Video Game Design

[Daidaishar]

So, I'm working on a silly little RPG to go with Hurrocks Fardel. In it you will be able to play as a Drake at the training academy.

I'll be posting previews of character designs and such first as voting incentives and then here.

I welcome all input on things like design and what you would like to see included in the game.

[Daidaishar]

The current voting incentive is a design for the protagonist of the game.

Temperament-wise he's similar to our Drake from the comic. This is partially because he's also a dragon, and there's some surliness inherent in the species. I also wanted to give people a chance to sort of play as Drake, but without the limitations (and sad ending) created by his plot line.

He's from Normandy (and thus that is his name while at the academy). I've currently given him dark hair with a blue tint since that's common in dragons from around there (Brittany had it too). I'm considering changing his hair though and would welcome input on the matter.

[now that the new voting incentive is up, here's the image:]
[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q20/H...20copy.jpg]

[Onasaki]

I'm always a big fan of kid protagonists, myself. Y'know, Young Link, Heros from Dragon Quest, Pokemon Trainer, Fable Childhood arcs. Ness. Kid (from Boothill Heroes, obscure, but still mentionable). Lan from Megaman Battle Network. Etc.

But if it's at an academy, that might feel a little too hogwartsy or cheap anime, for some of us, if the protag is a kid. I'm also a fan of Protags becoming the Villain, and actually continuing the story, while the hero is a villain.

If he's from Normandy, that means he's German, too. That's something to think about, too.

[StellaFrost]

It'll hardly be hogwartsy. These kids are in training to become killing machines.

[Safey]

Its a good idea but a good idea is maybe 10 percent of video game making. Execution is hard.

[Daidaishar]

The new voting incentive is a costume design for Normandy, including his daggers and clan tattoos.

Right now, I'm designing him with a rouge-type build in mind: fast, light armor, with a focus on critical strikes. All of the Drakes will have a mix of physical and magic attacks, as opposed to the normal RPG magic/non-magic classes.

Based on feedback so far, I've aged his design up a bit to give it less of a high school anime vibe (StellaFrost is right about the military thing). The protagonist's morality is also going to be a bit dubious given that he's a dragon.

The Normandy region's history of different invasions and resulting hodgepodge of cultures should show slightly in the design of Normandy's dragon form (which will be the next voting incentive).

I'm not trying to do anything too new with the game itself since its not my area of specialty. Art, dialogue, and storytelling are what I have the most experience with, so that's what I hope will turn out well. For game mechanics, the program I'm using helps a lot. I'm planning to do some different character builds and leveling systems than normal to match the characters and story. Other than that it will be a pretty standard RPG. I'm doing a lot of testing (with help from a few friends) to check for things like glitches and balance.

Thank you guys for the feedback so far! I do appreciate it!

[now that the new incentive is up, here is the image:
[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q20/H...ostume.jpg]

[Daidaishar]

Normandy's dragon form is the current voting incentive.

Because he's stated as a rouge-type fighter, I've kept his dragon form light in build. The design is simple, without extra spikes or plating beyond the standard head and belly ones. His coloring is designed for camouflage, especially during flight.

[StellaFrost]

Not sure how the red and yellow camouflage during flight. I can see the dark blue on the wings. Is he primarily a night flier?

Don't get me wrong, I love the colors. They compliment each other well. I just am trying to understand the full logic here.

[Daidaishar]

Its a good question. In flight the wings are most of what is visible from the ground. The body is relatively small, so camouflaged wings are often sufficient to hide them if they're flying high enough (if they're flying low, with their size no amount of camouflage will hide them). A lighter underbelly can also break up the body's silhouette.

With the darker blue of his wings, night flying is better for him.