Connor & Mertik
Connor
Hey Mertik, I’ve been noodling on a roguelike where the story beats shift whenever a player pulls a lever or solves a puzzle, almost like the world is trying to mess with you. What’s your take on letting the narrative glitch out of its own design to keep players on their toes?
Mertik
Sounds like a perfect playground for chaos, kid. Let the story hiccup when the lever ticks, or the puzzle cracks, and watch the player scramble—like a cat in a room full of mirrors. It keeps them guessing, but make sure the glitches have a purpose, not just a glitch; otherwise they’ll think it’s a bug. The trick is to blend the mess with a hint that the world actually *wants* them to feel the wobble. That way, the narrative feels alive and the player’s own improvisation becomes part of the game’s rhythm.
Connor
That’s the vibe I was chasing—glitches that feel like intentional tremors, not bugs. I’m thinking a system where every glitch unlocks a side‑story line or a new dialogue path, so the player can’t just blame the devs; they actually need to explore the chaos. It’s like giving them a map that’s constantly shifting—makes the world feel alive and keeps the narrative from feeling stuck in a loop. What about a mechanic where the player’s choices subtly influence how the world glitches next time? Keeps the rhythm fresh, and the whole thing feels less like a glitchy mess and more like a living, breathing narrative glitch.
Mertik
Nice, you’re turning the bugs into breadcrumbs. Make each glitch a door to a new thread, and let the player’s own choices decide what kind of wobble comes next. That way, the world isn’t just spitting out random mess, it’s reacting to their moves, like a living glitch that feels intentional. Keeps the rhythm hopping and makes the player feel like they’re actually steering the chaos. Just remember, the trick is to keep the glitches useful, not just confusing. That’s where the real drama comes from.