Games for the Lore Obsessor.

Rokrin · 02-05-2009, 12:49 AM

The title basically says it all. I'm someone who adores lore and the entire lore aspect of games, but lately I find myself unable to find a good game with lore I can get into while enjoying the game. It's gotten to the point where I've debated making my own campaign setting for DnD just to get back into lore somehow, only I'm too lazy to do that on my own and not nearly a good enough writer/artist/etc.

So I'm looking for a game that I can learn things about, mostly regarding the game world, history, etc. We can skip over Elder Scrolls and Warcraft; I know more Elder Scrolls lore than I care to admit (hell, it's the series that got me into lore in the first place), and there's a load of warcraft lore I'm still trying to forget.

Suggestions?

The Wizard Who Did It · 02-05-2009, 12:57 AM

I too am a fan of lore, and I found a fun piece of it when searching through TV Tropes. I dunno if it was mostly amusing to just read a brief overview and look into a few things, but the hilariously dark and terrible lore behind Warhammer 40k got to me.

It's basically the tragic form of "So Bad It's Good", where in this particular case it's "so terrible it's hilarious and awesome".

As far as games based around it, I've Dawn of War is pretty sweet.

Or if you hate money you can always spring for the original tabletop game.

Mirai Gen · 02-05-2009, 01:00 AM

You looked at TV Tropes for Warhammer lore?

My god Encyclopedia Dramatica is more respectable and legit.

The Wizard Who Did It · 02-05-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirai Gen

You looked at TV Tropes for Warhammer lore?

My god Encyclopedia Dramatica is more respectable and legit.

More specifically, I found it while looking through TV Tropes examples, and then proceeded to look through a few wikis.

Professor Smarmiarty · 02-05-2009, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rokrin

The title basically says it all. I'm someone who adores lore and the entire lore aspect of games, but lately I find myself unable to find a good game with lore I can get into while enjoying the game. It's gotten to the point where I've debated making my own campaign setting for DnD just to get back into lore somehow, only I'm too lazy to do that on my own and not nearly a good enough writer/artist/etc.

What about an established DnD campaign world like FRealms or Greyhawk or Darksun?

Rokrin · 02-05-2009, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smarty McBarrelpants

What about an established DnD campaign world like FRealms or Greyhawk or Darksun?

I would do this if something like Greyhawk was still regularly played; however, FR was my campaign setting for around 4+ years, so I know the lore of it now and still buy books that intrigue me (read: R.A. Salvatore).

phil_ · 02-05-2009, 02:41 AM

You could delve into the unsolvable madness that is Zelda. You'd spend more time translating obscure Japanese design documents and internal memos about coffee and desk placement than playing games, and you'd have to get into lengthy, incomprehensible internet arguments about whose speculation was right, but you'd never figure it out, so you'll never be done. I'll bet there are woodland hermits, scribbling furiously on their cabin walls, desperately seeking a proper timeline between flame wars.

Or, I dunno. Is there Puyo Pop lore? You can read up on Killer7, it has some info books or something that make it more complicated.

PyrosNine · 02-05-2009, 12:04 PM

There's little interpretation of Killer 7, as it has HandsonKiller7, a book written in narrative by the creators and writers of the game to explain the entire story completely for those who still didn't get it (largely because due to cuts, the story was left even more vague than intentional).

There could only be Killer7 lore if there were more Killer 7 games to back things up.

Siren (not the new 'american' version) has good lore, technically, as a lot of the things you see are related to actual Japanese native beliefs (for you to research on your own time), and there is a lot of interpretation and attempts to make sense of things. There's a timeline of events, but there's not explanation for what happened between two levels in the game. At one point, one dude kills another, his twin, and wears his clothes, and this is never explained to us outright.

NMR · 02-05-2009, 12:34 PM

Yeah, good luck on Zelda. Good lord that is some of the most confusing stuff this side of Pluto. I wonder what Nintendo smokes to try and connect everything. Common!
All the branches, alternate dimensions, dark/light worlds, and other stuff I do not want to even fathom right now. It sucks.

But other games with interesting lore include the Valkyrie Profile series. It only has two games, but the amount of back story is staggering. It is pretty straight forward though. Kept me occupied for some time.

