mansionstaff: (Default)
Smash Rising Mods ([personal profile] mansionstaff) wrote in [community profile] smash_ooc2015-03-16 09:34 pm

Audi famam illius - IMPORTANT GAME DISCUSSION

Smash Academy has, for about seven years, been known as a school-setting game. The mods have discussed extensively options for the game's future and what directions it can go in to reflect its current state. We would like to introduce that to you and get your feedback. The pathway Smash Academy can take, is ultimately up to the playerbase, so be honest about what you want and what you think would hold your interest.

As Smash Academy ages, it is evident that it is losing focus on the things that defined it a 'school setting' to begin with. Class logs have become less frequently utilized, we're missing social cliques (jocks versus band geeks, for example), and other 'school' elements like the student council and overall feel of an educational institute. Sometimes there is difficulty incorporating certain "character types" easily into a school setting. Consequently, we're proposing moving said focus away from a school atmosphere and onto something new.

Introducing Smash Manor / Chateau / Mansion / etc.
We propose the concept of an excessively large mansion on the floating island. As you might recall, the Isle of the Ancients was introduced late summer 2014 and has been present since. By doing this, we can continue to hold many of the very popular events like dances, festivals, dormitory logs, blind dates, and kissing / memory mistletoe just as they have been. We would be eliminating events such as graduation and prom, but can easily substitute other appropriate celebrations in their place.



This does not mean we would outright eliminate the academy on the ground. We could leave that present and people looking to satisfy the occasional urge for school antics would be able to do so in either an entirely new and additional dressing room, or in the one we are currently using (which might be better in the long run).

Getting to FDC and its various shops, the contest hall, the bars, and so on, could potentially be relocated to a nearby floating island and become convenient for characters to reach, whereas traveling to the academy itself on the ground would be more difficult (in an effort to more effectively shift our focus off of a school setting).

Topics of Discussion
Questions: what it says on the tin.
State of the Mansion: how the mansion and living arrangements could be.
A Whole New World: how the surrounding area and game environment could be.
Event & Plot Lotteries: player submitted events (ala the game plotting thread in personals, only better organized).
Challenge Mode: introducing new ways to spice up your rp, and get rewards and perks for it.
Game Names: the name of the game is important!



Take some time to think about where you want to see Smash Academy go in the future years. Let us know how you want the game to evolve and change.
icequeen_aran: (boner face)

[personal profile] icequeen_aran 2015-03-25 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
I kind of like the idea of the trophies drawing characters in to basically do option c, with the additional option of working on non-tournament related personal goals/quest/whatever in the meantime (in the event tournaments totally aren't your thing) and so nexus stuff can still happen. It could be something small like "catch a pokemon", or big like, "find love and romance". Same way players dictate how they get here currently they can dictate this goal.

I also like b for it's supreme flexibility but I also wouldn't mind a little more cohesive structure in the setting (why can Wingaling the Fruitfly worldhop as he pleases while Shiny the Bulbasaur can't? A wizard did it idk lol, etc. vs Wingaling and Shiny can worldhop as they please after accomplishing xyz and this is outlined to them clearly when they come in the game so they both have an idea of how this world works and what they can do in it), I think is what I'm trying to say.

Something that is still at player discretion for that ultimate flexibility but also gives character due motivation without having to stretch or compromise their character as much for it.
golonghorns: (About to tell some bullshit)

Re: PREMISE

[personal profile] golonghorns 2015-03-25 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
I really like both B and C, to be honest - B seems a little more flexible, but the idea of FDC/Island natives knowing who they are is interesting. Maybe once they show up they're scanned/processed as manor/mansion/island inhabitants and that info is somehow broadcast or available for download in a wiki format that is available to FDCizens. That could be an interesting twist to a character's experience in the game, I think.

[personal profile] raw_angel_power 2015-03-25 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree with what Kat was saying except I am not as concerned about it making cohesive sense or needing structure- after all, the reasons some characters can leave and come back while others can't can easily be explained as Master Hand/higher power's will manipulating it. The characters would never know this, though. (Or WOULD THEY.) This aligns with Option D, but without necessarily requiring everyone to jamjar if they don't want to.

That said, I actually think all of these options should be our premise. However, I think E might be... a bit weird unless you're like Pit or something and could easily ruin the fun for people who don't want their characters to break the fourth wall and realize they are fictional or in a game. Rather, it makes more sense for them to accept they are from different world/universes/dimensions/different stretches of the galaxy/etc.

So my opinion is that the premises B and C play into each other, while A and D are some background motivations and mechanics about how they were brought to this game in the first place. It seems like Master Hand as an entity is pretty mysterious though we all know he's just Sakurai in disguise as a couple of his trophy entries reveal:

A being tied to the link between this world, where trophies fight, and the world beyond. The meaning of his existence is unknown, as are his goals, but he seems to have obtained (and kept hidden) a power that borders on absolute. He also seems to feel a certain joy in challenging chosen warriors who've claimed many victories. He waits even now in Final Destination.

The mysterious Master Hand is the source of creation in the Smash Bros. universe. He appears in Final Destination when all other rivals are defeated. He fights with a diverse move set and only grows stronger if you make him angry. If you know when to fight and when to dodge, you'll take him down!

So from these we gather that he has created this world that the smashers are in, he has (almost?) unlimited power, enjoys battling strong opponents (ie the victor), and goes power-nuts when you drive him up the wall. However, his reasons other than for the pure fun of challenging strong fighters are left in the dark. Maybe we could play with that a little? What at first seems like just some way for Master Hand to get his kicks might run a little deeper than face value lets on. For instance, what if there are other powers just as great or greater than him out there, and they could threaten the stability of the world he created (as well as the worlds he pulled characters from)? Like Tabuu, for instance. Tabuu was able to control Master Hand. And what's up with Master Core, anyway? Since his goals and motives aren't immediately clear, we don't have to worry about them right away. Still, I like thinking about what he's all about in the grand scheme of things.

IN SUMMARY: I think all options can be used simultaneously, barring E.
raw_angel_power: (勝ちましたよ!)

Re: GAME NAMES

[personal profile] raw_angel_power 2015-03-25 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
mansion smashifornia
kumagypsy: (I shoulda been in SSBB)

Re: PREMISE

[personal profile] kumagypsy 2015-03-28 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Duuuude I love the ideas of B and C. I already mentioned this but I love the idea of the characters being these larger than life figures that the NPCs of the city have to deal with and the focus on tournaments and fighting would really make it feel like SSB.

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