How to tell stories through Settings? Towers

Towers & Large Buildings

  • Everything is scalable.
  • Balance, give the Public Coherence & Consistence.
  • Customization, give the Public a sense of belonging.
  • Replayability, give the Public a reason to come back.
  • As you go Higher/Lower does the size of each level Change?
    • Does it Increase?
    • Does it Decrease?
  • As you go Higher/Lower do the resources become more scarce?
    • Water
    • Food
    • Oxygen
    • Other
  • As you walk though this Place, what do you experience?
    • Loss
    • Confusion
    • Hesitation
    • Satisfaction
    • Pride

Layered Buildings

  • Each Layer creates a unique Atmosphere.
  • The Function Justify the Presence of the Layer.
  • How is the Fauna?
  • How is the Flora?
  • What are the dominant colors/light?
  • How many Layers?
  • Up to 6 : Entry/Exit, Crisis, Rest, Ressources, Research, Reward.
  • Can there be more?
  • Yes, but they will a variation of the 6 layers aforementioned.
  • You can reuse each type of layer/level to install a different rhythm to your Story.
  • For Example, Crisis, Rest, Research, Reward, Crisis, Crisis, Rest is a different rhythm from Research, Rest, Research, Crisis, Rest, Crisis, Reward.
  • The Layering allows you to adapt & revise your tempo.

The Entry & Surroundings

  • What are the main Shapes & Colors?
  • The Tower is built with orange Bricks.
  • Its surroundings are made of green grass, young trees & other shrubberies.
  • At the foot of the tower are small blue fruits very similar to agrumes.
  • How is the Light?
  • The light is scarce but not nonexistent.
  • Clouds have set themselves in the skies above the Tower top.
  • There may be a storm.
  • Should you enter now?
  • How are the senses stimulated?
  • The air is cooler.
  • You suppose it would be raining.
  • You hear only the wind & little frogs near the blue fruits, preparing themselves to feast.
  • You touch your leather belt to which is attached your gun.
  • There’s nothing to fear, but you can’t enter the tower.
  • Are there any Landmarks, Symbols & Remarkable objects?
  • The Entry & Surroundings are plain.
  • The entrance is clean and you realize is it upkept.
  • Who lives here?
  • Multiple Individuals.
  • Most people couldn’t afford this type of building, nor have the means to keep it kempt.
  • Possibly an Organization.
  • Why are they here?
  • Are there any special resources in the Region?
  • Maybe this place is safe & quiet enough for them to orchestrate their operations here.
  • Buildings
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Items
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Enemies
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Hammering Threats right at the Beginning

Crisis/Conflict

  • What are the main Shapes & Colors?
  • As you come in you are stopped by creature dressed in Yellow.
  • She is 2 heads higher than you.
  • Her face is hidden.
  • She doesn’t speak.
  • She only blocks your path with her towering figure.
  • How is the Light?
  • There’s a beam of light illuminating the door behind her.
  • But on her very little light.
  • She places her hand in front of you.
  • A Blinding Light emerges from her hand.
  • You close your eyes & dodge.
  • How are the senses stimulated?
  • A deep sound follows the Beam of light.
  • It breaks the quietness to the room.
  • You rolled & landed on your arm.
  • Are there any Landmarks, Symbols & Remarkable objects?
  • The creature has unleashed her beam.
  • Now she is static.
  • She doesn’t look at you.
  • She breathes.
  • It seems…
  • She isn’t alive, but she breathes.
  • There are no holes in the walls behind me.
  • You can’t see anything else remarkable on this level.
  • You pass the door to the next one.
  • Who lives here?
  • There was no one on this level.
  • Except her.
  • Why was she here?
  • She let you pass even though she had to opportunity to block you.
  • Buildings
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Items
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Enemies
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Will you be Hammering Threats right at the Beginning?

Rest

  • What are the main Shapes & Colors?
  • You arrive in a small courtyard.
  • The walls are cyan & seem to go inwards.
  • The walkable place is reduced by the receding walls.
  • How is the Light?
  • There’s a small lamp on the floor.
  • And around it frogs.
  • How are the senses stimulated?
  • All there is is the croaks of the frogs & the creaks of the walls.
  • You didn’t sleep enough recently.
  • You fall asleep.
  • You feel arms around your neck.
  • Cold, but gentle arms.
  • The arms wraps around your torso.
  • The hands move.
  • You awaken.
  • Are there any Landmarks, Symbols & Remarkable objects?
  • The frogs are gone.
  • Before you is a statue of a young woman on her knees, planting a dagger in her own chest.
  • Under the statue is a plaque : ‘Mathilda Metalmaiden’.
  • At the statues’ feet grew a mattress or turquoise leaves.
  • Who lives here?
  • You still saw nobody.
  • Except these statues.
  • As you now realize the one that attempt to block your way truly wasn’t alive.
  • Who sculpted these statues?
  • Why are they still here if the inhabitants of the tower are gone?
  • Buildings
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Items
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Enemies
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability

