backstory. I don't find the basics of PS's three empires or general setting bad. It's just not detailed. I would like a more fully realized background.
But the point of the game has to be the players are the main drivers of drama within the game mechanics.

As always an EVE comparison is apt. New short stories are coming out all the time to explore the background. NPC groups do things in the game and sometimes have large effects on how it's played but they rarely "take initiative" and do things to players beyond their passive stances...no NPC nonsense is taking your station from you. At the same time...you can't do much to an empire either. Really makes you feel like a small cog in a big galaxy.
The day to day drama nearly all player driven and it really has a history because of the huge amount of persistence.

Can't easily do that in an FPS with no NPCs (oh how that would ruin the whole thing) and fairly weak persistence.

[LordReaver]

I would absolutely love to see PlanetSide's propaganda expanded to be on par with Starship Troopers propaganda. Maybe even go so far as to have them reflect player actions. If say the Conglomerates take back Solsar (Don't bullshit me, that's NC territory!), then you'll see news reels about it on NC claiming victory, but on TR and VS reels, it's about devastation.

Here are some ST videos. They are in link form, because they otherwise take up a ton of space.

youtube.com/watch?v=TiU_NmYUy7U
youtube.com/watch?v=Fp7sN5Njo1o
youtube.com/watch?v=qPSc8jejKcA
youtube.com/watch?v=UQGuGOLSwVw
youtube.com/watch?v=nLEV2cXagNg
youtube.com/watch?v=Vz5iyEcIjbU

I'm also down with the VS being aliens. Would certainly make more sense, and allow for their art styles to be even more visually unique. Instead of a MAX, it could be some big brute like from Halo or something. It's a great concept, but it would only work if the issues of common pool stuff was sorted out.

[Oty]

Originally Posted by LordReaver

youtube.com/watch?v=qPSc8jejKcA

now I know what Barney (HIMYM) wokrs with!

[Lonehunter]

Originally Posted by LordReaver

I would absolutely love to see PlanetSide's propaganda expanded to be on par with Starship Troopers propaganda

That would be epic

[Silverfish]

The story in PS:N should clearly have a love interest this time around.

[Devinator]

personally I would like to see fan-made propaganda posters appear in game... just think of it...

"The future is vanu genblowing!"

[Raymac]

Originally Posted by Lonehunter187

But why? You know there are plenty of successful multiplayer FPSs that have no story what so ever. I also think most of the people who have got on the PS train lately heard about it because of the battles, the scale, the cooperation, the customization. Why each empire is here has very little to do with it.

Well the difference between Planetside and other popular FPS games is that Planetside is a persistant world mmo, and pretty much all persistant world mmos need some story. Granted once the bullets start flying, the story doesn't matter much for some people, but I don't see how you can create a world for Planetside and have it exist in a vaccum.

[Lonehunter]

Originally Posted by Raymac

Well the difference between Planetside and other popular FPS games is that Planetside is a persistant world mmo, and pretty much all persistant world mmos need some story. Granted once the bullets start flying, the story doesn't matter much for some people, but I don't see how you can create a world for Planetside and have it exist in a vaccum.

I understand getting attached to the story and really loving it, but I haven't even thought about any of the Planetside story the past few years I've played, nor have I needed to. I've even got a few friends to start playing without mentioning it at all. It can be a valuable asset if done right, but I still don't think it's necessary.

I think I may be arguing for argument's sake now, I often end up being a devil's advocate, sorry. I just hope they put some heart'n soul into the story, or just leave it alone.