Most MMORPGs have little or no meaningful role-playing because
there is no game mechanical reward for good role-playing.
Characters in those games become more powerful by killing
monsters and completing pre-programmed quests, not by interacting
with each other. Because of that, most players do not feel
the need to role-play; after all, whether or not they role-play
has no tangible effect on their character and its progress.
In order to provide game mechanical support for a true role-playing
environment, Lyra Studios introduces a revolutionary RPG concept
called Personality Points.
In Reclamation, personality points are rewards which are
granted anonymously to players by other players for exceptional
role-playing, or just for doing something cool in the game.
They're not gained by killing monsters or retrieving treasure.
These points can then be used to make the character more powerful,
sometimes in ways not otherwise possible by simple level advancement
and item acquisition! This provides a strong game mechanical
incentive for players to role-play and to do creative and
fun things in the game.
Each character is given an allotment of personality points
each day that they cannot use for themselves but instead may
grant to other players for exceptional play. The number of
points in this allotment is determined by various aspects,
such as the character's rank in a guild, whether the character
is a teacher or has another special function in the game.
Personality points are granted as an explicit action by the
giver. Whenever personality points are granted, a short explanation
must be provided by the player, stating what was done to deserve
them. Limitations on how frequently one may grant points to
another specific character, spot enforcement and investigation,
and penalties for abuse of the personality point system (like
removing the ability to grant these points) will all limit
potential abuses.
Examples of situations where personality points may be granted
legitimately include for storytelling, for exposition on one's
personal beliefs or history, or for organization of or involvement
in a role-play activity such as a teaching session, quest,
artistic performance, duels, or some group action against
other players or monsters. Of course, any action which just
makes the game fun and cool for other players is eligible
to be rewarded through personality points. The game mechanical
advantage to acquiring personality points is that they may
be used to selectively break the rules of the game! Different
actions have different personality point costs, and once spent,
personality points may only be regained by grants from other
characters for exceptional role-play.
The concept of community role-playing is at the heart of
MMORPGs. But to date, most MMORPGs have concentrated the vast
majority of game systems on "click on the monster until
it dies" combat. Non-combat options are barely existent
and poorly supported. The players of these games have continually
cried out for more and more support of role-playing so as
to foster the community dynamic and Lyra Studios has heard
them. In Reclamation, Lyra Studios will not only facilitate
the traditional non-combat skills allowing players to facilitate
a robust economy, but with the advent of Personality Points,
role-playing will be supported and fostered so as to add to
the important community dynamic. This system is out of character
(OOC), which provides for the reward of both your friends
and enemies - where would the hero be without an enemy! Role-players
will not only have a creative environment in which to role-play,
but these players who add to the community dynamic, will be
able to advance because of the game mechanics in place.
Furthermore, the powerful advantages provided by the personality
point system not only strongly encourage active role-playing,
but also provide a unique mechanism for infinite character
customization in ways that are not possible even within Reclamation's
own flexible advancement system. It also provides the game
with an aura of mystery and the unknown, even to those players
who understand the mechanics inside out; anything can happen
when personality points are thrown into the equation! Lastly,
it provides a mechanism for exceptional role-players to become
quite powerful in the game without needing to fight or advance
in experience levels, as just about any aspect of character
advancement can be emulated with sufficient personality points.
