Please let us choose our hero, dont force us to be 1 lady

GreenGurgler · #1 01-20-2009, 02:40 PM

I have recently started playing the game after trying out the Demo and just love it!! This is a fantastic, top notch game that blows HOMM out of the water.

From reading what may come in the next expansion, here are my suggestions:

1) DONT FORCE US TO PLAY JUST ONE HERO WHO IS A FEMALE!
I know females play video games, but they are a very small percentage. Appeal to your base (most of which are males) and offer a male choice. Would it be that hard to offer us a choice to play male or female? When I play a fantasy game, I really like to connect with my avatar. As it is, this game offers no real choice as to your avatar, no customization beyond what class you are. To limit that even further in the expansion to me doesn't make any sense at all. Let us choose at least from male or female, but to make it even better, let us choose a few different avatars with different looks. Maybe make one who looks 'good' and one who looks 'evil'? For the women and men who like to play women, Kudos to you, you should have a choice as well. But don't force the rest of us to play a female protagonist.

1a) Let us import and continue our current hero. I know this might play less into the pre-scripted story line, but I had to throw it out there as part of 1) above.

2) Allow for user created maps and/or a random map generator. I know this game allows for significant modding, but does it allow for user created maps (perhaps I just missed this in the Mods section)?? This is a great game, except once you are done, reply is very limited. The average player might play one more time as a different class, but the maps and quests are ALL THE SAME.

3) Greater degree of camera zoom and control. I know there is a mod for this, but it should really be part of the core game. I mean this in both combat and the main world.

4) scalable maps. The current maps are OK and the ability to put your own map notes on is great but I would love to be able to zoom in and out of the map (if this is already in game and I just missed it, then I apologize).

5) Paper Doll for equipment. It would be really nice (useless I know, but graphically nice) to see the items we equip appear on the actual avatar in the Hero screen. Heck, go one step further and make them appear on the Hero in the game!

If I think of more, I'll add them.
Again, this game is awesome and I very much look forward to an expansion.

Ryastar · #2 01-20-2009, 05:20 PM

The only thing with being a guy in the expansion, is that the whole story centers around you being Amelie, the princess (hence the title "armored princess") from the original game. If you want to play as a male princess, that's your affair, but it just seems a little weird to me...

That, of course is setting aside the first part of the statement, namely that you are playing as Amelie, a girl. That's it, end of story. I don't think Endoria has progressed technologically as far as sex changes...

As for importing your hero, well it's been stated elsewhere how impractical that is, because this game will start again at level 1, from what I've seen.

I also disagree with #2, in that, this is a game that is not meant for random maps. I know it decreases (for some, but not for me) the replay value, but this game is just one central campaign, and that's it. I can think of lots of examples from the RPG world (which, as far as the map is concerned, this is) that just have one map. More than one map doesn't really work for RPG games.

I do agree with your other requests, though

Gatts · #3 01-20-2009, 05:29 PM

In Syberia I also play for a girl... a girl whose logic and reaction are not of my liking... but still it is about the game, gameplay, music, graphics, story... riddles etc... After all I do not mind playing a girl... This is about Role Playing Games- even the STRATEGY ones...

Example from past: Albion
I was very disappointed at the beginning to start only with one character, whose stats/skills I could not choose (not to mention that in ambermoon and amberstar I could)... so I did not play this game at beginning... now I see I was foolish and childish, as after a year I started playing Albion anyway, and I was then sorry for each day I was refusing it... In last 10 years I played Albion at least once per year... for old DOS VGA game... this is great honor from my side... and I admit how great this game is...
Did I miss the hero creation? Yes, I did.
Did it anyhow impact the game experience? No, it did not... (and I would rather play for a girl... instead of a man... who is always in blue overall... BLUEH... but the game did not suffer at all)
So why the focus on for whom you will play? Remember, it is about the game! And I only worry if the game will be as good as it's predictor.

SirJohn · #4 01-21-2009, 12:32 AM

I agree with #5, but that's about it.
These guys came up with a great game that is not like every other piece of garbage out there today, so let's let them do what they want and not try to make it another Lowest Common Denominator game!

Zhuangzi · #5 01-21-2009, 03:32 AM

I like the idea of 'roleplaying' Amelie in the expansion. And I usually like to play as a woman in rpgs, cos I get to look at myself jiggling around.

Example: Malkavian female in Vampire: Masquerade Bloodlines.

