pitching some server ideas

[Hiro]

i came to the realization awhile ago that i can't script, make (good) levels, or create (good) artwork when it comes to creating servers. my strong side has always been dealing with players and people, organizing resources and teams together, and thinking up new ideas. basically, i can think up great server ideas and i can never actually make them. ;_;

so, i figure it's better to just post the ideas i had in hope that someone or some group of someone’s would get behind it and want to develop it. if so i'd buy a server and help them out in whatever small way i can, since my real strengths come after the server is up (like most everyone).

all of the ideas i'm going to post are classic-graal oriented; the key element being that everything you can do on the server is something that someone else will also be able to do, thus making the difference in skill, rather than some npc you have, or you have more experience points or some computable value. so if you want to develop a era-esque or zodiac type server, you won't like these ideas very much.

my first idea is in advancing the simple classic-graal sword and movement system, making it faster and more diverse. at the moment with the default link to the past system, everyone moves at the same speed, everyone has the same sword power and ability to use the sword; but there’s no blocking, no way to move faster for even a little bit, or to make the sword better somehow.

so, we'll add in some elements to spice up the system;

first, we'll add the ability to dash forward and have free movement in the dash. for example, when you press the 'd' button, you'd start to dash forward in the direction your character is facing, and any added directions will be contained inside the dash; you won't be able to dash constantly, but very quickly and rapidly. you'd also be able to slash after a dash, but not during; this is to force the dash to be a way to maneuver around an opponent.

second, we'll change the sword a bit. you won't change how it slashes or the direction it slashes, but more on the effect it has when you slash. at the moment, when two people hit each other directly on, both players take damage and have hit-back. this isn't very realistic - instead, we'll add a blocking-element, so instead of both players taking damage, the swords will hit off each other, having players take no damage, but having the hit-back minus the blink. this won't take away from side-hits or being able to hit someone after they have slashed, it's only when both swords connect.

thirdly (though it may not be needed) would be a way to just straight up block. this might lead to some complications in sparring (such as people ONLY blocking) but it might make a good PK-element when you're fighting more than one person, since you'll be able to block some attacks instead of getting stuck in a corner and raped, even with blinking. of course you'd only to be able to block in the direction of your character (like everything is with graal) but perhaps you can stay blocked and move directions, like if you were kneeling down with a shield. also, you wouldn't be able to slash while shielding, and maybe you couldn't slash right away after shielding. this is something i'd want to add, but i doubt would be good for gameplay if it isn't implemented correctly.

my fourth idea would be in making some changes to how the sword slashes, though i'm wary of doing-so as it might make it too un-graal-like afterwards, but it is a pretty cool system. you'd have your basic slash with the 's' button which goes left-to-right every time; then, if you added some arrow keys while holding down some button and pressing 's', you can add in a different type of slash that hits differently. for example, instead of doing a left-to-right slash, you could do an upwards slash by holding the special button, pressing down-up on the arrow keys, and then pressing 's' perhaps to avoid connecting with the opponents sword and just having the block. this, like the shielding, would only work if implemented correctly.

forming this together, it would keep the same graal-feel, but make more variety in the ways you can beat opponents. instead of blink, side-hits, and after-slash hits, you have dashes, sword-blocking, different sword techniques and slashes, and shields in addition to the list already established.

and while i'd like to keep writing about this, it's time for an exam.

thoughts?

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Hiro

thoughts?

3/4 of these are done already on Graal2001 (Bomy Island)

Nice ideas.

[Hiro]

Originally Posted by Rufus

3/4 of these are done already on Graal2001 (Bomy Island)

Nice ideas.

which ones, and how exactly were they implemented?

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Hiro

which ones, and how exactly were they implemented?

Well, the new Graal2001 needs to use a custom scripted sword and movement system (as close to the default as we could, but it needs tweaking) so it makes additions like these much easier to implement.

Originally Posted by Hiro

first, we'll add the ability to dash forward and have free movement in the dash. for example, when you press the 'd' button, you'd start to dash forward in the direction your character is facing, and any added directions will be contained inside the dash; you won't be able to dash constantly, but very quickly and rapidly. you'd also be able to slash after a dash, but not during; this is to force the dash to be a way to maneuver around an opponent.

Dashing is initiated when a player double taps any direction key and holds it down. During dashing the player can build up to double their speed, but there is an energy bar that slowly lowers. If you stop moving or if you run out of energy, you will then start to walk like players usually do until your energy bar is filled again. The meter raises by itself gradually, but you can eat food to increase it in greater increments. There is a specific gani made for dashing that only works with the custom 2k1 sprites.

Originally Posted by Hiro

we'll change the sword a bit. you won't change how it slashes or the direction it slashes, but more on the effect it has when you slash. at the moment, when two people hit each other directly on, both players take damage and have hit-back. this isn't very realistic - instead, we'll add a blocking-element, so instead of both players taking damage, the swords will hit off each other, having players take no damage, but having the hit-back minus the blink. this won't take away from side-hits or being able to hit someone after they have slashed, it's only when both swords connect.

Pretty much exactly as you described it. Only works if players are directly facing each other.

Originally Posted by Hiro

thirdly (though it may not be needed) would be a way to just straight up block. this might lead to some complications in sparring (such as people ONLY blocking) but it might make a good PK-element when you're fighting more than one person, since you'll be able to block some attacks instead of getting stuck in a corner and raped, even with blinking. of course you'd only to be able to block in the direction of your character (like everything is with graal) but perhaps you can stay blocked and move directions, like if you were kneeling down with a shield. also, you wouldn't be able to slash while shielding, and maybe you couldn't slash right away after shielding. this is something i'd want to add, but i doubt would be good for gameplay if it isn't implemented correctly.

The shield is now its own item, and you can equip it just like the rest. As it is now an item, it has the ability to cover your player, and you will be able to strafe when holding your shield out. When a player slashes your shield you'll recoil back, but won't receive a hit, so if someone is behind you also weilding a shield then you might be able to block people in areas. Haven't done the strafing gani yet, but the rest is done.

[Hiro]

that's pretty cool.

i was thinking of the dash as a single click with a bind to some key, like d, or c or something. the dash would be kind of like leaping forward followed by running rather than a build up, though i guess the build up is more like a link to the past with the running shoes and such.

would you ever test the sword idea? be like street fighter except graal and swords. (: