@Haniel:
I find it interesting that all of the examples you provided of dynamic interactions within the game all revolve around guild and faction politics. And I completely agree with you. It's all about the players.
An MMO can't create completely dynamic gameplay elements, because it has to factor in the hundreds or housands of other players who will be around. So usually you cannot kill merchants, quest givers, permanently modify mob spawns and grinding spots, and the status quo has to stay more or less the same (sure matis may have changed kings, but it's still a karavan based monarchy). Single player games like TES CAN do that because you don't have to worry about affecting another player's experience with your actions.
MMO's shouldn't try to mimic single player gameplay elements, because at best it will only be an incomplete approximation. What they should IMHO is change their mentality and let go of the NPC aspect of the game. Focus it all on the players. Give them the lore, the tools, and let them handle the rest. Instead of merchants and quest giver NPCs, you'll need to buy from other players and adventure with your guild. Instead of mobs and grinding spots, you gain experience by interacting with other players. Instead of permanent NPC cities that never change, all the cities are player built.
I don't know, just embracing the multi player aspect of MMO's and stopping trying to be so solo friendly. =P
I find it interesting that all of the examples you provided of dynamic interactions within the game all revolve around guild and faction politics. And I completely agree with you. It's all about the players.
An MMO can't create completely dynamic gameplay elements, because it has to factor in the hundreds or housands of other players who will be around. So usually you cannot kill merchants, quest givers, permanently modify mob spawns and grinding spots, and the status quo has to stay more or less the same (sure matis may have changed kings, but it's still a karavan based monarchy). Single player games like TES CAN do that because you don't have to worry about affecting another player's experience with your actions.
MMO's shouldn't try to mimic single player gameplay elements, because at best it will only be an incomplete approximation. What they should IMHO is change their mentality and let go of the NPC aspect of the game. Focus it all on the players. Give them the lore, the tools, and let them handle the rest. Instead of merchants and quest giver NPCs, you'll need to buy from other players and adventure with your guild. Instead of mobs and grinding spots, you gain experience by interacting with other players. Instead of permanent NPC cities that never change, all the cities are player built.
I don't know, just embracing the multi player aspect of MMO's and stopping trying to be so solo friendly. =P
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"We are Kami. We are here to be you. We are many as you are of many minds. We are one as you are one in Ma-Duk."