Basic Mechanics
The player picks 6 characters (Pawns) to fight with. A number (depending on the mode) of enemies are fought (either spawned by the computer or human players). The AI enemies will have their preset abilities and move sets, or use a similar set of 6 characters.
The game goes as follows: your turn, their turn, your turn, their turn (assuming 1v1 vs computer). Against human players, the turn order may change (details in game modes). Each character has action points that will allow the player characters to do some actions. You can end turn whenever, or if you run out of action points.
To balance against the first team moving in an advantage, the second and later teams gets scaling Brace, Focus, and Haste (damage reduction, higher starting MP, and higher starting AP) to make up for the lost turn. Each later turn would be an extra 10% Brace and 1 AP Haste.
This is a calculator to simulate battles easier.
Each character will have access to the following actions:
Move - Move 1 tile per movement point.
Basic Attack - Attack an enemy, costs X action points (depends on character).
Overwatch - End the character’s moves, attack any enemy that enters a certain radius of tiles. Must have at least the amount of action points for a basic attack to use.
Brace - End the character’s actions, if the character did not attack, block 25% damage incoming.
Resurrect - If a character runs out of HP, instead of dying, they are downed and can be resurrected by other characters, taking 5 action points in 1 range, or with a healing ability. If they are attacked while downed, they will respawn in the next fight in roguelike mode, but if all characters are killed, you lose.
Unless stated, all statuses and buffs last for 1 turn.
Characters have the following stats:
Level - Gained based on fights cleared/set. Stays consistent across all characters. No max level, grants 2 skill points per level. New abilities are gained on level 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Health Points (HP) - Health before getting downed.
Movement Points (MP) - Movement Points to be able to move a set number of tiles per turn.
Action Points (AP) - Action Points to be able to do a set number of actions per turn.
Additional Stats - Extra Stats given by passives or abilities specific per character.
Every ability and basic move has these stats:
Range - Range and tiles affected by ability.
Action Point Cost - Action Points spent to use the ability.
Cooldown - If the ability has X turns before using again.
Statuses and debuffs (crowd control or CC):
Slow - Decrease MP.
Stagger - Decrease AP.
Disrupt - Decrease ability ranges.
Vulnerable - Increase damage received.
Exhaust - Decrease damage done.
Weaken - Decrease buffs and healing received.
Suppress - Increase statuses and debuffs.
Push - Pushes character away.
Pull - Pulls character closer.
Damage over Time (DoT) - Damage character over X turns.
Buffs:
Haste - Increase MP.
Focus - Increase AP.
Clarity - Increase ability ranges.
Brace - Reduce damage taken.
Shield - Extra HP.
Empower - Increase damage done.
Strengthen - Increase buffs and healing received.
Tenacity - Decrease statuses and debuffs.
Evasion - Dodge attacks.
Untargetable - Cannot be targeted by targeting abilities.
Unstoppable - Cannot be statused (CC’d).
Invulnerable - Cannot be damaged or statused (CC’d).
Content to unlock:
Every character (Pawn) is unlocked immediately, and skill tree progression is done per game. Goal is not to gate players on content, but open the floor for team composition and thinking outside the box. There may be cosmetics to unlock over time or over specific curated content, or achievements.
Monetization:
I am considering skins through a currency system (that can be unlocked by grinding, paying, or ad watching), and donation through Patreon system. No paid game or paid unlockable gameplay content. I am interested in exploring a roguelike + currency/ad system. Not sure how to implement that.
Difficulties (generally):
Easy: Avenger, Bard, Bishop, Firebrand, Hellhound, King, Stalker, Thorn
Medium: Acerhino, Agent, Bladesaint, Brink, Bullseye, Commissar, Darklord, Director, Dracon, Fixer, Hunter, Legend, Maestro, Marvel, Metal, Nuke, Oven, Pacifist, Painkiller, Scarab, Sharklifter, Supernova, Vulture
Hard: Bandit, Brain, Cerberus, Deathbringer, Diamond, Facade, Ghost, Joker, Lotus, Lynx, Noble, Nomad, Primordial, Prism, Psyche, Shade, Shuriken, Slayer, Winner, Wolf
Lists of Notable Functions:
Can function as a main tank: Acerhino, Agent, Avenger, Bladesaint, Brain, Commissar, Hellhound, King, Lynx, Marvel, Metal, Nuke, Oven, Pacifist, Painkiller, Primordial, Prism, Psyche, Scarab, Sharklifter, Thorn, Wolf
Can function as a healer: Avenger, Bard, Bandit, Bishop, Brain, Bullseye, Cerberus, Commissar, Deathbringer, Diamond, Dracon, Firebrand, Fixer, Ghost, Hunter, Joker, King, Lotus, Lynx, Maestro, Nomad, Oven, Pacifist, Painkiller, Psyche, Scarab, Vulture