GH2: Core features not yet implemented

[Joseph Hewitt]

I've decided to compile a list of the core features I wanted to add to GH2 that haven't yet been implemented. What happened to my old master list? Well... you don't want to know what happened to that notepad. Anyhow, let me know if you have any suggestions, or if I've left out something that I previously claimed would be in the game.

1. Ships, NPC Ships, and spaceship crews

2. A rework of the Mecha Engineering skill

3. Minor reworks of Performance and Robotics

4. Core story quests/Location components
   At the moment, "quests" are perminant content added to the adventure and "core story components" are temporary events. I would like to add location-based core story components, so that an event in the PC's core story could add a new dungeon or other scene perminantly to the adventure. Also, such a scene would be able to take advantage of the quest customization routines.

5. Advanced equipment/mecha unlocked by quest/story event

6. Pet/Robot shops

7. Birth/Mutation/Family history talents

8. New mass system
Done.

9. "Bones" files
   More like victory files. When the PC finishes the game, a file is saved with a description of his character. This character may be brought back for cameo appearances in future campaigns. I suppose I could do something with the dead PCs as well, but I don't have any good ideas.
   Some of the notable NPC mecha pilots may be added to the game as "prefab" bones files. This way, they will be randomly added to the game just like former PCs.

10. Computers and software
Done.

11. Multiple worlds
   Really, most of the stuff needed for this is already implemented. I just haven't gotten around to adding any other worlds yet.

12. Death toll
   I expect some of the sickos on this message board will be very happy about this one. The game will keep a running total of how many humans die during the PC's adventure. This will include enemy pilots, civilians killed incidentally during combat (say, by destroying buildings) or during plot events (the destruction of a colony spinner should be worth a few million). The death toll will be printed as part of the end-of-game message.

13. Turrets and stationary monsters

14. New map properties
  Gravity, Atmosphere, Edge-scroll, and possibly some others. Actually these things are implemented now but I'd like to change the mechanics.

15. Armor for Pets
  Pets and robots will no longer be allowed to use regular armor, but there will be special pet armor you can give them instead. Also, they will no longer throw items from their inventory unless they have hands.

16. Locked Content
  Certain factions and locations will not be available at character creation until they have been unlocked in the game somehow.

17. Usable Items
  Systems that will be activated with a special "Use" command.

Anything I'm forgetting? I think those are the big points.

[draconuszero]

6. Pet/Robot shops  <--I assume that it'd be lower levelled to mid-ranged bots-pets right?  Being able to get a sea dragon or hunter-killer would really destroy balance unless they were extremely expensive.

9. "Bones" files <-- A graveyard with the PC's equipment in the grave is an idea.  Steal their equipment, get a push to chaotic alignment.  Actually, will there be a mission where an evil and chaotic group bring back old PCs from ther dead through cyberwear or something?

12. Death toll
I expect some of the sickos on this message board will be very happy about this one. The game will keep a running total of how many humans die during the PC's adventure. This will include enemy pilots, civilians killed incidentally during combat (say, by destroying buildings) or during plot events (the destruction of a colony spinner should be worth a few million). The death toll will be printed as part of the end-of-game message. <--  I see you have played IVAN/doom roguelike before....  Both games imho will result in you having lots of bone files with high death counts and rather painful ways to die, especially in the former.  In IVAN, I recall being killed via groin-stabbing while falling asleep in a spiderweb by a named enemy.

Only other thin g to add onto the list is background scenery suggested by whoever (I forgot who suggested them at the moment.)

[macksting]

Death Toll: He may have actually been making reference to Fallout, which keeps a running kill count. It does not, of course, detail how you killed them; there are numerous creative ways, including using the Steal skill to slip a timed explosive onto the person. (Sadly, doesn't work well on high-level characters; even if you use booze to succeed at the check, the first explosion alerts them to assault, and they tend to have a lot of HP. How many sticks of dynamite should really be required to kill Conan the Barbarian?)

[Anticheese]

Quoting: draconuszero

6. Pet/Robot shops <--I assume that it'd be lower levelled to mid-ranged bots-pets right? Being able to get a sea dragon or hunter-killer would really destroy balance unless they were extremely expensive.

In theroy there should be shops that sell Hunter-Killers, I'd like to think that you will only find them in underground pet shops (I.E Underground as in the same way that people dont go around with red neon signs proclaiming "I'm Mafia!")

Quoting: draconuszero

9. "Bones" files <-- A graveyard with the PC's equipment in the grave is an idea. Steal their equipment, get a push to chaotic alignment. Actually, will there be a mission where an evil and chaotic group bring back old PCs from ther dead through cyberwear or something?

Reminds me a bit about Darth Vader..

Anyhow, I cant really see how you can bring someone back from the dead literally, but I can see potential for getting a fresh brain and sticking it in a robot.

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

10. Computers and software

Interesting, What will they be able to do?

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

7. Birth/Mutation/Family history talent

I'll be interested to see how this one pans out

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

12. Death toll

Will this include things like equipment, mecha and robots?

