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For a video game I will make in the future, I am for now trying to write out the entire story for it. However, it ended up being an extremely long fantasy epic. For all the events, story arcs, and character development, it spans across an extremely long time length. For more details:

  • Sidequest storylines don't count, as this is for the main story itself

  • The story here is for one game itself. The reason it's not split up is because, if it becomes a franchise, each game would be like how The Elder Scrolls or Assassin's Creed are, each game taking place in a different period of time

  • Throughout the story, the protagonists have different allies and relationships, resulting in many different characters throughout

  • The story does not take place in one nation or kingdom. In fact, it is in about 3-4 continents

What are some tips for handling a story/narrative that is extremely long, keeping the character arcs and development not getting old?

Crafter
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1 Answers1

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Here's some general advice:

  • Be aware of Spectacle Creep. Don't just up the stakes with every new plot point. A great piece of advice from this other question is to make sure the stakes are raised gradually, and to mix in more personal threats.

  • People don't generally care about lore, backstory, and worldbuilding until they have a stake in it. Draw them in gradually, don't infodump.

  • If you decide to have player choice decide outcomes/endings, you need be extremely careful. More often than not it falls flat.

  • Focus on "Awesome per Second". The idea behind Awesome per Second is that an experience that the density of awesome is more important than the quantity and duration of the awesome. In your case more story isn't necessarily better story. This video from Extra Credits helped popularize the idea and gives more info on the topic.

Unknown
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