Tales of Balken(Introducing Fiora!)

[Cryaotic]

I have been working on this project for a fair time now, what started out as mainly a game to get my feet wet with practicing a bit of RM creation turned into a bit more than I had previously planned. I have taken the original story and crafted it into something I myself truly enjoy, with elements of humor, black comedy, plot-twists, and serious-sessions; I hope you all enjoy it once I get some demos out.

So my forum-goers, here we are!

Plot Summary:

The year is 215 V.E., and the population of monsters within the Balken Forest has begun to climb substantially over recent times. This sudden growth has sparked concern for the townsfolk of the neighboring villages. Thus, the tension between the forest dwellers of Balken Forest and humanoids of the surrounding reason escalates in to conflict.

For young adventurers, this was the pristine moment to make their debut. Filled with dreams of wealth and admiration, men, women, and children alike set forth into the Forest.

However, of the many who ventured onto this new path, only few ascended to the fame and glory they craved; While the rest fell to their own, lurking demise.

But this, is a story about an unlikely hero, who did succeed in his goal. This is his tale, and his rise to glory.


Characters:

Spoiler

Name: Bleep
Age: 3
Class: Blorrior(Warrior)
Short Description: The son of King Vauril, Bleep must make it home and help his father after being attacked by the random bands of heroes that have ventured into their wood.

Name: Bloop
Age: 3
Class: Blogue(Rogue)
Short Description: Bloop has been a childhood friend with Bleep since they were small droplings, he assists Bleep in battle as the main source of physical damage.

Name: Blup
Age: 3
Class: Blage(Mage)
Short Description: Blup, along with Bloop and Blip is a close friend to Prince Bleep. A bookslime in his spare time, Blup assists the group as the main source of magical damage.

Name: Blip
Age: 2
Class: Bliest(Priest)
Short Description: Blip is the youngest of the group, the smaller brother of Bloop. He follows whatever Bloop tells the small dropling and assists the group with his natural born healing and defensive magic abilities.

Classes:

Spoiler

Blorrior(Warrior) ----------- Glubian(Guardian) / Gushiator(Gladiator)

Blogue(Rogue) ------------ Slimassin(Assassin) / Goober(Gunner)

Blage(Mage) ------------- Slorsherer(Sorcerer) / Gorblock(Warlock)

Bliest(Priest) -------------- Slophet(Prophet) / Squishop(Bishop)

Class Descriptions:

Spoiler

Characters are able to choose their desired class choice at level 10.

Blorrior: The typical warrior, able to take a hit and dish one as well.

Glubian: The well rounded fighter whose defense capabilities are second to none.

Gushiator: A strong, vicious melee combatant. With great strength comes lesser defense.


Blogue: A basic cut throat, expertise in hard melee attacks but weaker defenses.

Slimassin: A master of melee burst damage and fast avoidance. But will not last long without assistance.

Goober: The balanced assaulter, able to take moderate damage and deal back a fair amount as well.


Blage: The average spellcaster sort, able to deal damage to foes with the elements of fire, water and earth.

Slorsherer: The experienced spellcaster, master of all known elements and increased burst damage capabilities.

Gorblock: The spellcaster of the darker arts, experienced in spells able to damage foes overtime both singular and multiple targets.


Bliest: A common healer whose magics aid their allies with healing benefits.

Slophet: The experienced healer whose healing abilities increase health at a much greater rate.

Squishop: A defensive caster who, though still able to mend wounds, is able to protect its allies with a variety of defensive abilities.

Features:

Spoiler

Play on the other end of the tale: Unlikely heroes come in all shapes and colors.

Side-view Battle System: Courtesy of viewtopic.php?f=11&t=60521

Choose your own way to play the classes: With the class advancement system

Unique Armor System: Armor changes the wearer's color(Don't worry, no hues were harmed in the making of this game.)

Puzzling puzzles: To separate the men from the nerds.

Screenshots:

Spoiler

The cast

Video Content

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHQIxR4Mun8
The splash/title screen currently, just an example of how it is turning out at the moment.

Note:

All scripts used within this game are 100% NOT mine, I take no credit for making them. I am not a scripter, I am but a user who is trying to use them to craft an enjoyable experience for others to partake in.

This project is designed to show the player what it is like to play as the one affected by the many aspiring heroes of the fantasy world, rather than AS one of said champions.