[draconuszero]

Quoting: macksting

Death Toll: He may have actually been making reference to Fallout, which keeps a running kill count. It does not, of course, detail how you killed them; there are numerous creative ways, including using the Steal skill to slip a timed explosive onto the person. (Sadly, doesn't work well on high-level characters; even if you use booze to succeed at the check, the first explosion alerts them to assault, and they tend to have a lot of HP. How many sticks of dynamite should really be required to kill Conan the Barbarian?)

Well, IVAN is a roguelike where you basically do dungeon crawling, with the twist that you can get hit in various body parts which result in stats loss (head damage = loss in in, arms in attack strength, legs = loss of leg strength and if cut off you hopping around and both legs lost resulting in you rolling (heh), and groin = if you lose this part, you get instadeath) as well as the ability to lose limbs (ie seeing you arm get cut off and flying across the screen).   It also keeps track of when and how you die and how many enemies you kill.  If you are lucky, you'll get a bones file where you get the same level where a prior character dies (the game randomly generates levels unless bones is used) and you face the ghost of your character which is usually near the corpse of your main guy.  It also has an alignment system and rather sadistic programmers making and improving it (you'll die rather quickly and painfully unless you really plan out your guy and enemies you face are in proportion to your level but sadly waaaay more dangerous than you).

Quoting: Anticheese

In theroy there should be shops that sell Hunter-Killers, I'd like to think that you will only find them in underground pet shops (I.E Underground as in the same way that people dont go around with red neon signs proclaiming "I'm Mafia!")

I see your point, but well wouldn't HK series "pets" be wild with the chance of attacking you?

[Joseph Hewitt]

Quoting: draconuszero

I assume that it'd be lower levelled to mid-ranged bots-pets right? Being able to get a sea dragon or hunter-killer would really destroy balance unless they were extremely expensive.

Yes. Also, these shops will likely be rare, or may need to be unlocked as part of a quest. There may be some guaranteed pet stores at certain locations.

Quoting: Anticheese

Computers
Interesting, What will they be able to do?

A computer has a set number of memory slots that can be filled with computer programs. These programs can provide bonuses for your skill rolls, but cost energy points to use. Certain programs might also provide other effects.

I thought at first about requiring that a computer be networked in order to affect combat rolls; i.e. your weapon would need a computer link attached  to it and your helmet would need a H.U.D. intrinsic. However, I think that would just be an extra layer of confusion, and wouldn't add anything to the game.

Quoting: Anticheese

Startup Talents
I'll be interested to see how this one pans out

Idealist Blood and Savant will probably be startup talents. Other possibilities include Draconic Ictheosis (Mutation) (limbs gain armor plating, Charm and Speed take hits), Feline Mutation (PC becomes a catguy/catgirl), Warrior Life (PC was raised to be a warrior; bonus to combat skills but penalty to everything else, start with Shy Passionate Melancholy traits)... Jokingly I thought about "Raised by Wolves".

Because the family history can be guided by starting location, I can set things so that there will be no (or at least very few) mutants in the spinner colonies or on Luna but lots more on Earth and Mars. I could even set it so that mutation rates and types of mutation vary by location on Earth. I may add special talents particular to certain locations (Such as on Luna, the PC might start with a eugenics/new idealist background that isn't found anywhere else. A PC from Mars might start with a royalty talent). These startup talents may even have some effect upon the core story and how NPCs will interact with you.

Quoting: Anticheese

Death Toll
Will this include things like equipment, mecha and robots?

I wasn't planning on it, no. I was just going to count the number of human beings who die.

Quoting: draconuszero

about Hunter-X synths as pets
I see your point, but well wouldn't HK series "pets" be wild with the chance of attacking you?

That's half the fun right there.

[draconuszero]

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

Idealist Blood and Savant will probably be startup talents. Other possibilities include Draconic Ictheosis (Mutation) (limbs gain armor plating, Charm and Speed take hits), Feline Mutation (PC becomes a catguy/catgirl), Warrior Life (PC was raised to be a warrior; bonus to combat skills but penalty to everything else, start with Shy Passionate Melancholy traits)... Jokingly I thought about "Raised by Wolves".

Would the Feline Mutation add any stats like charm or reflexes?  For the "Raised by Wolves"  I was thinking more like feral blood.  For Draconic Ictheosis, would you be able to wear armor over the armor plating?  To fix your wounds would you use biotech?

[Joseph Hewitt]

Quoting: draconuszero

Would the Feline Mutation add any stats like charm or reflexes?

Probably. I was thinking of improving speed and charm at the expense of ego and body.

Quoting: draconuszero

For Draconic Ictheosis, would you be able to wear armor over the armor plating? To fix your wounds would you use biotech?

Yes, you would be able to wear armor over the armor plating. It will only be 1 point of armor, so coupled with the speed/charm penalty I don't think this will be particularly abusable.

Using biotech to fix your wounds would be too much of a penalty, IMO.

