When I first played Mass Effect, I wasn’t expecting much. I got it at a bargain from Steam, and heard that it is more of a shooter than a RPG. However, when I start the game up, and was wandering throughout the Normandy, I observe that the game was designed to be cinematic. Further on, I realized one thing: Shephard, be him/her a paragon or renegade, kicks ass, commands respect and in a whole, makes it feel great to be a galaxy-saving hero. Nope, it doesn’t feel great all the time to be saving the galaxy, which is why the effect of Mass Effect is so different.
Being Nagged at while Being the Hero
One of the annoying things about older Bioware’s game, and Dragon Age, is the Approval System. Your companions will make comments, pass remarks and usually, second-guess what you are doing. Kreia from Knights of the Old Republic (though to be fair, it is an Obsidian Entertainment game) is like a nagging old grand-mother. Morrigan is a sarcastic whinner. You can’t seem to persuade anyone to change their point of view in Dragon Ages. You are stuck with their personality, ego and out-look. Even when you manage to talk them to your side (if the game allows it), you always feel you are the universe’s errand boy. Having to save the world while endure the naggings of your party members!
Mass Effect 1 and 2 let Shephard influences, changes and reprimands his squad members, and this has no consequences on stats, special skills or what-not! (In Mass Effect 2, there are pivotal moments where you may lose loyalty, but you can prevent it – have your cake and eat it too). Not just that, the developers arrange it to be done in a manner where you feel good about yourself. Breaking off the fight between a stuck-up biotic and a psychotic biotic-murderer is more satisfying than persuading baby-wuss Allistar to try to become the King.
What’s the point here? How are we GMs treating our players at social negotiations and interactions with NPCs. Maybe giving them a little bit more respect, and oomph, for their attempts in persuade and social skill attempts could mean more than just rewards or XP. In Mass Effect, the outcome of a persuade or intimidate, and its execution, is what tempts pople to click them. Because they got a chance to be good (or evil), and being stylish while doing i t,at the same time too!
The Nobody Hero
One more difference between Dragon Age and Mass Effect, a really subtle one, is how the main PC is being treated. In Dragon Age, mostly wherever you go, you are given scant respect (remember, even your own party members boss you around). It gets really annoying at times when “I know the Darkspawns are coming, and you are a Grey Warden, but still….I am going to make life difficult for you!” is being repeated again and again. Even after some accomplishment (say Redcliffe), there is no reaction from the NPCs on your deeds.
In Mass Effect, Shephard got a fan-boy, gets discount at shops for just who he is and heck, even have an entire alien civilisation (or two, depending on how you count) looking for him. You got a sense that you are playing a “somebody”, a mover and shaker of things.
Will it be more enjoyable for the players if their PCs get some respect like Shephard? Even disdain will be fine too, but sometimes plain indifference can suck away morale. How many times have GMs introduced powerful wizards who run the PCs around like errand boys, where the street vendors must be persuaded to give a discount and there is seemingly an over-supply of adventurers willing to explore ruins and dungeons and risk their lives at it?
When the new Lord of the Rings RPG was first announced, and a thread at RPG.NET started on it, some posters express dislike over the “rags to heroes” formula. They wish to play someone who is respected, have an reputation and could immediately do mighty deeds without grinding through rat-infested dungeons. Someone like Elrond’s sons, Glorfindel, one of Aragorn’s rangers, or some such. This gives a perspective on what sometimes player want besides XP and gold pieces. The chance to be someone great.
This, at least, is the effect that Mass Effect has on my GMing.
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March 18th, 2010 at 4:47 am
I certainly agree with you that being epic, being a member of an important organization, being respected, is sometimes great in a game. I disagree with almost everything you said about the relationship system in Dragon Age: Origins, but I understand you point about Mass Effect. You enjoy being large and in-charge. You want to matter.
The concept of the Nobody Hero is a very good one though, that shouldn’t be overlooked. I know you are just advocating that sometimes players want respect, but respect is a tricky thing in an RPG because respect is earned. Just like XP. But this is something you can do in any system, at any time.
I just started a Warhammer Fantasy 2nd Edition game and all the players started off as Nobles. Not all of them have the “noble” career, but they are all members of noble houses who get to make important decisions. Star Wars does this well if you play members of the Jedi Order or Rebel Officers, because you have some authority.
Two problems with starting games with “respect” that often come up though. One, it often means that you have to create “experienced” characters with enough backstory to have earned respect (and the backstory can become more important than the front story if you aren’t careful). The other problem is in licensed games like LotR. If you are playing a character like Eomer or Elrond’s sons, you are stuck with either changing the story, or, accepting the chains of being that person. LotR is, in my opinion, a terrible game setting, because all the most important stories have already been told… I love to read it, but I don’t want to play there.
Being important is just as difficult, for players and GMs, as being a nobody. Often, it’s even harder. I think that’s part of the reason this trend exists. I don’t expect it to go away any time soon.