More flavorful dialogue choices in the future

[EmmetOtter]

“Hey guys. Can you guys put in dialogue choices so I can rp as literally the worst D&D/Role playing game stereotype?”

How about no.

But its OK to RP literally the worst story telling character trope? You know, that perfect, never does anything wrong, always succeeds, every NPC gushes over how awesome he/she is Mary Sue character? There's no growth. No suspense. It's boring. That's your character. My character. Everyone's character.

So yes, RPing an individual who is flawed is way more interesting and believable. You should be so lucky as to role play a "Murder Hobo". Its leagues ahead of anything we have now.

[TheMightyMollusk]

But its OK to RP literally the worst story telling character trope? You know, that perfect, never does anything wrong, always succeeds, every NPC gushes over how awesome he/she is Mary Sue character? There's no growth. No suspense. It's boring. That's your character. My character. Everyone's character.

I mean, if you ignore all the times the WoL does fail (the bloody banquet in Ul'dah, Haurchefant's death, jobbing to Zenos twice and later to Ran'jit, among others), or does do something wrong (recruiting known traitor Laurentius into the Crystal Braves, keeping the poison vial that gets used as evidence in the aformentioned bloody banquet, attacking Zenos in Doma when secrecy was our entire reason to be there in the first place, etc). The dark knight story is literally about how our character has PTSD from all the horrible crap they go through all the time. And those signs of trauma don't just magically disappear when the scene ends; check the scene where we have dinner at Aymeric's mansion. Even in as safe a place as can be, the WoL is still leery of someone pouring a drink for them after they got poisoned at the peace conference.

So yes, RPing an individual who is flawed is way more interesting and believable. You should be so lucky as to role play a "Murder Hobo". Its leagues ahead of anything we have now.

The question is how "flawed" do we get before it becomes just as unbelievable the other way. Murderhobos are, if anything, even less believable than a good hero, because there's no reason at all that someone else wouldn't kick our face in for it. Either the combined forces of good would put us down like a mad dog, or we'd crush them all and swing completely into Mary Sue territory.

[Theodric]

It'd be an optional dialogue choice that people could avoid picking if they do not feel that it reflects their character's personality. Much the same way that if their character isn't silly, then they can avoid picking the dialogue options that are clearly written to be that way.

[DPZ2]

It'd be an optional dialogue choice that people could avoid picking if they do not feel that it reflects their character's personality. Much the same way that if their character isn't silly, then they can avoid picking the dialogue options that are clearly written to be that way.

It's a waste of coding time. Some of the choice dialogue I envision the OP desiring would be anathema to the game itself, and would certainly create a reputation as "that kind of game".

While we are at it, can I have an option in-game to turn all of the characters and scenery into World of Warcraft clones? It would be optional, and a toggle, so only those who chose it would see it? Can I, huh, can I?

[Enla]

It'd be an optional dialogue choice that people could avoid picking if they do not feel that it reflects their character's personality. Much the same way that if their character isn't silly, then they can avoid picking the dialogue options that are clearly written to be that way.

The problem here is that the WoL isn't /our/ character. Much in the same way that Shepard from Mass Effect doesn't truly belong to the player either, Paragon or Renegade. The WoL has a base personality of a hero that is kept throughout the storyline - a snarky, tired, and PTSD ridden hero but a hero none the less. Having this basic template in mind is useful when writing scenarios for the WoL and how they'd react within a certain frame of reference.

What OP is asking for is to have the option to make the WoL basically be so completely unaligned with the heroes' journey the WoL is taking that at a certain point you'd have to wonder why they'd even be participating in the plot to begin with. Or, more importantly, why the Scion's would be okay with it either because I can't see any of them willingly working with such a character based on their reactions to known murder hobos in the actual narrative. Which then would cause debate about why we can't change the story to fit us better and it's just one hell of a slippery slope that doesn't need to be considered.

You can headcanon your WoL as being different, I certainly do, but from a pure writing perspective it's a recipe for disaster if the writers start trying to accommodate everyone when they've already built the basis of a personality to help their narrative along.

[Lauront]

It's a waste of coding time. Some of the choice dialogue I envision the OP desiring would be anathema to the game itself, and would certainly create a reputation as "that kind of game".

While we are at it, can I have an option in-game to turn all of the characters and scenery into World of Warcraft clones? It would be optional, and a toggle, so only those who chose it would see it? Can I, huh, can I?

Anything I don't like = waste of coding time.

Okay.

[MistakeNot]

Dear SE,
Not all of us look at our toons and see a noble "warrior of light" hero and all that blah blah blah

I am a murder hobo. Point me at what you want dead and pay me, or else.

Perhaps you are that, but the main character in FF14 is not. There are games where you can play a bad guy. This is not one of those games, nor is it supposed to be,

[HeulGDarian]

Perhaps you are that, but the main character in FF14 is not. There are games where you can play a bad guy. This is not one of those games, nor is it supposed to be,

I mean, i kinda do want to revive amaurot but only cause then i would regain my whole power, and having enough aether to summon with a simply thought and a snap of my fingers sounds more fun, plus i will be able to recreate every spell in existence. Man i wish i could be unnerfed summoner

[Kidria]

How many fates have you participated in that involved riding into a settlement of NPC's that were minding their own business and massacring them? Their crime? They are ugly and dared to be independent of the dictators we serve. No warnings. No negotiations. No survivors. Some gil thankyouverymuch.

Even the MSQ's can easily include a mass murderer, who just happens to be on our side and that makes him/her a "hero". Is "our side" the good guys? Dude, every side thinks they are the good guys.

So yes, I would like dialogue choices that reflect that point-of-view.

I don't recall any such FATEs, and if you're referring to the beast tribes, the ones being attacked are aligned with their primal and would kill the rest of us if given the chance. The only other one I can think of is the Hive in the Shroud, and those are known lawbreakers and criminals.

I'm not saying we have to be complete goody-goody, but the 'mass murderer' who actually DELIGHTS in that, is not going to fit any of the MSQ tones. You're basically Zenos at that point, you just happen to want to be paid instead of doing it for 100% pleasure. It doesn't fit, and the dialogue choices to convey that, would not be appropriate. The Scions would not stand for it, and they are also protagonists in this tale. If you portrayed that personality, the Exarch and the others of the ruined timeline wouldn't go through so much shit to revive you.

You have to think of the context, theme and tone of the story as well, not just the character you're being inserted into.

[Iscah]

...or does do something wrong (recruiting known traitor Laurentius into the Crystal Braves...)

That was a terrible outcome, yes, but our mistake of judgement wasn't with him.

I'm certain he was genuine at that point. Trying to turn over a new leaf. And what do we do? Invite him into the worst kind of company that twists his weak-willed self right back into villainy.

And then there was Wilred...