TAKING A PAGE FROM FFVI'S BOOK.

Sorry if my posts seem to keep up with "DO IT FF9 STYLE YOU FOOL". I do believe FF9 has better writing but I'm not trying to hit you with a hammer until you do it the same way (godamnit there I go again). There isn't anything stopping a combination of FF6's scenario style with better writing and pacing!

ANYWAYS BACK TO LENGTH. I'm going to pull your example and quantify everything: Recruited characters are +2, introduced are 1, dungeons are 1, boss fights are 1, new locations are 1, cutscenes longer than a minute count as +1

Sabin
- Recruits Gau, Cyan (4)
- Introduces Shadow, Leo (2)
- Dungeons: Phantom Forest/Train dungeon and Serpent Trench (2)
- Bosses: Phantom Train, that waterfall boss (2)
- New location: The Veldt/Mobliz, Nikeah, Doma (3)
- Cutscenes: Kefka poisons Doma, everybody dies, Cyan goes berserk. Then Cyan's family boarding the train. Then the recruit scene for Gau (3)
Total: 16

Locke
- Recruits Celes (2)
- Introduces... nobody!
- Dungeons: Figaro Cave, and we'll count South Figaro and the basement as two different places (3)
- Bosses: Tunnel Armor (1)
- New location: None
- Cutscenes: Locke frees Celes (1)
Total: 7

That Wasteland of Content
- Recuits nobody
- Introduces nobody
- Dungeon: Narsh mines
- Bosses: none
- New location: none
Total: 1

Not the most accurate way of showing the content of each scenario, but I think it does make a point. Count the number of events that happens in a scenario, assign a weight to it, and add 'em up to get an idea of how long each scenario is and how much content there is. Some content goes hand in hand better than some (cutscenes introducing a new character, or maybe even a short dungeon after getting a new character to show 'em off in battle) which my weighting didn't show at all.

Personally for each scenario I'd also try to limit how much of each type of content shows up. I'd try to limit the number of characters you recruit to one, introduce two, two short dungeons with a dungeon boss and a scenario boss (if it fits the plot), and one new location.

I'd also try to avoid location specific game mechanics (The Veldt + Gau).

(I completely forgot you could recruit Shadow in Sabin's scenario! Whoops!)

*edit*
Notice: I came up with the categories, weightings, and assignments in about ten minutes so they are by no means reliable, accurate, or even good. I just wanted to give an example of a method.

GRS, you forgot to mention Ghost >:(.

If I may post my two cents while I wait for a game upload of mine to finish, I'll say that to me they were both equally enjoyable methods of playing split parties (FF6 and FF9) but in terms of what was more engaging story wise, I'd say try to do FF9's method. In this way you can have the player play the scenarios in an order that makes sure they are aware of the interconnecting storylines and how the parties are relating to each other.

As GRS said the draw of FF9's way was that you could see how each party was advancing the story and how this related. Also, suddenly switching to a new party after a thrilling boss fight both raises suspense value for the party you just left behind and is a breath of fresh air for the player who is suddenly thrust into a new location and new scenario after racing to save Burmecia.

When I first played through FF6 and was given the choice which character's path to follow I chose Locke's (because he's the awesomest!) AND I assumed I'd only get to play one of the 3 paths and that the others would play out their stories on their own.

I was both a little disappointed and excited that I had to play the other 2 paths.

Was there any consideration in having you chose 1 path and play it out with the other 2 resolving themselves with a standard "here's how the story went for them"? That is, if you wanted to play paths 2 and 3 you'd replay the game?

post=119648
well i havent fully played through ff6, so i dont know how it worked, but i thought the problem when it happened in ff9 was that i ended up with 2 average groups and 2 terrible groups(because i couldnt be bothered training up all the characters) and i really did not like this, it meant level grinding with a couple of characters, and i only level grind when im desperate.

Im not sure if someones already pointed it out(sorry if you have!) but if youre splitting up the party and you have to fight with all of the different groups, id suggest having some sort of warning beforehand so people level up all of the characters evenly(or at least enough for them not to die quickly).
Other than the fighting aspect, i think it's a good idea, it means for better characterisations of people you wouldnt normally be bothered about, or appear as much as some other characters

I don't understand how this could of happened i never trained one of my parties and never had to grind because the monsters in both areas were very easy.

Back to the main topic i really enjoyed the scenario part in ff6 my 2nd favorite part (favorite being the last area where you got to play as 3 parties man that rocked) infact i highly encourage you to do this i for one would play your game to see how its done and if you can try to make each scenario 30-45 minutes because thats probably the best amount of time for a scenario to be.

punctuation is a tool of bourgeois oppression of the proletariat