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Hi everyone,


What am I seeking for? 


I’m seeking for story developers and graphical artists, as well as, game makers who has worked with RPG Maker XP before to work in a completely new game based in a new battle system that I've been implementing (only enthusiastic people who enjoy creating games !). Various months ago I started implementing a new battle system for a semi action-like RPG using the RPG Maker XP software. This battle system combines real-time battle, where you and the enemies are able to freely move around and interact with the map, with short freezing times to prepare strategies and decide actions. The root of the system is to combine the potential of action-like games, with the tactical part of turn-like games. In this BATTLE-SYSTEM-VIDEO-LINK, you will find an explanation of how this system works (it is still in a very early phase and has to be modified in relation with the story of the game...). As you will see, all the character animations are missing, such as, hitting, special movements, special skills, jumping, dying… and so on, that’s why I really need a graphical artist S) to start testing and enhancing all the character movements.


Before explaining the features of the new battle system, it is worth telling you that there is no game developed yet; I focused on creating the whole battle system (actually because I really enjoy programming !) and now, since I guess it is promising, developing the game in basis of this battle system. This battle system is implemented to be used in any game (such as a free complex script); however, parts of it have an idea of my story idea behind. I would like to create a game based on the northern culture, more specifically in the Vikings age, but not from a realistic point of view. I want to drive mystical things and beliefs to realities; in such a way that the people live under real gods’ laws and “magic” is as usual as axes and bows… Anyway, I am completely open to any idea; in fact, the story is still a thought and has to be written…


How this battle system works?


The point of this battle system and the great difference between turn-like games is that the enemies are in the map and you fight them when you get close to them. You have the control of one of the party members, whereas the others are hidden (but they can receive damage/healing from multiple target skills). During the battle, you are able to change the controlled battler at any time. Moreover, the idea is to allow rapidly changing among party members to perform combo movements, avoid incoming damage... The battler movement has been changed to “8x directions” with controllable distance instead of the usual tile to tile movement. In addition, jumping mode has been implemented, not only through terrain, but also small objects, walls, small distances… All of this is necessary to make the battle system more dynamic, the user has better control over the character movement and it allows us to implement interesting and complex combos (that is what I meant with taking advantage of the “potential” of action-like games). Another interesting implementation is the position and size of the enemies. Since the movement control has changed to let’s say a combination of “pixel by pixel” and “tile position”, the space taken by huge enemies also changes in such a way that you can hit them focusing on the sprite size and not the position "tile" in the map. On the other side, there is a menu available during the battle (here the tactical part…). When it is oppened the game is freezed and you have ten seconds to decide what to do! Changing the party leader? Casting a skill? Using an item?... In addition, there are special skills of each party member, which are used with “Q” and “W” buttons during the battle. These special skills are dynamic movements, such as, pushing the enemy to interrupt casting or charging on an enemy to stun him… Depending on the “class” of the party member, there are more magic-like or more physical-like special skills (the idea is that on leveling you earn new special skills and that this special skills not only are used in battle but also for solving map puzzles...) 


It is interesting to note that all the skills, items and enemies managed from the RPG Maker XP database are implemented in the new battle system (only the special skills are coded separately), this means that, if you create a ranged skill with various enemies of scope, it can be used in this new battle system (this is why I said that the battle system can be used in other games... not with the maximum performanc but the basic features). Moreover, all characters states are also implemented in the enemies, they can get stunned, poisoned, confused… I got all those things from the database and implemented in the action-like action game: if the enemy is confused he will probably hit himself or otherwise follow other enemies to hit them. If the enemy is scared, he will run away from you… 


The enemies’ behavior or IA is based on the skill they are currently carrying out and the situation/health of the targets around (with target I meant allies/enemies). They move towards the or keep at a distance of the target depending on what they want to do. They can also have special movements that can be coded separately on each enemy if the game line demands it. They also have special skills because  in my opinion this is one of the strongest points of the action-like games, the enemies you encounter within the map have interesting skills which make the game less straightforward. In addition, there is a boss-like system implemented. Obviously, it depends on the decided bosses of the game and lines of code will be necessary to stage the boss phases..., but I've implemented such "Elite" enemies system that you encounter within the map in an easy way.


Well I think there is no necessary more information about the battle system, if you want to try it I can attatch a "DEMO" (just ask me for it).     


Here some images of the battle system !

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Tanks for reading and watching the video !!


I hope you enjoyed the video and if you are interested in participate with the development of the game, please let me know !