Competition RPG Codex Contest: Wasteland 2 Shrine, Artifact, and NPC/Weapon

[Hoodoo]

NPC:

mutated flying octopus that stalks from the clouds. Tentacles subtly phallic shaped. Special death animation / text line on death.

 

[Great0ldOne]

NPC: A mutant with two heads in surprisingly well-kept overalls is busy fixing a water pump. One of the heads turns to regard you cooly. The other never acknowledges you.

>Greet mutant

>"Hey there, stranger. Name's Richard, though folk around here call me Dick. I mind my own business and suggest you do the same, but I don't mind repairing your equipment, in return for some basic supplies. As long as you aren't one of the nuts that like to rile me up until I lose my temper and hit them hard. They seem to get some kind of religious high out of it. The waste does strange things to people..."

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I'll update tomorrow to complete my entry...

 

[Great0ldOne]

Is there some kind of restriction to editing posts that I am not aware of? I can't edit the above post to add this, so forgive the double post, but inspiration does not bow down before banal internet etiquette .

Artifact: You let your gaze wander over the featureless wasteland. A distant yet intense light reflection catches your eye.

>Investigate

Searching among the rumble, you spot a surprisingly clean monocle. It is a curious thing to be sure: The craftsmanship is exquisite, but it is useless as an actual eye aid, as the words "Choice" and "Consequence" are etched on the glass, one on each side.

Statue plaque: There is a fresco covering the base of the statue. It depicts a gathering of people, dressed in a manner considered very distinguished before the great disaster. The figures are faceless, their heads replaced by what looks like split figs. Despite the lack of facial features, the artist's masterful lines manage to convey their great anger.

>Examine fresco

Upon close inspection, you spot that one of the figures has an eye. It is slightly recessed...

>Insert curious monocle on fresco eye

Shrine: Next update!

 

[Urist McLurker]

I humbly believe that whatever we come up with should encompass the ideals/ideas of the prestigious magazine, rather than a single facets of it. The reasons it exists, what draws people to it, what it stands against. Rather than having it about the flavour, or a masturbatory 'fuck yeah we're awesome'.

 

[Azrael the cat]

I humbly believe that whatever we come up with should encompass the ideals/ideas of the prestigious magazine, rather than a single facets of it. The reasons it exists, what draws people to it, what it stands against. Rather than having it about the flavour, or a masturbatory 'fuck yeah we're awesome'.

This. He's exactly right. The statue should be of two trannies fighting - it's the obvious solution.

 

[Crooked Bee]

I remember Alexandros had some pretty good suggestions in one of the earlier threads. If he's still around, I'd love him to take part in the contest.

 

[Azael]

The Codex statue is a must. Obscure circlejerk references? Fucking decline. Keep it simple tards.

 

[Achilles]

I remember Alexandros had some pretty good suggestions in one of the earlier threads. If he's still around, I'd love him to take part in the contest.

I'm still around, I was just not interested in the first prize and I didn't want to deprive it of anyone who might really want it in case I won. If I win then, I will not accept it. Deal?

1. Description of the shrine.

An old, abandoned military bunker located on top of a hill/ on the side of a mountain, a few miles outside of a pre-war city. The party learns of this bunker by talking to some NPCs in the region. The NPCs tell them the folk story of a group of traditionalists preaching about the "Great Decline", their version of the end of days about to come due to the general populace's disregard for the old ways. Apparently, at some point they grew tired of preaching and they willingly chose to seclude themselves in that bunker, their very own "shelter from modernity" as they used to call it. Noone dares approach the old bunker, even after all these years, in fear of the defences set in place by a member of the group, a mad man with a genius-level intellect.

2. Description for the statue.

As the party approaches the bunker's location, they can see from distance the figure of a statue. When they get closer, they see that it's a statue of some sort of apparently angry devil/trolll-like creature. If the party examines the statue, they get a description along the following lines: The figure is positioned in such a way as to face the pre-war city directly. You can't help but notice that the statue's posture suggests it is "looking down" on the city, with an obvious air of superiority. Was it supposed to represent the group's elitism, its contempt for the ways of the plain folk? It is a mystery.


2. The type of in-game artifact + backstory.

The bunker is now obviously deserted, with all of its inhabitants long dead or gone. Only their skeletons remain, strewn across the various rooms. The only item able to shed a light on the mystery of their demise is The Codex, a book found in the main hall of the bunker. By examining it, the player gets a description that goes something like this: The Codex is a fascinating read. Various journal entries describe the day to day activities of the group and their plans to reforge society according to their ideals after the coming of the Decline, with the basic principles of the plan entailed in a seperate section of the Codex called "Rebirth Program Guidelines" or RPG. However, the later pages reveal the possible cause of their own destruction, as The Codex describes numerous heated discussions and wildly different opinions on the exact nature of the RPG. The last chapter of the unfinished book suggests that the conflict turned violent at some point. It seems probable that infighting was the cause for the eventual demise of the group. [Full credit to Felipepepe for his idea on that last bit].

4. Name an NPC OR weapon

Searching through the rubble of the bunker you find a ceremonial dagger which, according to the Codex ,is called the "Honour Blade". The book says that all members of the group were required to make a blood oath of loyalty, cutting the palm of their hand until blood came out, as a symbolic gesture of their commitment to the cause.

Ok, that's it. Admittedly the weapon idea is a bit weak but my Codex lore skill is a bit low, I couldn't think of something better. I'm sure it can be replaced by a better idea from some other contestant. I wanted my story to make sense to every player of Wasteland 2 regardless of whether he 'gets' the references or not and, most importantly, to not break the game's coherence with blatantly obvious and out of place references. I think this location would be an interesting find for everyone, even if they've never heard of the site.

