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I don’t know what ideas ya’ll already have but I have a few…

     There could be several different “base line characters”, each with a different back story and differing traits and characteristics, the player can choose whichever one (and won’t be limited to a specific route in the story in their decision, but would merely have a different aspect on the game in seeing it from “someone else’s’ perspective”. Again, different traits, this does not mean that they will be limited to one specialty, but will start off as a specialist in one or many specific fields, then the player can build other characteristics and skill sets as they see fit to match their own fighting/gaming style.

Another idea, each character would be customizable, not like a “what you select is what you get”. Again, the only benefit about the different characters is the variety in the story line that the player gets to explore. Maybe one character will be male, another female, but beyond that the player can choose clothing styles, weapons, skills, as they see fit.

An extension on the last 2 ideas is that all of these different characters have their own “piece of the puzzle”. Perhaps each character could have in their history, something that would explain something in the larger, grander picture that the player would not understand unless they played as all the different characters. And all the characters could have intertwining story lines; if possible, depending on what the player does as one character, they get to see some aspect of another character as they have “run-ins” or hear about that other character in the game.

With that last bit, I don’t know how that would be possible without limiting the options a little on what the player can and cannot do (which I know is what ya’ll are trying to avoid). But if there is a way to make it work I think it would be hella’ awesome to see.

All afore mentioned idea focuses around multiple characters, I don’t know how ya’ll fancy that idea (personally, I like it) but the game can have just one character also which it think is more what ya’ll are going for.

OFFLINE

more Character development

the different piece of the puzzle idea is very interesting, how bout a repackaging of that into a different background system. Let us say you start out with a background sheet you could pick your family to have deep roots with the Political Party or the NWC or even the foundation of the rebel groups. You would have different background options which would affect your initial reputation. You would still however start out with a completely neutral character, create some circumstance which leaves you out on your own. Depending on your background different initial choices could be easier for you like say being recruited into the NWC or joining up with the rebels. however the other option you neglected would be harder to choose. Let us say you r family is deeply involved with the NWC and you wanted to join the rebels, it would be harder for you to join them since they would not trust you as much and you will have to prove yourself more to gain acceptance. This would give the people who just want to play from one storyline one clear side while allowing people who want to flip flop around or stay neutral throughout the game the option to do so.