64DCG - Devlog 1 - Character Details and Briefing

Posted by Castypher on Nov. 15, 2011, 7:35 p.m.

64DCG - 64Digits Community Game

I should come up with at least a working title eventually. But anyway, I'm debating between doing regularly scheduled devlogs and just keeping it secret until I'm closer to release. I'll leave that up to you guys.

So we've already got a little interest here. That means this will get further than just an idea. So let's go over some things.

Genre

The genre is a shoot-em-up hybrid. The dual-genre I've chosen is none other than the RPG. My two best genres. Why? Well, because it's a little unique. Let me explain.

Concept

Think of the typical shmup view. Behind/above the player, shooting shit that comes from the top of the screen. Combine that with levels (IE Fairy/Faily Wars) and a party system and this is what you get.

The Party System

At the character selection screen, you'll choose your party members, which you can actively switch-between in-game. Each party member has a separate healthbar, special bar, and level. The idea of this is to combine your favorite characters to fulfill roles that one might lack. Plus you get to party with Rez. Won't that be fun?

The Level System

Hitting enemies, "grazing" (coming close to a bullet), and doing well on boss attacks will earn the active character experience (each party member has a separate level, encouraging you to switch often). You can level up to a maximum of 30, and each level will upgrade one of the character's abilities.

- Shot (basic attack) upgraded at levels ending in 2,3,7,8

- Options (supportive attack) upgraded at levels ending in 1,6

- Specials (activated) upgraded at levels ending in 4,9

- Passive upgraded at levels ending in 5

- Ultimate upgraded at levels ending in 0

Each character also has base stats that grow with each level. Included are damage, shot speed, health, health regen, and special regen. Static stats include experience gain rate and movement speed.

Difficulty

Along with the RPG elements to distract you from the intimidating factor of shmups, I'll have several difficulties. Level 1 is the tutorial difficulty. Dying there is hardly possible, even for people unfamiliar with the genre. Level 4-5 is average shmup difficulty on the middle game mode. Level 7 is my own difficulty.

Awards

I think I can work out some badges for people, provided I get permission from admins to clutter peoples' badge pages. However, I'll probably also offer a way to remove the badges from your page, just in case.

Hah. Like badges mean a damn thing. I'll work something out. Recommendations welcome.

Character Appearances

For those who took me so very seriously when I joked about your character, I'm sorry. Everyone gets a fair chance at appearance here, but by choosing to be in the game, you automatically accept whatever role I give you. No questions asked. If you want to withdraw because of this (doubt it), let me know.

Everyone who plays a normal role in the game will be both playable and a boss character. Thus, I'm going to rework the criteria. Abnormal characters will either make an appearance, or play a major role. I'm not going to disclose this, either, but the less active 64Digits members have a chance at making appearances.

Revised Character Submission Criteria

Sometime before December, all participants must submit to me via PM or comment (the method is flexible, depending on how much privacy you want) a character sheet, in the following format. If you fill it out halfway, you are giving me permission to do what I want with the character. Now, here is the information I need from each entrant. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required in order to make yourself appear in the game. Unmarked fields are optional but highly recommended if you don't trust my judgment.

Remember. The character may either be one you made up (all characters will be subtitled with the member name), or it may be a representation of your alias. Both have the same requirements.

Name *

Gender * - I'll take your own gender if you don't specify otherwise.

Appearance * - Either an image or a detailed description.

Personality * - If you don't supply one, I'll use the online personality that I determine.

Backstory * - A brief character description. Where did he/she come from? etc

Role - A role you'd like to play (I'll explain further later). You're not guaranteed this role.

Music - A track you'd like to have as your theme. No lyrics, no copyright rules.

Shot Style (Player) - Your basic attack pattern (player). Request examples as needed.

Shot Style (Boss) - Your basic attack pattern (boss). Request examples as needed.

Option Style - Options are objects separated from you that enhance your attacks.

Special Ability - Your activated ability. Be creative but keep it in context.

Passive Skill - Your passive ability. Be creative but keep it in context.

Ultimate Skill - Your most powerful attack style. Be creative but keep it in context.

Also, if you want more customization, take some time to decide the character's stats. You are given a limit to choose within. Be honest and balance them out a bit. Imbalance will force me to balance it myself (you don't want to make me do more work, do you?). Any item marked "x/LV" is your base increase of that stat with each level. This is optional, only if you want a little more power over what your character does.

Health (100-150)

Health/LV (0-10)

Regen (0-10)

Regen/LV (0-5)

Damage (1-5 - decimals allowed)

Damage/LV (0-2 - decimals allowed)

Speed (1-5 - decimals allowed)

Speed/LV (0-2 - decimals allowed)

Special (1-5)

Exp Gain (50-150%)

Move Speed (2-4 - decimals allowed)

Current Roster (Member - Character)

No character data

Character chosen, but info incomplete

Only required info completed

Character info completed

Alert - ag-Bot

Cyrus - JoAnna

Daggerhog - Alexia the Rabbit

Duckman - The Duckman

Ferret - ?

