A question to think about

[MarshDanni]

Reading the "Ways to improve GTA IV's story" got me thinking and one thing that got me wondering is how would the story be if there was no Roman, as we all know he's a trouble starter. He finds trouble (even though he doesn't want to) and trouble finds him. Basically Niko got involved with a lot of people because of him, but what would it be if he didn't exist? Imagine this. Niko comes to Liberty City in search of a better life. He heard about the American dream and blindly came, he doesn't know anyone and he's basically all alone. There is not 'fatty' Roman to get him in trouble and to connect him with the underbelly of the city. I think it would be more interesting in a way that it gives a player more of a isolation feeling. Desperate need to progress and survive the whole Liberty City experience. What are your thoughts on the subject?

[lolleroz]

It would make the game even darker than how it is; basically a contract killer simulator.... at least with Roman, even if practically most of the troubles were caused by him, Niko always has someone he can rely on - emotionally. I imagine instead of driving the cab for the first missions instead you'd be cracking some skulls with a baseball bat for 50 bucks

[Algonquin Assassin]

This is an interesting question. Without Roman you wouldn't have the balance to Niko's cynicism and realistic views. Through out the story Roman acts as a counterbalance. Roman lives in a world of fantasy whilst Niko sees everything for how it really is.

 

Without Roman I believe Niko would be even more enveloped with revenge. It would however likely change Niko's insistence to chase down money because he wouldn't have Roman's gambling debts hanging over him. IMO NIko would be an even more damaged and darker persona which I would still enjoy however.

 

Thank you for bringing up this thread though. It's not something that crosses my mind often.

[theGTAking101]

Roman is one of the two reasons Niko came to LC in the first place. If there was no Roman, Niko would focus more on his search for Florian and Darko, and he wouldn't have these friends to keep him calm like Mallorie and Brucie, because he only met them because of Roman. Long story short the game and Niko's character would be much darker IMO.

[Algonquin Assassin]

Roman is one of the two reasons Niko came to LC in the first place. If there was no Roman, Niko would focus more on his search for Florian and Darko, and he wouldn't have these friends to keep him calm like Mallorie and Brucie, because he only met them because of Roman. Long story short the game and Niko's character would be much darker IMO.

 

You could also throw LJ in there too.

 

For instance if Roman never existed Niko would arrive in the country, but where would he set himself up? Maybe he could live on the streets lol. It would be interesting to play as a protagonist who literally knows no one from the start.

 

In GTA III Claude had 8-Ball and in VC Tommy had Ken despite being relatively unfamilar with their locations.

[theGTAking101]

 

Roman is one of the two reasons Niko came to LC in the first place. If there was no Roman, Niko would focus more on his search for Florian and Darko, and he wouldn't have these friends to keep him calm like Mallorie and Brucie, because he only met them because of Roman. Long story short the game and Niko's character would be much darker IMO.

 

It would be interesting to play as a protagonist who literally knows no one from the start.

 

In GTA III Claude had 8-Ball and in VC Tommy had Ken despite being relatively unfamilar with their locations.

 

That would be a great story if Rockstar does it right. I'd love to see a protagonist work his way up from LITERALLY nothing. He'll start by living on the streets, and mug people and hold up convenience stores to save up for a sh*tty apartment. Then he'll make a few allies from there.

[PhillBellic]

There would be no Bowling.

 

 

Seriously, it could have been an Inverse Dynamic. Niko could have arrived in LC first, then Roman could have arrived later.

 

That's something to ponder.

[MarshDanni]

 

Seriously, it could have been an Inverse Dynamic. Niko could have arrived in LC first, then Roman could have arrived later.

 

That's something to ponder.

I agree. Here's what I think. Reverse the roles of Roman and Darko, city wise. In the story we found half way through that Brevic is in a crackhouse. After searching through countless bums we find him in a dark corner of one of the rooms coughing and trying to sleep. Niko's busts in and shouts Darko's name, he answers, thinking that Niko is one of the loan sharks coming to kill him or something he automatically begs that he doesn't kill him, Niko, surprised with that state of Darko says who he is and Darko knows what's coming. Explaining that whole story we hear in the original game about him betraying the squad for money to supply his drug addiction, Niko is horrified and again there's a choice of life and death, with Niko being more satisfied if he leaves him alive since he would suffer a lot more. After that later, U.L. Paper Contact gets Roman into the city as a favor after Niko's been doing missions for him. Roman finds a more stabile and in general a more happy Niko that's in a relationship with Kate. To get him started he buys Roman a business with the money he accumulated.

[PhillBellic]

 

 

Seriously, it could have been an Inverse Dynamic. Niko could have arrived in LC first, then Roman could have arrived later.

 

That's something to ponder.

