Harry Potter RPG?

[usgentleman2007]

With the books all finished and one (well, technically two) films to go, is it time to start thinking of a -decent- game? Think about it: We've got an elaborate mythology from seven encyclopedia-sized books, and what did those books focus on? One school, in one country in the wizard world. There's still so much left unexplored. There have been games made, of course, which were decent at best, but imagine what a Harry Potter game could be in the hands of a developer like Bethesda. It could play kind of like Oblivion or Fallout...

Instead of fast travel, you Apparate.

You determine your stats by taking your OWL exams, similar to the GOAT in Fallout.

You can be an Auror or a Dark wizard, maybe make a Horcrux out of one of your inventory items.

Imagine the system that could be implemented to charm objects.

How about the Imperius Curse? It would be interesting to control a small army like that.

I'm hoping they decide to make a game like this. It would keep me going for hours and hours....

 

[usgentleman2007]

Oh, and obvious races include wizard, house-elf and goblin.

 

[Aqualung]

Same, that or an MMO would be amazing. They have enough substance, an enormous following... Why don't they?

I'd personally like online Quidditch.

Also, welcome to the Escapist.

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

The big question is online or offline?

EDIT: No wait fuck it, both.

 

[Baneat]

You can learn a million different spells, but it comes down to the unforgiveables and stupefy in the end. always. and the wizards have unlimited magical capacity(doesn't tire them to constantly cast) The quidditch game is 90% useless since the only thing that matters is that snitch.

Point I'm making is that it would need to remove/balance some of the main elements of the books pretty severely.

 

[Nmil-ek]

The problem with pre-established worlds for rpgs is unless your already a fan going into it your not going to know what the fuck is what, why this is happening, what that referance was etc, etc (for example half your post was jargon to me never flollowed the books before, auror? Imerius curse?) and explaining five books worth of that shit while still focusing on a different part of the same setting would probably never happen.

 

[usgentleman2007]

The Unforgiveables would require huge amounts of energy in a game (obviously there would be an energy system in place), and Stupefy is a stunning spell. Besides, in Oblivion do you use every spell in your arsenal, or that badass make-everything-die spell?

 

[Aqualung]

The problem with pre-established worlds for rpgs is unless your already a fan going into it your not going to know what the fuck is what, why this is happening, what that referance was etc, etc (for example half your post was jargon to me never flollowed the books before, auror? Imerius curse?) and explaining five books worth of that shit while still focusing on a different part of the same setting would probably never happen.

Not necessarily.

Spoiler: Warning:

The following post consists much suppressed Harry Potter knowledge from back when I really cared about the series. Now, I haven't even seen the sixth movie yet.

The Harry Potter book series follows just that- Harry Potter. If this game were truly an RPG, you'd be your own character, not Harry, thus following your own individual story (maybe variable between what House you're sorted into.) Now, in the first book, Harry had no idea what the hell all this wizard stuff was about- moving pictures, magic, flying brooms, and the like were all incredibly new to him. Then you have characters like Ron, who grew up around magic. Fans who are knowledgeable about the series would be able to come from wizard families, whilst those who aren't aware of the series' lore could come from a non-magical family.

Also, the story could be set many years before or after the story of the books, so Harry's story could be completely irrelevant and never touched upon- and if the games' story WAS set during Harry's time at Hogwarts, well, talking to a few NPCs would clear up who he is pretty quickly, wouldn't it?

Plenty of RPGs have complex stories that could become their own novels. I play LotRO on and off, and I've met plenty of people who have only ever seen the movies, yet completely understand the main story and learn from it- yet the game is based purely off of the books. Not to mention, LotR is much more complex than Harry Potter is.

ANYWHO,

If it's an RPG at Hogwarts though, shouldn't there, you know... NOT be Unforgivable Curses, at all? You'd probably get expelled faster than you can say 'portkey' for even reading about them.

..Ugh... I am such a dork..

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I'm depressingly interested in this idea.

As has been said, serious balancing issues would be needed, but the Unforgiveables shouldn't be too hard to pass off. Not only can only really powerful wizards use them anyway, but you also need to basically be an evil sociopath to the core. I know gamers are bastards on the whole but it would be possible to take it to levels not even we would consider to get the really dark magic.

 

[blackshark121]

This sounds fun. I can see it being about 30 years after the events of the books, so most of the cast is alive. It could include a Dark Wizard group against the Ministry, with HP being the minister, against some new villain, with viable and realistic goals, as opposed to "World Domination".

An energy system would work quite well, with unforgivables being the "epic kill everything" power and requiring a near full energy bar, but a system if someone saw you use one, most everyone would aggro on you. Stupefy, conversely, would be the good guys' strongest power, used more as a rapid cast than 1-hit. Also, they can invent plenty of other spells.

A SWG=esque covert/overt system sounds welcome in this game. One could be aligned with the dark or light side, and have the option of covert and overt, with covert being the "aligned with secretly" side, and overt the "aligned with obviously" side. Overt players can attack overts from the other side at will, coverts can't attack the other side at will. Being seen with a main character, say, Harry, or killing the other side's NPCs would give you a Temporary Overt Flag, which switches you to overt for a short while. Also, after a certain level, lower for dark, higher for light, you are set to overt without the option to change back, because after people start hearing about your deeds, you are quickly recognized.

