Decisions with consequences that affect the game world is something that is very appealing in single-player games. However, this doesn’t really work in MMORPGs. Baldur’s Gate 3 (PC, Stadia) could present a solution, says MeinMMO author Andreas Bertits.
Due to a decision made by the player during the adventure, bandits suddenly overrun a settlement, leveling it to the ground. Such things can indeed happen in a single-player RPG, and that’s what makes it appealing for some fans.
The difference between single and multiplayer: In titles like The Witcher or the Fallout series, decisions during quests or dialogues are an essential part of the player experience. What are the consequences when I choose to help NPC A and leave NPC B to their fate?
However, in an MMO, this is difficult to implement. If an NPC dies due to my decision, other players can no longer visit them. Teammates might have acted differently and be frustrated with the outcome of the situation. Therefore, in many MMOs, decisions have no real consequences.
The evil boss enemy threatens to attack and destroy the city, but it never happens. And even if heroes defeat the monster, it always comes back.
These solutions already exist: Some MMORPGs are trying to change this. In Star Wars: The Old Republic, you can influence the story during the storyline. However, this mainly affects your personal story. There are no consequences for the game world.
The Elder Scrolls Online tried to solve this with phasing technology. NPCs can die and then disappear. But in this case, players who made different decisions are in different “phases” and no longer meet.
For this reason, this system is hardly used in modern ESO. Players simply want to play together and not be separated due to different decisions.
How could decisions with consequences work in MMOs?
Could a single-player RPG show us the way? Larian Studios is currently working on the RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 (introduced by the colleagues from Gamestar). Although it is not an MMORPG, the multiplayer part offers a very interesting option for how players can make joint decisions that actually impact the plot and the world.
As the developers revealed in a video, branching storylines involve a vote. Each player indicates which option they choose. The game then takes the option that received the most votes. The entire group must then live with it. We will experience how well this works at the end of September with the start of the Early Access phase of BG 3.
This can sometimes lead to funny situations. For example, if a vampire is in the party, it occasionally has to drink blood and can drain its teammates. However, they have a say in the matter. And that is through voting. So it is democratically decided which player will be bitten by the bloodsucker.
Are votes the solution? This system could even work in MMOs. If there are decisions during quests that have consequences for the entire server, a vote starts. Depending on how urgent it is, it remains “open” for a certain time. As many players as possible need to participate now. This voting then determines the course of action.
However, this is not an ideal solution. Those who are not online at the time cannot participate and may feel overwhelmed by the decision made. Notifications via email or phone might help here. If a vote takes place, every player on the server receives a message and can then decide whether to participate or not.
It could work under certain circumstances: Quests would naturally need to be designed accordingly to integrate such votes meaningfully. If heroes need to ask the entire server whether it is okay to make the death blow in a fight against the dark boss, the flow of the game would stall.
However, votes would be possible when an invasion into an enemy territory is about to start or when an NPC is revealed as a traitor and is waiting for their trial. Do players acquit them or do they face execution? These decisions could have larger consequences:
- The invasion results in a declaration of war from a third party or
- the NPC was a member of a secret organization that now hunts the players.
Perhaps Baldur’s Gate 3 shows us with the voting system that we can indeed expect real decisions with consequences in online games, and in the future, more games, even MMORPGs, may adopt this system.
Would you appreciate such a voting system in an MMO to experience decisions with consequences?
Do you enjoy story-driven online games? Then check out MeinMMO’s list of “The 6 Best Story MMORPGs You Can Play in 2020.”
