RPG Q&A Section (Fictional Story Repost)

[Eternimus]

For all who were wondering, I went away. Sort of. I've had beta testing to do, apartment hunting, birthdays, dealing with the state, many, many issues that were annoying and taking up most of my time. The RPG is not dead, I just had an issue I had to deal with that screwed up many of my files. Most of it is fixed now, and since we aren't being forced out of this place, things are slowly dying down, so I have time for stuff.

Wondering: how you're differentiating characters?  Given that you desire each one to be so unique; skill-based, stat-based, class and racial profiling?

I did receive your message, though it sometimes takes me a bit to respond. I'm differentiating the characters by many factors. Looks, stats, even most skill sets are unique to only one character, and if the skill sets aren't, who learns what when, is. Like a male and female mage class character. The male may start with fire, while the female starts with Ice or Thunder. In that case, opposing elements will take considerably longer to learn, if it's possible at all. An example of that is an Immolater (high level fire elementalist) will NEVER be allowed ice or water spells. The three main kingdoms are going to be a severe contrast, in not only how the characters respond to things, but the way people live, the city layouts, even the sizes. I dislike cookie cutter cities, especially if they're supposed to be the "capital".

TM was giving me a hand for a time, (as if there is anyone I know on this site that has played as many RPGS as I have, it's him) and we spent quite some time going back and forth over a list of character classes, making them sound as different as and I am trying to make sure that effort is not wasted in making the classes look and feel similar. Balance is the biggest issue.

So now that I'm back, feel free to ask your questions of the game.

[Eternimus]

Hopefully you're doing this in such a way that is intuitive for a player to follow.  What I mean by that is that the offered character selections will trend toward a player's specific playing style.  For example, if a player starts off with recruiting characters that result in a balanced party (equal parts of each character type: melee, mage, ranged, support, etc.), then the offered recruiting opportunities will continue to trend in that direction.  But the moment the player starts to specialize a party toward any extreme, the offered recruiting opportunities should trend toward that extreme and away from the other points.  For example:  If they recruit melees and reject mages, then over time the amount of mages available for recruiting will diminish.

It just came to me that I didn't ~exactly~ answer this. When a character presents a chance to recruit it, you will be given a general overview of the character. I don't mean a character status screen, that'd be too easy and take much of the surprise out of the character. They'll have a phrase that gives you a general idea. Here's an example, since the three main characters are already in the story.

"He wants to help. Do you want to recruit Ecator, the beer-brewing Brawler?"

This implies, obviously, he fights with his hands or whatever's handy, but probably not a specialized weapon such as a rapier. So most likely a pugilist damage character with little to no spell casting ability. A melee class. It also implies he can make things, specifically drinks with the beer-brewing part.

"He wants to help. Do you want to recruit Oni, the armorless Archmage?"

This implies he is very weak against physical damage, but probably has a vast assortment of highly damaging spells. Someone you put in the back row and deal exceptional damage to groups of enemies.

"He wants to help. Do you want to recruit Keldon, the destructive Dark Knight?"

Implying he is a heavy melee fighter with darkness magics designed to punish enemies very severely.

So with the three in your party, you have one upfront killing souls, one up front smashing heads in and tossing a potion here and there, and one hiding out in the back melting faces. You don't know what they can do, exactly, but the phrase gives you a general idea of if they will suit your play style. Like if you like using Auto-Attack, obviously you would NOT take Oni, cause his melee damage, being a mage, will suck. If you want to rely heavily on holy magics, you'd leave out Keldon, cause darkness and holy doesn't get along very well. If you prefer using magic to end the fight quickly, you would not take Ecator, because he has little to no magic. You don't know EVERYTHING, but you will have a general idea and be able to build your party that way. However, the phrase will NOT tell you if you can recruit other people with them. Characters you can recruit will always mention a requirement, or a character, you need to recruit them. But I won't force you to talk to every character in the game and then remember where you met em to get them to recruit em, that's a bit cruel. The characters you can recruit will stand out, trust me.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

Let's get the big annoying question out of the way:

Release date?

[Eternimus]

Judging by what I have left to do and beta testing, the end of 2009 is the eta.

Next question.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

Does the Silence status effect stifle Oni's constant and very vocal obsession with penises?

[Eternimus]

Oni's character will have NO lines related to anyone's phallus, including his, in the whole game. However the silence effect will make it so you cannot use anything that uses mana, including creation skills. Keep those lozenges handy.

[Goman Fox]

Wait, so Cat's character doesn't talk about certain parts of the male anatomy AND he can be silenced?

...Huh, I guess that settles it, this definitely is going to be a fantasy game, LOL.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

Wait, so Cat's character doesn't talk about certain parts of the male anatomy AND he can be silenced?

...Huh, I guess that settles it, this definitely is going to be a fantasy game, LOL.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[Oni]

Wait, so Cat's character doesn't talk about certain parts of the male anatomy AND he can be silenced?

...Huh, I guess that settles it, this definitely is going to be a fantasy game, LOL.

Yep that's  it no sex for you tonight.

[Taylor-MadeAK]

Lol sure he is, you're just catching tonight because you got PWNED!

[Goman Fox]

Wait, so Cat's character doesn't talk about certain parts of the male anatomy AND he can be silenced?

...Huh, I guess that settles it, this definitely is going to be a fantasy game, LOL.

Yep that's  (I'm a rogue apostrophe user)  it no sex for you tonight.

Oh oh oh, what was that you said?  You must have meant something else.

[Oni]

Wait, so Cat's character doesn't talk about certain parts of the male anatomy AND he can be silenced?

...Huh, I guess that settles it, this definitely is going to be a fantasy game, LOL.

Yep that's  (I'm a rogue apostrophe user)  it no sex for you tonight.

Oh oh oh, what was that you said?  You must have meant something else.

uimmm ya no ummm xes tonight ya that's  what i was trying to say. hehe. *murrs*