Getting Chased

[mick46]

I have had multiple nightmares where I was getting chased but I couldn't run like I can in real life. For some reason in the dreams my legs are too heavy and I just can't move fast enough to make it anywhere.

[Grabthehoopka]

That's a very common situation in dreams. Being unable to run from something, or trying to punch somebody and being unable to move your arms through the air fast enough, or shooting at something and being unable to hit it.

I think regardless of what the specific situation is, your brain just wants to put you in a situation you're powerless in, plain and simple.

[matt]

That is always terrifying! I was thinking about how to incorporate things like that into the game. I like the idea of trying to do something but it doesn't work. Not sure how that would translate to gameplay mechanics, but it is something I can experiment with.

[RightClickSaveAs]

It may be kind of trite, but you could have things like trying to open a door but the doorknob just falls off, or switching on a light but it either doesn't work or the bulb burns out right away. Nightmares I've had have often involved stumbling around in the dark trying to find a working light, but none of them will turn on.

Also I've had plenty of nightmares where I have a gun but it misfires, jams, or just falls apart in my hands. My nightmares are pretty mundane compared to a lot of what's being posted here, but that feeling of helplessness is awful.

[Grabthehoopka]

That is always terrifying! I was thinking about how to incorporate things like that into the game. I like the idea of trying to do something but it doesn't work. Not sure how that would translate to gameplay mechanics, but it is something I can experiment with.

Maybe to establish to the player that they're supposed to run from enemies?

Like, (this is entirely a hypothetical scenario, you can come up with whatever you want), if you had a situation where there's a monster afoot, and while it hasn't been in the direct viscinity of the player, they have gotten peeks and glimpses at it. So it gets built up and built up, and finally, the player is confronted with it, only it is in an extremely vulnerable position, like chained to the wall or something. You've given the player a weapon, like an axe or something, and you telegraph to the player to attack the monster with it. Only, when the character attacks, it's slow and completely ineffectual. They do it again, and again, and each time the attacks get slower and weaker, until the weapon just breaks. Then, the monster starts breaking free from the chains...

[mick46]

That is always terrifying! I was thinking about how to incorporate things like that into the game. I like the idea of trying to do something but it doesn't work. Not sure how that would translate to gameplay mechanics, but it is something I can experiment with.

Maybe to establish to the player that they're supposed to run from enemies?

Like, (this is entirely a hypothetical scenario, you can come up with whatever you want), if you had a situation where there's a monster afoot, and while it hasn't been in the direct viscinity of the player, they have gotten peeks and glimpses at it. So it gets built up and built up, and finally, the player is confronted with it, only it is in an extremely vulnerable position, like chained to the wall or something. You've given the player a weapon, like an axe or something, and you telegraph to the player to attack the monster with it. Only, when the character attacks, it's slow and completely ineffectual. They do it again, and again, and each time the attacks get slower and weaker, until the weapon just breaks. Then, the monster starts breaking free from the chains...

That sounds horribly cliche

[Grabthehoopka]

That sounds horribly cliche

Eh, that's why I'm not the one making the game

[matt]

I appreciate the ideas! They can be used as a springboard for new ones.