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Story, Dialogue, Dynamism

Dreamspitter·6/14/2015, 10:32:50 AM·4 votes·958 views

I think character interactions are one way to convey some story in the game. (Although I know, I know we divorced story from game...err...they're 'separated' ) We have a few interactions when champions meet. We also do have many direct taunts. The newest champion, Ekko, has more of them than anyone else. He has nearly 40 taunts, many for specific characters. Really, I believe he has the most voice lines of any character.

Taunts and jokes can reveal a little more of a characters relationships and attitudes. Albeit, at least one person in Story/Art said that story elements (like Ekko's former crush on Jinx) shouldnt be locked up specific commands that have to executed on specific characters. Although...I personally have my Taunt/Dance/Joke/Laugh on single button hotkey. But what if we had more dynamic voice lines? Lines that are said, for example at the start of a match in addition to lines said on kill of a specific character.

In Heroes of the Storm released just this month, many characters have interactions at match start. I feel it could be interesting to add some stuff before the fountain/base unlocks. In addition, Heroes has remarks that characters make upon killing one another (some are general, and some are specific).

For example

At match start (same team): Tyrande: "Setting you free was my biggest mistake" Illidan: "And loving you was mine"

and

Illidan: "I have only ever fought for you, Tyrande!" Tyrande: "I have no time for your deceit."

And upon one killing the other on opposite teams Tyrande: "Be at rest Illidan..." Illidan: "Tyrande? No! What have I done?!"

That kind of stuff is nice, and you dont have to press a button to do it. However, it isnt story by ITSELF. We for example with the two above characters have games, and NOVELS, that flesh them out. Nonetheless, it still adds to experiencing story. Story telling is something you experience.

"Stay awhile and listen" -Deckard Cain

That experience can be crafted by an excellent story teller, and created around a campfire, in a bar, or many other places. But how will players experience it in League of Legends? Although the game setting (Summoners Rift) may not be be a real place, and the characters aren't actually fighting in an arena against towers, and minions...I still think some of the experience can be had IN game. As for the rest of it, I'm not sure how the Lore team should deliver it and where it should be experienced.

That aside, these kinds of interactions are static. They always stay the same, so they should only concern things that stay the same. Now, should the game merely have Lore.....or should it also have Story? Seeing as how this is Story/Art I should think so. Lore, is not exactly factual or 100% accurate and feel they did a good job presenting Braum this way with his video. It really makes him feel legendary. Twitch's rework builds him into an Urban legend. Sion's Rebirth web page was also well done, and praised by many. But Lore concerns the PAST and what has been said, and is BELIEVED to be known about someone or something. Story telling has MOTION , it has an unfolding plot, changing situations, changing relationships.

We've been getting lore, albeit very slowly. When does active, ongoing story telling come into it, and how should it work?

3 Comments

Darrosh Jewfist6/14/2015, 6:35:27 PM2 votes

I'm of the opinion that having to /joke or /taunt to enemy champions to get interactions is a mistake. I do enjoy Braum's interactions when he manages to block things with his ult, which is neat and other things that do not require player input to initiate it. That way, these interactions feel way more organic.

Another thing that might be neat is to have champions have idle conversations. For example, if Yasuo is running down the river he can randomly say "I should have gotten boots instead of sandals..." or something. Or Lux says "I think a got a pebble in my boot! Gah! Keep fighting keep fighting..." or she says "I hate dogs" when shes clearing a wolf camp.

Although I imagine at this point, getting VAs to come back would be a huge hassle - finding alternative ways to initiate this sort of world building dialogue is a good conversation to have.