Replenishment & Resources

  • What are the main Shapes & Colors?
  • You put feet in a grove of purple flowers.
  • You feel hungry.
  • Some of these flowers bear fruit.
  • But the fruits have began to waste away.
  • Other flowers are wilted.
  • Though, they didn’t lost their deep purple.
  • How is the Light?
  • Others again are about to bloom.
  • They are still bright.
  • But as you approach of them you can see white dots on them.
  • The flowers are infected.
  • You can’t see any animals in the room.
  • Even insects.
  • What caused this infection?
  • You realize the most wilted ones are the ones which receive more light.
  • How are the senses stimulated?
  • The Space is empty.
  • And yet filled with the life of the orchard.
  • You can hear the flowers, trying to bloom.
  • Pushing their petals away from their core.
  • Searching the Light, and trying to escape her once they had blossomed.
  • The perfume is embalming the room, but you didn’t realize.
  • Your thoughts were focused on the Light.
  • Are there any Landmarks, Symbols & Remarkable objects?
  • You look…
  • You listen…
  • The Orchard itself attempts to speak to you.
  • Walk, forwards.
  • Who lives here?
  • Growers it seems.
  • Farmers maybe.
  • Did they domesticated the frogs as well?
  • Why are these flowers here?
  • How can they hope to fully grow inside?
  • Do they still wish to fully grow?
  • Or only to reach a state where they can bear fruit & disappear.
  • Buildings
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Items
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Enemies
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability

Research & Hidden objects

  • The Setting is design to influence the Behavior of the Characters.
  • You feel trapped here.
  • Not in a Place.
  • But in a Scheme.
  • The Environment pushes you.
  • The Tower pushes you.
  • What are the main Shapes & Colors?
  • You cannot see much.
  • This level is owned by Darkness.
  • She is hiding.
  • She is denying your progress.
  • Use Light to Hide or Reveal object.
  • There are holes in Darkness.
  • Her bed is decorated with shining pebbles.
  • Small stones, small friends.
  • You walk on them to find a way.
  • The path interrupts.
  • Before you can quit the level.
  • How are the senses stimulated?
  • A presence whispers.
  • You recognize your language.
  • The name she whispers is not your name.
  • But you will follow her words.
  • Walk on the hidden pebbles.
  • Walk, it clings under your feet.
  • You walk on sound.
  • And sound pushes you.
  • Are there any Landmarks, Symbols & Remarkable objects?
  • Who lives here?
  • Does Darkness lives here?
  • Or is she just here, in transition?
  • Does the presence lived here?
  • Does she think she is still…
  • Why are they still here?
  • Buildings
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Items
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Enemies
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability

Reward

  • What are the main Shapes & Colors?
  • A mauve circle.
  • A mauve discus.
  • Both, in the middle of the room.
  • You walk on a orange path made of petrified wood.
  • The walls are cracked.
  • Splintered wood & bones come out of the fissures.
  • Emerald moss & vines course through them.
  • The vegetation converges to the mauve discus, on which is a pedestal.
  • The Light Welcomes you.
  • The Light Bath You.
  • The Light Surrounds the Pedestal.
  • How are the senses stimulated?
  • You walk on the path of green.
  • You feel the wood & bones shards through your worn boots.
  • The shards pierce through your skin.
  • Nonetheless, you walk.
  • You triumph is rhythmed by remains of these who once built this tower.
  • You reach the Pedestal.
  • Are there any Landmarks, Symbols & Remarkable objects?
  • The Pedestal is standing before you.
  • At its foot dance the small frogs.
  • On it is a Purple Sphere.
  • A Purple Fruit very similar to those outside.
  • You bite it.
  • The bit of flesh you bit out regrows.
  • You bite again.
  • The flesh grows once more.
  • As you satiate yourself, you experience stubbornness.
  • What pushed you to come here?
  • Did you simply return?
  • Who lived here?
  • Why were they here?
  • Buildings
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Items
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability
  • Enemies
    • Balance, Customization, Replayability


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