My only Critique of the story so far (story spoilers, obviously)

[warsh1p]

I would like to see this whole cult of cernunno explored more in the nimbus sea. intriguing sidestory ngl

[Desti]

@bumf

I think it’s important to note that Vetex completely copied this system from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (see ACO image below) (He kinda even copied the game’s name I’m pretty sure).

And character

[LichdaDerp]

On one hand, I like how the thing is a tracker. It makes me feel like a badass who is turning the game into an overglorified monster-of-the-week shonen as I punch each champion in the balls with my abilities, hacking my way through their ranks.

On another, the Order really suffers from how streamline the story and game is in general, and like you said would benefit from more mystery. It’s built in such a way where it feels like you wants to to find clues for a thing on your own, but you never do. It’s like a mystery with a bread crumb trail but it’s actually one massive loaf.

[LichdaDerp]

@bumf

AO suffers from what I like to call Blank-Slate MC Syndrome, where the protagonist is purposefully made bland for an audience to self-insert/semi-roleplay into the story. This is especially a problem when the MC is pretty virtuous in the story, even though we can literally be a murdering pirate with a 100,000-galleon bounty.

@Crimsonpants

It’s always going to remain fact that in games with custom protagonists there will be no ‘character’ for the protagonist. Rpgs don’t really do a heavy character focus now- and one thing I think WOM had over AO is the idea of the two opposing storylines, if you wanted to be top dog evil guy then you had a storyline for that, same for good storyline, but they were practically identical and hadn’t had time to flesh out before Vetex cancelled the continuation of development.

Here, the AO protagonist is supposed to be someone righteous, but players can slaughter dozens of innocents, kicking waterlogged shipwreck survivors back into the ocean after robbing them of their last vestiges of wealth- not actions I would say, are heroic. Nor are they actions I think characters like Warren, Morden, and Iris- who while not virtuous are at least trying to do the right thing, would approve of.

This may be off-topic but I thought of something to solve this that would make the narrative more interesting: Make everybody think you are righteous when in reality you’re being forced upon the role, and then see if your MC wishes to take the role or not, or basically tell everybody to effe themselves. It would be super interesting while allowing for a blank slate and little deviation from the story. Or you could just make the dialogue vaguer and say that you’re just ready for greatness, not specifying morality.

[Awk]

I hate to be that guy especially so many month late but uh akshully Hades was foreshadowed on a mural

[ThatAsianInTheCorner]

@Awk

so many month late

uhm akshually it’s months

[Crimsonpants]

Why this post keep coming back from the dead.

[Cav_III]

WELCOME TO OUR CLUB

[thewhitejawa]

[AMoonlightSonata]

Because you and others have shared valid criticisms and alternative ideas that would enhance the story!

[AMoonlightSonata]

I think a good way to introduce some of the bosses we fought early-on is to have Ravenna reward us for getting rid of Iris. We’d get to go to Ravenna and be an honored guest of Calvus, which would allow us to meet some of the antagonists we’d have to face later on. This would also be a great introduction to the split-nature story, the good and the bad path. If Iris is imprisoned by Ravenna, you could visit her and she could tell you about her motives: her father was captured by Ravenna and she wanted revenge. This could lead us to make the first critical decision: free Iris from prison and help her find her father or stay at the Castello and remain under good graces with Calvus. You might be able to successfully free her without anyone suspecting it was you, which would let us stay under the radar a little bit longer before Ravenna becomes our enemy. Maybe while we were staying at the Castello, we meet Argos and Elius who tell us they’re heading to Cirrus Island to track down a fugitive of Ravenna (Beringer). If you choose the bad path you’ll go with them and are faced with the option to fight Elius when you learn that Beringer is being tortured; you can fight him to try and get the info of where Beringer is to rescue him or kill him yourself to get the Cloud Curse. If you choose the good one you go with Iris to Cirrus and the events play similarly as they do now, or it could be different if there was a better way to continue. Maybe if you choose the bad side you fight the bosses in your own quest for power, starting with trying to find Beringer so you can obtain the Cloud Curse (and failing in the process since we are never intended to get one).

Anyway, I’m just spitballing, so if anyone has any ideas or add-ons I’d love to hear them. My point was that this kind of story would be a good way to flesh out the MC and give us more agency in the story, as well as communion with side characters. One of my main problems is that I feel too isolated within the story, so something like this could help fix that. I’ve really enjoyed reading this thread, honestly, and I’ve learned so much from all of you!

[ItsameTree]

idk I feel like our dialogue options should have a bigger impact on the story

for example when asking around in the sailors lodge about fort talos, you can tell arwald that you’re gonna infiltrate fort talos

maybe choosing this option completely negates the stealth portion of talos and forces you to fight your way to beringer and then fight argos

idk stuff like that