Which companion would you prefer? : V

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:24 pm

I made a companion for myself in Oblivion, typed in all the dialogue for a fully fleshed character/plot and everything -- but modding lip-sync files was nearly impossible, so I never finished it. BUT, I'm assuming that the Creation Kit for Skyrim won't have that problem, so I'm free to put work into a fully-developed character! I have two character ideas in mind that I've been idly typing dialogue for. It's pretty fun, like writing fiction always is --

The first character is Magdalena, an Imperial guard sent up to keep an eye on Skyrim, what with rumors of civil unrest and dragons and whatnot. She's tagging along with you to seem less suspicious. Here's an example dialogue, bracketed sections being player dialogue options:

Really, though, had I stayed in Cyrodiil I'd have had a host of other things to complain about. Despite my promotion to Captain, I was still on general patrol duty.
Generally, once a guard is put on day watch, that's what they do until their retirement. It's very boring and nothing exciting ever happens.
Every once in a while there's a pickpocket, and I get to do the entire 'Stop right there, you criminal scum' routine, but they nearly always pay the fine or serve their sentence.
It was unfulfilling. I jumped at the chance to come to Skyrim. I'd visited Bruma before -- that's a little city near the Skyrim border -- and I thought I could handle the weather.
Well, better cold than bored. And believe me, you've brought nothing but excitement.
[So you find me exciting?]
[That's good to hear.]
[It wasn't my intention.]
Well, you can't deny that you attract trouble like honey attracts flies and bears. For you, it's mostly bears, though. Large angry ones.
Really, while I've become confident in your abilities to take care of yourself, I can't help but wonder how much trouble you got into before we met.
As much as fate seems to hate you, I'm amazed you haven't ended up on the chopping block. Luckily for me, you haven't, or you'd be dead already.
[Well, actually . . .]
Oh, no no no, really? No, don't tell me, I've decided I'm better off not knowing.
[Hahaha . . .]
Why've you got that grin on your face? Are . . are you laughing at me? What's so funny?
[Yes, lucky me.]
So you say, but your face tells me I'm missing something. What aren't you telling me?
Ahaha, you are impossible sometimes! You just keep that to yourself, then. You should be grateful that I'm as good-natured as I am.
In any case my friend, I vote we continue our journeys before I succumb to my confusion over your strange fortunes.

The second character is a Bosmer smuggler, with a little bit more bite to her than the guard. Here's an example for her.

Oh, don't mind the jail cell I'm in. It's only a temporary arrangement; really, a complete misunderstanding.
[Why are you in prison?]
Oh, you know, the usual. Stepped on a few wrong toes, allegedly tried to bribe the wrong people. I may have bought a few items that I simply had no idea were illegal. Really, I've done nothing deserving of prison. These Imperials can be so unreasonable sometimes.
[Who are you?] Well, that's an existential question if I ever heard one. To answer the question intended though, my name is Elspeth, and I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades.
I don't suppose you'd be willing to help an innocent citizen out of an unjust imprisonment, would you? The guards just don't seem to like me very much and I have no idea why. Really.
[Probably because you're a criminal.]
Now, is that any way to talk to a lady? Not that I'm a lady of course, but it's hurtful to know you assumed otherwise.
[Stop being coy, I'm not stupid.]
No need to get cranky just because you're smarter than you look.
Either way, I believe you might suit my purposes just fine. Provided you aren't too lofty to get your hands dirty once in a while, my misfortune is a chance for you to make some coin.

Normally I'd choose the option I personally liked best, but I like both characters, and can't decide between them.

A thief character strikes me as a more useful companion than a straight combatant. Lock-picking is handy. And I don't know how I'd make my guard character react to, say, the player running around in the Dark Brotherhood. . . Despite that, the guard would be much, much easier for me to write dialogue for, and the wily criminal would be more difficult for me to voice. I realistically can't do both.

So, until Skyrim comes out, should I be writing dialogue for the guard or the criminal?

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:21 am

Lemme guess....romance?

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:08 pm

Nah, just someone human. A developed character and storyline, something more than "I have a sword too, let's go adventuring together, yaaaaaay!" They have to be female because I can't voice a male. Maybe if romance writes itself in -- fiction does that sometimes -- but it'd be really, really weird knowing that my voice was saying romantic things to a bunch of strangers on the internet. . . .

