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« on: January 13, 2013, 08:16:05 am »
We definitely need to talk. I have a Zelda mmo planned when I can get into the industry. It isn't exactly Zelda but everything about it feels like it aside of the lack of reliance on items. That's where I turned to make things different. This is how I would consider going about a few things.
1- split the overworlds. Don't just take Hyrule and call it a day, we need more substance. Why not get creative and make an entire region out of Snowpeak, and the Gerudo Desert? You could even have a gateway to Termina in the lost woods somewhere. You might even implement the light world and dark world from Alttp. If you have a big enough team you could go all out to make versions of Holodrum and Labrynna from the oracle games.
2- scale everything. It doesn't seem too important to have things built to scale but for consistency it's a good idea. On Zelda houses are small outside and big inside. Why not have them the same? This adds more realism and depth to the game.
3- Dungeons are Dungeons. Make it so you can see the dungeons like normal places, but wen you enter you could bring up a menu to select from parties to join or form a new one. You don't want every dungeon to require a full party though, some people like to be lone wolves or play with just friends. They should all have boss fights an mini bosses, and a good xp and treasure reward at the end though the treasure could be random.
4- Races need reasons. Hylians, Gerudo, Deku, Zora, Goron, Sheikah and more, Zelda has many races. You need a reason to choose what you chose. While I am against game that lock class or weapon type based on race, you should at least offer different stat increases and specialties. Gerudo are good with combat and black magics as seen by twinrova and Ganon beforre he had the triforce. Juliana are known as light beings but also have knights, so they could be similar with good combat and support or healin abilities.
5- variety in classes/cross class fusion. You always want loads of classes to choose from in an mmo.multiple battle classes like warrior, knight, berserker, ninja, samurai. Multiple range types like archer, ranger, bowman. Multiple stealth types like rogue, bandit or thief. You could consider type fusions as well. Spell sword or paladin. Magic bowman or mystic archer. Assassin or Nightblade. Etc.
Not only that, but each class needs to be significantly different than others. From attack animations to running speed, each class needs their own unique perks and flaws.
While a Gerudo could be ideal as a thief or Spell Sword, you could still make them into a ninja if desired. Etc.
6- Locks and prestige classes. if you want to lock certain things to race. Prestige classes would be ideal. Maybe the highest form of Ninja the Shadow Master can only be attained as a Garo and Sheikah. Or only The Gerudo can be Arcane Warriors.
I know I previously mentioned not liking locked things for races but it is necessary wherebit makes sense. You wouldn't want a Goron thief or a Deku berserker. So think about sensible locks for base classes.
7- Large worlds need quick travel. How will players get around quickly? Mounts are a necessity, horses, boars, rafts, or boats maybe, potentially even flying birds? That works for mid range travel but when you're going a really long way you might want to include even faster ways to move such as teleporting.
Zelda has used many ways to do this, with instruments, birds, even your companions. Maybe have a certain type of item that allows warping? And will it work for your party or no? This kind of stuff should be considered as well.
Maybe to enter the desert's deepest end you might have to use a boat or raft depending on your funds. A boat is much faster though a raft could be less than half even half the price.
How will you call your mounts to you in a world like this? So many players so a song wouldn't do. Maybe a certain class could even summon their own mounts.
8- creation and customization. Obvious game maker here. Clothes and armor need to have appearances. Weapons need to look different, hair, eyes, skin, and height should be changeable. Hair with style and color. Etc.
9- properties. How will players store their valuables? Will they be able to make or buy a house? Maybe set up in a cave after clearing it out? What's to stop other players from looting it while they're gone? I personally like te thought of making a hideout or home somewhat like in the gba pokemon games.
10- pvp or co op only. I've never known anyone who didn't want some pvp action on their mmo. Will these reward you with anything if you win? How many can fight at a time? Is it possible to spectate or will it count like a dungeon and send them to a different server?
11- exp gain. On the overworld how will xp be split if one person steals the kill of another player who had already nearly killed the enemy? Just stuff to think about.