historica fantasia, development blog 02 deconstruct ogre battle & improvise gameplay features

@OtakuEatMama : @HistoricaFantasiaDevBlog : [email protected] 1By Matumit Sombunjaroen V1.1 2016/11/15

Historica Fantasia Dev BlogChapter2:

Deconstruct Ogre Battle &Improvise GamePlay Features

@OtakuEatMama : @HistoricaFantasiaDevBlog : [email protected] 2

The Biggest Problem with Ogre Battle nowadays is,…When used AS IS, The GamePlay Design has aged and does not really go well with comprehensive Gaming.

As such, the Design need to be deconstruct and improvise

The Problem with Ogre Battle


To be more specific

Realtime Exploration

Semi-Auto Battle Scene

During Exploration, Player deploy up to 10 Squads,And have them March in Realtime.

But The Battle is Semi-Auto Cut Scene.

Comprehensive Realtime Commanding (Active) Watching Battle (Passive)The conflict in Design cause disruption in Experience

As such, it is better to Re-Design the overall GamePlay scheme to a Unify Experience


The Good PartsTo reference


Unit as Individual and Squad ManagementThe Player can deploy up to a Maximum of50 INDIVIDUAL Characters in a Single Game.

Each of them have contribution to the Campaign,Making them Important part of the Grand Scheme,

and having their mark in the History.

This trait coincide with the Narrative Focus ofHistorica Fantasia, as such, it should be preserve for the Improvise GamePlay Design.


Narrative ExplorationOne of the Key feature of Ogre Battle,

is the Freeform Narrative Exploration,

Depending on where the Player explore,Who the Player chooses to Fight., etcIt will affect how other Characters treated the Player.Resulting in Hidden Elements being discovers,And the Change in outcome of the History

As this also coincide with Historica Fantasia’s Narrative Focus, it should also be preserve.


Strategy Game TypesTo reference


Types at a glance

Country Management,Base Building., etc

Play a major role in the Game

Warlord

Strategist

General

Warrior

Resource Management,Deploying Units, etc

Gameplay focus onBattlefield Control,

more than individual Units

Use Limited Resources to Command Several UnitsAnd Engage the Enemy

Focus more on Individual Unit Control

Control a Unit,And turn the tide of Battle by

beating the Crap out of Everyone


Game Examples

Warlord General

Strategist Warrior


Types to Exclude

Warlord

Warrior

Focus: Campaign through the Continent<= Because the Player will keep moving forward,

Base Building, which is a Stationary Achievement, should not be part of the GamePlay.

Not to mention that it cost more to develop

Focus: Utilize 50 Individual Characters<= Since Warrior Type Games,

focus on controlling a Single Unit,Player cannot interact with all 50 Characters,And It doesn’t fit in with the Narrative.


Games to Reference

This will change, depend on

Other Factors

Which will be discuss later.

General

Strategist


Turn Base VS

Realtime


Before going to the Detail

Simultaneous Turn Base, is out of the Consideration

They are too frickin hard to Design & Program. I’ve tried

The Only good thing about them is that they are Fair for Multiplayer.

But if you are going to make a Multiplayer Game,It’s easier to go for a Realtime Game instead.


ExplorationFocus: Explore & Discover hidden Narrative

Even though Realtime Exploration is more comprehensive,

Turn-base GamePlay have its own taste for Exploration.

Therefore, Even though Realtime is PreferableRealtime or Turn-Baseis not much of an issue for this case


Battle ScaleFocus: Warfare Narrative

Here lies a Big Issue,RTS Games are fun when1. You Fight Enemies on Equal Grounds, and Units on

both side were meant to be fallen like leaves.2. Or, You control a few Elites

to plow down on masses of Enemies

Because Player need to raise Individuals of Equal Standing to the Enemies throughout the Campaign,

Realtime Gameplay, Does not fit in with the Narrative


Battle EventFocus: Each Individual contribute to the Making of History

In order for each Individual to be important,Their contribution must be OBSERVABLE by the Player

On a Warfare Scale Battle, in RTS Games, it is very hard for the Player to do so.

On the Other hand, Turn Base Games can utilize Event Scene to Highlight such contribution.