I hope you all enjoy what is to come within time! :smile:

 

[Luthur]

Mate, you need at least 2 screens for a thread.

 

[Cryaotic]

Mate, you need at least 2 screens for a thread.

Just remembered I forgot to put those on, uploading now.
:blush:

 

[Luminier]

It's a cute concept, but it feels like you're not putting as much effort into this as you should. the first thing that strikes me as a little lazy is the fact that the four main characters all use the same character set, only in different colors. I mean yea, they're supposed to be the same species of slime, but according to your very cute artwork, they all have distinctive features such as their size, face, etc. Even these minuscule variations will not only differentiate the characters, but it'll also help to accentuate their personalities. I'm sure these small edits wouldn't take much to work out.

Speaking of the party's sprites, they don't exactly match up with the RTP tiles, nor the RTP characters. Now, they're not OH GOD CLASHING HORRIBLY, but it's enough of a difference for me to notice that they look slightly odd in their surroundings, and I'm not exactly the most graphically sharp guy. It's not a huge deal by any means, but I just thought I'd let you know.

I think the you've overplayed the 'bl' pun a bit. The character names are all well and good, but the class names are going a bit overboard. I'm not saying drop the naming scheme altogether, just add a bit of variation. There're plenty of words you can use to get across that these are slimes and not humans. 'slimy', 'gooey', and 'squishy', just off the top of my head. Using different words will help to break up the repetition.

On the subject of the class system, I think it would be nice if you expounded a bit on how exactly it works. What you may think a basic system with no need for explanation I may find a foreign concept with no way to know how to go about using it.

Your maps are a little bland. They're not bad by any standard, but there's nothing particularly spectacular about them either. They're passable, that's all. I would suggest picking some more eventful scenes to take screenshots of. What you have here is mostly just evidence that you can make an okay map, but not much more.

Overall this is a cute project with a good deal of potential, but right now it's still got the shadow of "typical RTP game" looming over it. If you just apply yourself and put some old fashioned elbow grease into this, you can make it something to remember.

 

[Cryaotic]

Great points!

I will try my best to try and make individual sprites for the slimes, I agree entirely it was rather lazy of me to use the same with different colors. I am not a sprite artist, but I think I can manage to pull something out (if not, may the request board gods shine upon me!)

As for the matching up with the RTP tiles, I am not too sure how I would go about changing that. :sad: From my standpoint they seem to fit in alright, but I can see if I can try to give them some alterations to mesh well with the tiles I have to work with. I can't make promises it'll be a success, but I'll surely try!

On the 'bl' pun, entirely agree. I thought I was giving it too much of an overkill when I was creating the classes myself. I'm going to go ahead and see what I can do later today when I have some free time. Maybe even give it a switch of having a certain variation being the 'level' of the class? Say 'bl' is the first level, the advancement would be just for example the 'gooey' etc. variants? I'll definitely give that some more in depth thought.

Class system, check! I'll add a better explanation as well. I have this bad habit of something sounding right in my head but sometimes not being able to explain it properly.

The screenshots, I'll agree definitely. As it stands right now, I've come to the realization that there isn't too many 'screenshot worthy' moments at the beginning of the game. I suppose that says something! As soon as I get some better shots to work with I'll update them (this may take a little longer than the previous advice).

Thank you kindly for the critique good sir! I'll definitely put forth a good chunk more of effort, I had been focusing on the story and introduction a bit too much I think. Time to get to work!

:thumb:

 

[Numb]

This game would be cool if it had custom tilesets

 

[seven]

I have to say, Cryaotic, I find your work admirable. You have modesty, you look for critique rather than balk at it, and you're always willing to improve.
The mapping does irk me though, as others have mentioned. The second screen especially was very square like and symmetrical. However, all the maps that you put into mapping improvement are great. So yeah, keep at it!

@LunarEclipse: It does. :l

 

[Cryaotic]

I have to say, Cryaotic, I find your work admirable. You have modesty, you look for critique rather than balk at it, and you're always willing to improve.
The mapping does irk me though, as others have mentioned. The second screen especially was very square like and symmetrical. However, all the maps that you put into mapping improvement are great. So yeah, keep at it!

