Vault Dweller
Commissar, Red Star Studio
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2003
- Messages
- 28,024
We've had a heated internal discussion dedicated to Alchemy, and I've decided to share some thoughts with you and see what you think. Anyway....
Alchemy, an often boring and redundant art of fixing potions. How to make it more interesting? How to make it appealing to various demographics from mad scientists to dumb fighters? Here is what I think.
A) It should be interactive - use poison on your dagger, use greek fire on your blade to get a flaming sword, throw greek fire bomb at your enemies to damage them AND to make a small fire barrier, use acid on locks and enemies armor, use nitroglycerin to blow things up, etc
B) It should help you solve quests and progress like any other useful skill does.
C) It should have disadvantages and side effects (i.e. you need to open a door leading to a passage, you blow it up, the passage collapses. Or you go berserk after drinking some mushroom potion, cut your enemies to pieces, but while the effect lasts, you are unable to think clearly and get only aggressive, confrontational responses)
So, first, what do you think, and second, what alchemy applications would you like to see in games? What's appropriate for a fantasy rpg? What's too much?
Alchemy, an often boring and redundant art of fixing potions. How to make it more interesting? How to make it appealing to various demographics from mad scientists to dumb fighters? Here is what I think.
A) It should be interactive - use poison on your dagger, use greek fire on your blade to get a flaming sword, throw greek fire bomb at your enemies to damage them AND to make a small fire barrier, use acid on locks and enemies armor, use nitroglycerin to blow things up, etc
B) It should help you solve quests and progress like any other useful skill does.
C) It should have disadvantages and side effects (i.e. you need to open a door leading to a passage, you blow it up, the passage collapses. Or you go berserk after drinking some mushroom potion, cut your enemies to pieces, but while the effect lasts, you are unable to think clearly and get only aggressive, confrontational responses)
So, first, what do you think, and second, what alchemy applications would you like to see in games? What's appropriate for a fantasy rpg? What's too much?