Turn-Based Sass

2008-10-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

So, the reason for this blog.

Well, basically because I'm a bit bored and working at a game publisher I've started to miss actual hands-on game development. So I'm starting up a side pet project to work on in my spare time.

It's going to be a turn-based tactical RPG in the vein of Final Fantasy Tactics, my favorite game of all time. For some reason Square has abandoned much of what made the FFT series great with their Advanced titles and so this is about "making the games I want to play".

I'll be using the Torque Game Builder that I learned to use while still in school, because I really don't feel like building a new engine all by myself since I'm not that much of a programmer. This blog will serve as a dev diary of sorts so that my friends can view my builds as I progress, and make suggestions as I go.

I'll be reinstalling my Torque license tonight on the new PC I bought and just arrived last week. With that in mind I'm going to layout the first few stages of development that I want to achieve in the coming weeks and months:

Stage One

Create an algorithm to generate a dynamic game board from script.
Create two opposing game pieces through script.
Allow movement functionality to a game piece so that it can move throughout the grid.
Implement turns so that you can alternate moving game pieces.
Allow attacking functionality so a game piece can attack, destroy, or capture an opposing game piece.

Stage Two

Write an algorithm that creates a fluid yet somewhat random board make-up of varying heights. This needs to include both a datablock of some kind to record relevant data for the game grid spaces as well as a visual image representation of depth and height.
Create a menu system that appears for each game piece's new turn allowing the player to pick or choose to move or attack.
Create a dynamic "highlighting" grid that can be used to overlay highlighted areas over the game board. This will create movement boundaries for players, show area of effects, etc.

Stage Three

Integrate the highlighting grid with movement taking into account height differentials between spaces.
Integrate the highlighting grid with attacking taking into account height differentials between spaces.
Implement game piece "facing" to include front, flanks, and rear. This will be an end-turn option after all movements and attacks have been made.
Use facing to create miss chances for attacks.

I think that's enough planning for now. We'll see how things go and the plan will change accordingly.

Need Not Apply

Turn-Based Sass