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Into The Baron's Gulch [Contest Project]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... -Title.png[/img]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... -Story.png[/img]

Lane buttoned his robe, and pinned his cloak around his neck. All the while smiling, thinking about the day to come. It was his first day working for the Military. He wasn't a footpad, or an engineer, or a medic, or anything along those lines. He was working with the Resource Collection Cartel, or RCC. It was a small group of fresh youngersters who, while desperately seeking to help out the war effort, weren't quite qualified for any of the more direct jobs. But, as Lane often told himself, he was no less important than any soldier. The RCC's job was to scavange the battlefields after a big bout had been fought, and collect anything that could be of value to the war effort. Weapons, pharmacuticals, equipment and gear. In that order of priority.

The Galvanta Military has been at war with the Bartoc Allied Nations for almost seven years. The fued was over a small area of land, between both of their countries. It was always under the control of Bartoc, and had never been disputed before. One of Galvanta's theatrical groups had been performing in a small village on the outskirts of Bartoc's capital during the peaceful era. While taking a break between two skits, they were having a few beverages in a local pub. Some Bartocian infantry were creating a stir in one of the corner booths. Harassing the servers, breaking glasses and plates, and other general rabblerousing.

One of the violent drunks had stood up on their table, and proclaimed in a very commanding bellow, 'The time for Galvanta's fall is upon us. With what we have found in the Baron's Gulch, we can squash them under our palm.'

The Galvanta Theatrical Troupe hurried into their caravan and proceeded back to their capital. Once news spread, the entire countryside was at arms, ready to conquer the Gulch and defend their homeland.

Currently, Galvanta holds the Gulch, with a very tight grip. They don't quite understand what is so important in the mines, but an elite section of the RCC, known as the Rough Diamonds, are using their skills to locate and determine the nature of the threat.

As Lane is travelling down the road towards the most recent battlefield, a small farming village just outside the Gulch, he is met by the team that he will be working with. Two twin women, of very brutish stature, and an eccentric young field medic.


http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... acters.png[/img]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... r-Lane.png[/img]Lane
Lane is an aspiring young member of the Resource Collection Cartel, and an enthusiast towards the Galvanta Military's War Effort. Although he lacks the skills required to be a combatant or specialist, he makes up for his deficiencies with effort.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... arKlos.png[/img]http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/Weeaboo66/Character-FharKlos.png[/img] Fhar & Klos
Fhar and Klos are twins, born in a nation seperate from both Galvanta and Bartoc. Their nature and customs are unusual, and to others seem barbaric. From a culture of dominant females, they are both strong and intelligent. Able allies, but terrifying foes.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... r-Tori.png[/img] Tori
Tori is a specialist, a field medic. His abilities far surpass his position, but his objections to the war keep him from working on the front lines. He was conscribed to the military because of his expertise, and is a reluctant member of your team. Although his attitude may seem bubbly and eccentric, be wary.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... atures.png[/img]

Into The Baron's Gulch consists of semi-linear mission based gameplay. While the storyline does flesh itself out as you progress through the missions, you always have the option of sidetracking to revisit old areas, find hidden wealth, and otherwise simply just have fun.

The 'Search' system is the primary feature of ItBG, it is the primary weapon of the Resource Collection Cartel. Your job is to salvage the remains after large battles. Not all that you need is readily visible, and the Search system will help you find those little things that you may miss. By assigning a search type to a hotkey, you can press that hotkey while exploring the map to scan the area around you. If there is anything in that area that matches the search type you are using, it will be uncovered. There are a variety of search types, such as Treasure, Traps, NPCs, and more. Finding out what lies ahead is definitely a powerful technique. You wouldn't want to progress into a stagnant mine, only to find that it's previous explorers laid booby traps throughout. Searching will require energy, however. Energy is represented by a Green bar on your Heads Up Display. It will decrease by 10% each time you search, but increase as you walk around. Energy is used for various things, other than Searching, so manage it appropriately.

One of the other uses of Energy is the Teleport system. While travelling throughout the various mission locations, you may come across strange artifacts. These are 'Way Points', and through the use of your Teleport command, you will be able to instantly travel to any Way Point you have already uncovered. This will make finding hidden goodies that much easier when revisiting an area you have already explored. Teleporting will require 50% of your remaining energy.

