I have been trying to make a story for a campaign but I find it difficult to write an interesting plot. I like making missions but writing a story is something I'm just not good at.
So what I am looking for is simply an idea or script for a campaign story. Preferable a script. I think it might be fun to try making a mission around such a framework. Althought I wouldn't make any promises that I can complete a campaign, as that might depend on the scale of such a script.
I was thinking that if people do have some ideas or a fleshed out story available that we could have a contest around it. Having people making their own campaign- interpretation of a good story. I think that could have been very interesting. It probably had to be a short story to have some success.
As a reference, I am the maker of the Bio-Tech Company campaign . If you've played it you'll know that story and plot is not my strenght, althought I think my missions have good qualities otherwise.
@njordys: Go Same here. Thats why I started missions based on SC2 books. But in the end I don't have enough time, and experience, to make campaign missions interesting. If you want I can share ideas I got from reading the books.
Nice. I was not sure if I would even get replies as the campaign scene is quite small :)
Preferably Zerg or Protoss I recon. Most campaigns out there have a Terran focus so something new could be refreshing. But I do think easier to write for Terran, perhaps, so it's not a requirement or something.
I really don't have much ideas myself other then that it should be quite short. The story should be told in a 3-5 mission span, or else the project would probably be a too big to bite over and not come to fruitation.
Perhaps some kind of kidnapping plot, having a key character hold hostage and the player must bark on a mission to rescue him/her. Or perhaps the seemingly good guy is in reality the bad guy in the end. Some kind of interesting twist. But it has to have a conclusion. I've never been good at writing conclusions.
I will be very grateful for any ideas
(btw, going away for some days so if I don't reply in the near future it doesn't mean I've lost interest)
Actually I think Bio Tech is just fine they way they are, from what I've learn conflicts is stories, ideally without to much story to get in the way of a good old fashion head bashin' MONSTER KILL!! (Am I making any sense here?).
well in lore there's not much leeway for Protoss and Zerg campaigns. You could base a Protoss campaign around their war with an alien race that led to the banning of the Colossus. Maybe dissident Khalai or Nerazim Protoss who aren't a part of the Shakuras Protoss because of their history. For Zerg, a rogue Cerebrate or an Infested Terran.
I've written many plots for campaigns and I have tons of ideas.
If you're pretty damn serious about making a campaign, I can support a well-written story and dialogue with interesting and never-before-seen characters :)
In addition I'm an excellent terrainer and I have many ideas for tech / new units for every race.
@njordys: Go Instead of the good guy/bad guy routine I'd like a good old sc story style were people aren't necessarily heroes or villains. Things change, people react, shit happens, and so on.
I don't like SC2 "I'm the hero and in the end I'm victorious because heroes always win" style. Its borderline childish, like a Dysney movie.
I feel like you should give us some more info on the type of game you want to create first and see if anyone has a good story to wrap around it. Gameplay and story can't just be shoved together in my opinion, so it'd help if you described some of the things you want to do (huge battles/small engagements? New units? new abilities?) and these things may or may not be relevant towards making a tighter plot and more cohesive game experience.
So instead of good/bad guys have beige, blue or undefined, stumbling dots just getting by by doing the best they can do with what they got. Just like life, eh?
I'm having a blast writing my current show. I decided to keep all the unit names the same, but most things regarding the lore show only the palest resemblance to their origins. I grew up with sci-fi so I'm using Starcraft to make jokes about things I read in Asimov and Heinlein or watched on Star Trek. I'm rewriting first contact with the zerg right now.
I am keeping basic some frameworks though. Civil war with the Terrans, they find the zerg, then they meet the protoss. The zerg will be a hive-mind, but there is no Mengsk or Raynor, no Kerrigan, no Dominion or Raiders.
As for a campaign Idea, my favorite thing about the original storyline was how they drew up characters with realistic motivations and then created a theme about betrayal and trust that you were constantly invested in, either through the events of the plot or by playing as the other races/factions.
I'd like to see that in a story again. Characters that have similar goals that conflict down the line. The evil you know and the evil you don't see coming, etc. I haven't played/read much fan fiction but I could see the protoss being a good focus for a plot involving factions and betrayal. Their advanced civilization combined with religious zeal could make for a nice little subplot and could be well received considering we're all waiting for that 3rd expansion.
What about a story where are a character is ordered to destroy some separatist/rebel tribe, only to disappear and presumably die? Then later it can be revealed that he simply was so taken by the tribe/group that he decided to join them? Depending on what POV you choose, you either destroy him in the end or join him. Or both. Maybe include player choices and let people decide for themselves?
This could work for Zerg as well. Just make it a feral brood that some brood mother is tasked to wipe out, except she decides to claim it for its own.
To be honest I'm beginning to think that me making a campaign now would be too much of an undertaking. There would be so much I would have to learn regarding story telling and script writing, and it is a bit discouraging. And while I need something to keep my interest in SC2 mapping, I don't think doing a huge project like that is my cup of tea.
I think I'd have more fun assisting other campaign-makers by doing some terraining and mission-concepts. Hopefully I'll get in touch with someone who might need help.
You all had nice ideas and I appreciate people trying to help.
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Curse PremiumI have been trying to make a story for a campaign but I find it difficult to write an interesting plot. I like making missions but writing a story is something I'm just not good at.
So what I am looking for is simply an idea or script for a campaign story. Preferable a script. I think it might be fun to try making a mission around such a framework. Althought I wouldn't make any promises that I can complete a campaign, as that might depend on the scale of such a script.
I was thinking that if people do have some ideas or a fleshed out story available that we could have a contest around it. Having people making their own campaign- interpretation of a good story. I think that could have been very interesting. It probably had to be a short story to have some success.
