Diablo I-III, Grim Dawn, Path of the Exile, Warhammer: Chaosbane, and Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor/Martyr – all members of a genre of games that are addictive and popular. Games scratching the itch of gamers wanting to enjoy a pick up and play, loot and scoot adventure with memorable characters, unique bosses, and can be enjoyed by friends via couch co-op or online. With members of Action RPG royalty present in the list above, where have we never been before in this genre?
I can sum it up in one franchise: Star Wars.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Think about it, a Star Wars game in this genre…oh, the possibilities.
I’m not here to bash the genre, Hell, I love the genre. I bought two versions of Diablo III and have logged hundreds of hours trying to get the perfect gear for my Barbarian and Demon Hunter. My friend and I have stomped around Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor/Martyr for hours purging the chaos from multiple systems, and, in more recent adventures, have started marauding through the sewers in Warhammer: Chaosbane. I’m a fan of this type of game, and always have been.
So, why not the Star Wars franchise?
The Star Wars digital empire has been the perfect arena to field new types of adventures and stories. Jedi Fallen Order, Jedi Outkast, Star Wars Squadrons, and a little MMO known as The Old Republic. With just these games Lucasarts pushed the envelope of what could be done in a video game, so why not take a shot at making an Action RPG based in the Star Wars universe that plays like a Diablo or a Grim Dawn?
Please, hear me out.
The odds of a game like this being canonical in the Disney SW Universe are pretty slim, and, not realistic, nor should it be. Instead, I suggest a bold tack and go the Star Wars Legends route with a game like this for a number of different reasons, chief among them being the number of settings, stories, and themes to be explored not to mention the different eras of the vast Star Wars universe. With all of this in mind, I have the perfect jumping off point for an ARPG series a potential developer would be wise to consider…
…The New Jedi Order and the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.
Think of the possibilities, an ongoing war between the anti-technology zealotry of the Yuuzhan Vong and the burgeoning if not shaky New Republic. The stunning invasion of the Yuuzhan Vong pushing the resources of the New Republic so far to the limit they need to forge an alliance with the Imperial Remnant, Luke Skywalker and the New Jedi Order are pressed to the breaking point, and the conflict leaves nothing but devastation in its wake. From key battles in the saga, the exploration of Chiss space, to the final confrontation with the Yuuzhan Vong – you have the skeletal foundation of a space opera that can span multiple games in the series in a tried and true formula gamers love.
Characters:
Even the best concepts in a game can fall flat without intriguing options for character design and development. Would Diablo III be as memorable without the Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Necromancer, or Justicar? Of course not. No, a Star Wars game in this genre would need some great classes…scratch that, LEGENDARY Classes to make the game playable for years to come.
First Objective: Establish a Light, Dark, and Gray mechanic for morality. This would permit maximum flexibility within the Star Wars universe for character development, especially if you incorporate skill trees based on character morality and play style.
Character Classes: Every action RPG lives and dies by the classes available; how fun are they to play, and how unique they can become based on gear, player choice, and class skills.
Soldiers: Stormtroopers, Rebel Infantry, Mob Enforcers – these are the backbone of any combat force and can bring heavy weapons to bear when needed. They can be tanks that soak damage or they can bring the rain; player choice and style is what makes the difference.
Scoundrels: Bounty Hunters, Smugglers, Special Forces – when there’s dirty work to be done no one else can, or is willing to do it, these are the characters you call on. Through assassinations, hacking, or stealth these classes can do the heavy lifting with high damage output through any number of dirty tricks or just plain luck.
Force Users: Jedi, Sith, Gray Jedi – fearsome opponents in almost any situation, force users aren’t measured in just their skill with a lightsaber, but often in how well they use the force to change battlefield conditions to their favor. Whether that advantage comes from the chaos of raw force power like force lightning, or through the finesse of redirecting damage from themselves and their allies – force users of any stripe can change the outcome of a battle.
Enemies:
The staple of any ARPG are the multitude of enemies you encounter, and the Yuuzhan Vong are fierce as they come. Existing partially outside of the force, often times it’s best to defeat them by sheer brute force or using the environments against them. The depths of their massive living ships are home to countless life forms bread for combat and survival in the harshest environments.
As the Yuuzhan Vong wandered through the vast between universes, their power grew and they became masters of their biotechnology and skilled in the art of war. When they arrive in the Star Wars Universe, they are impossible to defeat by the New Republic or the Imperial Remnant individually. Only through a united front can either hope to survive such a foe.
Missions:
The types of missions one could develop for a game such as this can be endless; seek and destroy missions, defense missions, rescue missions, recon missions, or even large scale battles. There are so many possibilities, they can’t all be listed here.
Items/Loot:
What good is an ARPG without precious loot to go with it? Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary – all staples of ARPGs, but what about adding another layer to each of these categories? What about creating iconic items from the Star Wars Universe in a similar fashion to what CD Projekt Red did with Cyberpunk 2077? What if your Force User were to stumble across Darth Maul’s Dual lightsaber? Whatever happened to Greedo’s blaster? Who can forget HK47’s blaster rifle from Knights of the Old Republic? there are so many opportunities to find unique items and armor for your character, you could become legendary in your own right.
Skill Trees:
With a morality mechanic players can choose from three different skill trees – Light, Dark, or Gray. Light skills would be the domain of Jedi, Rebel Troopers, and Smugglers. Dark Skills would be the expertise of the Sith, Bounty Hunters, and Stormtroopers. Gray skills would fall into the wheelhouse of Gray Jedi, Mob Enforcers, and Scoundrels – a sort of “Jack of all trades, master of none” build. The skill trees would essentially allow you to create 9 character archetypes from three core templates giving players the widest menu of choices to make their characters their own.
Conclusion:
Think of it, a rollicking space opera in the legendary Star Wars Universe, in an ongoing conflict that could span 3-5 games. You could even allow players to keep developing their original characters in a similar fashion to Destiny 2 or the Mass Effect games – new level caps, new items, new skills while the same characters foster a sense of continuity.Star Wars: Vong Invasion is the game we need and want, even if we haven’t gotten there yet.
Regards,
Johncow
2cowsgaming.com 