Generica: The Next Generation

I uploaded a demo of this game for the Valedictory Game Drive event. I was really hoping to get this game done by then, but just didn't commit enough time to it (I found myself busy with work, and also ended up spending 2 weeks of the game drive finishing up Mario vs. the Moon Base instead).

Anywho, the demo is up.

It is about 50% finished. You can play up until the point you cross the mountains and get to Lashburn (so save before you enter the castle).

BONUS
When you start a new game, you can opt to play Generica: TNG using the original 8 classes from Generica. On the character select screen, move your cursor straight up to toggle the class select options (you will 'warp' to the new select page). Move back up to toggle back. However, you cannot mix and match classes from Generica and G:TNG.

BONUS #2
When you start a new game, you can opt to play the original Generica. On the character select screen, move your cursor to the left to toggle between Generica and Generica: TNG. So you can opt to play the full original game with the new classes. The caterpillar script is not yet implemented for the maps in Generica. Also, I did not rebalance the original game (it needs it!).

Coming soon...
-the full game of G:TNG
-some sort of indicator for the game toggle (as described in bonus #2)
-the ability to take your party from Generica directly into G:TNG

Now that my Game Gale side project is done, this project will be revived from Hiatus. When did I say I'd finish this by? July 9th? Urk.

Well, this is a small project - only slightly larger than Generica - so I suppose that is doable, but it is not likely to happen by then. How about I shoot for July 21st instead? That seems more likely.

For those of you who have forgotten about Generica: TNG, this game is a direct sequel to Generica set 33 years later. The world is still going to shit and a plan is afoot to revive the Slayer King, but you'll be there to put a stop to it!

So...yeah, consider this blog the kickoff of the final phase of this project.

For anyone still following this I figured I'd give a short update.

As I set new deadlines and watch them pass, I figure I should set another! That should work, right? Okay, the new deadline is...letsee...April 9th July 7th. Why not, eh?

As for the project itself - I am making monsters and events for the first few areas (two villages, three dungeons) and am planning the next plot point. I'll actually get to use the tree chipset in game! I can't wait. Also, I implemented the caterpillar system to the existing maps and have created a template with the caterpillar events that I copy for any new maps. I doubt that I will retrofit the original Generica with a caterpillar system, but you never know.

Towns
Humboldt -- FINISHED
Kerrobert -- FINISHED
Spiritwood -- PLANNING
Lashburn
Watrous
Arcola

Dungeons
Ancient Temple -- FINISHED
Gaia's Grotto -- FINISHED
Mt. Peek -- FINISHED
Wilderun Forest -- PLANNING
Pool of Radiance
Lashburn Ruins
Pyramid
Yggdrasil

EDIT:
Changed the date! And I haven't made any progress. D:

I'm having more fun making cool looking locations in Generica: TNG than making any progress on the game itself. But I love the look of them. Of course, this view is in the eye of the beholder. These retro (read: ugly) graphics are certainly an acquired taste, and my love with them most certainly stems from hours upon hours playing Dragon Warriors on my NES.





Amazingly, because of the simplistic style of these graphics, I have fit all of it into one chapset (RMVX-like!):



The red-water isn't working quite right yet, but I have no need for it in G:TNG so I haven't bothered to fix it. It'd be pretty simple to do.

So if any of you are interested in this style of game, feel free to grab my compilation! And by "any of you" I mean "Ephiam". ;)

So I am ready to start implementing the specific skills and whatnot for the classes. Now, the philosophy from the Generica School of Design is keep it simple shithead! so I am concerned about the level of custom eventing the Cartomancer class will require.

Now, it's nothing too over the top (or even that difficult), but I wonder still if it is worth it?

1. Tell me, if you were going to make a party of 4 from these classes, who would you choose?



Raider
A fast dual-wielding fighter who can raid enemies for loot and rush for double agility.

Cartomancer
A blowzy harlequin gifted in channeling the strange powers of Tarot cards. By drawing offensively or defensively, the Cartomancer can channel random aggressive or defensive effects in battle.

Mageslayer
A dangerous assassin specializing in the neutralization of sorcery. Special skills enable the Mageslayer to stop, drain and reflect magic.

Cleric
A holy healer and stalwart defender. His healing abilities are unparalleled and his divine nature can lay waste to the undead. Heavy armors allow him to take punishment.

Darkling
A dark mage whose black magic nukes all who stand in his way and whose scythe cleaves any left standing in two.

Wizard
A versatile spellcaster who is a scholar of both healing and dark magic. His Chainmagic ability will allow him to cast twice per round.

Swordmage
A special warrior that can summon ethereal and elemental weapons to wield in battle.

Brute
A powerful fighter who can dish out a lot of damage. His Impact ability will allow him to attack multiple times per round.

Death Knight
A dark warrior who has a small selection of dark magic. He also resists dark magic but weak is versus light.




I'm pretty happy with the other 8 classes so unless someone brings up some issues I won't go into detail with them. The Cartomancer I would like some opinions on.

The Cartomancer will have a deck of tarot cards to draw from for random effects based on the card he draws. They cost no MP but some effects are better than others (and rarer) while some can be detrimental in some way.

Some questions come to mind:

1. How does he learn new cards?
2. How should he be able to use his skills?
3. What are the skills going to be?

A1: I am currently envisioning a system where the Cartomancer learns a new card every 2 levels in a random order. There are currently 10 cards planned in my game (hey, it's a short game!). Other things I'm considering are finding/buying the cards from a vendor, or learning them in a set order.

A2: The current design is for two battle commands: CombatDraw and DefendDraw. Say the Cartomancer has the Justice card in his deck and chooses to do a CombatDraw. The system would then randomly choose 1 of 3 effects of an aggressive nature to apply in battle: Blind, Safe, Judgement - it would blind the enemies (good!), cast Safe on the enemies == x2 DEF (bad!) or inflict moderate damage on the enemies (good!). Similarly, if he chose to DefendDraw, he'd get 1 of 2 effects of a defensive nature: Safe or Blind - either x2 DEF for the party of blinding the Cartomancer.

I'm open to other ideas. Remember this is RM2k3 and I am Keeping It Simple Shithead!

A3: This is lengthy:



Chance is kind of special. Chancy, even.


You can see the work I'd have to do to implement this, and how unbalanced it could be if I don't do it right. Hence my hesitancy.

Thoughts?