Nathan Savant

✍️ Narrative Systems Designer
🧭 Quest designer and world builder
🧠 Psychology and Sociology in #GameDesign
🧙‍♂️ Wizard in need of a pointy hat

Currently @ Monolith

He/Him

Public Key

npub1jvgy8xn6nwc8apvq7alrks6fe298x4t20mc320pgqh5c22z4067s2cvak8

NIP-05 Address

BaldSavant_at_mastodon.gamedev.place@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsfxyzrnfafhvr7skq0wl3mgdyu4znn2448aug48s5qt6v99p2ha0gpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgqg4waehxw309aex2mrp0yhx6mmnw3ezuur4vgjlkxkc

Publishing to

relay.nostr.band

relay.mostr.pub

relay.shitforce.one

Author Public Key

npub1jvgy8xn6nwc8apvq7alrks6fe298x4t20mc320pgqh5c22z4067s2cvak8

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Last Notes

2024-09-23 23:17:24

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@npub1mc3…nkdg Mastodon itself feels plagued by this kind of thing. It feels like the incomplete version of a great idea. Except I'm not actually sure it's being worked on at this point.

2024-07-25 16:57:57

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@npub1xkg…gph9 I cannot believe the #1 name among grifters is "Rob"
Who wrote this episode of reality? I have notes.

2024-06-07 20:26:02

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@npub1aw2…8vv5 fortunately it's been a husk for years and the talent all went elsewhere long ago

2024-06-06 16:47:05

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@npub1aw2…8vv5 Less Skywalkers, more whatever this is!!

2024-02-26 17:30:29

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@npub1aw2…8vv5 literally no one wants this. Why would we waste the engineering time to make it?!

2024-02-12 18:25:38

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@npub1su4…a0dw "Entirely justified citizens destroy symbol of the oppressive ruling class during celebration of the new year in a clear sign of what is to come"

2024-02-07 21:32:03

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@npub1aw2…8vv5 Hear me out here: Maybe DON'T connect your toothbrush to the internet.

2024-01-24 18:11:14

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@npub1aw2…8vv5 words spoken just before a tragedy

2023-11-19 06:44:29

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@npub1aw2…8vv5 no, but I only mean like the Simpsons! The Simpsons is the perfect example of what I'm talking about here.
I don't need a fancy plot, I just need what's already in this game to string together. How does Baby Bowser feel about all this? What're some gags we can throw in here about his dad being a castle? They already touch very lightly on this, but he never has an emotional reaction to Mario. Why not? What gags can we have for him? The whole game should feel like a Simpsons episode!

2023-11-19 06:12:24

As I near the end of #MarioWonder I have to sit and ask:
Why does Nintendo hate narrative so much and yet they always lean on it so heavily?
The toads don't need to have stories, Bowser doesn't need motivation, yet they always make sure it's got a decent, if silly, plot going.
And yet they clearly never have it written. There's no character growth, no arcs, not even silly ones. It's bizarre. Even a movie like Mars Attacks gives its characters a small story, but not Mario.
#NarrativeDesign

2023-10-21 23:57:43

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@npub1mc3…nkdg be sure to explore the space while you're there!

2023-09-28 05:08:50

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@npub1aw2…8vv5 they had the golden opportunity!! They could've just slapped a 3 on this one and no one would've questioned it!! Come on, valve!

2023-09-25 16:32:37

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@npub1aw2…8vv5 Oh shit! Oh fuck! Oh no!

2023-07-17 17:41:49

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@npub1mc3…nkdg HD Pixel Art:
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodongamedevplace/media_attachments/files/110/730/654/670/916/373/original/f6893536a20b32db.png

2023-07-14 18:22:04

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@npub1mc3…nkdg Start quests in other ways, instead.
Quests can start when a player enters a space, when they pick up an item, when they use a particular skill while inside a space, etc. and all of those will feel far more natural.
If you need a questgiver NPC, most modern stuff is just having the NPC say "Hey! Can you help me?" as you walk by.

2023-07-13 17:10:06

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@npub1mc3…nkdg I've decided, over years, that I don't think it matters.
Words are wobbly mouth noises we use to communicate, their meanings aren't etched into the universe, sometimes they're vague and wrong. This is one of those cases. I don't think there IS a fundamental difference between Binding of Isaac and Diablo that makes one an RPG and one not, even though I agree with your categorization.

2023-06-27 15:50:59

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@npub1mc3…nkdg I've been doing a lot of research on rpg-like quests for procgen for the last few years, and you may find some of my blog posts on the topic useful.
Specifically this one comparing techniques in Majora and Fallout, and the talk I reference in it about Lord of the Rings.
Links below, and I hope they're of some use!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTLPXhLjwLU
https://www.nathansavant.com/post/quest-design-majora-s-mask-v-fallout-4

2023-06-21 15:57:03

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_9ZjOUodoo

2023-06-10 05:34:06

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@npub16y5…ym3t everyone was complaining it was cheap, and I'm just like "this is the best kind of cheap!!"

2023-05-25 20:09:37

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@npub16y5…ym3t ok cool, glad I'm not the only one who thinks its a weird incentive thing...

2023-05-25 20:09:37

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@npub16y5…ym3t ok cool, glad I'm not the only one who thinks its a weird incentive thing...

2023-05-13 01:26:14

Who the actual hell came up with the Wing in Tears of the Kingdom?! WHO?! I want to look into their eyeballs and ask "why would you volunteer to code that?"

2023-05-11 16:01:00

I enjoyed this video, but I particularly appreciate the assertion that the only difference between good game design and cruel manipulation is the intent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkVKLPvXBUc