If you've been following our rambles, Thallian and I are in early (not all that consistent yet) stages of creating a simple fantasy-based tactical rpg. We have some ideas for gameplay and story, but would like to hear some of our friends' or visitors to this sites' opinions/suggestions for the game. We will consider all input at our discretion and as it fits into what is already established for the game. Note the few pieces of rough concept art along the top banner of our site.
So please leave some comments about what you'd like to see in our storyline, characters, or gameplay for our tactical rpg. -Anton
:D This is kind of like Tobold's Shandalar project only we're actually making it. We were wondering if you'd prefer to play a game with lots of swords and sorcery or maybe more steampunk, or intergallactic or whatnot. We are open to all ideas! Not only the setting but if you have any crazy storyline ideas we may like to use please share! I am a big fan of branching story lines that you can choose from, thus making your character a bit more interesting if not unique :) Little plot sequences that you encounter like in Baldur's gate 2.
An example being like where you have to find an actor and hes been captured by a wizard. When you find the key after traveling through the sewer to sneak into his house, the wizard shows up and you have to talk him out of killing you and into being willing to negotiate. Then later you find out the reason the actor was captured was he was trying to steal a portal gem and you use it to warp into an inter dimensional prison for highly dangerous felons and even more dangerous guards. You can get out a number of ways: force of arms, or create a distraction by freeing the slaves who hate the warden, or just stealth. Saving slaves' lives gives bonus rewards.
Anyways I can't wait to hear your ideas and try them :) -Thallian
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22 comments:
I think what you need for any good fantasy game is a horrible arch-enemy that looks disgusting, you know, something that you can really hate. And the reason that you hate these monsters is because they have taken something from you, or they have done something to you, or just somehow they have effected you in a truly horrible way.
So you want revenge, with revenge then it can be really fun, you chase down the monsters to seek revenge on the leader.
On the way to their 'base' or hideout you gain more people in your group by helping them destroy particularly hard monsters (gain a fighter/rogue or barbarian, basically melee dps)or solve puzzles (gain a wizard/spellcaster)
The base of the baddies though is an instance-based type of thing so that the more people you gain in your group, the harder the instance is.
That I guess could be the simple skeleton of the story, maybe different parts of a map, and various clues gradually guiding you to the baddies' cave.
Very quick write up, good luck!
I love tactical RPGs. I think steampunk would be a good idea, to differentiate yourself from the typical elves and orcs stuff.
For gameplay I was wondering whether you could recreate something well-known to MMORPG players, but not often seen in tactical RPGs: A tank, healer, dps model. You could have a party of 4, with one tank, one healer, one melee dps, and one ranged dps. And you'd need to manage aggro in a way that the enemy sticks to the tank.
Thallian -
What platform are you making it on? ;)
If you scroll down you'll see screen shots of what we have so far for the game board.
XNA btw, DirectX stuff
Wait is it turn based or real time? I would think turn based would be much easier to design/balance/create.
I also think turn based games can get away with lower quality graphics, as long as you have some style to them.
I would not worry to much about story right now, just focus on the core gameplay, and work a story around whatever works best.
Looking forward to future updates!
it's going to be turn based for sure. :)
I like the tank, melee dps, ranged dps and healer idea. You could have spells shield spells that pull agro onto the tank, so a round of attacks only hit him and maybe the next highest armor character, rather than pounding your clothies as they say.
Steam punk or Shadowrun esq ideas are good. Fantasy has been kind of over done recently and people maybe burned out on them.
You could also build in a card game similar to Xenosaga, that was a pretty nice addition to an already great RPG. You could have people spend money or they could get cards as loot items off mobs.
Also, you could consider making it available on Wiiware or XBLA.
I'm not experienced too much with Tactical RPGs. I had FF:TA but that was about it.
I can however impart very strongly that if the game results in just another fantasy-based japanime game that tries too hard to be like Final Fantasy, I will personally come to your homes and beat you senseless with the fury of a thousand rabid Charles Bronsons. :)
(Kidding, just don't tempt me...)
yowzers!
Is the game you're thinking about, anything like the old school Fantasy General? It was a turn based tactical RPG. Possibly one of my all time favorites. If you're thinking about building something similar, then you will definitely have my vote ;)
Hmm I'm not too knowledgable on turn-based RPGs, but I certainly think it offers a great oppourtuinity to add in some nice MMO elements. As you're not playing in real time it'd allow you to plan moves for your party - effectively playing all the roles in the group - tank, healer, CC, DPS, whilst allowing you to spec the group how you like.
I'd love to see that :)
I'd say blend the two, Steampunk & Sword and Sorcery. That's been done a bit before, but go ahead and mess with the cliches intermingling them.
I know you're looking for mostly story / theme suggestions, but I also have this:
For tactical, I'd recommend prototyping your gameplay. Since it's turn-based, it shouldn't be too hard to do that with pen and paper, making a sort of tabletop game, boardgame or card-based game out of it. Then try it out with friends and family to see what the reactions are like, where the holes are, etc..
btw ty all for your good ideas :D
I need to check out Fantasy General.. :) I used to own a game similar to that though. And I have seen a few more that my brother plays.
Turn based is good :)
This might be going into too much detail-oriented stuff, but I would strongly recommend making terrain a huge factor. Attacking downhill should be an advantage, attacking someone in mud should be an advantage, stuff like that. That way you could have stuff like defending a castle actually matter, or turning a grass field into mud to slow the enemy down. Just depends on how flexible the engine is I guess.
Have you ever played Necromunda? It's a gang vs gang version of Warhammer 40k, also done by Games Workshop, set in an urban environment with a lot of great ideas. It would make a perfect turn based strategy game, including all the meta stuff like leveling up gang members, perma-death, different equipment costs and strengths, etc. Look it up, it was an amazingly well balanced game to play as a tabletop, and I think would convert well into a comp game.
@syncaine Anton was talking to me this mornign about making you move farther when your going downhill and thus "charging" while you trudge uphill. Also the inability of heavy armored units to damage each other from the front so while you have one occupied in a sword fight with another you have somone come along and stab him in the side or back, or shoot an arrow. I need to look into Necromunda and Warhammer 40K.
It might be worth having a look at the Heroes of Might and Magic series for inspiration on turn based tactical combat.
ty crimson, thats a good suggestion. I am an old hand at those ones tho and I remember them well and will certainly draw on them for inspiration. I have also played Masters of Orion 2 a bajillion times :P If you haven't played it you should.. still good!
Masters of Orion 2 was well ahead of it's time. It was a huge favourite of mine. Galactic Civilizations 2 is what Masters of Orion 3 should have been. I'd love to see an MMO-TB-RPG (he he). Let me know if your work out how to pull it off ;)
Is this project just theory, or will you actually be building the game?
@crimson, as I said in the original post, yes we are going to actually make something here, not just talk about it. I have made two rpgs (very large ones) with RPG Maker in my spare time but this my first time making a tactical rpg and using a less restrictive engine to do it. I have grown a lot as a programmer though so I think its time to stretch my wings.
Steampunk would be great. I'll be looking forward to seeing what comes of this.
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