Posts: 1,011
Threads: 78
Joined: Nov 2005
I think maybe the simplest thing devs can do to add depth, immersion and investment for their players is to allow for player created biographies (bios). SWG and City of Heroes both had this feature, and I had a blast coming up with stupid back stories for my dudes. And once it was written I think I definitely felt more connected to that guy, because I completely created him.
For example,
here are my CoH bios. Thanks to Bach who helped me retrieve one I had forgotten to grab.
Posts: 7,104
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noone cares about your backstory.
noone wants to read a wall of text.
Eve Online does a much better job, by showing employment history and faction standings. You can see someones background, where they've been, who they worked for, their political views, etc.
Honestly backstory really doesnt matter for ANY old or current MMO. They have little to no affect on the game. Compared to tabletop RPG where you backstory is HUGELY important.
[should not have shot the dolphin]
Posts: 1,011
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It's not about other people reading it. It's about getting into your character, not other people's. If you don't like it and it does nothing for you, then you don't have to write one. But I know for a fact a lot of people really like it. And it takes what, 10 minutes to program it?
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I'd occasionally read character back stories in CoH. Some of them were really interesting.
You don't win the Game of Death by dying first. The name is misleading.
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I have written back stories for all of my important 40k figures.. or the ones that have really distinguished themselves in combat.
A story is part of what gets you really into your character.
Patrick - 7X GM Dexxer (retired)
Zik the Elflord - 75 Elf BW Thief (retired, because the servers got taken down..)
Xyphos - 40 Swordmaster (retired)
WoW Toons - Three 120's, and Twenty Eight 100+'s
GW2 - The Xyphos Army
