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Theme Preference

8 replies [Last post]
Mon, 07/17/2017 - 14:24
Squinshee
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In my latest build of OverRealm, there are a total of five heroes, each with three loadouts. Loadouts alter the playstyle of each hero and would each feature the different heroes in different poses, costumes, etc. I chose this because I thought it both worked and that it was different from many other games. People like seeing the same hero in different skins (look at all these dang MOBAs).

The other option is that instead of five heroes, I replace them with factions, and have each loadout be its own hero. This wouldn't affect the mechanics at all, it's just an alternate solution.

So, in your opinion, what's better: fewer heroes with more personality, or just a bunch of heroes couples among themes?

Thanks!

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Mon, 07/17/2017 - 20:11
#1
questccg
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Maybe something "in-between"???

Can you have like five (5) heroes (for up to a 5 player game) and then have them in different poses or using additional components (like a big-badass shotgun) but more or less the same "uniform"???

This would imply same color theme, same basic outfit and just vary the details. Like you suggested the poses and additional "battle" components.

Like if Super-Punch is a fist coming at you with a brass-ring ... that could be one cool frontal of a fist from one hero. Then that hero could use a super-shotgun and same general color-scheme... but different poses and different "abilities"...

Something like that would be cool. Cheers.

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Mon, 07/17/2017 - 21:45
#2
Squinshee
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Yes, you're understanding

Yes, you're understanding correctly. I forgot to mention that 1) it's only a 1v1 player game and 2) each hero has their own unique deck of 20 cards.

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Tue, 07/18/2017 - 01:52
#3
X3M
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Each loadout having their own

Each loadout having their own hero, is what a lot of other games do.
I like the idea of a few hero's with "custom" characters.

I don't know if you are planning on more loadouts in the future. But I can imagine OCD going to get in the way there.
Are you planning to have more hero's?
And are they all forced to have 3 loadouts?

That could be troublesome if you can only think of 2 loadouts.
Or you have thought of 4 or 5 very good ones.

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Wed, 07/19/2017 - 07:53
#4
let-off studios
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What Do You Want?

If it's less personal, then the more general or "birds-eye-view" a feeling the player will have for the game. Do you want them to embody or role-play a character, or do you want them to feel like more of a tactically-savvy general giving orders to their troops?

If you stay away from individual characters with big fists and super shotguns, then you can have specialized squads that are part of a larger military force. Even then, you can still provide individuality to the squads (your loadouts).

I sill remember the last time I played Stratego, with a futuristic army art style. Each unit was quite discrete from the others, and although their purpose wasn't exactly clear, you'd likely not confuse one with another. And generally speaking, once you knew the rules you didn't have to pay attention to the artwork. It became flavour instead of substance.

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Wed, 07/19/2017 - 11:03
#5
FrankM
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Loaded with Load Outs

If I read this correctly, each hero has a unique set of 20 cards, but that doesn't change with the specific load-out chosen. Or in the alternate setup, each faction has a deck and it doesn't mater which of the faction's heroes was chosen.

I agree the choice basically comes down to how you want the player to view their role in the game's story. If getting "killed" just means bringing in a different load-out, then I think the factions model makes more sense. Otherwise I think the hero with load-outs would lead to more player investment in the outcome.

(It'd be fantasticaly expensive, but you could could fashion a base model of each hero and snap-ons for each load-out.)

If my understanding of the decks is correct, at least some of the cards function differently depending on load-out. With 20 cards, you might even be able to disable one card per load-out. For example, the Quickdraw Shot has no effect whatsoever if the hero has the Chainsaw load-out, so it becomes a dead card that a player ought to discard ASAP.

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Wed, 07/19/2017 - 12:20
#6
Super-Tooned
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Five Hero Roster!

I believe you should go with the five hero character selection type theme because if you go with factions and multiple soldiers, it would feel a little like the games 'Risk' or 'Team Fortress 2'. Selecting through five heroes with different personalities would be great!

That's just my input! Do with it what you will.

-Super

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Wed, 07/19/2017 - 14:00
#7
Squinshee
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FrankM wrote:If I read this

FrankM wrote:
If I read this correctly, each hero has a unique set of 20 cards, but that doesn't change with the specific load-out chosen. Or in the alternate setup, each faction has a deck and it doesn't mater which of the faction's heroes was chosen.

Yes, that's correct.

FrankM wrote:
I think the hero with load-outs would lead to more player investment in the outcome.

This was my impression too. The Hero you select has the biggest impact on how you play. The Loadouts emphasize the strengths of the cards in your deck in different ways rather than radically impacting the game. This is why I thought Loadouts worked better.

FrankM wrote:
If my understanding of the decks is correct, at least some of the cards function differently depending on load-out. With 20 cards, you might even be able to disable one card per load-out. For example, the Quickdraw Shot has no effect whatsoever if the hero has the Chainsaw load-out, so it becomes a dead card that a player ought to discard ASAP.

All cards function identically regardless of Loadout, but some may work better with your chosen Loadout in certain situations.

I'm leaning towards Loadouts because I don't think I've seen another card game do it, and sticking out from the crowd is always nice. Thanks for the varied input everybody!

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Wed, 07/19/2017 - 14:19
#8
FrankM
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Differing effects

Making the cards work differently doesn't need to be as explicit as my QuickDraw Shot example... it could be as subtle as "do double damage" where the base damage is determined by Hero and load-out.

I'm not a huge expert on these kinds of games, but to my knowledge your load-out idea is novel. To really push that mechanic you might want some kind of campaign mode where the Hero gains experience independent of load-outs. Another direction would be expansions that add new load-outs for existing Heroes, distinct from expansions that add new Heroes. Just gets tricky balancing all of that.

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