The MMORPG Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen aims to provide a classic gaming experience while still appearing modern. The developers explain how this is supposed to work using the NPCs.
What is special about the NPCs? In some MMORPGs, NPCs are essentially static objects that assign quests and rewards. Once you complete an NPC’s task, they politely thank you and may even say “Hello” if you click on them again.
However, in Pantheon, the NPCs are supposed to feel more lifelike. This is shown by the fact that their attitude towards you and their behavior change depending on the situation.
More lifelike NPCs in an MMORPG
How can this manifest? The developers of the MMORPG Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen explain the system using an example. An NPC has a certain attitude towards you or the world but then finds out that his buddy has died in a monster attack. As a result, his behavior changes. He becomes driven by thoughts of revenge. If his friend does not die, he remains kind.
The NPCs in Pantheon are supposed to have different alignments and attitudes that can change due to specific events. This could make the world feel more alive and, above all, make the NPCs more interesting.
How does this fit into the concept? The MMORPG Pantheon is based on Everquest 1 and aims to bring this game principle from 1999 into the present. This means that the focus lies on group play.
However, this does not mean that there can be no innovations or modernizations—as long as they do not contradict the core gameplay principles. NPCs that change and thus appear more lifelike is such a change that fits well.
MeinMMO author Andreas Bertits says: A significant difference between single-player RPGs and MMORPGs is the behavior of NPCs. While in a single-player game, NPCs can change, evolve, and may even die, the non-player characters in an online role-playing game are usually static. They are essentially always the same.
However, Pantheon seems to breathe more life into the NPCs. The fact that they react to specific events or change their attitude from good to evil is intriguing. How exactly this will be shown in the game remains to be seen. But it certainly sounds quite exciting.
The MMORPG Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen is one of the online role-playing games that we at MeinMMO have doubts about, whether it will still be released in 2020.
