this post was submitted on 02 May 2025
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Game design question : how to make a "trapped" player character? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 month ago by jannaultheal@lemmy.world to c/games@lemmy.world
51 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I have an idea for a game: It's the usual "a princess is kidnapped by a dragon and a brave knight is on a quest to rescue her" story. But you (the player) plays as the princess, who is somehow helping the knight on his quest.

The issue is that since the player is playing as a trapped character, I want to make the player feel trapped, but I don't know how to do that.

My original idea is that the princess telepathically communicates with the knight and tells him what to do. But this doesn't work, the gameplay is identical to the player playing as the knight. How can I make the gameplay feel like the player is playing as the princess (and thus feel trapped) instead of the knight?

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[–] Surenho@lemmy.wtf 32 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

A 3D game where you're locked inside a tower with tiny windows that allow you to see outside just enough to understand what's happening out there while the knight navigates the fortress/castle. You have multiple forms of influencing what the knight does and what transpires outside (sending letters and packages with items, crafting said items or potions, using magic, commanding assistance from other loyal servants, distracting enemies, unveiling traps and puzzles to aid in the quest). The place can be a tower with multiple floors and as you progress you might gain access to new floors of tools, while also having maybe "putting out fires" elements such as keeping a dragon asleep with music, filling a moat so evil minions cannot cross, sending equipment and maybe even firing/camping enemies like a sniper but with a crossbow or smthn.

You make them feel trapped by limiting what they can see and do. When things go out of sight or cannot communicate effectively with the knight and limits their actions it then forces succinctness to their effect on their own rescue.

Dunno just an idea :)

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 7 points 1 month ago

Yes, this sounds fun! I would play this game.

Any kind of "action at a distance" would give you the feel you're looking for.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 points 1 month ago

This is the way to go for sure. Actually sounds like a really interesting setup for a game.

[–] PlantJam@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

This concept could work great with "combat" in the style of A Plague Tale. If you're not familiar, the main character is a child. She has a few tools available to manipulate enemies and environmental hazards.

[–] EarMaster@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

It made me think of indirect games like Black & White, Dungeon Keeper, The Settlers or The Sims. You can give orders but you cannot directly control your characters / units. If you limit the amount of orders, add a delay / the possibility for an interception or introduce areas where your orders can't reach your hero it could do the trick.