Script Writing for Monad

 Hello. C J here. I’m working today on the script for Monad. Despite being pixel based it’s going to have a lot of story. More specifically it’s going to be a proof of concept for the quest generation engine that I need for Dragon Engine. Here’s the breakdown of how it works with some examples.

Campaigns
The top level storylines are Campaigns. These are single long stories that are composed of an initial quest description and then three Quests. They are reusable as they dictate three varieties of Quests and let the player pick how they will satisfy the conditions. These are recorded in real time in the player’s Journal. I’m working on the menu design for that today as well. Here’s an example. 

Warlord
    “A great war threatens our land. Already armies are gathering at our borders. We can win but we can’t without aid. Convince our allies of the necessity of war, delve into the enemy’s territory and return to help gather supplies. Victory will be ours and you will be rewarded for everything you do.”

Quests
This Campaign then reduces down to three Quests in order. These are kinds of quests, so any Quest in the first category will work. Quests have a type and match the Quests in the card game Quantum. Each of these then breaks down into three stages. The first Quest type here is Organize. This then keys to doing any Quest marked Organize. Quests also provide unique descriptions of each step in the Journal. It’s stages are to go to a Town Centre, a Nexus and then a General Store. Here’s an example.

Coffee Resupply
    “Oh dear All, you’re up. Thank goodness. Don’t tell me you’re a morning person.”
    They smiled. “Yep. And I’m making coffee. When I can find what shelf it’s in.”
    “I swear, we only hire the weirdest people.”
    “I was an assistant staffing sergeant once, and yes, we only hire the abnormal ones. Anyway. Where is all the food?”

Locations
Everything in the game the player can interact with has a location type. Town Centre, a Nexus and then a General Store are some examples, These are what I’m working on script writing for next. They have uses like crafting, eating and travel. I’m working on how they interact with player skills and whether I need unique dialogue for each skill and location combination or if I can split them in two and alternate. Then it will be onto setting design and actual pixel art.

Here’s a sample of a manually made scene created using this system. This is set in the Eternity region of the Legend Setting. These characters will also be in Quantum.

    Kala had some work ahead of her.
    The underbrush was dense despite how far North they were. This region of Kydran was cold at all times of year, but now the mists and fog has lifted for the first time the day. It was morning still and the sky was a prism of pink and blue. It was cold but bearable with the right preparation.
    The corrupted dragon walked slowly.
    The corrupted dragon was heavily built, with four deeply muscled limbs and black armour plating on its head and shoulders. It was surrounded by a chill that seeped into the skin and numbed the mind, making anyone it encountered more pliant to its master’s wishes. Through it the Dark God of Midwinter was slowly corrupting the world.
    Kala thought for a moment.
    They stalked around her quarry, trying to get a good view. Hidden from sight, she needed the strength of surprise to win the day. She needed to strike while they were unaware, take them down and then move on. Hopefully the process would go the way they had planned. Otherwise it would be a tough fight.
    Kala moved carefully.
    They got out their weapon and swiftly leapt from hiding. They were within striking range of their prey and in one swift motion they brought it down on their enemy’s side. In a moment it was down and wounded. Hopefully that would be the last of it.
    The corrupted dragon was enraged.
    The cold welled up around it and wrapped itself over them. Suddenly everything was chill and damp, making movement hard and thinking harder. The numb spread through clothing and weapon to get to the inner muscles and tissues within. Soon the entire area was chill and slow.
    Still though, Kala was not concerned.
    They called on their magic, bright strands of energy weaving around them. They reached into their opponent’s heart and took it, making them theirs. Their rival slowed down their motions, then fell onto the ground, asleep. They would not be posing a problem from now on. Time to get to work.

The system should get the maximum amount of work out of the least amount of script.

C J Mcpherson