Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Keith Baker: Following the Shift, the Solrain Commonwealth was rebuilt by corporate powers, and today most of the people in the Commonwealth are employed in some capacity by one of the Six Syndicates. However, despite being a corporate culture, Solrain needs its soldiers and explorers. So as a nation, Solrain is best known for its mercantile might – but as a Solrain player, you can certainly follow a martial path.

Keith: There have been a number of Solrain-Octavian conflicts in recent history. At the moment there is an uneasy truce, but there are factions eager for conflict on both sides and new skirmishes could break out at any time. The Quantar are far less unified, and it's a question of relations with specific Quantar paths – which likewise fluctuate.

Keith: This depends entirely on what faction you choose to align yourself with. The Commonwealth isn't a monolithic entity, and by choosing a faction within your nation, you can pick a path that best suits your preferences. The Zelcane Trust is a mercantile power that will primarily distribute and reward noncombat missions, so it's a good choice for the player more interested in the economic game. The Combine is a ruthless syndicate whose agents will focus on combat missions. And the Crows are a combination of idealistic rebels and independent smugglers who fall between the two – engaging in free trade and fighting both the corruption within the Commonwealth and the outside forces that threaten it.

The Solrains are known as a mercantile power, but this can take many forms; as a Combine enforcer, you may just make sure your cargo bay is large enough to hold all the scrap you can salvage from your victims, because there's value to be had there.

Keith: I'm still working to develop the full voice of each culture; it's an ongoing process. In general, though, it's a matter of trying to call out the core values of the nation. The Octavians are a militant culture. The Quantar are driven by their spiritual beliefs. And the Solrains are cynical pragmatists, part of a culture shaped by corporate values and criminal cartels. They're not concerned with honor or glory, or with the secrets of the universe; they're always thinking about how things affect their bottom line.

Keith: This is a two way street. As a writer, I want to see my ideas translated into the game – but as a game writer, it's also my job to look at the game and make sure that the story fits the world that has been created. It's the same thing as working on Eberron – Eberron is a fantasy world, but it's specifically a D&D world, and when working on Eberron material I need to think about D&D. So with JGE, I'm working closely with the artists and developers while discussing ideas and what exactly is possible within the mission system.

Keith: First, a point of order: The Solrain Commonwealth is a nation. As a nation, it includes multiple factions. One of those factions, the Crows (derived from Commonwealth Restoration Organization) is fighting against the corruption within the Commonwealth; the other factions are, to varying degrees, part OF that corruption.

Looking to the broader question, yes, each nation and faction have their own storylines, along with the broader stories that affect the universe as a whole. It's our intention that you, as a player will feel like you are part of an unfolding story. With that said, I wouldn't expect to FREE the Commonwealth from corruption; it's too entrenched, and it’s the sort of social transformation that would take years or decades to reverse (just as blowing up the first Death Star didn't instantly bring down the Empire). But you should feel that your actions are aligned with the overall goals of your faction. Assuming, of course, that you choose to pursue one of these paths; nothing's stopping you from ignoring the factions and following your own independent goals.

Keith: Certainly, and again it varies by faction. Looking to the Zelcane Trust, I'd go anywhere from Machiavelli and the Medicis to Microsoft or Starbucks. The Combine is Murder Incorporated in space, with a touch of Blackwater and a dash of the Godfather. The Crows have room for Luke and Leia, but also for the original Han Solo – the independent smuggler who's working with the rebels not because he's interested in their idealistic cause, but because he sees the profit in it. With the Crows, I also see a touch of the Weather Underground – a fringe group using violence to fight the dominant power. Within the spectrum of Solrain, they are the "Good Guys" – but there's still room for some moral ambiguity within their ranks.  

Setting aside the extremes of the factions, I also think that the cast of Firefly has a lot of good Solrain archetypes. Simon could have lead a successful life as a corporate doctor if he hadn't been forced from that path by fate. Jayne is a perfect Combine character – an amoral mercenary who doesn't give a damn about honor or glory. And in Mal you have the Crow – a man with integrity and a good heart, but one whose idealism has been beaten down by the hard universe that he lives in. Perhaps he can find it again; only time will tell.

Keith: It's one of the biggest challenge with MMOs – to find a way to make every player feel as though he or she is the protagonist of a fantastic story, when of course thousands of other people may also be playing through the same story line. You need to find emotional hooks and ways to make the player identify with the character and to feel that there is more to the character than his ship and the credits he has in the bank. It's not something I can go into great detail about here, but it's certainly an issue I've been exploring for years – going all the way back to my work on VR1 Crossroads and Lost Continents, not to mention pen and paper roleplaying and live gaming.  

Keith: Obviously this is a big question, and I'm just going to give you the one-paragraph answer. There was a time when the Solrain Commonwealth was a great mercantile power, but also a nation that placed great emphasis on opportunity, ingenuity, and the rights of the individual. This all changed with the Shift, a cosmic cataclysm that swept a handful of colonies and space stations across the universe. With no jumpgates, lines of communication and support were shattered and the old ways fell into chaos. Within Solrain space, it was a few corporate powers and criminal cartels that held the ability to exploit the resources and to provide the goods and services people needed to survive. Eventually these groups joined together to formally seize control of the Commonwealth Council, and a body that had once been based purely on merit and skill became a puppet of these Six Syndicates. As a Solrain player, it's up to you to decide whether to work for one of these powers – or whether to follow the Crows as a free trader or rebel.