So, lately, I've been toying around with the idea of creating a MMORPG game with a couple of people that I know.
Given how much resources it takes to create a full-blown RPG with an open world, I was thinking that the game could be built solely around group content. Very limited, if any at all, single player content, as it should be in a MMO (at least imo). Most of the key elements of RPGs would be present, with the emphasis on character development (in terms of skills, equipment, etc).
That would mean
- NO Leveling (at least not in the WoW sense).
- NO Open world experience.
- All of the story is told through instances.
It would work approximately like this: One common hub, where players can meet, exchange goods, create groups, etc.. And the rest of the content is instances, like dungeons in WoW. Say there would be several group-size levels of content, your normal dungeons (most likely 4 player groups), middle sized group dungeons (7, 8 or 9 people, not sure about that yet) and raids (still looking for a sweet spot, but around 20-25 players sounds good). There would also be a looking for dungeon and looking for raid-type of mechanics, but those would get separate content, as to enforce or at least encourage premade group play and human interaction and remove the feeling of redoing instances.
There would be content that is by no means intended to be seen by everyone (closest thing WoW had would be Sunwell in late TBC) so that it retains a sense of prestige and isn't consumed as fast by the average player.
PvP is something that I'd be inclined to include, but again, it takes a lot of resources.
All the above information is deliberately very vague (if I were to post all the ideas I've got in the design document, this post would be veeery long) as I'm looking for feedback about the essence of the game only.
I really feel like if executed well, it's a solid idea. Especially with encouraging human interaction in order to progress further in the game in a meaningful way, which is something that I personally feel most todays' MMOs have forgotten how to do or even why it's a good thing.
Please leave any feedback or simply vote in the poll, thank you.