So LotAII is no longer a ship game… at least, not a water ship game. I've changed the focus and the graphical look and feel, while keeping the gameplay idea the same…

LotAII is now Cloud Ocean.

So it's looking good. Really good. Commercial good. I honestly think this project has the best graphics ever made with GM. I've managed to add in the following:

* Cloudscape

* Bloom

* 2-4x Antialiasing

* LOD and a gigantic world

* "Semisepia" color filter

All running at >30fps (normally ~120) at the same time.

Plus, X3d doesn't bat an eyelash at high-polygon models - 12000 extra polygons only caused a 3-4fps dip. I'm thinking fully-explorable cityscapes integrated with my brawl engine…

Images, then my brawl engine description:

My AI maneuvering engine for CO is titled Brawl. So far, it handles retreating and cover; eventually, it will handle split-second decisions as well. It has the potential to work on procedurally-generated maps (although at present the map used was custom-designed) and should act realistically in a fight.

Above: The base "starting" configuration. All enemies spend about two seconds "looking around" for a hiding spot if you have a gun and they don't. Possibly eventually if they /see/ you with a gun they'll run; if they see someone else running they may come to investigate.

Enemies are red dots; you are the green dot; little white dots are "cover spots." Certain cover spots have "leaning" tendencies; characters near here can lean out to shoot at enemies. Other cover spots are associated with actions; so, for instance, an enemy can tip over a table to create additional cover. Different spots have priorities associated with them as well, making AI response more realistic.

Above: The situation a few seconds later. Note how most of the enemies took up hiding spots facing away from you and as far away as possible. (Although proximity to the enemy also plays a large factor)

Above: I moved up to scare away all the enemies in the left side of the room. After a bit of rabbit chasing (they may just walk around the table to get away from you) they were all corralled in the other room. Note that certain enemies are still running; if a hiding spot is too crowded, they won't tend to favor it. In this case their response is more one of "terminal situational indecision."

Above: And again, I scared them back across the room. Some enemies will cluster around the sides of a table facing you; it's far enough away/close enough to them that they feel safer there (but probably aren't). My stated goal for these fights is that they should realistically involve up to 10 characters in a single region or area. I think that this system does adequately complete my goal; hence, I am quite pleased with it.

Basic rules of engagement:

One or two swordfighters may engage someone else in a swordfight. People with guns should stand a ways away and fire at their enemies (moving back if needed; they can be cornered if you can avoid the stream of bullets)

If you have a gun and someone else does as well, they may either begin firing at you or (if more prudent) run for a coverspot with a leaning opportunity, then lean out and shoot at you.

If you have a gun and they don't, they run for cover, as seen above.

If they don't have any cover (say, a square room), they may simply charge you, or cower in fear or back away. The goal is to make your enemies seem human.

Combat details:

You have an extremely limited number of hit points (5 at the moment; attacks may take up to 4 at once) and 8 balance points (needed to perform various attacks). Balance points recharge with time, but slower when blocking. Almost all attacks and blocking take balance points to perform; the blockbreaker will damage an enemy's balance and bring him out of block. Blocking and using initiative is crucial; oftentimes a major enemy attack will leave him open for a few seconds.