 

[FeelTheRads]

I wanted my story to make sense to every player of Wasteland 2 regardless of whether he 'gets' the references or not and, most importantly, to not break the game's coherence with blatantly obvious and out of place references.

Seems pretty good to me.

 

[Lockkaliber]

Alexandros thingie is the best one so far.

 

[Crooked Bee]

I like Alexandros' entry a lot. The item is a bit indeed weak since it doesn't really have anything to do with the Codex imho (disclaimer: this opinion is mine and not that of the Codex staff), but yeah, it can be replaced with some other thingy.

 

[Achilles]

I'll try to come up with something better for the npc/weapon until the end of the contest. I just don't know whether it's ok to reference specific forum members, directly or indirectly. For instance, my first thought was to have a Cleve-like character hunt you down if you remove the Codex from the bunker. I also considered having the NPC that tells you about the bunker end each phrase by adding his name, in reference to Qwinn.

 

[FeelTheRads]

Referencing forum members is pretty much circle-jerking. I vote NO.
I didn't pay $115 to have Volourn or some other tard immortalized in the game.

 

[Achilles]

Personally I agree, but it comes down to what the staff wants. I do think that Cleve could be an exception to that rule though, he gels well with the "bunker" concept. Anyway, I'm sure we'll get a lot of great suggestions for npcs/weapons so it's not a big deal.

 

[Country_Gravy]

Everyone seems to going for naming a NPC. Wouldn't a weapon or something make it so that it wouldn't need to reference any forum members, but a common forum theme. Doesn't anyone remember the RPG-7 from Wasteland? When I was a kid a really thought they meant role playing game and not rocket propelled grenade. Hey, I was 7, OK. Couldn't there be something about the definition of a RPG in there somewhere.

 

[Fryjar]

Artifact: Multiheaded Stick

A melee weapon of unknown origins, that looks at first glance like a regular leafless tree branch. During combat however, its twigs seem to take on a life of their own, making it, if wielded in the right hands, a dangerous armament.

Looking closely, you observe that someone carved some barely legible words on its reinforced shaft. You are not quite sure what to make of it:
"Multiheaded...hitting...and leg...its heaven."

 

[toro]

I would prefer a surprise, which means no proposition from RpgCodex. Whatever inXile decides.

 

[DraQ]

Artifact: Multiheaded Stick

A melee weapon of unknown origins, that looks at first glance like a mutated leafless tree branch. During combat its twigs seem to take on a life of their own, making it, if wielded in the right hands, a dangerous armament.

Looking closely, you observe that someone carved some barely legible words on its reinforced shaft. You are not quite sure what to make of it:
"Multiheaded...ick hitting...and leg...its heavan" - you notice that "heaven" is misspelled.

Slightly improved?

 

[Fryjar]

Artifact: Multiheaded Stick

A melee weapon of unknown origins, that looks at first glance like a mutated leafless tree branch. During combat its twigs seem to take on a life of their own, making it, if wielded in the right hands, a dangerous armament.

Looking closely, you observe that someone carved some barely legible words on its reinforced shaft. You are not quite sure what to make of it:
"Multiheaded...ick hitting...and leg...its heavan" - you notice that "heaven" is misspelled.

Slightly improved?

Yes, sounds better. Feel free to iterate on it as you see fit, if you want to.

 

[Lonerville]

I know I'm being an uppity, low post-count-having motherfucker, but perhaps it's better to choose ideas* that play to slightly wider audiences than just a group of Codex members?

Otherwise, you often end up with something not at all like this:

You listen to The Last Codex Troll masturbating in the darkness.

Above the sound of self-satisfied laughter, you hear things like "POPAMOLE!", "DECLINE!" and "OH MY GOD, ITZ HEAVAN!"

No-one but the other trolls ever knew what the hell he was talking about.

*probably not mine

 

[bminorkey]

I also like Alexandros' suggestion (though TwinkieGorilla's is my favorite). The problem is that the suggestion seems too massive in scope to fit the guidelines. I think it needs some trimming before it's practical enough to be implemented in the game.

I know I'm being an uppity, low post-count-having motherfucker, but perhaps it's better to choose ideas* that play to slightly wider audiences than just a group of Codex members?

Otherwise, you often end up with something not at all like this:

...

*probably not mine

I would say it's fine to be obscure as long as the idea is multifaceted. Someone in this thread already said something along these lines: The Shrine, artifact, plot et cetera should make sense to someone who's never heard of the Codex, but be even more fun to someone who's in-the-know. TwinkieGorilla's or some of those "great decline" suggestions are a step in the right direction.

 

[Tel Prydain]

I'll try to come up with something better for the npc/weapon until the end of the contest. I just don't know whether it's ok to reference specific forum members, directly or indirectly. For instance, my first thought was to have a Cleve-like character hunt you down if you remove the Codex from the bunker. I also considered having the NPC that tells you about the bunker end each phrase by adding his name, in reference to Qwinn.

I think having Saint Proverbius hunt you down if you take the codex might be more fitting. For a start, that sounds like someone who might be a part of a traditionalist cult. And he's not just some random poster.
Also while the Description for the statue was okay, it could be punched up a little.

But I'm a new-fag, so what do I know.

 

[Jaesun]

Why would Saint hunt you down? It should be Rosh. That man was fucking insane. In a good way.

 

[Mozgoëbstvo]

As this thing goes on, it seems that a lot of people have a really good idea for an item and inferior ideas for the others. Are you SURE people have to pitch everything, even if it's not gonna be great?
Can't we separately vote the best proposals for shrine, NPC, weapon, etc?

That would look like the more sensible option.

 

[Crooked Bee]

Are you SURE people have to pitch everything, even if it's not gonna be great? Can't we separately vote the best proposals for shrine, NPC, weapon, etc?

Yes and yes, we can.