Integrate MSC and MSS

[TheOysterHippopotami]

I think it would be really cool if MSC and MSS were integrated in such a way that a players actions in MSC would influence the events that occurred 15 years later in MSS. An example:
Lets say, in MSC, a player actually rescues Erkolds family. When this is done the players STEAM ID is flagged on FN. Now, when that STEAM ID is playing Helena in MSS there is a %chance that Erkolds son will spawn in that map. Furthermore, Erkolds son will be scripted so that he gives generic dialogue to any player whose STEAM ID is not flagged, and special quest dialogue to any ID that is.

A mechanic like this could go a long way in making MSS an incredibly unique experience. I am obviously not a coder, but this does not seem especially difficult to code so I can see little reason why something like this should not be implemented.

Thoughts?

 

[Echo717]

that'd be interesting, but is this actually possible?

 

[Fegged]

Nothing is impossible. - Toyota

 

[Deantwo]

well... it sound very possible... if MSC and MSS will use the same server as a database ^^;

but not sure how useful it'd be... i mean it'd kinda make people feel even more like that'd have to play MSC before they play MSS...

but i guess something simple like giving you a title or something so other people can see that you have played MSC should be easy and kinda funny ^^

 

[The Man In Black]

It's not impossible, true. But I can say with 100% certainty that this will not be happening.

 

[Thothie]

I think it would be impossible, until we can find a way to unfold quest data from the highly encrypted save files, without actually loading them in game (which would be far too time consuming).

But yeah, even if we could, would be asking a lot of the MSS team. Be fun to see Erkhold's kids grow up though - you know, assuming we ever get around to actually putting them in. >_> (Maybe soon - still need to play with that Wanted model.)

 

[Deantwo]

just wondering... how easy would it be to check if there is a save file for a SteamID? or will it have to be "unfolded" first?
guess i just like the idea of getting like a Veteran Title or hat or something for having played MSC ^^;
maybe not as interesting as whole quest stories and so... but i don't know what you have planned ^^;

 

[The Man In Black]

Seeing a file is easy. Decrypting it is a whole mess. No one, myself included, has looked at the encryption code long enough to contemplate suicide, but it's one of the worse buggers of the code. Not only that, but it's going to rely a lot on classes that are in MS:C only, that won't be part of MS:S. They'd have to rewrite large, confusing sections of code just to open a save file. On top of that, there's no guarantee they'll both be on the same Server for saves (hell, if they use my idea, the save server won't even have the necessary bits to transmit this sort of data). And even if they do keep the same server, it's going to put a HUGE strain on FN in order to pull it off. Plus, the MS:C coders/scripters would have to keep up compatibility with MS:S and it'd require a lot of coordination between the two teams.

tl;dr, huge pain for both MS:C and MS:S coders, huge pain for server admin, little payoff for the few MS:C->MS:S players, no payoff for straight-up MS:S players.

 

[The Man In Black]

*Double post*

I should also throw in that while it offers very little reward (it's cute, yes, to see Erkold's kids grown up because you saved them, but we could just pretend the previous character saved them anyway, since you won't be playing the ACTUAL character for Erkold to thank), it's probably even a bad thing.

We all know that the baddest weapons are the hardest to get. How can it possibly be harder to get than to require a player to beat MS:C (or beat a particularly hard map) and then beat a particularly hard map in MS:S? While that may not be the most horrible thing for a seasoned MS:C vet (though it would be quite awful), imagine how terrible it would be for a person who starts with MS:S. Want this incredibly awesome weapon? Too bad. Spend months training up in this game where there are few players to help you, then spend a few more months training here, THEN you can possibly get it. Have fun ^^

 

[Deantwo]

yeah that's what i was trying to say too... making new players (new to both MSC and MSS) feel like they are missing out of something just cause that started with MSS rather then MSC would only make fewer people wanna play/try MSS...
so if any kind of reward was to be made or anything at all to be carried over from MSC to MSS... it shouldn't be anything major... ^^;

but just an idea... i don't know how often you'd be making new characters in MSS... but if FN made a check on the creation of a new character and flipped a flag or gave an item... it wouldn't be something that'd have to be checked/called every time... ^^;
but yeah... i'd say get MSS working before trying to do anything like this... as it wouldn't really have any huge meaning anyway

 

[Thothie]

Well, I assume you would indeed be starting from scratch (indeed, the planned end-game for MSC, precludes the return of your character 15 years later). If there was some way to decode the old save file's quest data, however, you could set aside a"list" of SteamID's that accomplished this that or the other, for the game to use internally, and the new character may see some of the results - not the items, but the consequences/benefits for the NPCs and the world. But again, much effort, little return. More likely just the same changes for all.

 

[Gorynych]

Nothing is impossible. - Toyota

Nail water to a tree without using some form of container for the water.
Or Nail a child to a tree without getting in trouble.

 

[Fegged]

Or Nail a child to a tree without getting in trouble.

Easy :d

 

[Monika's_BFFEx0256]

Nail water to a tree without using some form of container for the water.
Or Nail a child to a tree without getting in trouble.

Both are simply. 1. Freeze the water. 2. Don't get caught.

 

[Orochi]

Well, I guess someone from that's actually from the MS:S team should weigh in on this:

Thothie and MiB are right. It's too much work for too little reward. We're not using the character encoding system from MS:C, all of that stuff is being done from scratch, as is the Central Server technology itself. They likely won't be compatible at all, and writing routines into the game simply to access the old central server, decode the character data, and award some item or other is time-consuming and painful in the extreme.

 

[thesupersoup]

MS:C and MS:S will likely be integrated in much the same manner as Oblivion and Skyrim. (Events in Oblivion referred to in Skyrim, some of the same legendary weapons and ageless deities make appearances in both, but nothing beyond that)

 

[The Man In Black]

I would have said that, but didn't want to be taken as getting all my future ideas/opinions from "Skyrim/Oblivion did it!"

 

[FER]

Please forgive me but thats big bull right there. That has been done before nerdrym, just go look up Kings Field for example, which has all you just mentioned and before the GOTY with 200+ gameplay hours got released (returning legendary weapons, story and deities)

Whats next? oblivion skyrim invented videogames and kneecaping?

 

[Fegged]

Oh god, Thothie give me some knee security D:

 

[Thothie]

Well, I don't think we need to worry until we add giants that send you into orbit.

 

[thesupersoup]

Please forgive me but thats big bull right there. That has been done before nerdrym, just go look up Kings Field for example, which has all you just mentioned and before the GOTY with 200+ gameplay hours got released (returning legendary weapons, story and deities)

Whats next? oblivion skyrim invented videogames and kneecaping?

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with those games. I did not say that the Elder Scrolls was the only game series to make reference to events, characters, and items from past games, but only that MS:S would relate itself to MS:C in a similar fashion as Oblivion and Skyrim since those games are fresh on my mind and, as I wrongly presumed, relevant.

Well, I don't think we need to worry until we add giants that send you into orbit.

That's high up on our priority list.

 

[FER]

Its ok, its just that FPS rpgs date back to the very first rpgs, which were called dungeon crawlers and relied on survivality rather that a first person WOW experience.

 

[ceriux]

Please forgive me but thats big bull right there. That has been done before nerdrym, just go look up Kings Field for example, which has all you just mentioned and before the GOTY with 200+ gameplay hours got released (returning legendary weapons, story and deities)

Whats next? oblivion skyrim invented videogames and kneecaping?

what about gothic, and gothic 2, i think also including Arcania: Gothic 4. or something...