4.9 KiB
moonlight-skulk
moonlight-skulk is the temporary name of my #indie3jam entry : a JRPG style adventure game with a stealth mechanic
Development notes
This stuff is just for me to keep track, since I'm afraid using GitHub's issue tracker or Wiki would bloat my process, and since I only have 4 days, I can't afford that.
TODO : AI spawns locations marked on the map
The map should randomly spawn AI at various locations on the map that are specified as AI spawn locations, but never within view of the player.
TODO : AI should wander around the map
The AI should, in their default states, wander around the map aimlessly. They should restrict themselves to normal pedestrian traffic lanes, which will likely require the marking of such lanes in TilED.
TODO : AI that chases you on the map
There needs to be 2 classes of AI : AI that runs from you, and AI that chases you. At this point the "run from you" AI should just continually try to escape you. The "chase you" AI should continually try to reach you.
TODO : AI needs to only react to you when you are within line of sight
See above, the AI should only react to you when you are within an FOV cone in front of them (90 degrees, centered on their (x,y) center, extending infinitely, pointing forward)
TODO : Animated sprites
All of the different AI types need to have animated sprites for their various states (standing, running, walking, left, right, up, down, etc).
TODO : AI 'Emotion' effects
When an AI is emotionally affected (scaredby the player, alerted to the player, relieved the player is gone, disappointed the player has escaped, etc), they should show "emotion" - sweat beads, anger bubbles, whatever.
TODO : "Run away" AI reports you to "Chase" AI types
The "Run Away" AI type should continue running away until it finds a "Chase" AI type to report you to, or until a certain amount of time has passed since the last time they saw you
TODO : "Chase" AI should lose track of you after a certain time
The Chase AI should stop chasing you if it has not seen you for a certain amount of time
TODO : "Chase" AI should actively "look" for you after it loses you, for a certain amount of time
See above, once the Chase AI loses you, it should look for you for some time before giving up
TODO : Dynamic lighting
- Dynamic lighting : The project uses Phaser, so this will require a combination of the light masking and raytracing effects described here
TODO : Random dialogue from people around the map
I really liked how Thief would let you sit aroud and voyeuristically listen in on people you were about to pillage/bop across the bonce. This should have similar effects, but in keeping with its 2D JRPG roots, it should be done with word bubbles or some other text based display that doesn't interrupt the play and doesn't rely on voice actors I don't have.
TODO : Random dialog for different AI states
The "Chase", "Run", and "Looking" AI states need to all have different lines of dialog that they spout.
TODO : Apply dynamic lighting effects to the player and other actors, not just the map
Nothing to add here
TODO : Make player harder to "see" when they are in shadows or far away
The dynamic lighting effect will make certain areas of the map "darker" than others. When the player stands in them, they get darker as well. This "darkness" factor, as well as how far away the player is, should be taken into account when determining if an AI can "see" the player
TODO : Player should be able to "steal" from people
The player should be able to get within a certain distance of people, press an action button, and "steal" objects from them
TODO : Player should be able to pick locks
It feels more thiefy if the player can pick locks. Maybe incorporate some kind of gesture library to let them jiggle the mouse/wiggle their fingers on the touchscreen to "pick" a lock. This also requires making a distinction between open portals, locked doors, and unlocked doors on the map.
TODO : If a player is caught by a Chase AI, then the game is over
There is no combat in this game; if you are caught, that's it, game over.
TODO : Keep score for the player
The game should keep score based on how much loot the player steals ($$ value?), how many times they have been seen, and how many times they have escaped. The goal of the game is twofold: To play the longest without getting caught, and to have the highest score when you are caught.
TODO : AI stops and chats with each other
A coup de grace would be if, every so often, AI would randomly stop and have short preprogrammed chats with each other.
TODO : AI should give some indicator that it is about to change directions
As a player, it would really suck if the AI I was following suddenly did an about-face with absolutely no warning. The AI should telegraph this movement somehow with varying degrees of "time to get your shit together".