Barks
Barks are an essential part of game writing and narrative design. When your PC gets hit with a hammer, how does he react? What does he say? With barks, we let the player know who our characters are in the simplest and quickest way, advancing the storytelling without even noticing it!
Example BARKS from Portal Brawlers
Example BARKS from Azadi
(When the PC is walking from Mayor’s house to their own)
Townspeople Barks:
● This is so horrible.
● I can’t believe this happened to us!
● Someone needs to defend the town.
● Maybe I should move…
(When Rebuilding your home)
Builder’s Barks:
(Making Blueprint)
● Do you know what you’re doing with that hammer?
(Building Foundation)
● That foundation is a little crooked.
(Building Walls)
● Your walls look like a child made them.
(Building Door)
● Do you know what a door is for? Put it by the road you idiot!
(Building Windows)
● Make sure your windows are level now.
(Building Stair)
● A wobbly stair is the mark of a bad builder.
(Building Second Story Foor)
● A second floor! You must think you’re someone important.
(Building Second Story Walls)
● Not bad, not bad. I am starting to see your vision.
(Building Second Story Windows)
● Make sure you get a view of the river from up there.
(Building Roof)
● A leaky roof can ruin all your hard work.
(When gathering with hunters before the fight)
Hunter Barks:
● We’ll take these foul beasts down.
● No wolves are going to hurt my family.
● I hope that huge, fiery creature doesn’t return anytime soon...
● We’ve killed plenty of wolves before; these ones won’t be a problem at all.
● I ain’t afraid of no upjumped dogs, I’ll tell you that.
(Combat with common wolves)
Hunters’ Barks:
● Watch out for their claws. They’re sharp!
● Surround the beasts to take them down!
● Don’t let them bite you!
● For Bregentved!
● Take that, you hound of hell!
(Combat with the werewolf boss)
Hunters’ Barks:
● What is that thing?
● It’s a monster! Run!!!
● Look at the size of that thing!
● Just look at those eyes, they’re glowing…
(Post-Battle/just before and during harvesting skins)
Hunters’ Barks:
● You’re a real hero!
● The way you took that thing down, WOW! Just wow!
● Can you teach me to fight like that?
● No wolves are ever going to bother us again.