As a reference, I am the maker of the Bio-Tech Company campaign . If you've played it you'll know that story and plot is not my strenght, althought I think my missions have good qualities otherwise.
I fancy myself a writer. If you can give me some basic ideas that you would like to see I will pitch you a few synopses.
@njordys: Go Same here. Thats why I started missions based on SC2 books. But in the end I don't have enough time, and experience, to make campaign missions interesting. If you want I can share ideas I got from reading the books.
Sounds like fun. What race?
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Curse PremiumNice. I was not sure if I would even get replies as the campaign scene is quite small :)
Preferably Zerg or Protoss I recon. Most campaigns out there have a Terran focus so something new could be refreshing. But I do think easier to write for Terran, perhaps, so it's not a requirement or something.
I really don't have much ideas myself other then that it should be quite short. The story should be told in a 3-5 mission span, or else the project would probably be a too big to bite over and not come to fruitation.
Perhaps some kind of kidnapping plot, having a key character hold hostage and the player must bark on a mission to rescue him/her. Or perhaps the seemingly good guy is in reality the bad guy in the end. Some kind of interesting twist. But it has to have a conclusion. I've never been good at writing conclusions.
I will be very grateful for any ideas
(btw, going away for some days so if I don't reply in the near future it doesn't mean I've lost interest)
Actually I think Bio Tech is just fine they way they are, from what I've learn conflicts is stories, ideally without to much story to get in the way of a good old fashion head bashin' MONSTER KILL!! (Am I making any sense here?).
Anyway, really like map 3 and 4, and the new one.
My projects : The Hammer of Dawn, Noir : Automata, Noir : Evolution, Noir : Ascension, Hammer of Dawn Revamp
Many awesome projects : Custom Campaign Initiative
Something for the community : A Small Letter of Thanks, SC2mapster Classic Skin - Alevice
well in lore there's not much leeway for Protoss and Zerg campaigns. You could base a Protoss campaign around their war with an alien race that led to the banning of the Colossus. Maybe dissident Khalai or Nerazim Protoss who aren't a part of the Shakuras Protoss because of their history. For Zerg, a rogue Cerebrate or an Infested Terran.
I've written many plots for campaigns and I have tons of ideas. If you're pretty damn serious about making a campaign, I can support a well-written story and dialogue with interesting and never-before-seen characters :) In addition I'm an excellent terrainer and I have many ideas for tech / new units for every race.
@FenixKissKerrigan: Go
You don't have to stay loyal to Blizzard lore, though. You can do what the hell you want.
@njordys: Go Instead of the good guy/bad guy routine I'd like a good old sc story style were people aren't necessarily heroes or villains. Things change, people react, shit happens, and so on.
I don't like SC2 "I'm the hero and in the end I'm victorious because heroes always win" style. Its borderline childish, like a Dysney movie.
Yeah, I agree with SoulFilcher. Moral ambiguity is always cool, and something I strive for myself.
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Curse PremiumDon't do the things described in this article, and you will be set for success: http://sclegacy.com/editorials/7-reviews/1134-scl-reviews-wings-of-liberty
I feel like you should give us some more info on the type of game you want to create first and see if anyone has a good story to wrap around it. Gameplay and story can't just be shoved together in my opinion, so it'd help if you described some of the things you want to do (huge battles/small engagements? New units? new abilities?) and these things may or may not be relevant towards making a tighter plot and more cohesive game experience.
@SoulFilcher: Go
So instead of good/bad guys have beige, blue or undefined, stumbling dots just getting by by doing the best they can do with what they got. Just like life, eh?
I actually had some fun creating a new universe that all the races and models from Starcraft would make sense in.
@SheogorathSC: Go
I'm having a blast writing my current show. I decided to keep all the unit names the same, but most things regarding the lore show only the palest resemblance to their origins. I grew up with sci-fi so I'm using Starcraft to make jokes about things I read in Asimov and Heinlein or watched on Star Trek. I'm rewriting first contact with the zerg right now.
I am keeping basic some frameworks though. Civil war with the Terrans, they find the zerg, then they meet the protoss. The zerg will be a hive-mind, but there is no Mengsk or Raynor, no Kerrigan, no Dominion or Raiders.
As for a campaign Idea, my favorite thing about the original storyline was how they drew up characters with realistic motivations and then created a theme about betrayal and trust that you were constantly invested in, either through the events of the plot or by playing as the other races/factions.
I'd like to see that in a story again. Characters that have similar goals that conflict down the line. The evil you know and the evil you don't see coming, etc. I haven't played/read much fan fiction but I could see the protoss being a good focus for a plot involving factions and betrayal. Their advanced civilization combined with religious zeal could make for a nice little subplot and could be well received considering we're all waiting for that 3rd expansion.
SC1 feels to me like a western style Gundam Wing.
What about a story where are a character is ordered to destroy some separatist/rebel tribe, only to disappear and presumably die? Then later it can be revealed that he simply was so taken by the tribe/group that he decided to join them? Depending on what POV you choose, you either destroy him in the end or join him. Or both. Maybe include player choices and let people decide for themselves?
This could work for Zerg as well. Just make it a feral brood that some brood mother is tasked to wipe out, except she decides to claim it for its own.
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Curse PremiumSorry for late respons.
To be honest I'm beginning to think that me making a campaign now would be too much of an undertaking. There would be so much I would have to learn regarding story telling and script writing, and it is a bit discouraging. And while I need something to keep my interest in SC2 mapping, I don't think doing a huge project like that is my cup of tea.
I think I'd have more fun assisting other campaign-makers by doing some terraining and mission-concepts. Hopefully I'll get in touch with someone who might need help.
You all had nice ideas and I appreciate people trying to help.