Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to view my topic. Soulbound is my first foray into the art of Game Design, and I beseech you to comment & critique every aspect of it. I personally believe it's an endearing little concept, and hope you share my enthusiasm.
Backstory & Synopsis
In a previous adventure, Hayden & Evander, two half-brothers united in the search for the Soul Crystal in an effort to revive their link - a dying, shared father, had succeeded through the collective effort of the people of Shimmerwood Grove, to find and use the Soul Crystal to heal their afflicted father. However, during the process, the two boys found themselves connected by its power. With irresolvable differences that had driven them to despise one another, they dreamt of nothing more than to leave one another's presence forever - but this powerful crystal has bound their souls - trapping them to the confines of the other's presence. When one deviates too far from the other, a sickness of the heart and mind strikes them, doling unimaginable pain.
In a desperate search, you must command Hayden & Evander from the Shimmerwood Grove and into the vast world - to break the link that torments them.
Characters
Hayden is the younger of the two, by a year. He's quiet, reserved and distinguishably wiser than his counterpart, Evander. He took a liking the the suave Scimitar, and the allure of Aquatic & Earth magic coupled with Enchantments. Faster, and preferring less hindering armour, Hayden is a stealthier type of person, but he's proved his ability in combat many times before, on the Journey for the Crystal.
Initial Abilities:
Waterlog - Slows an enemy down, decreasing their evasion chance and slowing their attack speed.
Rockslide - Deals 2 to 3 Earth damage per rock, with one rock per total level. (a la, at level 20 Hayden would be conjuring 20 rocks, each doing 2 to 3 damage.)
Enhance - Increases damage dealt by 10% for the duration of combat.
All abilities are subject to change, as balancing requirements are met. Please note that the abilities in this game do not become obsolete, your first spell is just as potent as your last, as they grow with you.
Waterlog - Slows an enemy down, decreasing their evasion chance and slowing their attack speed.
Rockslide - Deals 2 to 3 Earth damage per rock, with one rock per total level. (a la, at level 20 Hayden would be conjuring 20 rocks, each doing 2 to 3 damage.)
Enhance - Increases damage dealt by 10% for the duration of combat.
All abilities are subject to change, as balancing requirements are met. Please note that the abilities in this game do not become obsolete, your first spell is just as potent as your last, as they grow with you.
Loquacious, flamboyant & stubborn are the three words that fit Evander closer than any others. Confident; with a smile that'd melt ice in the Black Tundra, 'Ev' relies on brute force to accomplish his goals, with no finesse or precision. He prefers heavy armour, two-handed weapons, specifically maces, and toys with the dancing Flame magic and the sizzling electricity, as well as having a knack for protection magic, keeping Hayden alive more than once. He's older, but not necessarily smarter. He's his Father's son, that's for sure.
Initial Abilities:
Conjure Fire - Deals 3-5 (+ 1/2 * Level) burst fire damage.
Bolt - Does 3-4 (x [Level / 10]) Electric damage a turn, while Bolt is active. Bolt stays active for 2-3 turns, + 0.10 turn for each total level.
Guardian - Decreases damage taken by 25% for 3 turns.
All abilities are subject to change, as balancing requirements are met. Please note that the abilities in this game do not become obsolete, your first spell is just as potent as your last, as they grow with you.
Conjure Fire - Deals 3-5 (+ 1/2 * Level) burst fire damage.
Bolt - Does 3-4 (x [Level / 10]) Electric damage a turn, while Bolt is active. Bolt stays active for 2-3 turns, + 0.10 turn for each total level.
Guardian - Decreases damage taken by 25% for 3 turns.
All abilities are subject to change, as balancing requirements are met. Please note that the abilities in this game do not become obsolete, your first spell is just as potent as your last, as they grow with you.
Lore
In their previous adventure, Hayden & Evander had been led to believe (as the previous adventure included only the area of Shimmerwood grove) that only one Soul Crystal existed. Of course -- this is a foolish understanding, and one a simpleton from Shimmerwood, who's only knowledge of the World comes through travellers from Stonerise, or some more distant country, would have. In truth, Soul Crystals are, although not incredulously common, riddled throughout the World.
With their souls unlocked by being bound to one another, the use of these Crystals can unlock the secrets of powerful, powerful magics - at the cost of strengthening and tightening the bond between them. The Librarian in Stonerise tells the boys on their adventure, that he's never seen two people bound by the same stone, and as such he's interested in the effects.
Soulbound Abilities
When certain parameters are met, such as the unison of two moves in the same turn, a soulbound ability is created and used. Due to their strong link, sometimes energy transfers between Hayden and Evander can cause alchemical results.
The first soulbound ability, is that of Magma Storm, which has a 5% (+ 3% per extra crystal) chance of occuring when Hayden uses Rockslide and Evander casts Conjure Fire. These abilities are extremely powerful, and drain both character's respective energy. More combinations will exist, of course, there's no way to tell if one's going to happen, until it does!
Locales
Shimmerwood Grove
The Shimmerwood Grove is the starting location for Evander & Hayden. It's described as serene and sedentary. Although the people within it may lead apparently 'boring' lives in the eyes of city folk from Stonerise, their simple existance is a full one, living from the bounties of the forest given from Nature, and working in a cooperative team with the flora and fauna. The Shimmerwood Grove, as seen on a map, is the Eastern-most location, lining mostly all of the map, save the Mossladen caves, which are the South-Eastern Corner.
Music Sample - Shimmerwood Inn Theme
An alpha screen, just to say I have SOMETHING done. I've been working on taking the pieces I'll need out of the Pokémon tile-set provided by Boon, and reworking them & tweaking them slowly. Nothing you see here is final, and none of this will likely look like this in the final version ^____^;
Whitestone Quarry
The Whitestone Quarry is a great, hollow valley filled with dangerous crevices and steep inclines. Named after its white, almost pearly, rock that was used to build Stonerise.
Stonerise
Stonerise is the Capital city of the country, and the only urban establishment in the area. It lies on the Northern edge of the map, between the Whitestone Quarry and the Shimmerwood Grove. Stonerise is a great, triumphant city, with cobbled streets, immaculate districts and a generally patriotic flair.
Mossladen Caves
A series of caves lying deeply south, and extending almost all the way to the Fallen Citadel, the Mossladen Caves are old formations that have grown over hundreds of years. Creatures unknown lurk in the depths of these caves, and it is said many great adventurers have left behind many possessions within the all-consuming moss.
Stag Rock
Stag Rock is a barren plateau that takes up the area beneath the quarry - where the rock was of a quality too low to be useful. It's home to many different kinds of wildlife, often viciously carnivorous in the eternal struggle for Food. The only known entrance to the Ancient Vale is through the twisting, steep ravines of the Southern half, leading to the Ancient Vale, and thus, the Fallen Citadel.
The Fallen Citadel (Ancient Vale)
The Fallen Citadel is an old church that has, for the most part, fallen to the ground. It harbored many sects of magic users over time, and it is believed the Soul Crystals were formed in its walls.