EVILNess · 02-05-2009, 01:24 PM

You could just do Warcraft Lore. There is a bunch of it, and there is even a tabletop RPG to go along with it.

02-05-2009, 12:49 AM	#1
Rokrin Stupidity is an AoE Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 749	Games for the Lore Obsessor. The title basically says it all. I'm someone who adores lore and the entire lore aspect of games, but lately I find myself unable to find a good game with lore I can get into while enjoying the game. It's gotten to the point where I've debated making my own campaign setting for DnD just to get back into lore somehow, only I'm too lazy to do that on my own and not nearly a good enough writer/artist/etc. So I'm looking for a game that I can learn things about, mostly regarding the game world, history, etc. We can skip over Elder Scrolls and Warcraft; I know more Elder Scrolls lore than I care to admit (hell, it's the series that got me into lore in the first place), and there's a load of warcraft lore I'm still trying to forget. Suggestions? __________________ Gamertag: T4CT

02-05-2009, 12:57 AM	#2
The Wizard Who Did It The End of Evolution Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Some call it hell; I call it home. Posts: 1,822	I too am a fan of lore, and I found a fun piece of it when searching through TV Tropes. I dunno if it was mostly amusing to just read a brief overview and look into a few things, but the hilariously dark and terrible lore behind Warhammer 40k got to me. It's basically the tragic form of "So Bad It's Good", where in this particular case it's "so terrible it's hilarious and awesome". As far as games based around it, I've Dawn of War is pretty sweet. Or if you hate money you can always spring for the original tabletop game. __________________ And this world's smartest man means no more to me than does its smartest termite. ~Dr. Manhattan

02-05-2009, 01:00 AM	#3
Mirai Gen We are Geth. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14,032	You looked at TV Tropes for Warhammer lore? My god Encyclopedia Dramatica is more respectable and legit. __________________

02-05-2009, 02:41 AM	#7
phil_ Just sleeping Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At home, probably in bed. Posts: 6,482	You could delve into the unsolvable madness that is Zelda. You'd spend more time translating obscure Japanese design documents and internal memos about coffee and desk placement than playing games, and you'd have to get into lengthy, incomprehensible internet arguments about whose speculation was right, but you'd never figure it out, so you'll never be done. I'll bet there are woodland hermits, scribbling furiously on their cabin walls, desperately seeking a proper timeline between flame wars. Or, I dunno. Is there Puyo Pop lore? You can read up on Killer7, it has some info books or something that make it more complicated. __________________ Be T-Rexcellent to each other, tako.

02-05-2009, 12:04 PM	#8
PyrosNine Zettai Hero Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: A figment of my own imagination Posts: 6,103	There's little interpretation of Killer 7, as it has HandsonKiller7, a book written in narrative by the creators and writers of the game to explain the entire story completely for those who still didn't get it (largely because due to cuts, the story was left even more vague than intentional). There could only be Killer7 lore if there were more Killer 7 games to back things up. Siren (not the new 'american' version) has good lore, technically, as a lot of the things you see are related to actual Japanese native beliefs (for you to research on your own time), and there is a lot of interpretation and attempts to make sense of things. There's a timeline of events, but there's not explanation for what happened between two levels in the game. At one point, one dude kills another, his twin, and wears his clothes, and this is never explained to us outright. __________________ Pyrosnine.blogspot.com: An experimental blog of writing. Updated possibly daily. Possibly. A fair chance. Current Works for reading: War Between them, Karma Police. PyrosNine: Weirdo Magnet Extraordinaire!

02-05-2009, 12:34 PM	#9
NMR Whoa... Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 491	Yeah, good luck on Zelda. Good lord that is some of the most confusing stuff this side of Pluto. I wonder what Nintendo smokes to try and connect everything. Common! All the branches, alternate dimensions, dark/light worlds, and other stuff I do not want to even fathom right now. It sucks. But other games with interesting lore include the Valkyrie Profile series. It only has two games, but the amount of back story is staggering. It is pretty straight forward though. Kept me occupied for some time. __________________ A mystery to all but and known to a few.