Meaningful Freedom

Non-linearity is something that has been lauded as as great leap forward in gaming. The prevalence of sandbox games like Grand Theft Auto, Just Cause, and The Elder Scrolls series are a testament to their popularity.  However, if we're talking about a game driven by its story, does non-linearity actually matter? Or moreover, is it even desirable?

So let's consider the non-linearity present in Dragon Age and Mass Effect. In both games, we get a linear segment to begin with, establishing the backstory of our character and the setting of the game world.  Once this phase is over, we're given free reign to pursue one of three (or four) questlines that belong to the main quest. We're also given a myriad of side quests that we can complete at our leisure, but which have no real impact on the main story as a whole.  Once the major questlines are completed, we decide when we wish to be funnelled into another linear section which completes the game.  If we then look at Morrowind or Oblivion, we have a single, linear path for the main story, again with a myriad of side quests with no real effect on the main story. Arguably, there are some side quests that become mandatory (ie completing a daedric shrine quest in Oblivion), but again, these have no real effect on the plot itself.

Non-linearity exists in terms of side quests for both types, but BioWare's two offerings present some non-linearity in that they allow the player to pick which of the main quest lines to pursue first. However, the question I ask is this: What does that freedom really provide to the player?

Decisions, decisions...

In terms of the progression of well-delivered narrative, what does giving the player the choice to pursue parts of the main quest at different times achieve? By allowing this non-linearity, we give the player the freedom to pick the quest line they believe is the most important or the most interesting. The designer is empowering the player with that ability. Putting the player in control of their adventure is a good thing.  However, at what expense is this freedom granted?

If the players can progress in a non-linear matter, several problems are raised. For one, the development of the plot must be able to cater for every permutation of plot progression that the player can pursue. If there are certain revelations that must occur in order for the plot to progress, this order must be maintained regardless of the player's choices, which may cause difficulties for delivering a coherent story, particularly if these reveals only occur at specific locations. There will likely be an "optimal path" to provide the "best" story due to the delivery of the material. If this is not the case, then most likely the major quest lines are not that tightly coupled, because extra information from one does not inform your character's action in another location.

Perhaps an example will demonstrate this point more clearly. Within Dragon Age, you can investigate the troubles of Redcliffe, explore Orzammar, resolve the conflict in the Brecilian Forest, or deal with the blood magic in the Circle Tower. None of the quests have anything that directly ties them to each other in terms of the plot, as each of them can be done independently. Compare to Oblivion's linear plot, where each plot point is directly dependent on the prior point, arguably leading to a more tightly coupled story progression. This isn't a comment on the comparative quality of the stories (I'll leave that for other people to argue over), but more the cohesiveness of the individual elements in forming a greater story.

You decide the outcome, no matter how long it takes you to arrive.

By providing non-linearity in the main plot, it is harder for the designer to form a consistent and precise narrative for the player.  In which case, I would argue that the player needs to get more out of that non-linearity than the simple choice to pursue the main quest line of their choice. What do I mean? How about introducing some dependencies or effects depending on the player's choices in other "main-quest-lines"? The example I've mentioned previously that I would have loved to have seen in Dragon Age was Connor dying (or being killed) if the player left Redcliffe to fetch the assistance of the mages.

What if your decisions in one main quest line, or even the order you choose to do them had significant effects on other main quest lines?  Without some real and meaningful effects to take advantage of the non-linear nature of the main plot, the lost power of the narrative does not seem to be worth the relatively small degree of empowerment that we as players receive from being able to choose how to progress the main plot.