A.Preparation
My goal is to create this world that is flexible enough to make the players feel they are in control of their own destiny, and in the mean while, they somehow follow the main story line that I prepare for them. The storyteller needs to be influential enough to make sure players receive enough information, and "manipulates" players to think in the way the storyteller wants them to.
One of my childhood favorite game was a Taiwanese game called Xuan-Yuan Sword 3(軒轅劍3：雲和山的彼端). The game is about a western knight’s love story: he fights all the way from Venice to Chang’An(長安，the capital city of Tang Dynasty). In terms of mechanism, this game is more like a Japanese RPG game(round based combat system, purchase/upgrade weapons, unlock new skills, etc.)The narrative(dramatic elements) are really interesting to me: knight spirit, wizard and magic, Eastern religion, myth, as well as some real historic events.
I’ve always been looking for sparkles between the West and East. A couple of years ago(Senior year in High school I remember), I read this story when I was doing some Chinese literature reading exercise:
In 53 BC, a Roman legion under the command of General Marcus Licinius Crassus was defeated in a battle against Parthia.
Crassus was killed, but an army of more than 6000 Roman soldiers disappeared.
Historians speculated they came under the command of Crassus' eldest son. This army have wandered eastward, becoming mercenaries who took part in the Battle of Zhizhi between the Chinese and the Huns in 36 B.C..
The Huns
Chinese Army
They were defeated and captured by the Chinese. The Chinese Emperor settled them down in Liqian Village, a small village on the east border of China.
This is the background my story sets up. My main story is about the interaction between the Roman troop, the Chinese, the Huns.
[Reference]
http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2011-02/11/content_11984562.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Horse-Odyssey-Search-China/dp/1862542708
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8154490/Chinese-villagers-descended-from-Roman-soldiers.html
http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/china-stuff/chinese-history/new-dna-evidence-for-liqians-truly-lost-laowai/
http://www.360doc.com/relevant/173461_more.shtml
A.3 Skills
In order to fit the world well, I made a set of aspects and skills that would encourage the kinds of play that I want to provide for the players. Those aspects will be shown in the players sheet in the next section. The skills I introduce to this game are:
Physical:
Hunting: tracking down object, explore and discover object
Stealth: sneaking around
Combat Melee
Combat Ranged
Mental:
History: Knowledge of how things got the way they are
Geography: Knowledge of the land, terrain, river
Engineering: ability to use tools, repairing stuff
Social:
Negotiation: Ability to talk others into doing what you want
Drinking: in many cultures, guy who drinks have the final say;)
B. Notes, illustrations
B.1 - Character sheets
This RPG game is mainly about cooperation, a unique 3-player adventure experience. What I’m trying to balance is that each player has something that they are really good at, and their weaknesses are also very obvious. They have to cooperate, combining their strengths and overcome their weaknesses.
My idea is, first rule: make the characters superb at their specialty. Melee hero is the master of combat, merchant dominants negotiation, hunter can track down object with sort of like ‘supernatural’ power. Secondly, physical guys might not be that bad at knowledge, mental guys might not be smart all the time, social guys might close their mouth under certain circumstances and could be good enough in combat. In sum, players are not single celled organisms, they are 3 dimensional people like us.
Amos Crassus
Age: 32; Male; Melee Hero
Eldest son of Roman General Marcus. Before his father died, he gave Amos a Night Pearl which he got during the war with Parthia. His father was killed later on by Parthia King and the body was missing. The Night Pearl is the only gift his father left in this world.
All the Romans are settled down in Liqian Village with permission from the Emperor of China. Amos wants to keep his people safe. He thinks it is his responsibility to bring his people back home.
He needs someone who can guide him the way (at least) to Parthia, then he can recognize the way back to Rome.
Zen
Age: 19; Female; Hunter
Zen’s clan used to be one of the largest branch of the Huns. When she was 7 years old, her father and brothers, all the males in her clan were killed in front of her by an evil Chinese officer Fang Huo. She was saved by Qsing Huo who is Fang’s cousin.
Zen wants to revenge so badly, she wants to cut Fang into pieces.
Zen is raised up by her grandmother. Recently her grandmother is dying of an unknown disease. People say that the only cure is the West. She needs to collect the horn of a holy beast in mid-east, the medicine in Parthia and the spice in Rome in order to heal her grandma.
Tsing Huo
Age: 44; Male; Merchant
Tsing was a local governor in Northwest China. During the war between China and the Huns, he got demoted for not killing the prisoners. Tsing saved Zen who by then was a 7-year old girl.
Tsing is tired of wars and is very frustrated with the (Chinese) emperor. He became a merchant. He sells goods from China to the Mid-East.
