The challenge of creating dynamic worlds in MMORPGs

The removal of extreme level:power scaling needs to happen for more dynamic worlds. I also think there needs to be a serious shift from focus on PvE to PvP.

The more powerful your individual character can become, the more trivial previous challenges are. That is effectively less content you have access to the more you level. And of course your character should grow and learn abilities, but there is no reason for a level 99 to have high multiples of health and damage on a level 1.

Balance needs to be open ended with equipment playing a much larger combat role than level. Blunt weapons dealing a ton of damage to undead for example. Slashing weapons dealing more damage to fleshy enemies. Basically creating a bit of strategy to gear choice and putting less emphasis on using the same setup for every single situation. One area might have monsters with mostly ents... vulnerable to fire (torches/spells) and chopping weapons (axes). Maybe people come here to farm them or mine resources in the area, but then PK'ers also come with gear that counters fire and chopping weapons.

Anyways moving on... I've been thinking NPC placeholders is definitely the future for dynamic MMOs.

How about a bandit camp, it has an NPC leader. However if a party slays the leader, the party leader becomes the leader of the bandit camp. All bandit NPCs are now allied with his allies, and he receives two body guards until he loses leader status. Now imagine this camp is located in a zone with rare resources... control of this bandit camp is now beneficial to controlling the resources and makes harvesting them yourself much easier.

There is a draw bridge which is a pivotal shortcut at one point in the map, the Bridge Operator can charge a toll to cross or open it freely. A party can take over this and use it however they wish, but if they piss some players off, they might go around and fight for control.

You could push this concept all the way to mini bosses.

There is only one Sword of Darkness in the game... originally held by the Shadow King, boss NPC. Whenever a player/party/guild leader slays the Shadow King, they obtain the Sword of Darkness and become the Black Knight until defeat or log out. He can recruit players as Shadow Knights to defend him and they receive additional powers. The Black Knight also has his own special 'raid' instance map. Limiting the amount of players he has to face at once.

Imagine everytime you log in, you set a goal for yourself, party, or guild. Today we're taking over the Riverwood Drawbridge and we're going to PK anyone who passes through alone...

/r/truegaming Thread