[WIP] Tales & Tallows: Deathbell

[IncriminatingEvidenceInc]

Thanks, all, for the replies! We read everything and take it into consideration, even if we don't respond directly to you.

 

@Esteris

Don't worry about our intention. We have ideas, but we're still brainstorming for later content, too, so any input is welcome. While one of us is working on the main file, the other one is working on the file that contains the later content, and we switch when we need to, so it's a seamless flow of development.

 

@SinderionsBones

The exterior and interior are nearly completed, and the characters are in place. We need to dig into the quest structure and get the quest going. The quest, dialogue, and the scripting is what will be the toughest part for us in terms of technical implementation. We have the initial story divided out into stages, but actually getting all that into the game and playable looks like it will be some work.

 

Thanks for the tip about forum activity. We actually didn't know where the best place to post was, so we picked Nexus because this is the main place where we've been looking for mods. We've now posted on the official Skyrim forums.

[IncriminatingEvidenceInc]

We have uploaded a WIP file so that people can walk through the space and see the NPCs. The quest is not in the game yet, but we would like any feedback on the character or level design, or on anything else about the mod. The map markers are already revealed so that you can fast-travel to the Knights of the Circle Camp and the Ruins of Arkay, which are located north of Winterhold.

 

The file is here on Skyrim Nexus:

WIP Tales and Tallows - Deathbell

[Kelsey473]

In psychological tearms dark / evil does not really exist as such - at least in groups

 

Try `Evil inside human violence and cruelty by Rof F Baumeister`

 

When you look at organisations such as the NAZI SS who we would now see as dark/evil thats not how they viewed themselves they saw themselves as the tuetonic knights reborn hard men maybe but fighting for justice.

 

What this means for video game design is that it will `ring true` if the `dark` people do not see themselves as such but as acting out of a certain `cause` or `world view` they will often also have fearce group loyalty and disciplin.

(sorry for spelling dyslexia)

 

Steve

[IncriminatingEvidenceInc]

Thank you for the book recommendation and your thoughts, Kelsey473. One of the things that bothered us about the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim was how the members gloated repeatedly on how "evil" they were. It seemed to make them juvenile and shallow as characters, as if they were not acting out of a convincing cause or world view, but as if they were the developers' "evil" characters that had to project to the audience their evilness.

 

 

Granted, they seemed like a ragtag renegade group, anyway, not so much the servants of Sithis, so we might be able to give some leeway to the (un)believability of their superficiality.

 

 

The same can be said for "good" characters. What we usually find in video games are characters like Mary Sues/Marty Stus, the woman/object/woman-as-object on the pedestal, the evil overlord, and other stereotypes. Archetypes are not wrong--and probably not altogether avoidable--but if they are not elaborated upon or deepened, then they might become stereotypes. If stereotypes are not intentional, or don't seem to be intentional, then it damages our immersion.

 

One of the sisters of Incriminating Evidence, Inc. does read up on WWII in general and on Nazis in particular for her other projects, so analysis on the SS perspective is not completely new territory, but she is always welcoming more information. We recognize that perspective, psychology, and philosophy are no small matter, and we continually keep that in mind while working on the mod.

[Kelsey473]

Thats O.K Baumeister`s book is a must read for you then, it looks at States, Criminal Gangs, and historical perspective to show why people act in `evil` ways - Baumeister is a very well respected social psychologist and the book is a easy read not technically difficult. Its about 15yrsold so should be cheap on Amazon .. Good luck with yr Mod its good to see a team doing serious work and trying to understand motivation in humans so that their work `rings true` video game designers need this kind of knowledge to make believable characters and situations. - Steve

[elricshan]

so how is it going with the mod?

[IncriminatingEvidenceInc]

Progress is slow. One half of our team has been working on a post-graduate degree, which is taking up a lot of her time. We're still adding bits here and there and haven't closed the project. Although there has been a lot going on outside of our modding lives, we're not giving up on this.

 

We'll see how the summer will turn out for us.

[elricshan]

I for one wil just sya, i can wait a looooong time for a mod,so take your time and i will download it whenever you are done ^^

[IncriminatingEvidenceInc]

Hey, guys! I know it's been a while (TOO long, am I right?! :wink: but things have really started picking up for Tales and Tallows: Deathbell. We've conquered the major hurdle of scripting, and Chapter I: Tolls of the Deathbell (WIP) will be coming out in about a week.

We have a new blog up that you can visit and follow to keep up-to-date with our progress at Tales and Tallows: Deathbell. Come check us out! Much loves, and thanks so much for being patient with us!

[falloutreign]

Looks really promising, will definitely be following this one