Turn Base, is more Convenient for the Narrative


Multi PlayerMulti-Player IS NOT a Focus of the Game

If it is, then Realtime is pretty much Compulsory.

But since it is not, Realtime or not is not an issue.

Not to mention that I cannot do Network Programming.Thus the Need to hire other people,

Resulting in Increase Expense


In Conclusion

In Order to achieve Narrative Goal,

Turn BaseIs a more Preferable Choice


However, Programming-wise

This is more of a Personal Skill Issue,

Turn-Base Phase Programming is quite a hassle.

Personally, it’s easier for me to Program a Realtime Game.

If the Prototype isn’t as fun as it should be,I might redesign this to Realtime instead.


Mechanical VS FaçadeGamePlay Design


First, Let’s talk about Trilemma Design

Trilemma is a common concept in Gaming,This is to create a balance where nothing is Invincible

And each entity will have a meaning & usable purpose.


However,

Many Game Utilize Façade Rules to create such relationship.

Such as the Fire => Plant => Water => FireCommonly use in many Japanese Games.

The thing is, these rules are decided by The Designer’s POV, rather than utilizing some existing Fundamental Law.

Such as how Earth Pokemon is weak against Water,While in Chinese Element, Earth beat Water.


What is a Façade rule?

To simply put it,It is a rule that, Change the outcome of something. Despite not changing the Primary Action of the Main Entity.

For example,A Knight do a Melee Attack with Iron SwordA Bandit do a Melee Attack with Fire Axe

Despite being different Class & dealing different Damage via Attribute, Player is practically doing the same thingAs such, it is hard to differentiate the 2 entities.


Why is Façade rule an issue?

It might not be InstinctiveBecause the Rules are primarily decided by the Designer’s POV,Player who do not share the same view might feel alienated.& Players has to spend more time learning the Rule in order to enjoy the strategy.

It does not change user ExperienceBecause Player is practically doing the same thing,Player can get bored easier.


A Real World VS Virtual Example

Polearms VS Cavalry

In the Real world, Polearms have advantages against Cavalry, due to the Reach and Concentrated Impact causes by Cavalries’ own Momentum.This, is Mechanical in nature.

However,Unless the Game Utilize Physic Calculation,The actual correlation between the 2 do not exist.In order to simulate to same correlation,

Façade Rule is needed to be use.


What is a Mechanical Rule?

On the Opposite side of the Spectrum,It is a Rule that provide correlative effectvia Primary Action that the Entity is capable of.

A good example would be Chess Movement,Because the Pieces have Unique moves

that they are capable of,Each Piece have a Unique Purpose,Thus, the reason to utilize them


The Good thing about them

Because each entity have Distinct & Different Primary Actions,Player will have different experiences when utilizing each of them.Thus, It made the Rules easier to be differentiate and remember.

Instant, Melee, Single Instant, Range, Single Delayed, Range, Area


Examples of better Trilemma Design

These Games have one of the finest Mechanical Trilemma[Valkyria Chronicle] [Chain Chronicle] [Clash Royale]

I am not going into the Details though, you should try them out


Just a side Note

Surprisingly, despite being nearly Full-AutoKanColle’s Battle is quite Mechanical in Design


Reasons to Minimize Façade Rules

For Historica Fantasia,Narrative Exploration is the Primary Focus,While Strategy is Secondary.

By Focusing on Mechanical Rules, Player can remember the Rules easier, thus allowing them to be able to focus more on Narrative Exploration.

While at the same time, being Strategic enough to entertain Strategy

Gamer.


Summary ofFeatures


To IncludeSquad-Based Units & Turn Base Battle

Controlling Maximum of 50 Individual Characters.Event System that highlight their Contribution and make them Observable.Players and Enemies fight on Equal Terms.

Narrative ExplorationFinding Hidden Factors & Agenda. Changing outcome the History.

Strategy Gameplay Focus on Mechanical Rules DesignMake it intuitive to playSpecific Design is TO BE Discuss in the next Chapter.


To IgnoreBase Building

Make them Static.

MultiplayerNot Fun with current main Design.Need to hire Network Programmer.

Façade RulesMinimize as possible


Next Chapter:03

Specific GamePlay DesignBase on Features

historica fantasia, development blog 02 deconstruct ogre battle & improvise gameplay features

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