GreenGurgler · #6 01-22-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryastar

As for importing your hero, well it's been stated elsewhere how impractical that is, because this game will start again at level 1, from what I've seen.

I also disagree with #2, in that, this is a game that is not meant for random maps. I know it decreases (for some, but not for me) the replay value, but this game is just one central campaign, and that's it. I can think of lots of examples from the RPG world (which, as far as the map is concerned, this is) that just have one map. More than one map doesn't really work for RPG games.

I do agree with your other requests, though

I did not realize that starting point (first level all over again) and can see why it would not be practical to import old characters.

I know that if the game had random maps, they would not be very good. It is apparent the devs put a lot of thought into the areas and the quest lines involved in those areas and it shows. No random map could replace that. What about allowing user created maps and an option to play them separate from the story line? I cant imagine this would be to difficult and it would make the game playable for a long, long time.

Re-playability in this game is lacking. Personally, I expect to play it 2-3 times at maximum because of the repetition involved in the maps. Then it will be shelved. This is not a BAD thing as the game is still A++ but it could be A++ with unlimited re-playability. For example, there are several games that I play that I have logged literally hundreds if not thousands of hours on because of the re-playability factor. Games like Civilization (all of them), Homm V (not random, but has a lot of maps included in core game), Pirates, MoM, MoO, Galactic Civ 1&2, etc...
These games either have random maps, user created maps or shipped with lots of maps/worlds.

As for my primary request (don't force us to play one gender, one character), I still firmly believe/desire this. From what I've seen here and in other threads, I appear to be in the minority. It wont prevent me from checking out the expansion, but I would still prefer it A LOT! Games used to be more like this (one set protagonist) and over the years, choice has been a feature that has been implemented more and more in most games. There are of course very successful exceptions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirJohn

These guys came up with a great game that is not like every other piece of garbage out there today, so let's let them do what they want and not try to make it another Lowest Common Denominator game!

While I do agree with this, they did ask for suggestions. I am just throwing my 2 cents in.

What amazes me about this title is how under the radar it is (at least here in the states). I had never heard of this, never seen it in most big stores, and didn't see any game sites talking about it. I only found it by accident when there was a sidebar ad on IGNPC.com and I clicked it. WOW! I had played an old version of Kings Bounty on my C-64 and absolutely loved it. I subsequently played the HOMM series since they were the closest thing to the original KB and they were good, but I always longed for a remake.
THIS game is so well done, so well polished I simply cant believe it doesn't have a bigger profile here.

I have no doubt this company will make a phenomenal expansion (even if I have to play a girl).

Zhuangzi · #7 01-25-2009, 10:37 PM

I know what you're saying about the value of random maps, GreenGurgler, but I played this game through 4 times, which took over 250 hours in total, so that's sensational value for me. I am sick of it now, however. But as you've said, to make it random would actually reduce the quality of the locations/situations in the game. It's like Star Control 2, if you can remember that. Fantastic game, one of the best ever, but no random map meant it got boring eventually.

Ward · #8 01-25-2009, 10:41 PM

Really enjoying the game. Got the last copy at my local best buy.

My wife is playing to but was disappointed there were no girl characters to play so she happy about the expansion.

I however am not.

Let me put it to you this way. If Diablo 2 were all female characters i would of never played it. I never, never, NEVER play as a female character.

Forcing a player into one gender is ridiculous. Finally Diablo 3 is giving us choices for genders. So unless you give us the option as playing as the princesses male childhood friend or something like that even will all the enjoyment I've had from the game so far.

If you only offer play as a female character with no choice to play male then sorry i wont be purchasing the expansion.

Zhuangzi · #9 01-25-2009, 10:51 PM

If your wife can play as a male character and enjoy it, why can't you do the reverse? Sounds ridiculous not to play a game for this reason.

Elias_Maluco · #10 01-26-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ward

So unless you give us the option as playing as the princesses male childhood friend or something like that even will all the enjoyment I've had from the game so far.

If you only offer play as a female character with no choice to play male then sorry i wont be purchasing the expansion.

Yeah, thats some stupid reason to not to play a game. I reckon you cant play Tomb Raider as well? Or any Metroid?

Whats wrong with this people? What are you afraid of? You feel you are going to be less male for controlling a girl in a computer game? You wont, has you dont get more "macho" for playing Duke Nuken either.

Grow up, boys.