I'm starting to regain interest in this game, and I have decided to finally write a scenario.
Now that I have a brand new computer (well, it's actually about six months old, but that's not important), I am no longer limited by the slowness of my old computer.
I took a long break from this game, as well as the rest of SpiderWeb's games, and I think it's about time I come back.
And what better way to come back then making a scenario?
Now, on my old computer, I'd made several attempts at authoring a scenario. I got discouraged repeatedly and eventually just gave up. However, I did decide on a plot, and I'm going to stick with it. I'm not going to post the plot here, because it seems pointless to post it when it could change a lot.
Anyways, I am about ready to start my pre-scenario work. However, I have a few questions that I'd like to have answered:
1) Is it better to have a huge map (By map, I am referring to the outdoors) with lots of towns, or a smaller map with fewer towns? I'd prefer to make a smaller map, to save time and to maintain my interest, but, if it makes the scenario better, I'm fine with a big map. The scenario is generally going to take place on an island, and the size of the map will not affect the plot at all. A bigger map would make for a bigger and more complex scenario, but does that really matter?
2) Generally, to begin creating scenarios, I would start by drawing a grid of the outdoor sections and drawing my outdoors on paper. I then added in towns and everything to get an idea of how the scenario would look. Then I quickly made the outdoors. Next I made the towns and characters that have no role whatsoever in the plot. Last, I filled in all parts of the plot; that is, the crucial aspects that make the scenario what it is.
Now, is there an easier way to start working on a scenario? Is there a system that works well for you?
3) About how hard should I make my scenario? Should I make the monsters really strong and just give out the password so that people can play it in Debug mode if it's too hard? Or should I just make it for lower level parties (say, level 20 or lower?)?
4) Is it good to have a lot of plot twists, or just a few? My scenario is going to be based almost fully on plot, with little on fighting.
Thank you very much for any feedback, and I hope to, fairly soon, join the ranks of BoE scenario authors!