@LunarEclipse: It does. :l

Thank you for the compliment! :smile:

As for the custom tilesets, oh how I definitely agree. My problem is I have yet to truly find any. I would GLADLY use more custom sets if I had found some (there was one I found a few weeks ago, but the tileset was shrunken due to being on photobucket :sad: )

I'll keep trying to hunt some down, they seem to be my greatest weakness!

Also! An update on the slime character sets, thanks for jbrist's work at the request forum they all have their own unique sprites. I'll update the character section of the original post with a screenshot of each.

That's all for now! :cheers:

 

[seven]

As for the custom tilesets, oh how I definitely agree. My problem is I have yet to truly find any. I would GLADLY use more custom sets if I had found some (there was one I found a few weeks ago, but the tileset was shrunken due to being on photobucket )

Are you refering to Davey's tileset? It works fine for me.

 

[Cryaotic]

As for the custom tilesets, oh how I definitely agree. My problem is I have yet to truly find any. I would GLADLY use more custom sets if I had found some (there was one I found a few weeks ago, but the tileset was shrunken due to being on photobucket )

Are you refering to Davey's tileset? It works fine for me.

Actually I got that working without a hitch. :grin:

But the one I was referring to I found on another board (I was linked there from a thread on this forum I believe), the tileset in question is this one:

Spoiler

http://www.rpgrevolution.com/forums/index.php?autocom=gallery&req=si&img=154

It is quite a shame really, as it looks very nice in my eyes.

 

[Luthur]

Have you ever thought about useing Breeze tiles? They're easier to sprite, and they look great. I really think they'd fit with your slime styles.

 

[Cryaotic]

Have you ever thought about useing Breeze tiles? They're easier to sprite, and they look great. I really think they'd fit with your slime styles.

Breeze tiles? I had never heard of them but after a quick google I found this tutorial.

Hmm, I have never given tileset spriting a try, I suppose I could! Let's see how this all works out. :smile:

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Luthur]

And you can also use the ones Green Raven has just revamped. Search 'a fresh breeze' on these forums, and you'll find it all. Good Luck

 

[Luminier]

Have you ever thought about useing Breeze tiles? They're easier to sprite, and they look great. I really think they'd fit with your slime styles.

except all but the newest batch look like shit and the tilesets are poorly assembled and a bitch to map with

 

[Cryaotic]

Hmm, I tried out the fresh breeze tileset he posted (the latest one), though I agree it looks quite nice, I can't seem to get a map down the same way I can with the RTP tiles. It seems a bit too flat for my liking (that and the lack of water auto tiles is a scary thought!)

I'll keep hunting though! :smile:

 

[Cryaotic]

I have just added a clip of the title screen that is currently being used for the game. (Heavens I had many issues with recording/youtube today).

Don't worry, there's at least 'some' life going on during the minute recording!

I was wondering though, as I had received a complaint so far that the color on the New/Load/Quit text was eye burning; is this the case for anyone else?

Have a good night gentlemen!

:smile:

 

[ultimaodin]

The colours don't appear to me that bad for what you are trying o pull off, the logo on the other hand isn't all that attractive.
Also I hope you keep making this in rtp graphics as I do dislike the breeze style.
You're second screen shot could use a bit of improvement, remember that actualy cliffs are never straight. Add a few more curves to the cliffs an even add a couple of raises in the land even so it's not dead flat. Some grass along the edges and some stones across the road would also help improve it.

All in all this looks very interesting and I'd love to play it when it releases.
A very good concept! (being the "monster" that is)

 

[Cryaotic]

Aah, my weakness is exposed! The mountain tileset!

I fully agree that the cliff is far too straight and needs work, I had been (and am going to go again now) researching ways to improve with using this tileset. My attempts thus far on producing a realistic cliff have been quite etchy looking.

But I'll continue working on it, we don't want a flat cliff!

Thank you for the advice, Ultimaodin. :smile:

EDIT: Oh! I forgot to mention, the logo in the title screen is as it stands right now a placeholder. I have a friend with more experience with photoshop working on one which will hopefully be finished today.

 

[006]

I think if you made a titlescreen where a blob was bouncing on the choice you have selected would be cool, it seems like it would suit it.

 

[Cryaotic]

I think if you made a titlescreen where a blob was bouncing on the choice you have selected would be cool, it seems like it would suit it.

This idea gave me an idea to build off of that idea! I do like your way of thinking my good man! :smile:

I believe with the help of some chums I can pull it off.

Cheers for the thought!

:thumb: