Humanity has risen!
Arcane
Another reason why I never thought very highly of the whole concept of "choice and consequence", is that very rarely do the choices you make really matter, because they all have to "even out".
This means that in most RPGs that offer this feature, no faction is ever "right", because they are all hiding information and misdeeds from you. Very rarely can you uncover information that can make you think more objectively that one faction is "right", because usually the designers try to make a balanced gameplay experience for everyone.
Let me list you a few examples:
-In Vampires The Masquerade Bloodlines, every major faction or character ends up using you, plotting against you or betraying you. So is it all down to just whichever gang of assholes I think in the coolest?
-In Shin Megami Tensei, you have the church of Messian (who fights for God), and the church of Gaia (who fights for Satan). But as you explore the game, you discover that both factions have zealot/crazy disciples that have committed terrible deeds and which portray the other side as the "real evil ones".
-In AOD I despised everyone. Everyone was a self-serving, backstabbing fuck,that only deserved to be treated the same.
See why I don't think these choices mean much at all in the end? It would be different if you had enough distinct information about a faction that would allow you to make a more invested choice.
This means that in most RPGs that offer this feature, no faction is ever "right", because they are all hiding information and misdeeds from you. Very rarely can you uncover information that can make you think more objectively that one faction is "right", because usually the designers try to make a balanced gameplay experience for everyone.
Let me list you a few examples:
-In Vampires The Masquerade Bloodlines, every major faction or character ends up using you, plotting against you or betraying you. So is it all down to just whichever gang of assholes I think in the coolest?
-In Shin Megami Tensei, you have the church of Messian (who fights for God), and the church of Gaia (who fights for Satan). But as you explore the game, you discover that both factions have zealot/crazy disciples that have committed terrible deeds and which portray the other side as the "real evil ones".
-In AOD I despised everyone. Everyone was a self-serving, backstabbing fuck,that only deserved to be treated the same.
See why I don't think these choices mean much at all in the end? It would be different if you had enough distinct information about a faction that would allow you to make a more invested choice.