Ob Iter

Perhaps this game is best suited for the category of games that simply got too large to ever see completion... except that this is a story that i must complete before i die.

Then, i have felt over the years that i simply was not ready, not mature enough to write the story well. I also suffered a loss three years ago which crushed my motivation to continue.

The reality is that all of the most challenging work to be done on this game is largely complete. The foundation is all in place and i need only finish it. Maybe now is the time, but i make no promises.

I have a story to tell, and one day i will finish it, if not here, then in a book, but i will finish it.

This is in part a response to a reply on a previous blog that i have removed and replaced with this one.
I delete things often. It keeps things for me, organized. Anyways...

Though i have worked with RPG Maker for over 10 years, this is only my second game. My first was a 95+ game called Eternal Darkness (Released 2002). I submit to the notion that 'i am new to this'. I have a lot to learn. One thing i believe important is 'small details'.

That comes in many forms, but i hope with this website i can find many ideas to use in my game as i progress.
Some examples of what i already have:

- MP3 music rather than MIDI
- Abundant treasure chests
- Full healing after battle (Wild Arms 4 / 5)
- Heavy focus on 20 x 15 maps (though bigger maps occur when they make sense).
- Original Character sprites
- Choices that branch events
- Interaction with inanimate objects (the toilet)
- On screen enemies

I believe these, and some other minor details i have incorporated into my game, make it a better game, but i know there is room for much more. I saw a review for a puzzle game called Zack to the Future on the main page. If i take that series for example, and learn how the coding works, i may find some new ideas. Of course, there are many more games, and many i have not yet played.

So, i will do my own research, but anything that any of you have found in other games which really seemed to add depth, i am interested in reading about. Many of these ideas don't exist in my brain yet. I want to put them there. xD

LoL. I feel inspired to write some about my use of the DBS, for those who care to read.

===
BASE SKILLS
===
There are about 20 playable characters right now, though more will be brought in as i progress with the final chapters. They all share the same set of base skills and stats, These skills are learned at one skill per level and fit into the ATTACK category during battle.

===
ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND STATS
===
All additional skills and stat upgrades are found in treasure chests or through various other means. For example, the Lit 3 skill is found in a Treasure Chest. The player may then teach this skill to a hero of their choice. Of course, there will be far fewer Lit 3 spells available in the game than there are playable heroes. This way, the custom skills each character learns will not be identical across the board.

Stat upgrades can be found in chests as well. Give everything to one character or divide them equally. it's up to you. I realize this brings with it concerns about unbalance, but i am happier with this than a determined level curve.

===
SKILL TYPES
===

ATTACK -
Contains all base skills common to all playable characters.

MAGIC
Elements (fire, ice, sleep, silence etc).

SUPPORT
Buffs and Debuffs.
Attack, Defence, magic, Speed, and 8 elements can be raised or lowered.
Resistance to sleep, paralyze etc as well.

HEALING
Cure, heal, remedy etc.

ITEMS
Explanatory

CHARGE
I have decided to use a system where ALL attacks consume MP.
Charge recovers MP in battle.
PassCharge recovers the MP of other party members.
HP/MP is completely recovered at the end of battle.

===
VARIANCE
===

Example: Fire Spell
15dmg/95%/0att/10int/5var/Fire 2mp

Example Fire 2 Spell
30dmg/90%/0att/10int/5var/Fire 4mp

Example Fire 3 Spell
50dmg/88%/0att/10int/5var/Fire 7mp

^^This appears in the game description.
Now i will attempt to explain as all skills work by the same logic.

MP costs follows base damage by a somewhat parallel pattern.
However, each type of spell has a unique Attack and Intelligence Bonus.
Each also has its own Variance.

The Fire spell has a +10 to intelligence.
Thus a playable character with 100 Intelligence, will gain 50 points of damage to their fire spells
Fire 1 costs 2MP and will do a base damage of 65 with a 25% Varience.
Fire 3 costs 7MP and will do a base damage of 100 with a 25% Variance.

The cost of MP to Damage is not equal.
A slightly more powerful attack is at times, a good call.
Do you use it? All attacks require MP, and it must be charged during battles.

===
Attribute Defense
===

All enemies and playable characters have base resistances to various elements and status ailments.
A= 150%
B= 125%
C= 100%
D= 75%
E= 50%

These are base values which vary with every monster and character.
Buff spells my increase or decrease these values (and base stats).

===
FORMS
===

Boss enemies have multiple forms.
Battle strategies and attributes change with each form.

===
AI
===

Use of preconditions.
Battle events, number of turns, percentages, monsters present etc.

==
Further Attributes
==

beyond resistances to elements and ailments, each weapon type also has a resistance class from A-E (Sword, Knuckle etc).

===

I'll hold it there for now.
I'm happy to discuss it further. :)

Is this the year my game is finally completed?
I did not expect it, but i have been given a whole year...
no job, almost no obligations.
Just time.

Armed with a calender at my side,
I will do what i can.
I started this project more than 10 years ago on RM95+
Perhaps it's an occasion where the scale is too epic for one guy to handle,
but i'll give it all i can.

A lot of not much today. I have decided to release just Chapter 1 first. That's still 5-8 hours of playtime. You'll all get something to sink into a little sooner, and i could use the feedback to better the game sooner too. So i've got a few more cutscenes to write and certainly one more test through of the chapter among some other things, but in the next couple weeks probably it'll be ready to play.