Besides, the evil prime minister Chang always try to kill Tsing. Not only because Tsing married the woman Xuan Huangpu, which Chang used to love, but also because Tsing aware the Emperor of Chang's corruption and evil intention.
NPC
Menglin Chang
Age: 45; Male; Prime Minister of China Empire.
Chang and huo used to study in Hanlinyuan under Chenggong Huangpu, who is the father of Xuan.
Chang's only child severely injured in the war with Hun.
Fang Huo
Age: 39; Male; Commander
Tsing's cousin. Later on became the Commander of the Secret Assassin Institute.
Fang is a cold-blood soldier. Following Chang's order, He eradicated one of the
strongest Hun clan(Zen’s Clan).
Emperor Liu
Age: 50; Male; Emperor
Xuan Huangpu
Tsing's wife, died young of disease.
....more to be flesh out
B.2 Locations
Han: Han Dynasty is the second dynasty that China became united. Han dynasty was famous for its power in military, as well as the prosperity in economy. Actually, 95% Chinese claim themselves to be Han people. At that time, China is having a fierce war with the Huns, a nomadic race in the north of China whom the Great Wall was built for.
Liqian Village: the Roman village, it’s a REAL place in Gansu province. Recent genetic testing revealed that 56% of the DNA of some residents was Caucasian in origin.
Dragon Gate Hotel: A hotel in northwest China, the only oasis in the desert, many Chinese ‘superhero’ stories happen in here.
Parthia
Tomb of Mode Khan
Mount. Pamier
Rome
B.3 Character Names
As a native Chinese speaker who’s very into history, I can name many ancient Asian characters, this is trivial for me. I prepared some typical Italian names for this game:
Male: Dino, Carlo, Claudio, Leonardo
Female: Pia, Eva, Teresa, Nina
As for the Huns, I borrow some names from the internet:
Oniki, Muncuk, Uldiz, Csaba
Story Summary
At the beginning, give each players a introduction to their character and their objective in this game.
DRAGON GATE HOTEL - AFTERNOON
A crowded lobby. Dirty and noisy.
All kinds of people are in there, soldiers, beggars, merchants, hunters.
A drunk guy suddenly shouts out that if anyone can beat him in drinking, he would tell s/he the place of a secret treasure.
Zen is pretty good at drinking, but she doesn't want to expose herself because she is from the Hun clan; Amos is good at drinking and Tsing is okay at drinking.
(Players figure out how to beat this guy in drinking)
However this guy only mentions a tomb in the Mid-Asia before he falls asleep instantly.
A mid-aged fat man hurries into the hotel, he looks very panic. He says, his daughter is kidnapped by the Huns, and asks people to please save her, he would give s/he a great reward.
Zen feels very strange, after so many years of war with China, the huns clan is going down and gradually move away from the boarder. China now is at one of its most prosperous period of all time. She sees no point for the hun in doing things like this.
Zen suggests investigate on this thing. Amos, without any hesitation, wants to help her out. But Tsing is standing there, takes a close look at this man. Tsing thinks this is very suspicious. Tsing has been kind of paranoid because the evil Prime Minister wants to hunt him down, anything might be a trap.
Since the two friends want to go, Tsing agrees.
The man shows them the way to Mount Pamier.
MOUNT PAMIER - DUSK
Mount Pamier is the holy mountain for nomadic peoples. In the past a couple of years, China and Huns fought for this place over and over again. Eventually, they signed a peace treaty that both sides need to move their troops 50 miles from the mountain.
They see several Hun-look door guys patrolling.
(Players manage to kill these door guys)
They go inside the camp and enters into a dark empty hall.
At this moment, all the lights go on. Hundreds of Chinese soldier flush in and surround players.
And here comes the Prime Minister Kuo. Qsing now realizes this is totally a trap. But it is too late.
Kuo points at Zen, then points at Tsing. He talks to the soldiers, this man, Tsing is the betrayer of China, colludes with the Hun, killed our own people, how should we deal with him.
All the soldiers answer "kill him".
Tsing knows that Prime Minister Chang always wants to kill him. Chang also wants to eradicate the Huns. By doing this Chang could declare war with the Huns.
Amos says we need to find a way out of here, "let's fight!"
But there are just too many soldiers. Tsing doesn't want to hurt those innocent soldiers.
Suddenly, someone says "stop"- it is Liu, the emperor of China. Liu recognizes Tsing. Back in the time Tsing was the governor of the northern province, Liu once come to Gansu area and praised Tsing for his achievements in ruling the area.
Liu pretty much knows what the Prime Minister has in mind.
Liu stares at Chang, who looks very angry but instantly his face turns to be very patient and calm.
