Original Post
Hi, I'm designing a game which functions partly as a simulation, and I can't figure out how to approach the design. Basically I want a group of townspeople who I want to be autonomous, and not only autonomous but have their actions and interactions propel a storyline with branching possibilities. The single player character should be able to participate in this storyline, but also be able to just sit back and watch it unfold. His presence should not be required. My trouble is how I even conceptualize a design for a system like this. What I mean is, should I create some kind of virtual model for this system, which plays itself out regardless of the player, and only visualize whatever portion of the model the player is experiencing at a given time? Please point me in the right direction. Thanks for any help!