Hi guys! At some point you'll get sick of hearing us talk about the app, but I'll still be insisting you listen to me. It's kind of what I do.

So, a quick update: Narratavius is looking reasonable right now, especially considering that we don't have that many stories up. We (meaning me and mindtakerr) have been discussing getting Narratavius available in other platforms - namely, web and Android. It's an exciting idea, and we'd really love to see it happen.

However, we need content to make it really worth the time and effort. If my memory is correct, there are currently four stories up there: Wheels Within, Castle Wynd chapter 0, Castle Wynd chapter 1, and Bayou Lights. I'm working on Chainsaw Hero and mindtakerr's got plans for Castle Wynd chapter 2, and I've got at least a few more ideas kicking around.

But we still need more to make this app continue to be of interest. So, if you're a writer, or a game designer, or you just want to have some fun being creative, consider helping us by writing for Narratavius.

We use XML coding, but mindtakerr is absolutely amazing and has a coder set up for authors on the Narratavius website - so for about 90% of what you'd want to do with the game, you just enter the data and the website codes it for you. The other 10% (and that might be a bit of an overestimate - I abuse dialogue trees like none other when writing) is really easy to code in. I do it...probably way more than I should.

If you're interested in writing with us, contact mindtakerr (or if you want a bit more info from an author, you can get in touch with me). We really do want to see your work!

Of course, I fully endorse everything said by the Red Boba Fett here. We have a lot of requests asking for more content, and we really want to give it to them!

I'm certainly interested. Writers' Guild work and helping out Booters and getting quasi-published? Yes please!

i have no xml experience but have used vis basic and C for a minute years ago. but what would be the story requirements. i assume you would streamline (edit) the story to fit the mood of the game overall, however the less work you have to do the better also.

4-6 acts, POV of author, number of characters the story could handle, length of overall story. and any other thing that more educated writers would generally like to know.

I love jargon centered around writing...

Anyway, writing for Narratavius is nothing like traditional writing. Narratavius works by "rooms." Each room is where some small part of the action happens, and where players make decisions that lead to the next room.

For example:


<room>
<id>7</id>
<title>A Strange Land</title>
<desc> You have absolutely no idea where you are, but thankfully you’ve got that chainsaw with you. As you look around, you see some smoke to the west. You can investigate it or head another direction.</desc>
<exits>
<north>9</north>
<south>10</south>
<east>11</east>
<west>8</west>
</exits>
</room>


This from Chainsaw Hero. In this, I gave a bit of description and options for the player. A more complicated room might look like this:

<room>
<id>16</id>
<title>The Campsite</title>
<desc>You may not have seen where this man was hiding, but he's obvious now.</desc>
<useitem>
<name>The Chainsaw</name>
<desc>The chainsaw roars to life in your hands. You swing it at the man, who looks surprised by your reaction.</desc>
<response>
<type>defeat</type>
<newdesc>You hack through the man, leaving a bloody mess on the ground, and eagerly turn to look at his gear.</newdesc>
<addexits>
<west>22</west>
</addexits>
</response>
</useitem>
</room>


I don't remember the ultimate word count that Bayou Lights was (my computer ate that file); mindtakerr might still have it and be able to tell you.

I am absolutely willing to edit, especially if you use a spreadsheet to help organize the writing. An example of my spreadsheet:



Anyway. The POV I use is generally second person. There's a single main character (the player) but the game can support multiple NPCs.

I've actually written for MUDs before. This is very, very similar. Sounds awesome.

Rock on. I told mindtakerr to send you a message later. He's the mastermind behind all of this; I'm just loud.

I can try to do this. No guarantee that I can find the time but I can try.

okay how many total rooms on average. and ideally the end would be different depending on the overall branch/path you took, correct.

Between 200 and 300 rooms. And I do have different endings depending on the player's choices