SLASH'S PROFILE

slash

APATHY IS FOR COWARDS

4158

I make video games that'll make you cry.

BOSSGAME

The final boss is your heart.

It'll Look Grea...

Mirror Boy

Search

Filter

you know when its late at night and youre about to walk back into your bedroom after going to pee and theres always that guy on all fours in the dark at the end of the hallway looking at you just as you walk back through the door? whats up with him?

07/28/2016 10:47 AM

god I hate that guy

[Poll] Character Progression Mechanics

07/27/2016 06:04 PM

author=RyaReisender
The advantage of grinding over a difficulty setting is that when you overcome a challenge after grinding it feels like an accomplishement, like you earned the win. If you just die at a boss, then switch difficulty to easy and then beat the boss, it feels lame.

Yea, I can get that, for sure. It's why I like the idea of giving players, say, an easier-to-use weapon set or skill combo as a backup. So if they're losing on the boss, they can mess around with skill combos until they find one that just works really well, or is easier to use, and then switch back to their favorite afterwards. It's ~very similar~ to just switching it from Hard to Easy, but it doesn't feel as bad because it's not as blatantly obvious.

EDIT:

For example, in Phantasy Star IV, you can pick your 5th team member for the final dungeon & boss fight. You have a choice of a few characters you've had on your team throughout the game, but one of them (Raja) is a priest with amazing healing spells that generally makes the final boss much easier. But, if you have a favorite who's kind of weak (poor Hahn), you might want to try them, and only fall back to Raja if you get really stuck. It's a good way of giving you a difficulty option that isn't outright "Easy or Hard?"

[Poll] Character Progression Mechanics

07/27/2016 03:04 PM

author=Craze
whatever fits the theme because it should never be a decision made via a poll

author=Sated
There are so many variables at play that this is a bit of a silly question.

True, but it's a general question offers a good opportunity for discussing why you'd vote for something, and why you prefer a certain method for the games you make and play. It's like an icebreaker!

I definitely can see the benefit of grinding when it comes to balance. The only thing about grinding is that it tends to be boringly designed and not all that much fun - although if it's done well it can be pretty relaxing and enjoyable.

Most of the time I prefer the self-imposed difficulty & challenges - like, you can beat the game, or you can beat the game using your favorite weapon & skillset, which is a little harder, or you can beat an alternate super-boss, or you can easily find some pretty good items that make the game easier. It's like having a difficulty adjuster that you can switch only when you need to and feels more natural than "set slider from Hella Hard to Easy Peasy".

[Poll] Character Progression Mechanics

07/26/2016 04:29 PM

Other:

I like the idea of getting "sidegrades", which allow you to change playstyles, equipment, stats, etc. without changing the power level too much. As you progress through the game, you get more options and more versatility but don't straight-up increase in power.

For an experienced player, more options will indirectly mean more power, since they know how to pick the right tool for the right situation... but mostly, this is a fun way to add new abilities and unlocks without falling into "power creep" territory, and it also lends itself to a lot of creativity and self-imposed challenge. I've seen it work really well in short games like Binding of Isaac!