Amos says "My lord, this is totally a mistake. I've oathed to devote for you, and our people have been defending the north boundary for you for 2 decades!"
The emperor nods.
NEXT MORNING
Amos walks into Liu's Tent. Zen and Tsing follow him.
He says "My lord, when will you full fill your oath to allow my people go home?"
Emperor nods again. He says Amos come just in time. He wants the three friends to go to Rome and sign a trading treaty with the king of Rome.
The Han dynasty has cleared the way from Asia to Euro, now it's time to launch the "Silk Road" project, a new era of East and West has come.
"The three of you are from different background, but combined together you become a great fellowship. Amos, after you bring me back the documents from Rome, I will give you whatever you need to return you and all you people to Rome."
"Tsing, I will give you a golden plate that no one can kill you without my permission and you can continue you business also. There is only one condition, you need to become the guardian of the Silk Road. This is not optional."
Tsing figures that the emperor is protecting him. The emperor knows Tsing will not be easy if he stays in China since the Chang will always find something to blame him for.
The emperor then says "you, little zen, I know you probably wants to kill me. But you just can't. You never can. Look how great we Han people are now. But we are not always like this, when I was a kid, your people occupied our cities and killed tons of thousands of my people. My elder sister was sent to your clan to marry a guy she never met and never returned back. Now after half a century, we finally have this long eagered peace. I don't see why I need to start war with your people unless you want to."
Zen is speechless.
Liu said,"Go, go to the west."
MODE DESERT - MORNING
So the three friends heads to northwest.
The local people says there has been a sandstorm in here for two months, no one ever came back. "Don't go farther!"
Tsing knows that is the Coda Beast, a very dangerous animal in the desert that eats human beings.
Zen heard the story that horn of this beast could be used as medicine, which is one of the component needed to make the cure for her grandma.
Amos wants to go back to Rome badly, he is ready to fight the beast. "kick its ass out of my way!"
(The players solve puzzles, and kill the Coda Beast)
ISAAC, PARTHIA - AFTERNOON
Amos kind of remembers this place.
Zen is so surprised by the goods in the market, she never saw things like that before.
Amos recognized the way to the Parthia General's place who killed his father 20 years ago and decided to sneak into the house.
(silent take down some guys)
They finally see this general. He is now old and weak, he could barely hold the sword.
Amos wants to kill him, but Tsing thinks it’s not worthy to do that. They don't wanna get into troubles.
(Players decide kill or not)
Zen finds a box of herb medicine, this is another cure for his grandma.
ROME - AFTERNOON
Here is Rome.
Emperor of Roman seems so glad to see Amos and know that one of the missing Roman army is in the East.
Zen asks for the spice she wants.
Emperor of Roman signs the treaty. Amos is gonna bring it back to China and get his people back.
F. Surprises
Hosting this kind of game is like preparing for something that is cannot be prepared. So the Khan’s tomb side mission is never touch in this game. Amos thought himself to be a combat hero and tried to start too many unnecessary fight, so I used a lot modifier to stop him from hurting unrelated people. Also I feel that skills like Science or Engineering are a little bit vague sometimes, players like to argue like “I think I can use my Engineering to do this, right?” “Science can guide me the way out of here”. It’s tons of fun when people trying to make up a story to show their aspect or skill did make sense in this situation.
This is a pretty interesting experience. It is super hilarious when people try to argue on some trivial thing. They have their own personalities injected to their characters.
Takeaway
As a guy from East Asia and study computer games in the US, I always feel like creating a world that could combine the Eastern philosophy, feeling, emotional experience, with the open, flexible Western RPG game system. This game kind of helped me ‘feel’ like realizing my dream.
Usually, an Asian Player find herself aimless or lost in an open RPG system. She would rather play the game which the designer prepared for her to play, the story the storyteller suggests her to explore, not wandering in an endless desert shooting random person. And finally in the game, she might have collected all the pieces of the puzzle, discovered a big conspiracy, lost some one she loved, and beat the evil boss. Players feel like they witness a life, they experienced relationships with NPCs, your heart feel like filled with emotion and accomplishment. They whole game is more like an interactive novel.
In some open game system, player have very flexible choices when and what actions they can perform. They can stop whatever cars on the street, kick off the driver, punch them on the face. In my experience, however, it is those flexibility that makes me feel like the game is unreal, I am very conscious that I am a game guy sitting in a chair holding an XBox controller, there is tons of coding assignment to do. I feel like I am the god of this game, my character is my one and only son, all the NPCs are AI bots no matter how clever they are.
This is a very unique experience for me. Actually before this semester, I barely played board games and didn’t the existence of paper RPG. This game enlightened me the way people play games. I also feel that the power of words and imagination is way much powerful than a certain design.