EDIT: I am kind of using Bioware's dialogue as a model though. Dragon Age and Mass Effect handle fake in-game relationships -- and relationships include friendships, yes -- so well.

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 4:28 am

These are troubled times for the Empire. You could tweak Magdalena's back-story to make her a bit more of a field-agent type character. Not exactly an undercover or spy character, but the sort who's not above picking a lock or paying off an informer if it's in the service of the Empire. Someone who sees herself as upholding civilisation and the rule of law, but prepared to break the law now and again (or turn a blind eye) if necessary.

That way it would be reasonable for her to go along with the player's nefarious actions to a certain extent - but only if the player was somehow more necessary to her work than simply being a way of being less conspicuous. Maybe the Empire is worried that the Greybeards and other Voices are a threat, and wants to get more info?

Of course, there's no reason why she couldn't lie about exactly what she is and why she's travelling with the player :evil:

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Sorry, I know it sounds like I'm trying to put my own character in your head. I'm just trying to think why a law-abiding guardswoman would accept the sort of thing most players get up to. The other alternative is that she wouldn't accept anything particularly shady, and if you were playing that sort of character you'd come to blows with her eventually.

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:28 pm

If i recall correctly the empire is no longer present in Cyrodiil.

You can make Magdalena as a mercenary that became a guard to gain a solid base of operation and intel.
She can be very smart and likable, one that give a very good first impression. she is searching for something but stay elusive about it.

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:34 am

If i recall correctly the empire is no longer present in Cyrodiil.

The Empire is very much present. In fact, the civil war in Skyrim is between loyalists and secessionists. The Empire is, however, very much weaker than in the days, 200 years ago, before the Oblivion crises. Many provinces have split away from it.

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:20 am

hope u add romance options

» Fri Jul 01, 2011 9:21 pm

Yeah, there's a certain amount of limitation I have right now, though. I don't want to force knowledge of the main quest or interaction with main quest NPCs in order to advance the story. Some people don't like the main quest. Magdalena's plot was already going to involve her undertaking a number of questionable actions for the Empire; I will likely have her accept the player's actions as the price for her cover. "If you insist -- but I'll warn you, you won't like the answer. No, I don't think killing people for money is right. You have your reasons, though; I'm not going to say anything as I don't have the right to judge. Or the jurisdiction, to be honest. The way I see it, more I learn about this here, the better I can combat it in Cyrodiil."

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:03 am

I think that the theif is more interesting but if you do the guard you could handle her like Samara in Mass Effect. "I'll fight with you while im in your company but if you do anything I don't agree with I may have to kill you after our time together is done"

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:44 am

VERY tough decision, both great characters. I'd say guard, but I'm a console player anyways, so.

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:30 am

Yeah, there's a certain amount of limitation I have right now, though. I don't want to force knowledge of the main quest or interaction with main quest NPCs in order to advance the story. Some people don't like the main quest.

Good point

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To be honest, I like the sound of both characters. The thief sounds like a great counterpoint to any gloom or angst (to start with, at any rate, don't know where you might take her), while the guard sounds like a reliable support in hard times - grounded without being too po-faced. The thief might be an easier one to fit into the game, because she doesn't raise any issues of loyalty to any one group. If the player is a staunch Nord nationalist, siding with the rebels against the Imperial loyalists, or a Dunmer (where was the Empire when Black Marsh invaded?), it could make the guard an awkward option.

Same if the player is an outright goody-two-shoes with the thief, I suppose, but you could always give the player a dialogue option where they 'prevent an abuse of authority' while still keeping a watchful eye on her. After all, if all our characters start off about to be executed then even the lawful ones would have a jaded view of local justice

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I suppose, if pushed, I slightly prefer the sound of the thief if only (from the dialogue snippet) for the comedy value. But if you find writing dialogue for Magdalena easier, go for that - forcing yourself to write for a difficult character would only svck the fun out of it, anyway

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» Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:19 pm

Choose the one you think you can perform better/breathe the most life in to.

» Sat Jul 02, 2011 10:25 am

I think romance would be great for this mod. Also, the guard seems more interesting. The thief-like character is so overdone.