Single character stealth RPG

Duckaiser

  • Posts: 97
INTRO
This is an RPG partially inspired by Metal Gear Solid. It's a "one-man sneaking mission" and you start with no weapons, and you have to infiltrate a base full of soldiers, and it's often better to avoid combat. The similarities pretty much end there though. I wanted to make an RPG similar to the first Dragon Warrior. A short and simple one-person RPG. Several ideas went threw my head, some involving dinosaurs, but in the end I got some inspiration from a different one person game. I don't know how I'm going to combine traditional JRPG gameplay with some stealth action gameplay, but I'll figure something out.

CHARACTERS
Main character

A fairly young soldier currently off-duty, but called back into action for a special mission. He's raising his two children, but they don't get along well. Thinks he's cool and good at sarcasm, but often tells punchlines wrong and makes himself look like a fool (one of the reasons his kids don't like him much)

SETTING
The world this game takes place in has a mix of modern, medieval fantasy, and futuristic sci-fi. This game will be light in the fantasy and sci-fi parts, but you will fight monsters and you will fight robots! Expect some equipment based on those too. The game will take place in a supposedly abandoned desert facility. It's been occupied by a mysterious organization for a currently unknown reason.

STORY
You play as a currently unnamed off-duty soldier called into this mission because he is considered the best man for the job. He's currently raising his two kids, but is "persuaded" to accept the mission. After a briefing, you head to the desert facility, and from there you are on your own! For some reason, you come unarmed (I'll think of a reason!)

GAMEPLAY
Simple turn-based one person RPG battles. However, at first it's dangerous to fight most of the enemies. It's better to avoid them until you find some weapons! And avoid them you can! The battles will be initiated by enemies patrolling the rooms, and there will be various little nooks and crannies to hide in. Once you get weapons though, it's not smooth-sailing, you need to watch your ammo! There will be a pretty low level cap, so no extreme power-leveling for you!

WELL...
All I've got so far is several ideas on paper, and sprites for the main character. I've made a template or two that I'll be using, which will speed up making other sprites dramatically. I need the RPG kit to be further developed to do much, but I'm going to be making graphics until then! Which is of course a lot of work...no hurry.

Strasteo

  • Posts: 323
I like the idea, it sounds quite fun. :]

Minor suggestions/questions:
Some head movement would make the sprite even better. Will the battles be like Earthbound/Dragon Quest games where you see it from first-person? Also, to make it more stealth-based but retain RPG characteristics, maybe gain the initiative in battle by striking or surprising the enemy from behind? Perhaps even assassinate them quickly and not have to deal with them in battle mode?

Just some ideas!

Duckaiser

  • Posts: 97
I like the idea, it sounds quite fun. :]

Minor suggestions/questions:
Some head movement would make the sprite even better. Will the battles be like Earthbound/Dragon Quest games where you see it from first-person? Also, to make it more stealth-based but retain RPG characteristics, maybe gain the initiative in battle by striking or surprising the enemy from behind? Perhaps even assassinate them quickly and not have to deal with them in battle mode?

Just some ideas!

Thanks!
-About the head...the spriting style is heavily based on Final Fantasy 6. And in Final Fantasy 6 the head doesn't move up and down when walking up or down, but it does when going sideways. It's weird, but it's how it is. I don't have to copy that though, and it does look peculiar. Maybe his hair should move too, but I don't know...
-The battles will be a lot like Dragon Warrior 1, first-person, one-on-one, little animation. That's where the kit seems to be going at first and I'm fine with doing things that way. But there will be differences like ammo, and more status effects.
-That's a great idea! Sneak up on the enemy to get initiative, but let them sneak up on you and it's an ambush!
-That idea could work, and actually makes me think of Mario and Luigi. I'll have to think about it though, assassination just doesn't suit the main characters personality very well.


I realized that I haven't thought of too many "monsters" for this game yet. I have several ideas in my head, but I want to keep it simple and have fairly few enemies. At first you'll be fighting mainly enemy soldiers, with guns and other realistic weapons, but later you'll encounter real monsters like hellhounds, drakes, and elementals, changing things up significantly. I'd like to make them behave differently on the map, but that might be difficult. For example, it would be harder to sneak up on a hellhound because of their heightened sense of smell. Or, sneaking up on an elemental just isn't possible because they are a physical manifestation of magical energy, and they can sense you by merely your spirit. But that gives me an idea for some kind of anti-magic equipment. Like how a cloaking device would make you invisible to sight, some kind of magic distortion device would make you invisible to magic-based detection. I hope that's not too complicated.

Weapons and equipment will follow the mix of modern, fantasy, and futuristic. You'll start with normal weapons like knives, guns, and grenades, then acquire some weirder stuff like ice lasers, enchanted weapons, and other fun stuff. I don't want to go too overboard though.