Urban Strife - turn-based zombie survival RPG

[Zombra]

There's no amputation either. Sadly that would require an animation effort way above the reach of a small indie studio (when it comes to new animation you need to consider the fact that each change must be propagated to 30-40 states (entering state, in state, transition to new state just for 1 stance). But who knows, one day...

Not necessarily if you can only do said amputation once you're done with the combat, back to the safety of your base, thus done through screens, some pics, and optionally a scream of pain if the operation is done without anesthetics. No animation here needed except bare minimum, if at all.

And then what? The character goes back into battle using the same old animations?

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

It's reverse "missing limb" syndrome. Instead of having lost a limb and feeling it present, you'll have the limb, but feel like it's amputated.

 

[Harthwain]

It's reverse "missing limb" syndrome. Instead of having lost a limb and feeling it present, you'll have the limb, but feel like it's amputated.

Ah, the tentacle limb!*

*

Spoiler

Some games make you perform tasks that require precision, but give you impaired controls (think: when you're dreaming you can't seem to hold anything properly for some reason). I call this "the tentacle limb", because this is how it feels to me. A good example of this genre is Surgeon Simulator:

 

[lightbane]

There's no amputation either. Sadly that would require an animation effort way above the reach of a small indie studio (when it comes to new animation you need to consider the fact that each change must be propagated to 30-40 states (entering state, in state, transition to new state just for 1 stance). But who knows, one day...

Not necessarily if you can only do said amputation once you're done with the combat, back to the safety of your base, thus done through screens, some pics, and optionally a scream of pain if the operation is done without anesthetics. No animation here needed except bare minimum, if at all.

And then what? The character goes back into battle using the same old animations?

Clearly the character has prosthesis that look like the real thing to have an excuse to recycle animations. Perhaps give the character a permanent physical penalty as well.

 

[Alienman]

Got a new question. How will the game handle losses? Can you recover if your team gets wiped out or are you SOL? I assume it won't be like the old X-com games at least

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

If you lose a few of your people there is a limited number of extra mercs you can recruit, but there is no endless supply of grunts like in XCOM. If main character dies, game is over for reasons that cannot be revealed since it's a story spoiler.

 

[Alienman]

Sounds good. As long as you can loose a few, since I will be going ironman - living with my poor tactical decisions

 

[Zombra]

If you lose a few of your people there is a limited number of extra mercs you can recruit, but there is no endless supply of grunts like in XCOM. If main character dies, game is over for reasons that cannot be revealed since it's a story spoiler.

When you say "a limited number of extra mercs", is that number closer to 3 or 70?

 

[Carpincho Pampeano]

I've been wanting to scratch the Jagged Alliance itch for a long time, just found out about this games, just wishlisted it on Steam. More or less, how many gunpowder weapons will there be? I found the wasteland 2 arsenal lacking for example.

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

Current setup has about 8 recruitables, plus your avatar. Might add a one or two more if the resources allow it and testers feedback says it's a must. There's backstory, 3D model, dialogue/reactions and voices to be made for each and we don't have a couple of Sir-tech $$ millions at hand just for this (sadly).

Each weapon we had has to be ballistic balanced - so do not expect a million of them. If you found W2 lacking, you need to wait for the modders to come up with their own weapon packs, the initial offering will probably leave you hungry. The included arsenal is designed around the story - home defense weapons, basic US Army stuff and some contraband for the exotic touch, but that's it. Weapon balance can seriously break combat so we kept it simple. But we know people love their toys so as I said before - game will have a workshop and the only advanced bit of modding would be modelling the 3d asset (if you want your new weapon to have have its particular look, otherwise you can "borrow" the model from another weapon). The rest is just about editing the data tables with the ballistic values you want, you can give yourself a howitzer cannon setup if you wish, it's your game to break.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Each weapon we had has to be ballistic balanced

Solution: more melee weapons.
Unless you're balancing those with respect to ballistics as well.

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

About everything you can wield is a melee weapon in Urban Strife, from your fists to your weapon buttstock or the frying pan you cooked your dinner last night in. So there's no shortage of those. Melee is ok for close range, you'd be wanting to carry your Sheriff's department issued monkey wrench at all times.

We have also just finished implementing proper throwables for the demo (meaning now the AI can throw stuff back at you too). Gas and smoke won't be ready in time for the festival, but there will be pretty potent too.

The most important thing is to have the MECHANICS work right, adding new stuff can always come later.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

About everything you can wield is a melee weapon in Urban Strife,

Even furniture?

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

Well, there's a wood plank in there, so you could say so.

 

[lightbane]

Mandatory question: Are there katanas as melee weapons?
Are they especially good against zombies?

What about chainsaws?

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

No, no katanas. But we've got a sledgehammer. And a big Russian to wield it.
And no chainsaws either (not saying they were not cool, but they would've required an unique animation and that's costly for an indie).

But if you're so keen to play with household tools we've got a nailgun that shoots... well, nails.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

But if you're so keen to play with household tools we've got a nailgun that shoots... well, nails

That's 2 handed weapon, right?
Normal nailgun can be rigged so that one could shoot with it one handed, but let's say that it's quite dangerous to use so.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

But if you're so keen to play with household tools we've got a nailgun that shoots... well, nails

That's 2 handed weapon, right?
Normal nailgun can be rigged so that one could shoot with it one handed, but let's say that it's quite dangerous to use so.

Nailed it.

 

[JarlFrank]

But if you're so keen to play with household tools we've got a nailgun that shoots... well, nails.

yeah baby

 

[Abu Antar]

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

We have to share the good news - we've got approved and our demo/prologue is on its way to the Steam Festival.
Come this October you'll be able to test Urban Strife yourself.

 

[Alienman]

We have to share the good news - we've got approved and our demo/prologue is on its way to the Steam Festival.
Come this October you'll be able to test Urban Strife yourself.

Will it be self contained with achievements and everything?

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

Sort of self-contained, meaning it will be a combat focused version of the game prologue/start, a minicampaign over 4 maps. You'll be able to do a bit of survival crafting, some RPG, enough to keep you busy for a few honest hours.

No time to add Steam achievements, those are like rock bottom on our long list of todo's.

 

[Nm6k]

Will some of the base building system be in it?

 

[USG_Mucifikatorul]

The base building mechanic is implemented (let's say in a beta state) but still needs some fine tuning. Probably it will be shown so everyone gets an idea how it looks/works but it won't affect the game (in the full game failing to provide for the shelter can lead to a loss).