[Tung Nguyen]

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

A computer has a set number of memory slots that can be filled with computer programs. These programs can provide bonuses for your skill rolls, but cost energy points to use. Certain programs might also provide other effects.

There should probably be a bunch of programs that give core functionality to computers. Maybe some programs could act as prerequisites for others to operate/install correctly.

A selectable interface program (one per computer) would be an interesting touch. Some could use simple menu-based layouts to options for managing programs, news items, mail, notes and game options, while others could provide a character-based shell.

Hacking programs, anybody? Would IPv6 be used to access other computers, or would an entirely different system be used?

[Anticheese]

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

Using biotech to fix your wounds would be too much of a penalty, IMO.

Considering how beneath the armour plating your character is still a hunam (sic) I agree with JH that first aid is a more sensible choice.

Besides, it would confuse the living heck out of new players...

"Help, Help! I cant use first aid on myself"

"Use a biotech kit"

"A biowhatnow?"

--

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

hese startup talents may even have some effect upon the core story and how NPCs will interact with you.

I like that idea, It will give the game more replay value.

--

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

Would the Feline Mutation add any stats like charm or reflexes?

Probably. I was thinking of improving speed and charm at the expense of ego and body.

We-ll, this may be a bit out on a limb here (no pun intended) but could the tail possibly gained through this mutation be used in martial arts and possibly have a small blade fitted?
--

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

about Hunter-X synths as pets
I see your point, but well wouldn't HK series "pets" be wild with the chance of attacking you?

That's half the fun right there.

Agreed, perhaps the roll for determining if the synth goes totally nuts should be based off Dominate Animal and Ego?

--

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

Warrior Life (PC was raised to be a warrior; bonus to combat skills but penalty to everything else, start with Shy Passionate Melancholy traits

Currently GH2 says "Your school circle was raised to become x" during personal history creation, How will the talent and history co-exist?

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

Jokingly I thought about "Raised by Wolves".

That would be interesting (not to mention somewhat funny) to see, penalty to stats (especially charm) but some pretty good survival and martial arts?

Heck, why not release a joke patch?

Hmm, come to think of it why not have a mod switcher built into the game?

--

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

A computer has a set number of memory slots that can be filled with computer programs. These programs can provide bonuses for your skill rolls, but cost energy points to use. Certain programs might also provide other effects.

Thumbs up! How long untill we can expect to see them?

[Joseph Hewitt]

Quoting: Tung Nguyen

Hacking programs, anybody? Would IPv6 be used to access other computers, or would an entirely different system be used?

Unless I decide to radically change the way hacking works (which I might), hacking programs will likely just give Code Breaking bonuses.

No, I don't know what protocol they'll be using, but maybe I should give it a spiffy name...

Quoting: Anticheese

Currently GH2 says "Your school circle was raised to become x" during personal history creation, How will the talent and history co-exist?

In certain cases, the family history will set the PC's talent by itself, removing the choice. These kinds of talents would not be selectable as options and could only be taken if you roll the associated history event.

Thumbs up! How long untill we can expect to see them?

That's a good question. Now that I have a list, I should probably decide on an order in which to implement things. Multiple worlds kind of relies upon spaceships, but beyond that none of the items really depend upon any other items. Maybe I should open it up to a vote?

[draconuszero]

Quoting: Anticheese

Agreed, perhaps the roll for determining if the synth goes totally nuts should be based off Dominate Animal and Ego?

Might as well make it for all pets.

[macksting]

Computers. That's my vote for first implimented feature. At least computer and program stubs, yes?

Later on, you can toss in weapons which, when they strike, cause the computer to have errors. Likewise, a possible Element which could come up randomly would mean you've been offered a new program which is guaranteed (in much the same way as the spam from GH1) to improve your computer's performance.

[draconuszero]

Quoting: macksting

Later on, you can toss in weapons which, when they strike, cause the computer to have errors. Likewise, a possible Element which could come up randomly would mean you've been offered a new program which is guaranteed (in much the same way as the spam from GH1) to improve your computer's performance.

The Haywire effect can be modified for such a purpose I guess.

[peter]

Quoting: Joseph Hewitt

No, I don't know what protocol they'll be using, but maybe I should give it a spiffy name...

 I'd love it if IPv6 ever gets adopted and entrenched before the year 2300...  :-P  Go for it: predict the future.

 I'm wondering about the user interface for all these ideas.  Are you thinking of adding new kinds of menus?  Or will these things mostly just fit into "use a skill on an item", or the inventory window.

 Any thoughts on GearHead ever have modes other than roguelike play and dialog windows?  e.g. some special interface for a mecha bay in a space ship, as came up in a recent thread.

 I'm not sure I understood Tung's idea.  Would hacking becomes a sub-game inside gearhead?

 Some of the new ideas people are talking about sound like they'd become important parts of the game that you couldn't ignore easily.  You can't add too many things like that without making it into a different game, so keep that in mind when thinking up ideas, people.  Heh, I'm feeling a little curmudgeonly today.