I agree. Here's what I think. Reverse the roles of Roman and Darko, city wise. In the story we found half way through that Brevic is in a crackhouse. After searching through countless bums we find him in a dark corner of one of the rooms coughing and trying to sleep. Niko's busts in and shouts Darko's name, he answers, thinking that Niko is one of the loan sharks coming to kill him or something he automatically begs that he doesn't kill him, Niko, surprised with that state of Darko says who he is and Darko knows what's coming. Explaining that whole story we hear in the original game about him betraying the squad for money to supply his drug addiction, Niko is horrified and again there's a choice of life and death, with Niko being more satisfied if he leaves him alive since he would suffer a lot more. After that later, U.L. Paper Contact gets Roman into the city as a favor after Niko's been doing missions for him. Roman finds a more stabile and in general a more happy Niko that's in a relationship with Kate. To get him started he buys Roman a business with the money he accumulated.

 

That's an awesome Post, if I say so myself. Damn, what I would give to play that Version of GTA IV.

 

This is one of the Best Recent New Topic in this Section, as well.

[MarshDanni]

 

 

 

Seriously, it could have been an Inverse Dynamic. Niko could have arrived in LC first, then Roman could have arrived later.

 

That's something to ponder.

I agree. Here's what I think. Reverse the roles of Roman and Darko, city wise. In the story we found half way through that Brevic is in a crackhouse. After searching through countless bums we find him in a dark corner of one of the rooms coughing and trying to sleep. Niko's busts in and shouts Darko's name, he answers, thinking that Niko is one of the loan sharks coming to kill him or something he automatically begs that he doesn't kill him, Niko, surprised with that state of Darko says who he is and Darko knows what's coming. Explaining that whole story we hear in the original game about him betraying the squad for money to supply his drug addiction, Niko is horrified and again there's a choice of life and death, with Niko being more satisfied if he leaves him alive since he would suffer a lot more. After that later, U.L. Paper Contact gets Roman into the city as a favor after Niko's been doing missions for him. Roman finds a more stabile and in general a more happy Niko that's in a relationship with Kate. To get him started he buys Roman a business with the money he accumulated.

 

That's an awesome Post, if I say so myself. Damn, what I would give to play that Version of GTA IV.

 

This is one of the Best Recent New Topic in this Section, as well.

 

Thank you, I appreciate that

 

Back on the topic though I was thinking another thing. If Roman wasn't around I wonder how progress would look like since the Russian mafia or anyone who wants to hurt Niko wouldn't have any leverage against him. Roman was the anchor that always had Niko in a rough spot. But now if there is no cousin to kidnap I think that a lot of more hits would be put on Niko. People would like to get rid of him. Faustin's men after his death, Bulgarin's men, etc. The whole LC would be a bloody playground. Also I think that the order of meeting people would be a lot different. Being new in the city Niko would connect himself with Hove Beach, known imigrant neighborhood and start doing small jobs for criminals, until meeting Vlad, a big shot in the area, since there's no debt he would see Niko as a potential valuable asset for the organization since he does everything for money and meets him with Faustin, presenting him as the guy that is outside of the mob and can be used for their dirty work without being directly connected to the Faustin's organization. After proving himself to Faustin, he would ask him to kill Vlad since he finds no more interest in him and is afraid that he'll become a snitch. After the killing, enter Dmitri and his missions. After that it would play kinda same as the original game. At least for the Faustin storyline

Edited January 16, 2016 by MarshDanni

[Ducard]

I think this is an interesting "what if?" scenario.

 

Without Roman, Niko has to start from scratch. So, he starts out on the streets in Broker. I still think some story events would have happened though. Without Roman, Niko doesn't ever meet Michelle or Mallorie or LJ but I still think he would have bumped into Vlad early (while looking for someone to work for) in the game and started working for him. Vlad treats him like dirt but eventually finds Niko to be a valuable asset and introduces Niko to his superiors, Dimitri and Faustin.

 

Remember, no Roman means Niko does not have any intention to kill Vlad so he starts working with Faustin and Dimitri. Faustin is still a raging psychopath. Eventually Faustin spins out of control (like in the original game) but this time it's him who kills Vlad. Dimitri is shocked by this. Eventually Dimitri (like in the original game) asks Niko to kill Faustin. Niko does and after the hit goes to meet Dimitri to collect the reward but without Jacob. Bulgarin reveals himself and the shootout occurs and Niko has a harder time fighting off the Russians but he eventually kills them all. (Like in the original game) Niko flees to Bohan and once again finds himself back on the streets. He probably still bumps into Manny Escuela and starts working for him even if he hates him because he has no choice. The manny missions happen like they did and Manny gets murdered by Elizabeta and Niko begins working with Elizabeta. Elizabeta introduces Niko to Playboy X and Niko starts working with X too. However after the snow storm Elizabeta is not caught because Niko never met Michelle.

 

At some point Niko probably stops working with Elizabeta and moves to Algonquin. Like in the original game, X and Dwayne have differences. The Holland Play happens... the same choice is given to the player. Say that Niko killed X and got his apartment, and his first taste of the American dream.

 

After this... I don't know.. maybe I'll think of it later (or someone else can) but that's all I have for now.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Ducard