Hello there all
I am looking at getting into writing for games, specifically quest lines for RPG’s and such. What I am after is what format should this be present to a game designer? in a full short story format? dot points? just would like someones opinions
I host a Dungeons and Dragons podcast - Aussies and Dragons - and I want to get into writing, so hence this is why my question came about
Thank you
Hi!
Portfolio is everything. Start making small games and scenarios right now. Twine is a good place to start, although there are other tools like Ink, Ren’py, RPG Maker, and of course Unity. (Unity has a steeper learning curve, so it will take more time to get to your actual writing unless you give yourself a head start by using a kit on the Asset Store.) This gives you something to show designers so they’ll know how you can fit into their projects. A playable example is much more valuable than a theoretical script. Mods are another great way to get started. You can pick up a copy of Neverwinter Nights for really cheap on GoG if you want to go familiar with D&D, or if you have Skyrim you can use its modding tools.
And, you never know, the designer may want quests to be written in the same tool you’re using. Old school devs sometimes still use plain text (e.g., MS Word) with bullet points and text callouts, or spreadsheets (e.g., MS Excel) with each stage of a quest in a separate row. More modern devs use editors like articy:draft, Chat Mapper, and even Twine, because they can better represent the non-linear, branching paths that quests can take. Speaking of NWN, I know a number of studios that use its modding editor and import their quests and dialogue into Unity.
Join the IGDA, their Game Writing SIG, and importantly their Discord server. They regularly discuss topics like this and share thoughts on tools and templates.
Finally, read David Kuelz’s Narrative Design Tips I Wish I’d Known. Since you’re a D&D expert, a lot of it will sound like common sense to you. But many writers who are new to interactive writing forget that the player’s story is more important than any static story that they want to ram down the player’s throat.
Thank you for the reply, it was very informative
My pleasure!