Combat

[Justin]

Combat in Ahln will be completely manual. This means anything you do will need to be input as a command, including parrying, dodging, and blocking.

The way it works is as follows:

You see your opponent begin their attack (perhaps bringing their fist back in order to sock you in the face.) They will now be 'off balance' and unable to do anything else for a moment.

At that point, you can choose an offensive or defensive move (or nothing).

Your defensive action may then succeed or fail.

If you attempt an offensive action, then they will be unable to perform a defensive move, but you will be open to their original attack.

After a delay, their attack (and possibly your own) will hit or miss.

There is still a lot to work out, but this is the basic idea.

Currently planned weapon types include swords, axes, daggers, hammers, and poles. Ranged weapons may or may not happen. Each weapon will have many skills associated with it. Unarmed combat (martial arts) will be an option as well.

Two types of elemental magic are planned: energy/fire and water/ice. These skills will require that some of that element be present, the more the better. More advanced skills will allow one to produce the needed element from your surroundings.

A druid-like nature set of skills are planned, some of which learn towards plants and trees, the others towards animal helpers.

Note that all of this is in the planning stages still, so please feel free to make any suggestions for skills you would like to see.

[Saffire]

Sounds excellent. My only question is this: Will all combat skills have this delay, or will some be instant? I think it'd be good to make some effect their target instantly, but still come with the balance loss.

ETA: I'll post skill ideas in the future when the game is more fleshed out and you're ready to start implementing them.

[Justin]

That is a good question. I don't see why some couldn't be instant, though I really like the idea of being able to react to something before it hits. But I can see why that might not make sense in some cases.

Also, I forgot to mention that having the delay could lead to 'combos' or 'chaining' of skills. So you might start with one attack, then change it mid-way through. That is, a particular move might require you to do so. I think this would work out really well with feints, in particular.

[Saffire]

That would be excellent. I can think of a few scenarios where it would work well off the top of my head:

A knife fighter chaining several stabs and slashes together in quick succession.

An unarmed monk fighter putting together chains of kicks/punches/headbutts/slams/etc.

A duel sword wielding type with a whirling swords type skill (I'll be posting info on this later when I get it all thought out properly) where they attack several times in a row.