Mage Duel Extreme

Okay, this is in the spirit of wildly throwing out feedback (which I've been doing so far,) but I had a potentially game-breaking, lots-of-work-making, game-experience-improving idea.

Taunt system.

Taunting is a huge element of pay-per-view wrestling, and even the casual 2D fighter can often be a vehicle for taunting (in the sense that it goes on outside the game, rather than in it.) Allowing taunting would increase player input in a way that does not require branching plot paths, and could also be a way to make hypothetical hint guy useful.

Allow me to elaborate.

Before a fight, you get a couple of options for grandstanding/taunts. One is a 'good' taunt, strikes a sore spot on the opponent, and gives you a slight advantage in combat. One is neutral and has no effect. The third one is a mistake that causes your enemy to gain a slight bonus. In addition, you can pay hint guy to dig up some dirt on your next fight for a secret fourth taunt with a bigger bonus. Doing so decreases your total available cash for outfitting your character and could conceivably handicap you down the line, but it could give you the edge you need to pass a difficult fight.

Obviously, this could take some time and energy to implement, so I'm not saying put it in, especially if the design goals are for a more stripped-down project. But I figured I'd at least throw it out there.

Edit*

This is really easy to get into. It reminds me of D.O.T.A; creating a new genre from the mechanics of another. I still can't beat the artificer as an enchanter though. :( Time for some tier lists.

you're getting rid of the story, that was one of my favourite bits of the original! i liked playing a ruthless character, way less intrested about this game now. so that second to last point is not an imporovement in my book, but it's your game, do what you like, there's just a good chance i'm not going to bother with this game now.

I remember Mage Duel (the original) being my introduction to rpgmaker.net and I loved it. Wasn't happy to see it cancelled but it's nice to see it being revived now.

Finished this one in under an hour I believe. I think that only 10 more battles isn't going to quite cut it lol. Is there going to be any side content? Like the old one's monster battles? and other such things?

OK, finally beat it with all classes. All I can say is there are some serious balancing issues here, dude. I won all the fights with the Spellsword, Abjurer and Elementalist without dying once. I steamrolled the enemy mages like a steampunk steamroller running on magic fuel. With magic. It was like a bunch of lemmings facing against a huge tidal wave - most of them didn't even get a turn, let alone a chance to get me.

Then I played the Enchanter...

And it was hell...

Seriously, I had to play the game 3 times to get the optimal (read: the only one that made the victory a possibility) build. I died around 20 times in the process. Not cool.

You're saying the game's like RPS. I agree, it is like RPS. The issue is every single enemy is scissors to the Enchanter's (toilet) paper. And the other classes? They're shotgun.

If you want I'll write a strategy guide (what?) on how to beat the demo with the Enchanter. It's still very much luck-based.

My main beef with the game apart from the weak-ass Enchanter? Make a wrong build and you're screwed, forcing you to restart the whole game.

I disagree with the wrong build thing; equipment builds can be sold as noted and enemies drop off basic equipment for you anyway.

For skill builds, the synergies are extremely self evident (I thought) and my builds were simple enough.

author=DE
My main beef with the game apart from the weak-ass Enchanter? Make a wrong build and you're screwed, forcing you to restart the whole game.

This is a valid point, and I think I've already blathered at some length about this, but it bears re-iterating. Difficult challenges are more fun when you know how to use the resources at hand, and to this end I'll totally help DE if he wants a hand in compiling that strategy guide.

Here's how I beat the original demo with the Enchanter. I'm guessing the current version makes it easier for him, but the overall strategy should be the same.

0. Character creation:
- take the Frost Scroll.
- buy the following items: Ice Rod, Cloak of Shadows, Spellweave Cape, Witch's Hat.
- don't forget to learn the spell and equip the items.

1. Kami the Goddess of Magic
- cast Frost on her 3 times.
- learn Bind Foe.

2. Dolph Lundgren the Healer
- cast Bind Foe, and you better hit!
- keep casting Frost.
- if he shrugs off the paralysis and sets up magic defense, cast Slumber and then renew your MP with Meditate. Keep putting him to sleep until his protective spells wear off, then use Frost.
- this battle may take a while.
- buy and equip a Wheel of Time.

3. Bethany the Enchantress
- hope for the best when she casts Slumber.
- apply Frost 3 times.
- learn Hypnotism.

4. Alex the Spellsword
- use Frost.
- hope he doesn't Silence you.
- if he does, use Last Resort and hope you kill him before he kills you. You'll probably die.
- if it wears off, use Hypnotism and Bind Foe, then Frost.
- alternatively, simply use Hypnotism, Bind Foe, and then Frost right off the bat.
- buy and equip another Wheel of Time.
- learn Mantra.

5. Avana the Artificer AKA Our Lady of Death and Sorrow
- hope you get first turn! If you don't, hope she doesn't kill you outright. You can still recover from this.
- use Hypnotism, Bind Foe, Mantra, and then use Willforce. If the paralysis doesn't connect, you can as well reload.
- use Willforce repeatedly for great justice.

6. Leila the Illusionist
- if she Enrages you, you can as well reload (Rage is broken, BTW, it lasts way too long, which makes it no different to instant death).
- use Hypnotism followed by Bind Foe, Mantra, and Frost.
- keep casting Frost.
- learn Feeblemind.

7. Drexle the Dread Necromancer!!!
- use Mantra, Feeblemind, and Willforce.
- Willforce him to death.
- buy and equip a Black Robe.

8. Cyath the Someone (I skipped the dialogue by accident :)
- he can't even touch you, so cast Mantra and 2 Frosts.
- keep casting Frost until he dies, don't use any negative status effects on him, though, or he'll dispell them along with his Shockblade state and start doing damage to you (worse still, he might Stun you).
- Rejoice.