Apathy of Angels - Updated 7/22/12 - Full mini update on pg1

[ellie-is]

Or you just choose to create a game disk and it automatically saves every resource including the rtp into the new game folder thingy.

Yeah, I used to think that too. But apparently it doesn't really work for some reason.

[Meiscool]

Since I haven't tried the game yet, I do not know how your first boss fight works. However, if you want to add "difficulty" to the battle without actually making it harder, you could add a trigger skill or something. Make an ability where the boss puts a shield up (or something similar, can be anything really), and your character's have a specific skill or item that breaks the shield. While it doesn't make the battle any more difficult to survive, it does add a factor to the fight that makes it more challenging.
Just an idea.

[ellie-is]

Similar to the Drago and the special knife in mother 3? Or maybe another better example that I can't think of right now.

But yeah, that's a good idea. I reached the first boss and thought it was pretty boring, if I may be honest. It was challenging as in, "It has a lot of life and my attacks don't do it much good", but the battle was quite dull, even though you added the burrowing thing to make it more interesting. It helps, but I think you need something else to make it more dynamic.

[drenrin2120]

I pretty much agree with you. After having test played it so many times, it can be hard for me to tell whether or not the boss battles are fun or not. I've also kind of always had a hard time making battles in general interesting. I hoped the skill tree would help and I think it has, but that alone won't cut it. No excuses here, but the default battle system is hard to work with, too. Any suggestions are definitely needed.

[ellie-is]

Do a CBS? :p

[drenrin2120]

Gah... I DID start one last year... so much tedious code...

[ellie-is]

I think that'd be true for all forms of coding. RPG Maker probably being one of the least tedious ones. Or at the very least, simpler.

[Meiscool]

CBS really aren't that hard, just time consuming. It depends on what you are aiming for I guess.
Don't expect your first cbs to work perfectly though... It took me till my 5th or so try to make what I have now, and now I'm scrapping that to make all the events common events instead of on-field events.
Anyways, if you want tips I can help, but the DBS is probably the best bet if you are going for turn based system.

[ellie-is]

Hey, mic, you should release a demo with whatever you have now, if it works. Would be great to try that.
I remember one time when you released that picture based abs, and it was a little glitchy, but still quite an awesome thing for an rpg maker game if my memory doesn't fails me.

[drenrin2120]

It's worth considering. And mic, I'm pretty deadset on turn based battle. I think I'll compile a list of things I'd like to be able to do in a battle system, and see if I can finagle them to work in the DBS. I've got a lot invested in the DBS and it might be possible to make a lot of things work, especially with the pics in battle patch.

[Prpl_Mage]

Let me know if you need a hand with anything coding-related, I'm kinda nifty with those things. Also that exp calculation thing is looking good, been meaning to do something similar.

[drenrin2120]

Thanks. I will let you know. As for the experience thing, I changed it up a bit because the curve wasn't enough to discourage leveling faster off low level monsters. For anyone interested in geeky *** **** like this, here's the new equation.

P = Character's average level
M = Monster group's level
B = Boss Bonus (doesn't only apply to bosses)
N = Number of enemies present
L = [50 - (P - 25)/ 2] = Level Bonus
A = B + L
D1 = M - P (*-1 if less than to 0)
D2 = M - P

LEVEL BONUS CURVE
LEVEL 1 BONUS = 62
Level 10 BONUS = 58
Level 25 BONUS = 50
LEVEL 50 BONUS = 37
LEVEL 99 BONUS = 13

Penalties/Bonuses algorithm:
based on difference in level between foe group and individual characters.
[D1 * D2 + M * N)] + A

Penalties and bonuses not included in following equations, because the following equations assume foe and player levels are the same.
At LV 99 Exp = 99 per 1 monster + 1  LC = 100
                      2 monster + 1  LC = 200
                      3 monster + 1  LC = 300
At LV 50 Exp = 50 per 1 monster + 37 LC = 87
                      2 monster + 37 LC = 137
                      3 monster + 37 LC = 187
At LV 25 Exp = 25 per 1 monster + 50 LC = 75
                      2 monster + 50 LC = 100
                      3 monster + 50 LC = 125
At Lv 10 Exp = 10 per 1 monster + 58 LC = 68
                      2 monster + 58 LC = 78
                      3 monster + 58 LC = 88
At Lv 1  Exp = 1  per 1 monster + 62 LC = 63

For next level in increments of 50 pts at LV
98 =   5400   = 18 Battles
50 =   3000   = 16 Battles
25 =   1750   = 14 Battles
10 =   1000   = 11 Battles
1  =   500    = 8 Battles

Also, here's a list of ideas which I'm certain I can accomplish in the DBS to make boss battles more interesting. If anyone has any ideas to add to the list, even if it may not be possible in the DBS, let me know and I'll tinker with the DBS to see if I can make it happen.

-Changing resistances to magic and other things.
-Barriers that can be broken.
-Absorb attacks that can be blocked.
-Countdowns
-Multiple body parts.
-Absorb abilities that can be altered, meaning to change what the boss absorbs and doesn't.
-Using regular elemental magic to break barriers
--example: Water magic breaks fire barrier
-Attacks that do percent damage
-Attacks that bring a hero down to 1 HP
-Attacks that break hero barrier, special status
-Attacks that break adrenaline


ALSO EDIT:
I'm not sure why I don't get ideas for stuff like this sooner.

[Meiscool]

The exp system sounds nice. Reminds me of persona or the new pokemon game.

And lucas, I'm not ignoring your post, but since this is dren's topic I really don't want to bring my own work into it unless I'm referencing it for a comparison or suggestion.

[zuhane]

This is shweet! Looking forward to playing it!

[drenrin2120]

alright, so any event that involves a trigger from a character using a specific skill cannot be created, so far as I know. There are no conditional branches, and no foreseeable alternative way of triggering a similar event that I could figure out. This is a real bummer. =(

I'm thumbing through the events on my old CBS, and while being closed to finish, there's still a lot of coding left and **** if I remember how all these damn things worked together. I know I've basically got status effects left to code, graphics for attacks, and a few bugs every now and then.

EDIT: my computer **** the bed, so until I get my tax returns back I won't really be around too much for a while. Hopefully I can get my computer fixed or atleast extract the hard drive.