I’m on kind of a Myst mental kick after discovering the MystCraft mod for Minecraft. The mod’s primary purpose is to let you ‘write’ custom Minecraft worlds using a set of symbols and a complicated (arguably overcomplicated) set of tools and machines.
Writing as a game mechanic makes a lot of sense for a text-based game like SRPG. I have a few ideas so far, mostly derivative of clever things other people have done, such as:
- Changing the properties of an object by renaming it, or
- Modifying the game transcript to retroactively alter events, or
- Summoning or spellcasting via written text (a la Scribblenauts), or
- Writing a letter to your in-game grandma and receiving a package of Christmas cookies in return, which are just the item you needed to solve a tricky puzzle.