Disclaimer.... just looking for something different that is actually dark and a little more 40k. Hard to title this honestly, but long I've thought it'd be amazing to play a game where you're the bad guy. I don't mean as in Cole I steal the bioelectricity from you...well maybe I do, but set in the 40k universe. To start, I'd imagine a sort of action RPG of sorts, at least along those lines, where you could end up a variety of thematic weapons, but then some rarer stuff as well. The difficult part is the setting honestly. Ideally it would be a Daemon World (if you don't about this, or any other random terms, go ahead and search on Lexicanum.com click on the grimdark one, search) sorta along the lines of Ben Counter's idea from both the book titled Daemon World and the Hammer of Daemons, however it wouldn't quite be devoted to any particular God, whether because it's in massive power struggle that was bound to happen or because you start peaceful (relatively of course) and then you plunge it into chaos. Rough setting idea, honestly best way to "understand" is to read the books. The character, that would probably start as a slave or sorta a mercenary/indigenous "person" who starts out under a lord or some other person of power(maybe their allegiance could be determined by choices you make before you interact with them or if you pick a certain character with a specific history or maybe a more undivided stance if you pick a more devout Imperial). Your character would have a variety of choices as to background, starting with being either an Imperial citizen, native human, mutant, (anyone know some xenos race to use if there are any worth noting, wouldn't expect an eldar honestly dark or otherwise), then Astartes of course (if anyone actually gets this far and you have suggestions, please do provide them). Now history would be a major factor as it'd determine whether your Imperial was a criminal, a cultist(of different allegiances), guardsmen (various ranks of course), sororitas (though not likely, it could be an interesting story, who knows), Inquisitior and co. potentially, and other assorted generalized people. Probably before that though you'd determine your place of origin(opening up different "professions") adding iconic places Cadia, the Catchacan world(sorry if I butchered that, can't remember), Ultramar, Fenris, Terra potentially, Baal, etc. The stories would be explained in some way to make sense of the more exotic locations and professions. Then you can choose a reason of sorts as to why or how you came to be on the world, whether captured, crashed, came on your own, born there, etc. Then their would be tendencies, things that can point you towards a particular God or undivided and possibly a more renegade but trying to do it on your own path, not afraid to "use" chaos. You would be able to make different choices later but as you got closer to the end your choices will eventually push you down one path or another. All in all this part is similar to character creation in Mount and Blade. The game itself would be an interesting challenge where it'd be neat if the feel could be Space Marine(game) like, slower paced at times, more things happening, maybe TT customization(like Eternal Crusade possibly), freedom like Skyrim, but choices like Dawn of War 2 Chaos Rising where you will do atrocious things to further yourself, sigh, so much to try to figure out. I'll leave it at this for now, maybe add on later other thoughts, more specific potentially. If anyone has ideas feel free. This is more of dream than a reality as no one is likely to achieve anything of this magnitude for years and years, and even then if you want to retain the grit, the violence of something that is supposed to be this dark, it likely be hard to convince others to make it and sell it.
Well as a Chaos fan as well, it's sad to say that I don't think there will ever be a game with a Chaos protagonist. It's so much easier to make the main character a "good guy" because it's very hard to relate to an evil space murderer for the average person and there's already a lot of material out there with "good" protagonists. Not that I don't wish it could happen, I just don't think it will. What we could hope for is maybe a game similar to infamous where you start neutral and you have choices that will influence how good or evil you are. Either way I'm very exited about eternal crusade cause this is probably as close as we'll get to those ideals.
It could and IMO should be done. Mostly because I want to play that game. Anti-heroes can end up very popular if handled correctly, almost every game has you as the shiny new hero, so changing it up and throwing in someone grittier and less likable can be a refreshing change of pace for eve more traditionally minded gamers. And with the nature of 40k, the story can be told with the Chaos characters as "good" guys. Focus on the brutality and repression of the Imperium, add in some irredemebly evil characters like Dark Eldar or Tyranids so they look like saints by comparison and you have a viable game. I mean in 40k, you're not allowed to question authority, to seek reform, or change anything in any meaningful way of you're a citizen of the Imperium, so anyone who tries to do things differently is a Heretic and a Renegade. Add in a choice system where the decisions you make can either lead you to power or damnation and I'd say you have the basis of a viable game.
Actually that's a good point with painting the Imperium as the bad guys. However it all comes down to sales when you're making a game and I don't think that concept will capture a large audience. I mean it might be just me but I'd never pick up and play a tau focussed game and they're a part of my favorite universe.
It would be a bit riskier, but like I said, it's all in the implementation. Darksiders seemed to have done well for itself, it got a sequel. GTA is huge and you're definitely not a good guy in those games. What was the one with the Mafia dude? The darkness I think. Anyways, it is a viable market, it's just I imagine gamers on average will judge it more harshly than if you were another shiny hero, but that just means extra steps need to be taken to ensure quality.
Well infamous got two sequels and made it into next gen, Prototype got 1 sequel so far. Doubt they'd make more if they didn't think they'd make money.
Yes. Chaos is the definite Good faction of 40k, after all. (I'm kidding, I just said that because Word Bearerness)
