Introducing: Grid System

Over the past few days I've been coming up with a little magic system that is unlike anything I have seen in a video game before. I call it the Grid System. Believe it or not: It involves a grid.

Above is an example of a lower level grid. Looks fun and simple right? Here's how it works. Spells, instead of just being learned and then automatically added to a characters Spell list or whatever you may call it, the spell is instead made available as a 'tile' on your grid. When you level, instead of getting AP points to distribute into your skills you get Gridpoints. These Gridpoints can be used to add spells to your grid with each spell requiring a varied amount of Gridpoints to add one tile. Once a spell has been added to the grid, it becomes available for the Character to use. The size of the Grid is affected by the characters Mind stat. But it gets a bit more complicated then this.

If you notice above there is 3 different Spelltiles in 3 different shapes. These are 3 examples of how these Tiles could be added. The line of four fire tiles on the left side of the grid, when cast, would cause a constant flames spell because the 4 tiles are aligned in a straight line in the grid. If the grid was expanded and another flame tile was added below this line, the spell would become even stronger. The 8 water tiles in an o shape would cause an AoE spell and the 4 shadow tiles (the purple ones) would cause a sort of shadowball spell. Each element can be arranged into any of these shapes. The character could also create unique effects with certain tile layouts.

The above spell would be an AoE shadow effect that also drains health, the yellow tiles being Heal tiles. This is just one of the many, MANY combinations that would be available, along with other shapes and other types of spells.

I'm pretty proud of this system. I find it pretty unique and I am excited to implement it into a game.

Thinking about classes..

We've been talking about how we want actual gameplay to work and we've decided to want really heavy class-based role play elements. So far there are 21 classes. You will start with one of the 3 basic classes, Warrior, Mage, or Bowman. At certain levels, along with certain guild-related quests you class-up. The first class up you choose a specific focus. Then at the next level milestone you level that focus up again. Right now once you choose your 'path' your stuck on it for the levels, there's no more branching, though we might chagne that.Here's a few random classes: Hunters - Fast, agile bowmen with an eye to kill. Spellblades - Powerful wizards with the strength to cut down even the biggest enemies. Brutes - Heavy warriors who favor large hammers over anything. Shadowbanes - A dark class who can torment an enemy using their knowledge of shadows. These are all typical RPG classes, but I have a few classes I've constructed myself. More on this later :)

TowerRPG + Second game + Unity

TowerRPG is still coming. Due to absolutely crazy schedules between me, Micah, and Colten, it's slowed a bit.  But It's still coming. We will soon be getting some REAL art (Well, the tile sets atleast) and work on music and sound has begun. I've been spending today doing some of the games basic design.

I can't express how much you should NOT judge the graphics right now. It's nothing but me doodling in MS paint. We've got Yako working on much prettier grass. :)

In other news, we've started on another game. Rather, me and Colten are. At the moment, anyway. Not much to say about it yet. It will be super fast and fun and explode-y and stuff.

Finally, the unity engine is out for free right now. So we all grabbed that. It's about 354.56%* harder to understand then the 001 engine. It's legit. It scares me. But I got a few ideas I'd really like to put to use with it sooo I better get to studying.

Well that's all for now folks! Hopefully later this week I'll be able to post some music samples. Until then, remember to always tip your mailman.

*This number estimated, not based on actual fact.

It's working, IT'S WORKING!

So the absolute very first of absolutely anything at all is in the video below. Using place holder 'EVERYTHING' I'm just proud to have a character that can walk around maps and open doors. Progress is being made!

The next step for me is to build the rest of the town and get some temporary NPCs in there, then I'll begin work on the tower... Another member of the Dycomi team, Micah, is working on the games mechanics, the battle system, the class system, spells, etc. So you won't see any real gameplay footage till he is done with that. The third of the original members is Colten. He is the music/sound effects guy. We're really hoping to have absolutely everything you hear in this game made by us. The fourth addition to our team is Yako, the art guy. He will be working on some real tile-sets, sprite work, and all things else those fancy art people do.

Current Project

The team is currently working on a small RPG set to be released on the iPhone this summer. It's less of a game that we hope will be 'defining' and more of a project for us to work together on just to say we have something complete and out. Currently we have given it the name "TowerRPG". It'll be a fun, fast paced RPG. I'll be posting images and details as they become more solid.

Current Going-ons

Let me take a moment to introduce you to the current beginnings of what we hope to one day be a company. Dycomi is an idea sparked from three college dudes with a passion for gaming. And that's it. We all three love games, they have been with us for all of our entire lives. We each view them in unique ways and each have different ideas for some great games. Our knowledge of programming? Minimal. Our knowledge of marketing? Pshh. Our knowledge of what makes a good game? Well, there might be a little bit of sunshine behind that.   Hopefully together we can get something playable out. Our first project we have dubbed with the temporary name "TowerRPG". That's all you get to know for now.

This is a blog

Hi. I have dreams of having a successful game company one day. Here's to that.