Hi everyone,
The next things that will most probably get in the game are things that will improve the contents, gameplay and fun in the first 14 hours of the game. All of these will be inserted to replace parts of the beginning of the game. It might mean that players already into the game would be better off restarting... but the new contents will make it worthwhile. I played the whole game like... 30 times, probably more? And I'm not even tired... ok maybe a little. :P But it's highly replayable, in my opinion. Just try a new group...
1) I will add a bit of fun and diversity to combats by placing powerful named, unique enemy characters/bosses. These will talk when entering battle, to challenge, insult or taunt the party characters, and for some of them, when they die. Later in development process, they will probably have voice added... like most of the main dialogs in the game.
I aim for 6 to 8 unique characters of each main enemy groups, maybe 10 for goblins. 2 to 5 for side enemy groups. They are very fun for me to make, and quite easy too with the engine I programmed.
These characters are 100% sure to give their (quite good) equipment for loot, and sometimes, with a special item, that I describe later.
2) A very special, magical item that you can buy will let you absorb magical energies that flow in special places around the game world. Every magical absorption will imbue this magical item with new powers that will improve the whole party.
3) I will redo some parts of the beginning areas to have more places of interest. I want the game world to be packed with interesting things to do and explore, and less generic combats. Maybe it will be a bit crazy and unrealistic, but it's more fun like that. Fun beats realistic.
4) More diversity in enemies. Spitting spiders, more undead types (with elites/uniques), slimes, etc.
5) Possibly 2 or 3 additional dungeons. Maybe even more.
6) Making the main quest advance much earlier in the game. Taking what was for later and making it at the start, then it continues for the whole game.
7) Character classes. But non-restrictive character classes, that only improve your power. Not sure I'll call it a "class". They will give bonus stats, skills/passive powers unique to that class, and 1 or 2 bonus spells, automatically memorized at all time (added to ordinary memorized spells). These classes will be learned by going training in village and towns, and have quite a high cost in silver. Each 5, 6 or 7 levels (I'll decide later), you can have a new, additional class. They might have requirements in traits, stats, skills and levels.
Not sure yet I'll add these though. Like... 84% chances.
8) Talking to random characters in town, other than quest givers. These will talk to you about interesting things that are happening/happened in the area. I'll avoid random babbling about their lives, because... I just don't like it in games. It's useless and take you off the track of the game story, and reduce the intensity of gameplay. It's annoying to have to go through 10 random people to get 1 info relevant to what you're actually doing... in my opinion. And it's my game, so.
9) More quests... obviously.
10) Magical objects that give special powers to characters. Often dropped by unique characters and found in special treasures. I'll try to make them interesting and unique, and make their discovery a special, rare event. Each character would have 3 slots for these items.
That's about all... These are all fortunately rather easy to integrate in the game. Most of the "new" systems are very similar to what I already programmed in the game, almost copy/paste with small modifications. A challenge of adding all these in the game is balancing enemies with all the added power and all. Every time I add or change things at the start of the game, everything after it becomes too easy or too hard. Changing all of these is sure to throw everything off balance, but I'll correct it again after these changes. I hope I can make these changes quite rapidly, too, and in a single update... to avoid re-balancing all the game many times. These kind of changes are those that take the least time to make.
And I think these will be the last things I'll add to the game, other than contents at the end of the game and graphical/sound/art improvements, added spells, skills, equipments and enemies... and things I already said I would add. And bug corrections, and general improvements.
And keep in mind, I promise nothing. These are what I plan to make, but plans change (and mine change a lot).
