4 replies to this topic

[Person]

I don't know if I should start another topic, but this is more of a personal request, I guess.

I've been thinking about this modding business, and I do wish to at least make an attempt. Though I want to ask if my idea would be, err, feasible or has any future in it.

Well, if anything, I wish to create quests, though I wish for at least 1 joinable character.
Getting to the point, here's the idea/s;

Have any of you heard of the "Trolley Problem"? If you havn't, here's a wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia....Trolley_problem.
One quest is really not for rewards or stuff, but a reflection on what your character would do in this situation;

2 (or more) vs. 1.
Or?
1 important against 1 innocent.
Anyways, some choice. Regards morals.
1 trolley. (The trolley that goes on train tracks)

Let?s see, the threat doesn?t have to be a trolley. Just some sort of danger, however the player cannot remove the danger, only redirect the danger.

Like;
-disease. Limited number of antidotes, though doesn?t really work that well if it?s 2 (or more) vs. 1.
-death, perhaps a bounty hunter or other dangerous threat. But threats can be removed like a demon won't really work because you can remove danger. Has to be something that can?t be killed, trapped or basically stopped.
-giving or withholding information regarding fate.

Basically a quest that doesn?t matter what choice you make, they?re all good (well, good as in they're acceptable, not the "good" good). Even helping neither means you don?t hold obligation towards either, and this choice is more neutral but can be done with good or evil intent.

Victims might be party members, or other recognizable NPC characters. But new NPCs might be better because you don?t really hold any of them personal obligation.

The ending choice shouldn?t be two people kneeling in front of you pleading for their lives because I really find that just too sad. Just you can affect the consequences, not the behaviour or choice of others.


Person A wishes Person B dead. Motive not decided, though should be able to try and make CHAR believe Person A?s motives are justifiable.
Revenge too overused, a bounty too impersonal. Maybe Person A is Person B?s child and Person B abandonment caused hatred from Person A. Maybe Person B abandoned Person A for justifiable reasons, like war or a feud between other families however Person A doesn?t understand or doesn?t want to understand.
Person B is rich/successful. Has done many things to get their and feels guilty, but spends all his energy and time on other child. Open to suggestion in the matter of Person B?s redemption, though a child might be too close to the quest in ToB (That lich one). Has to try and make CHAR believe Person B, although has done bad things, shouldn?t die any time soon.
CHAR knows Person A?s trying to kill Person B. Person B doesn?t know. The thing is, Person A is tied down to pride, revenge, greed or any other reason-blinding emotion and doesn?t know that no matter how hard Person A tries, Person A will die. Maybe because Person B has better protection such as being a better fighter, has good bodyguards, etc.
And CHAR knows this, and the consequences for any of the choices.
Person A needs help, though doesn?t ask for it.
Person B maybe appoints CHAR to become temporary bodyguard.
If CHAR helps Person A, Person B dies.
If CHAR helps Person B, Person A dies.
If CHAR doesn?t help either, Person A dies.
Any choice, CHAR receives Person A?s prized belonging, from Person A or Person B. Not meant for rewards, just seeing what choice CHAR would make. Maybe CHAR finds journal entries from both people, finding out the story between the two.

A bit long, but hopefully you understand what I wish to do. Though hoping to expand on it more.

What else...


Well, that's one idea. I have others, but I want to ask what anybody thinks of this and suggestions on basically anything.
Oh, and not everything would be like this.

[Kai Hohiro]

Well the concept of a trolley problem is definitly feasible and would make an interesting quest.

But ah you contradict yourself somewhat in your questline idea. You stated that you didn't want to use revenge as a motive, but that's exactly what A's motive is.
Also I think most good aligned characters would side with Person B, since siding with A would involve destroying a family, slaughtering random guards and only fueling a persons quest for revenge.
Revenge is in general considered a bad notion, so I think this isn't exactly a trolley problem scenario.

But leaving the whole trolley thing out of mind, your pitch would definitly make for an interesting quest! But I definitly advise from killing of any original NPCs, since that could cause conflicts with other mods. Using entirely new NPCs would be a more elegant solution in my opinion.

[Person]

Well the concept of a trolley problem is definitly feasible and would make an interesting quest.

But ah you contradict yourself somewhat in your questline idea. You stated that you didn't want to use revenge as a motive, but that's exactly what A's motive is.
Also I think most good aligned characters would side with Person B, since siding with A would involve destroying a family, slaughtering random guards and only fueling a persons quest for revenge.
Revenge is in general considered a bad notion, so I think this isn't exactly a trolley problem scenario.

But leaving the whole trolley thing out of mind, your pitch would definitly make for an interesting quest! But I definitly advise from killing of any original NPCs, since that could cause conflicts with other mods. Using entirely new NPCs would be a more elegant solution in my opinion.

Hehe, true. But that's just saying if revenge was A's motive.

How about A's weapon or something was possessed with a spirit who's seeking revenge on B and Person A is completely possessed, intent on killing B...

Hm... that might cause complications if the reward was this possessed weapon... especially if B isn't dead.

I'll think on it some more...

[Kai Hohiro]

Hehe, true. But that's just saying if revenge was A's motive.

How about A's weapon or something was possessed with a spirit who's seeking revenge on B and Person A is completely possessed, intent on killing B...

Hm... that might cause complications if the reward was this possessed weapon... especially if B isn't dead.

I'll think on it some more...

The problem is that its very hard to create a trolley problem with only two parties involved. The easiest way is to have one "evil" party and two "good" parties and that no matter what you do, one of the "good" parties will suffer. It is definitly possible to do this with only two parties involved (and maybe even more interesting), it's just more complicated to execute well.

But I really suggest to not get too hung up on the whole trolley problem and just do whatever you think is fun and interesting. You obviously have some ideas, so no need to restrict your creativity

[Person]

Thanks, I'll go and have an attempt at my ideas.

Thank you for the suggestions as well, it helped quite a bit.