3D Action-RPG Combat
Hi there,
So I've got a hankering to make an action-RPG, and I thought of a neat way to implement combat using the mouse in a "Gears of War"-esque 3rd person perspective. The main idea is that you draw simple gestures with the mouse (while holding down the left mouse button) to perform a certain attack. For example, with a sword equipped, you could draw a line across the screen to do a slash from right to left. You could maybe also just do a short click (without moving the mouse much) to stab forwards. The same idea goes for spellcasting: a circle and then a line up, for example, could cast a bolt of fire (with circle symbolizing fire, and a line up symbolizing an energy bolt).
So does this sound feasible for real-time combat or do you think it would be too clunky in a stressful battle?
So I've got a hankering to make an action-RPG, and I thought of a neat way to implement combat using the mouse in a "Gears of War"-esque 3rd person perspective. The main idea is that you draw simple gestures with the mouse (while holding down the left mouse button) to perform a certain attack. For example, with a sword equipped, you could draw a line across the screen to do a slash from right to left. You could maybe also just do a short click (without moving the mouse much) to stab forwards. The same idea goes for spellcasting: a circle and then a line up, for example, could cast a bolt of fire (with circle symbolizing fire, and a line up symbolizing an energy bolt).
So does this sound feasible for real-time combat or do you think it would be too clunky in a stressful battle?
It sounds nice.
But would someone want to sit and click the mouse all day?
Also, think of the enjoyability.
Is pinpoint accuracy important? I hope not, gamers would get frustrated keeping up with the action while trying to make lines and curves.
Timing may also be an issue. You can press a button like Im doing now with the keys and its near instant.
Again if its isnt a major key then it wont be a major problem.
However look at my reputation,
hope this helps. it sounds interesting none the less.
But would someone want to sit and click the mouse all day?
Also, think of the enjoyability.
Is pinpoint accuracy important? I hope not, gamers would get frustrated keeping up with the action while trying to make lines and curves.
Timing may also be an issue. You can press a button like Im doing now with the keys and its near instant.
Again if its isnt a major key then it wont be a major problem.
However look at my reputation,
hope this helps. it sounds interesting none the less.
It's been a while, but I have vague memories of enjoying the mouse-gesture based sword combat in Silver. The mouse-gesture based spell-casting in the black-and-white was also fun, except when it failed to recognise your gestures repeatedly...
But would someone want to sit and click the mouse all day?You've obviously never been hooked on Diablo 1/2...
My gesture recognition system boils the mouse movements down to 90 degree angles, so accuracy shouldn't really be an issue. As well, I can also have slightly differing gestures, like Left-Right and Left-Down-Right, do the same thing.
[color=#1C2837][size=2]But would somepony want to sit and click the mouse all day?[/quote]
[color=#1C2837][size=2]It's practically a 3rd person shooter but with mainly melee combat. There's probably the same amount of clicking as you would do playing Call of Duty
Do you use the mouse to aim as well? If that's the case it might be difficult to perform the gesture to launch a fireball at a target before they move, forcing you to stop the gesture and re-aim.
Do you use the mouse to aim as well? If that's the case it might be difficult to perform the gesture to launch a fireball at a target before they move, forcing you to stop the gesture and re-aim.
Yes, the mouse would be used to aim. To counter this issue, I'm thinking of making the aiming like Metroid Prime, where the mouse is free to move around the screen and the view only pans when the mouse is closer to the edges of the screen. Since this is an RPG, this will be quite helpful in a number of other ways like interacting with the environment.
For the spellcasting part you may want to look at the game Arx Fatalis
For aiming I'd suggest you allow the player to draw the symbol and once done correctly will "ready" the spell at which point you point and click your target to let loose.
For aiming I'd suggest you allow the player to draw the symbol and once done correctly will "ready" the spell at which point you point and click your target to let loose.
For the spellcasting part you may want to look at the game Arx Fatalis
For aiming I'd suggest you allow the player to draw the symbol and once done correctly will "ready" the spell at which point you point and click your target to let loose.
That's a good idea. Since I was planning on having the spells broken up into two parts, the element and the cast type (bolt, deflector, etc.), I could either store the element and then actually cast later, or store both and then just let a click be a "release". Since the combat spells are going to be simple lines, I think the first one should be fine.
The sword play sounds good. What's stopping the screen from moving if say a person whips the mouse all the way to the other side of the screen to wind up the slash and the body turns? Will there be a locking system and if there is, is there any way to maneuver to avoid enemies that are attacking from places unseen?
The sword play sounds good. What's stopping the screen from moving if say a person whips the mouse all the way to the other side of the screen to wind up the slash and the body turns? Will there be a locking system and if there is, is there any way to maneuver to avoid enemies that are attacking from places unseen?
You do not need to wind up to do any maneuver, so you won't have any problems with that. What I'm thinking is you press the mouse button to begin drawing the gesture. While the gesture is being drawn you will not turn with the mouse. When the button is released, the gesture will be analysed and an action performed if any match the gesture.
If you want to avoid enemies while you're drawing the gesture, you can still do everything except things that require the mouse; for example, you can still strafe or hold up your shield.
What do you guys think the right mouse button should be for? Maybe instead of drawing a gesture, you can click it to lock on to a target.
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