FoM: A Conflict in Ideals

Superman0X

I have recently started to describe Face of Mankind (FoM) as a game based on the conflict between FPS and RPG ideologies.

On one hand it is a FPS, where anyone can kill anyone, based on the skill of the player. There is very little in the way of 'levels' or equipment that can artificially give a player an edge in combat. Those with the better FPS skills win (more often than naught).

On the other hand it is a RPG, where any group of players can form a soclai structure, and change the events of the game. They can make the rules, and set the tone for how the game is played. Those with the better RP skills win (more often than naught).

The conflict arises when the two idealogies come in conflict. The FPS crowd can have thier game affected by the rules, and restrictions that the RP crowd makes. This is basically 'cheating' in thier point of view, and degrades the purity of thier game (where there were no artificial rules imposed to 'equalize' the combat). The RP crowd can have thier game affected by the interference, and lack of complaince with the rules created by the FPS crowd. This basically diminishes the results of thier work, and degrades the value of the game that they are contributing to.

The game is inherently balanced so that niether side can really push out the other, nor can they avoid them. Both sides have to live with the other... despite thier inherent conflicts of interest. This helps create a closed loop... where there is always a level of conflict, and tension between the players. It is this tension (and other similar tensions) that are the 'content' for this game. This is why it is critical that players form groups, and work within thier social circles. This is why the players are responsible for the content, or lack of it. This game has no solo content... as it is based on social interaction (not RP or FPS).

This makes FoM a very unique game, and one unlike many others. This game ENCOURAGES that players form 'clicks' and that they come into conflict with each other in different ways. There are conflicts of ideals, conflicts of interest, and conflicts of beliefs. This game is not about winning or losing... it is about the struggle... it is about being human.

Kurush

Well done. I expected something insipid, but I believe you summed up the core dynamic of the game quite nicely. I don't believe it is one that appeals to most people, but you have outlined the fact that there is something to this game, even if there is nothing that most MMORPG players would consider content.

grimboj

Yeah a very good (& kind) summary of FoM. In shorter terms: It has no content :P True RPers will be in heaven as they fight to be supreme nerd but people seeking some sort of structure will simply find themselves ordered around by the RPers and left flagrantly bored.

Mikey0002

One issue though, I hear that some RPers don't like skill based or level based systems. They prefer to have their own skills and depend on their skills and their ideas of loadouts.



Your statement is wrong, because why are there gankers in WoW, DAoC, UO, Eve, well all MMOs. Point being, it could be FPS, it could be Point and Click...it does not defy the attitude of the community. Each game has its own gankers...those who don't know the meaning of RP.



FDC does a lot of hardcore RP, but at the moment, we can't do anything, we are loosing members like crazy to other games or other factions due to nothing going on and no RP happening because the storyline GMs have done nothing.



So we wait, till the storyline GMs continue their official story, while we do our own little RP events.



Still the fact that the game is an MMOFPS, doesn't mean it reduces RP. Point'n Click does not encourage RP, nor hack & slash.....they are different types of gamestyles with different types of game mechanics. But anyway, I am part of the FDM, and we do some seriously fun RP at times, and its really serious. FDC is always sticking to its RP although it may seem like we are not because we are nearly always fighting.



We like a fair share of fun with RP and combat. When Aliens come in, we will be busy protecting everyone from them and the FDC will hopefully be hailed as the saviours of the GD once again.



Anyway, its really the Official Storyline, that is on a pause, without the weekly senate meetings continuing because of the absence of the storyline GMs, and other things like forums, and events, with the GMs taking an active part representing the GD's side, or other faction's side or the evil side (The Dark Pheonix), there is no further movement in the storyline, which means RP is very restricted.



Problem with the RP is that it is either conflict (hostile and non-hostile, diplomatic) or nothing. Nothing else can really be done in the game, otherwise you can RP on the fourms, but the game mechanics only really allow for conflict to happen ingame. No real other things can happen. I mean the one off party happens now and then, but its not really anything special...just a load of people talking and dancing.



Game needs to offer a more RP atmosphere, otherwise its all about politics, conflict, and storyline progression.