Prisonscape - a prison RPG

[PekkaK]

Is this dead?

Not by a long shot. We're actively working on it, just doing some stuff that's pretty uninteresting to write/report about.

 

[Kem0sabe]

Is this dead?

Not by a long shot. We're actively working on it, just doing some stuff that's pretty uninteresting to write/report about.

I liked it more when you guys were talking about meth magic.

 

[PekkaK]

Is this dead?

Not by a long shot. We're actively working on it, just doing some stuff that's pretty uninteresting to write/report about.

I liked it more when you guys were talking about meth magic.

Well, shit, let's get some conversation going on then.

I just remembered that we actually don't have meth in the game. I think it's not very common drug as it's shown in the drug screenings for a long time. Inmates prefer bentsoes and heroin as they are eradicated from your system pretty quickly.

Current plan is for the drugs to have only positive effects, just like those potions and phoenix down's in Final Fantasies. Addiction system would be cool but it's quite a lot of work and feature creep is setting in already.

Here's a cutscene from the game we finished while ago:

 

[Kem0sabe]

So awesome, you guys are like a dream a had when i was high.

 

[PekkaK]

Since there is at least one person who's interested in hearing more about Prisonscape, I decided to start a developer diary on this forum, you can find it from here:

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/daily-developer-diary.97342/

Any kind of feedback/ideas are appreciated!

 

[Haba]

3.3. Was at IGDA gathering drinking free beers, so didn't get too much done today, either. Did some mapping for the final area, that's it. Tomorrow I'll start working again, no more excuses.

Confirmed as SJW!

 

[PekkaK]

Confirmed as SJW!

It took you this long to find out?

 

[SirSingAlot]

man, i just recently cam across this one, but boy do i love the art and graphix.
setting seems interesting as well.

any idea bout how long this may take to get finished?

 

[PekkaK]

any idea bout how long this may take to get finished?

We're not giving any definite dates anymore, but we're going to alpha SOON: http://www.prisonscape.com/blog/?p=690

 

[Blaine]

any idea bout how long this may take to get finished?

It's been six months since the developer's made a peep from what I can see, so I'm gonna say first star to the right and straight on 'til morning.

 

[PekkaK]

any idea bout how long this may take to get finished?

It's been six months since the developer's made a peep from what I can see, so I'm gonna say first star to the right and straight on 'til morning.

Well, we are still here but to be honest haven't got much work done in the last months. Our graphic designer had other plans and we've also had a lot of family stuff going on so things are just slow right now.

 

[CyberWhale]

PekkaK LIVES AGAIN! Nice to see you again bro - I know that having private and other problems can be really draining, but don't give up.

 

[SirSingAlot]

Well, we are still here but to be honest haven't got much work done in the last months. Our graphic designer had other plans and we've also had a lot of family stuff going on so things are just slow right now.

slow motion is better than no motion

 

[PekkaK]

Hey, so we're back in full development mode now. I'll try to commit some script/code everyday and we are also looking for a new graphic designer to finish off what was started.

I'm currently looking for ideas for turn-based combat, can some of you RPG veterans point me some games were fast-paced and simple turn-based combat works? Just to outline what I have currently in the plans:

- Turn-based combat
- Three main stats: STR, AGI, INT which all affect different aspects of the combat
- Different combat areas which in some cases are pre-determined (boss fights for example)
- Weapons such as shanks, iron pipes, soap in a sock, etc.
- Fighting skill level affects which abilities you get
- INT affects how many special attacks/defenses you get, STR and AGI affect their type
- Drugs give you boost to combat (like potions, etc. in other games), currently no downsides
- STR affects your damage with bludgeonin weapons and hit-% with certain attack types, AGI with piercing/slashing and hit-% with certain attack types/weapons
- Companions can help you in a fight, you can control them if your INT is high enough, otherwise they have their own AI. Companions can be gained with currency/through quests
- Fighting has consequences if you get caught (the hole, revenge, etc.)
- There are various bonuses from flanking, charge, etc. (a lot of these are from D&D3.5/Pathfinder, but at this stage mainly ideas, no concrete plan)

 

[Mustawd]

- Turn-based combat

- There are various bonuses from flanking, charge, etc. (a lot of these are from D&D3.5/Pathfinder, but at this stage mainly ideas, no concrete plan)

 

[Lhynn]

Have you tried Battle moon wars? Great turn based system, fairly indepth character development. About the only real flaw it has is that the encounter design sucks. Theres interesting ideas there to be sure. Tho the writing is extremely shitty, its easily skippable.
Another turn based rpg would be Tales of Maj Eyal, it has turn based system that can be extremely fast or really slow depending on the players needs, it showcases the best use of cooldowns in any game ever. Also skills are great, itemization is great.
Recently ive been playing a lot of adventuring league, a game for android. Its very a simplistic roguelike with darklands ambitions, it falls short on most things but its still fun and can get pretty intense, its a game about making the perfect moves, where mistakes are extremely costly.
Neoscavenger has a really indepth text based combat, its fairly deterministic in its approach and really intense. You can probably get some inspiration from it.
Underrail, great combat, a lot of depth and always interesting options in your turn. Suitably lethal and makes both strategical and tactical planning very important to succeed.