Horcruxes are insta-rez. What else can they be? If everyone eventually rezes, there isn't much point to a Horcrux. Now, perma-death, then they'd be much more useful.

If one were openly identify themselves Overt, or temp. overt flag, and were killed by the other team, they could get an XP debt, after being tortured/incarcerated.

I think a Pre-CU SWG combat scheme would work well, with a timer after different spells to cast another spell, and a different timer for the previously used spell. One could press all of the attack buttons they want to use, and the game would remember those, and use them as soon as they can.

Crafting professions are definitely in. Wand, broom, you name it, there are plenty of opportunities.

Hm, more later.

 

[Mr. Purple]

Wow. Brilliant. I never thought of that. The online quiditch sounds really cool too. They would be sooo rich if they did that.

Oh and I think if it were an mmo, that would be cool too.

 

[usgentleman2007]

Lil_Hank, you mean rich-er- XD

And I like the idea of it being set 30 years after the events of the books, but if it were to stay true to Rowling's story Kingley Shacklebolt would be minister and Harry would be head of the Auror Office. Hell, he could give you an Auror questline. I can imagine a quest where you go hunt down an escaped-from-Azkaban Umbridge.

A dark-side choice you could make could be to kill or defeat Harry Potter and then you can desecrate Dumbledore's tomb and reclaim the Elder Wand. Invisibility cloaks would be great for stealth, but unless you have the Hallow it would give limited concealment.

Avada Kedavra could also be the equivalent of the death spell in the Final Fantasy games. They simply don't work on some strong enemies or bosses, either because it's a creature with powerful hide like a Blast-Ended Skrewt or a dragon, or an exceptionally skilled dark wizard who can block or deflect the curse.

A few good high-level spells: Sectumsempra, Confringo (causes the target to explode), maybe even the Bombardo hex from the films. I always liked that, and Rowling never said it wasn't canon, it just was never mentioned in the books.

No Bethesda-esque game is complete without lock picking, and that can be Alohomora. Who says it doesn't take skill to unlock a door by magic? Hermione does it in her first year, but then again she's Hermione.

As for Unforgiveables, the Imperius Curse could have a once-per-day cast limit, the Cruiciatus Curse would obviously leave you open for attack, and Avada Kedavra could be kind of unwieldy like the Spartan Laser or the Hammer of Dawn.

 

[Naheal]

The problem with pre-established worlds for rpgs is unless your already a fan going into it your not going to know what the fuck is what, why this is happening, what that referance was etc, etc (for example half your post was jargon to me never flollowed the books before, auror? Imerius curse?) and explaining five books worth of that shit while still focusing on a different part of the same setting would probably never happen.

Look at the Wheel of Time setting. Easily one of the most extensive fantasy settings, but isn't well known enough to attract a large audience with the name alone. So, let me see if I can sell the setting to you as an RPG.

High fantasy world. People don't like magic. It's incredibly dangerous and it's power has been demonstrated multiple times. While the magic itself works for women fairly normally, the magic source is tainted for men. While this does make them more powerful on their own, they will slowly be driven insane. A war brews between good and evil. What path will you choose?

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

You all read into Harry Potter way too much. Plus it would be easy, just use that death curse on everything = WIN!

 

[Aurora219]

*Screams*

Barry Trotter should be laid to rest. I have nothing against the books. They're pretty fantastic. Let's leave it at that, eh?

 

[Vromnir]

Lil_Hank, you mean rich-er- XD

And I like the idea of it being set 30 years after the events of the books, but if it were to stay true to Rowling's story Kingley Shacklebolt would be minister and Harry would be head of the Auror Office. Hell, he could give you an Auror questline. I can imagine a quest where you go hunt down an escaped-from-Azkaban Umbridge.

A dark-side choice you could make could be to kill or defeat Harry Potter and then you can desecrate Dumbledore's tomb and reclaim the Elder Wand. Invisibility cloaks would be great for stealth, but unless you have the Hallow it would give limited concealment.

Avada Kedavra could also be the equivalent of the death spell in the Final Fantasy games. They simply don't work on some strong enemies or bosses, either because it's a creature with powerful hide like a Blast-Ended Skrewt or a dragon, or an exceptionally skilled dark wizard who can block or deflect the curse.

A few good high-level spells: Sectumsempra, Confringo (causes the target to explode), maybe even the Bombardo hex from the films. I always liked that, and Rowling never said it wasn't canon, it just was never mentioned in the books.

No Bethesda-esque game is complete without lock picking, and that can be Alohomora. Who says it doesn't take skill to unlock a door by magic? Hermione does it in her first year, but then again she's Hermione.

As for Unforgiveables, the Imperius Curse could have a once-per-day cast limit, the Cruiciatus Curse would obviously leave you open for attack, and Avada Kedavra could be kind of unwieldy like the Spartan Laser or the Hammer of Dawn.

I thought you couldn't block the Avada Kadavra curse? Maybe you could dodge it or something............

 

[Arschelon]

I would absofreakinglutely _LOVE_ to see something like this. I'm a Harry Potter geek, and can't stand not having everything related to the books/movies.

 

[Gyrefalcon]

It is a richly detailed world. I wouldn't mind a game where you were just another Hogwarts student. Maybe if they set it as the first year his son went to school and have adventures set after the main series it would work. Hmmm.

 

[quack35]

That would be pretty cool.