Also, any modder is free to hack this idea into their own - just give credit where it's due, eh.)
DOH! It posted before I can write it.
Anyway, here's my idea.
At installing the mod, the player will have to choose between:
whether they will roleplay a "Good" or "Evil" character AND
whether they will roleplay a "Lawful" or "Chaotic" character
The gameplay will hinge upon the player adhering to or deviating from their chosen alignemnts.
Adherance to their chosen alignment will get them bonuses.
Deviation from their chosen alignment will get them penalties.
There will be 3 levels of adherance and deviations:
(These labels are temporary for now, but the consistent use of Steadfast, Strict, etc. helps with ease of labelling of the Magic Effects - in a UI perspective.)
- (Normal/Standard) Adherence to good/evil/law/chaos
- Steadfast Adherence to >alignment<
- Strict Adherence to >alignment<
- Deviation from >alignment<
- Steadfast Deviation to >alignment<
- Strict Deviation to >alignment<
With 2 effects active at a time: One for good/evil. And another for lawful/chaotic.
(Standard) Adherence to >alignment<
This simply means that over 2 days, the player has adhered to their chosen alignment. Low-weight bonus will apply.
Steadfast Adherence to >alignment<
Steadfast Adherence to >alignment< means that the player has steadfastly roleplayed their alignment properly. Mid-weight bonus will apply.
Strict Adherence to >alignment<
Strict Adherence to >alignment< means that the player has truly made an effort to stay true to their alignment. High level of bonus.
As you can see, these levels of adherence occur over time. And as play goes on, the player will move from one to the other.
After 2 days of adhering to their true alignment, they will move into the Steadfast Adherence level.
After 2 days of being steadfast, they will move into the Strict Adherence level.
Strict Adherence level lasts until they deviate from their alignment.
(Standard) Deviation from >alignment<
Deviation from >alignment< is when the player acts contrary to their alignment.
When good, they will feel guilty. When evil, they will feel grump(ier).
Regardless of alignment, they will feel that something they've done is not right.
Subconciously, this will have an affect on their character. ALL bonuses (regardless of level) will be removed and they will be replaced with low-level penalties.
This phase lasts for 2 days.
If they deviated again at anytime during these 2 days, they will slide further into the Steadfast Deviation level.
Otherwise (i.e. they stayed true to their alignment), they will move into Test of Character phase.
Test of Character
For the next 2 days, no bonuses or penalties are applied. If the player deviated at anytime during this phase, they will return to (Standard) Deviation level.
Otherwise (i.e. they stayed true to their alignment), they will move back into (Standard) Adherence level.
Steadfast Deviation from >alignment<
This lasts another 2 days of roleplay test. Mid-weight penalties will apply.
Again, if the player fails to stay true to their alignment, they will move into the Strict Deviation level.
If they pass, they move into the Test of Character phase.
Strict deviation from >alignment<
This lasts 2 days also. High penalties will apply.
Deviation after those 2 days will result in the player's alignment switching.
Staying true to their alignment, will move them into the Test of Character phase.
Summary (in point form)
Adherence
- (Standard) Adherence to
level - 2 days. Low-weight bonus. - Steadfast Adherence to
level - 2 days. Mid-weight bonus. - Strict Adherence to >alignment< level. High bonus.
Deviation
- (Standard) Deviation from >alignment< level - 2 days. Low-weight penalty.
- Steadfast Deviation from >alignment< level - 2 days. Mid-weight penalty.
- Strict Deviation from >alignment< level - 2 days. High penalty. If the player deviated at anytime inside this 2 days, their alignment is switched.
If they succeed in staying true to their alignment, they enter the Test of Character phase.
Test of Character
2 days. No bonuses or penalties.
If the player stays true to their alignment, they will return to (Standard) Adherence to >alignment< level.
Otherwise, they enter the (Standard) Deviation level.
Summary (verbose)
If the player stays true to their alignment, they will move up the Adherence levels every 2 days.
However, any time they deviate from their alignment, they will move down into the Standard Deviation level.
At the end of each Deviation level, they will move down to the next Deviation level IF they failed to stay true to their alignment.
However, if they managed to stay true, they will move into Test of Character phase.
Their alignment switches after 2 days of being in the Strict Deviation level.
After 2 days in the Test of Character phase, the player will return to the Standard Adherence level IF they managed to stay true to their alignment.
Failure will return them to the Standard Deviation level.
Conclusion
Well, That's the system.
I have the CK and the Script all set-up for it moving up and down the Adherence and Deviation levels.
What I need
Your thoughts about the system.
And, more importantly, HOW and WHAT to track for good/evil and lawful/chaotic actions.
To be honest, I have a small list of HOW and WHAT to track.
But I'm interested to see HOW and WHAT you guys would like.
I've queried the general public on the Good/Evil natures of Daedras and Aedras already: http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1405676-are-all-daedra-evil-and-are-all-devines-good