Turbine Games Q&A/Backstory/Q-43

Original Link (now dead) - http://www.turbinegames.com/qa/view_questions.html?id=3804

Would things have gone different if all servers defended the Shard?

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Asked:	2000.12.08
Name:	Misfit Opheles
Question Title:	Would things have gone different if all servers defended the Shard?
Category:	Backstory
Question:	By now, the TD Shard defense is pretty much legendary, but I do not understand how it fell. Apparently, (at least from what I read, correct me if Im wrong) you guys brought in a character to destroy the shard to advance the storyline. WHat would have happened if all the servers, or at least a majority of them, would have defended the shard successfully? Would the story have changed from how it will in December, or would you guys have been forced to break them at the end to advance the story along the pre-determined path? Once again, great game, keep up the good work.

Answered:	2000.12.11
Name:	Stormwaltz
Answer:	No. It would have been impossible to rewrite December. When working on a tight monthly schedule, there's no way to safely plan an event that can go one way or the other 24 hours before the prop. Also, the BZ story has been running for twelve months - six months longer than originally planned. We were hell bent on resolving this plot in 12/00. In the future, if we present a choice like this, we'll plan ahead for a one way or the other answer. This means that significant choices made by the players will be designed such that they do not effect the plot for two months.