Story Development/Changes

I was thinking about my story and what i could add to it that would make it more interesting. I wanted to have something shocking, out of the blue. What if the king got killed part the way through the story? I talked about the King hiring factions to hunt you. What if he gets desperate the longer time goes by because he will die and turns to a group of beings he doesn't quite understand. A group of characters who are almost just legend, rarely seen - possibly not even human. In desperation he turns to them, and when they catch Learic and bring him to Leanoric - they kill the king (your brother) right in front of you. Forcing you to watch as they claim the amulet (possibly using it for bigger things).

An unexpected turn of events. I think it could shock the player because they expect Leanoric to be the villain, and this Samurai villain is bigger, badder, and stronger. In the scene, Learic would be near to being killed by this new villain but he manages to escape (possibly aided) with the amulet once again. It would be a big chase sequence and from then on the game picks up the pace, becoming more intense as this villain randomly appears in towns - and you certainly aren't strong enough to face him. It would make more sense that this new enemy turns up randomly because he uses dark magic - whereas Leanoric has everyone on alert and can't use magic as a means of travel and to find you. 

"He's a goddamned Steef! Hidin his legs, got no orns!"

The way I envisage this structure, where the game gets intense after Leanoric's death is similar to the game Oddworld: Strangers Wrath. In the game, you get caught and found out that you're a Steef. You escape and the only creatures who don't consider you an outcast are the Natives. Stranger begins to realise that his role as a Steef is more important than he imagined. It's a massive turn in the story and the pace and style of the game changes quite a bit.

http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=19966 accessed - 08/10/2011