Also remember that if you only have 1 character combat doesnt need a fast paced system to be fast paced, a little complexity on your turn is appreciated when its just your single character. Active defense can be a great idea. Most single character turn based games, like AoD struggle to make combat anything other than an RNGfest and more actions and options and more impact on your decisions during the combat would make it better.

 

[PekkaK]

I also updated our blog, but it's just ranting about our laziness: http://www.prisonscape.com/blog/?p=706

 

[Mr. Pink]

Neat, Glad it's not vaporware

 

[Abu Antar]

Look at Grandia or Chrono Trigger for "turn-based" combat. A mix of that could be great.

 

[PekkaK]

Here's the current combat sequence:

Pre-combat

1. Determine combatants (player + henchmen, enemy + henchmen)
2. Throw initiative for both sides (intelligence/agility [higher] + fighting * 5 + d15 for player, speed/int [higher] + attack/5 + d15 for NPCs)
3. Draw grid on battle screen
(4. Lower initiative side inserts characters on center of the grid (3x3))
(5. Higher initiative side inserts characters on grid on any green square (+1 square for each 5 points over the other initiative))

Combat

1. Higher initiative side starts the fight
2a. Player can:
Move (1 square if agility < 80, 2 when agility >= 80)
Physical Attack
Ranged attack
Int based attack
Defensive stance
Rest / Skip
Use item

2b. Henchmen can:
Move (1 square)
Attack (based on NPC stats)
Skip

3. Enemies can:
Move (1-2 squares)
Physical attack
Special attack (for bosses only)
Ranged attack
Use "items" -> special effects from script -> no need for the NPC's to use items, etc.
Defend
Wait / Skip

After combat

1. If the player loses, he goes to the infirmary (skip weekly menu and random events)
2. If the player wins, there are three different outcomes. These are determined by making a saving throw against current alert level.
Each alert level raises the chance of getting caught by 12%. (0 = 0%, 1 = 12%, 2 = 24%, 3 = 36%, 4 = 48%, 5 = 60%). Each battle round increases
this by 1%. After combat roll is d100
IF after combat roll < chance of getting caught, the player gets away and gets the loot
IF after combat roll > chance of getting caught AND after combat roll < chance of getting caught + 20, the player goes to interrogation
IF after combat roll - 20 > chance of getting caught, the player goes to the hole and GUARD reputation goes down by 8

Here's example of one combat grid, I think the challenge is how to make it tactical with such a small number of columns. It might be too easy to make chokepoints where you just grind your enemies down, hence the need of combat maneuvers (overpower, charge, etc.)

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Charge is nice and all, but this being prison, maybe you should call it bum rush.

 

[Mexi]

Actually looks like a pretty fun game. Are you guys going to let us customize our guy with custom photo and avatar or will it be a predetermined character?

 

[GarlandExCon]

Charge is nice and all, but this being prison, maybe you should call it bum rush.

...which is actual slang I heard in prison. Also, any kind of ambush would be better called "jump," as in "Jump them."

 

[Zed]

Here's the current combat sequence:

Pre-combat

1. Determine combatants (player + henchmen, enemy + henchmen)
2. Throw initiative for both sides (intelligence/agility [higher] + fighting * 5 + d15 for player, speed/int [higher] + attack/5 + d15 for NPCs)
3. Draw grid on battle screen
(4. Lower initiative side inserts characters on center of the grid (3x3))
(5. Higher initiative side inserts characters on grid on any green square (+1 square for each 5 points over the other initiative))

Combat

1. Higher initiative side starts the fight
2a. Player can:
Move (1 square if agility < 80, 2 when agility >= 80)
Physical Attack
Ranged attack
Int based attack
Defensive stance
Rest / Skip
Use item

2b. Henchmen can:
Move (1 square)
Attack (based on NPC stats)
Skip

3. Enemies can:
Move (1-2 squares)
Physical attack
Special attack (for bosses only)
Ranged attack
Use "items" -> special effects from script -> no need for the NPC's to use items, etc.
Defend
Wait / Skip

After combat

1. If the player loses, he goes to the infirmary (skip weekly menu and random events)
2. If the player wins, there are three different outcomes. These are determined by making a saving throw against current alert level.
Each alert level raises the chance of getting caught by 12%. (0 = 0%, 1 = 12%, 2 = 24%, 3 = 36%, 4 = 48%, 5 = 60%). Each battle round increases
this by 1%. After combat roll is d100
IF after combat roll < chance of getting caught, the player gets away and gets the loot
IF after combat roll > chance of getting caught AND after combat roll < chance of getting caught + 20, the player goes to interrogation
IF after combat roll - 20 > chance of getting caught, the player goes to the hole and GUARD reputation goes down by 8

Here's example of one combat grid, I think the challenge is how to make it tactical with such a small number of columns. It might be too easy to make chokepoints where you just grind your enemies down, hence the need of combat maneuvers (overpower, charge, etc.)

add throwing and pushing and make the inevitable chokepointing a tacticool element you can control (a bit)