I’ve been playing around in Unity for a bit and making some of the typical tutorial and learning games. Now, I’m going to attempt my dream project, and I’m going to give regular updates on my successes and spectacular failures.
My intention is to update this thread about three times a week. Most of the posts in the WIP area give a few large updates spread out over time, but I think that many smaller updates will work better for my own personal management and record-keeping.
I’m currently still in the design stage of my Unity project. Thus, I expect that the first updates will include primarily descriptions of intended features, systems, and concept artwork. It seems that the WIP moderators frown upon an artwork heavy WIP thread. However, I want to start out that way because artwork helps me “see” where the design of a game is headed.
Hi Jtok4j, thanks for your interest. Today’s post, like most of my posts, will be a small update.
Today’s post is focused on design, and I’ll give a small bit of art at the end.
A. Design
(World View) The game’s gameplay and story will be heavily influenced by NPC companions. The player’s focus for much of the early and mid game is to gain allies through words, deeds, trade, friendship, fealty, convincing, coercion, and/or forced servitude.
(World View and Battle View) Upon recruitment, NPC companions benefit the player and his war party in different ways. The benefits that NPCs bestow upon the player can will need to be upgraded by story-driven quests and decisions that strengthen or change the relationship between the player and the companion, between the companion and other companions, or both.
(Battle View) NPC companions participate in the battle portion of the game. Usually (although not always) at the player’s discretion. An important part of the battle system is that the player character and all the NPCs have only one life. There are no resurrections for anyone in this world.
(Battle View) NPCs can be assigned to guard duty for the player character and for other important NPCs. Here they will be expected to attempt to deflect blows and take mortal wounds that might otherwise strike the guarded player or NPC. Additionally, NPCs who are of certain personality types (heroic, for example) or are of a certain disposition towards the player or NPC (indebted, in-love, honor-bound, best friend, fearful) might also attempt to save the guarded character’s life, regardless of assigned duties, depending on the situation.
(World and Battle View) When a NPC companion dies, the game does not simply “move on”. Significant story and game-play changing effects typically occur when an NPC dies. This depends on the significance of the dead NPC (relationships, deeds, abilities, contributions, personality, etc) to the player character and the other NPCs.
Examples:
The soul of a fallen warrior friend could be bound into a powerful enchanted sword that still speaks and vaguely remembers the life of the man it once was.
An honor-bound personality typed, elite general, and best friend of the player character, might be simply commanded, “No…my friend. You can NOT die…GET UP! GET UP I SAY! TO THE HELLS WITH YOUR DEATH…NO! I NEED YOU, HERE!” to continue living. This type of NPC might then fight the ferryman of the river styx for the right to come back and serve you again as an undead (although not evil) monstrosity. This changed NPC would now be a powerful weapon but can no longer lead troops and unnerves your allies.
I’ll give more examples later
It’s getting late. Here is a sword I made in Inkscape. I want to spend as little time as possible creating graphics, so I’m trying to find a program and style that lets me create “barely good enough” graphics to use while I focus on the things more important to me: story, gameplay, world building, choices, etc.
I don’t think that level of art will be good enough, even for a story-focused rpg. I do plan to eventually attempt to sell this game.
I’m focusing on the art and design first, since I am more confident in my ability to craft a story. First, I want to see what art resources and design elements I’ll have available, and then I’ll craft a story that uses them. For example, I wouldn’t want to write a story that involves swamp environments and battles with elder gods, only to realize later that I can’t make art that involves either of them.
I’ve been pretty lazy the last two days, but today I started using Inkscape tutorials to improve my skills. Tutor4u on youtube.com has Inkscape tutorials that are easy to follow. Since my last update I have completed the clip art and rusty gear tutorials.
Boom! Reality check. It is not that I want to talk you down, but please be realistic.
You are still way too far and off from a WIP project, I can’t even call this WIP.
Try Unity assets store. I believe you can find many good asset for your project instead creating your asset from zero. Especially if you are going solo.
Today’s post, like most of my posts, will be a small update.