Into the Baron's Gulch also features 'on touch' encounters. Meaning that any enemies you might happen to fight will appear on the map, rather than randomly. You can avoid these enemies if you feel you aren't up to the challenge, or you can actively hunt down the vicious beasts. Be careful, though. If your Energy is low, you may start the fight at a disadvantage. Even so much as that the enemies may get two full rounds of combat before you get a chance to retaliate.


http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... nshots.png[/img]

Lane using his 'Trap Search' ability on a test map.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... redits.png[/img]

Enterbrain / RTP Creators
Prexus

Credits Subject to Change


http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233 ... nloads.png[/img]

.. No Downloads Yet ..
 
Do you have anything more for me than that, availer? I'll admit that that really isn't a storyline and it's just an introduction to the plot, but what didn't you like about it?
 
Honestly, I am currently really busy with imy own project. I'm not going to bother literating my claims. Improve your storyline, basicly what I mean is elaborate, add more realism in the storyline and the characters.
 
availer":1onizljq said:
Honestly, I currently am in my own project. Im not going to both literating my claims. Improve your storyline, what I mean is elaborate, add more realism in the storyline and the characters.

...what the hell?

That's all I have to say.


Lookin' good Prex. 

I'm gonna have some serious competition =P
 
Looking good Prexus.

I'm liking that screenshot, everything fits together quite well. However i do now where Availer is coming from. Although your synopsis is well written, I'm not really left with the feeling that I want to know what happens next. Maybe you could do a little revision to It.
 
Oooh, looking good, Prexus. When I saw all of the text in your story intro, I didn't think I could read through it all, without becoming bored. I was wrong. It's quite interesting. I can't pinpoint a single part of the synopsis that strikes me particularly, though, so it may just be the culmination of all of the different elements that makes me want to see more.

I know that Fhar, and Klos(nice puns.) are supposed to be twins, and all, but don't you think you could've given them different outfits, at least? I rarely see any twins that dress identically, after the age of ten. Unless it's some sort of uniform, of something. It just seems a little lazy to use the same sprite for both of them. No offense.

The search system looks to be fun. I always enjoy seeking out rare treasures, so this's right up my alley. Although, the energy bar worries me a little. At what percentage of the bar do the enemies begin to take advantages? If it's too low, that might become a problem during extended dungeon-crawls filled filled with searchable items.

I'd say that, out of the contest projects I've seen so far, that this is definitely the best, hands down. I don't think most stand a chance against this.

Too bad that this is for the contest, though. I'd love to play it. Will you be releasing it after the contest is over?
 
Yes.

And yes, it was laziness that drove me to simply double the sprite. I will make a revised sprite (probably for Klos) that has a slightly different outfit, although the rest of the features will be the same.

I haven't fine tuned the level at which enemies gain advantages, but you can always regenerate your Energy bar by not using your Searches for a while, or using some consumable items.

The trick with the Search bar is that it isn't strictly for searching for treasure. Although that is it's initial and primary use, probably the most advantageous of it's abilities is to detect Traps, and to discover hidden NPCs and Enemies. There are some monsters that would rather hide in the shadows than jump out and fight you.

I will go through and write a more fleshed out story when I am inclined to work on that again. Right now, I am working on a Ring Menu using code from WIP's Ika game, Knight. It is by far the best Ring Menu I have seen in an indy game, and is much more fluid and streamlined than even those in Secret of Mana/Seiken Densetsu 3.
 
Ah, I see. I should've guessed that there would be items to restore energy. I assume that you'll be fairly generous with them?  ;)

So, there'll be hidden enemies? Sounds sneaky.  ;) Will there be any sort of indication, before-hand, if at least could be monster hiding about? I'd imagine that searching constantly, for fear of a sneak attack, would be annoying, and would end badly, as you energy would be exhausted.

Thanks for answering all of my questions.
 
I will probably be hiding enemies in places that are pretty uniform. See a dark shadow area between two tight cliff walls? If you got attacked there once, you'll likely want to see if there will be another one there next time.
 
@availer 
Don't post unless you have something useful to say. This is a contest project, I don't think the story is his main focus anyway....

@Prexus:
I'm really liking the features they sound really interesting I look forward to playing it after the contest...you'll definitely be giving me and Vivi a challenge.
 
@Malachi he's asking for critique, I could easily say, OMFG AMAAAAZING. But then again, he wont improve will he? I'm just trying to make him do better and hopefully win. Geesh?
 
I appreciate availer's help, although I think the problem is as I mentioned and that it's not really a story as much as a brief introduction to the world and current events. I'll work something better out.
 
Fuff24":2htotzy6 said:
this is going on my must play list! demo link?

...Did you not notice that this is a contest project? As per the rules of the contest, you aren't allowed to release demos to the public.
 

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