F1ak3r - ?

Juurian - Lyrah

Kamira - ?

Kilin - Karemi

MMORPGguy - ?

Moikle - ?

Panzermancer - Zongra the Fallopian

Purianite - Rhiannon/Amaira

Qwilderwibben - ?

Rez - Phobos Fatboy

Rob - Pink Flying Goat

Rolf - Rolf

SirXemic - Chemical X

Stevenup - Himself

Taizen Chisou - Taizen Chisou

Remember guys, let's make this fun. I don't want any more people getting upset, so I'll stop prodding at you guys. And if you haven't joined but want to, I'll be taking entries until December. Got help to offer? PM me. Other than that, following the instructions saves me plenty of work.

Go get 'em!

Comments

panzercretin 12 years, 11 months ago

Name - Zongra the Fallopian

Gender - Male

Appearance - Tentacles for arms, anorexic, naked (of course no genitalia showing), long-ass hair with spaghetti stuck in it. A crown.

Personality - Batshit insane.

Backstory - Has forgotten what he is, where he comes from, or why he exists. The party finds him in a Space Dumpster about 1/3 of the way through.

Role - All-out offense, comic relief.

Music - Not sure what you mean by "no copyright rules." If you mean "as long as there aren't lyrics have a blast," I'll use the 8-bit rendition of the Ghostbusters Theme.

Shot Style (Player) - Five-shot spread with windshield-wiper effect (the shot direction for the middle one goes back and forth, and the other ones follow)

Shot Style (Boss) - Same thing, but the outer two of the spread are guided.

Option Style - You mean like drones and stuff? I'll release energy-based minethings.

Special Ability - Spills half his lifebar into his energy bar.

Passive Skill - Attacks from behind/below are soaked into the hair, which also lends him a small bit of energy.

Ultimate Skill - 15-projectile spreadshot. The outer four are homing. The innermost, and the second to the left and right, are faster than usual.

Health (75)

Health/LV (5)

Regen (8)

Regen/LV (1)

Damage (2)

Damage/LV (0.25)

Speed (2)

Speed/LV (0.2)

Special (4)

Exp Gain (150%)

Move Speed (3)

I probably most likely did this wrong.

LAR Games 12 years, 11 months ago

Hmm. This is really interesting.

Rolf_Soldaat 12 years, 11 months ago

Can I still get in on this?

Castypher 12 years, 11 months ago

Rob's character is getting a slight nerf for obvious reasons. Don't forget to fill out the required info, either.

And Panzer, some of your abilities defy the base player mechanics a bit (boss mechanics are adjustable), particularly those that use your energy system. You can rework this if you like, or I'll do what I can to modify it.

And yes, entry is still open. If you want to join, just say so, and I'll add you to the list. Any questions? Ask away.

Rob 12 years, 11 months ago

Quote:
Rob's character is getting a slight nerf for obvious reasons. Don't forget to fill out the required info, either.

I put every stat at the highest as a joke in the hopes that you would puts some restrictions into how many points players can put into each fields.

Rez 12 years, 11 months ago

alright, lets try this…

Name: Phobos Fatboy

Gender: Fatboy

Appearance: My avatar!

Personality: Goofy but not very talkative

Backstory: The very isolated Martian-American community on Phobos took in this young asteroid when he landed on one of their settlements six years ago. They trained him in the arts of chivalry and laser beams to the best of their ability. When he reached the age of five, he was let free to roam the galaxy, now under the title of Phobos Fatboy: intergalactic lover. Although he requires a very fuel efficient jetpack due to his immense weight, he has since become the most dangerous rock in this corner of the universe.

Role - yoshi-like, the lovable side character you wanna have around but not always

Music - Something 8bit and megamanish

Shot Style (Player) - spray slightly wobbly forward bullets

Shot Style (Boss) - shoots moon rocks that then shoot wobbly bullets in a circle pattern

Option Style - moon rocks that move side to side while going forward

Special Ability - more frequent health pick ups? something like that

Passive Skill - rotating moon rocks

Ultimate Skill - Summon potfrog: potfrog appears on screen and kills a lot of stuff (however you wanna go about that)

I didn't entirely understand the criteria so just tell me what needs changing

Rez 12 years, 11 months ago

also I think I might make a song for my music

edit: http://soundcloud.com/neighbordog/phobos-fatboy-theme <3

panzercretin 12 years, 11 months ago

Do with it what you will. Just let me know what you're planning first of course.

Ferret 12 years, 11 months ago

I want to draw my guy, but I suck at drawing…

Taizen Chisou 12 years, 11 months ago

I can try to draw it.

…Of course, that would require you to explain it to me, which requires you to type out the description, which would suffice.

But I can still try :V