How Do you decide your combat system?

[AcidicOne]

I Have been spending alot of time lately building/designing my basic framework,admin panel etc. But the More I code, the more i realize the combat system has to be decided upon before i go anything further. Being that it would establish what wants and need i would have to build around.

So my question to everyone, is how did you decide your combat system method? pure pvp, pure pve, mixed pvp/pve? And what made you chose this system and why?

I post this because I've noticed there is tons of posts concerning creating/coding the games themselves, but we lack on actual development of the games. Establishing Stats/dmg/exp/clans/storyline.

 I only post this because I am sure we all have great idea's for our respective games,what we want them to do, how they will work,even adding features not normally seen in other games example Multiplayer battles, or Chats to allow for actual Role Playing to coincide with the rpg aspect of your games.My Personal Challenge to myself is to further expand the PBBG genre, I am sure we can all agree there are tons of clones of clones with simply different themes.So What can we as developers do to help further our community from just being clones,and the occasional new design and raising the bar for existing games.

[jannesiera]

well, I haven't designed a combat system for my game, simpily because it is an economic simulation game  . But I do have a slightly different view on it than most people, I think.

I think that most people design their battle system based upon some very classic models (e.g. rpg battles: stamina, attack force, defence force)). Then they add something 'more', or something that makes it a little bit different then others. If you want something like that, that's okay, but to me a bit boring. I would like to see a completely different approach. And I hope nobody is brainwashed to much to think of something completely different.

If I would have to create a battle system, I would try to totaly forget about everything I ever saw avout 'fighting' and how a battle goes. For example, I have the book 'the art of war'. It's one of my favorite books. I would read it and try to create a battle system based on what I read. What, for example, might turn out to a battle system where there is no 'hp' (or stamina, or whatever you want to call it). But maybe more like check: try to 'trap' your opponent, if you have accomplished that the killing is easy and boring for a battle system.

I played 'The West' for a while (stopped, it's ******* boring) and what I liked about their battle system is that you have to 'prepare' for battle by selecting where you are going to shoot (on the opponents body) and to where you are going to avoid.

This might not be exactly the input you where hoping for, but now you know what I think ^^.

For the rest there was a post somewhere not so long ago about battle systems where were posted some pretty good things.

[Chris]

So my question to everyone, is how did you decide your combat system method? pure pvp, pure pve, mixed pvp/pve? And what made you chose this system and why?

Toss of a coin Really, I sit down and say "this will be PvP game", next time "this will be PvE game". And that's it, no rules here, I can make it this way or another, both might work equally good, or equally bad. Maybe (but this is a very stretched theory) PvP would work slightly better in strategy and PvE in RPG.

I think this is the other way around in my case, first I decide on combat and this choice determines what kind of game it will be... I mean, the combat is the game, everything else is just an addition

[Brandon]

I wanted my combat system to be a combination of PvP and PvE.  The reason for this is simple.  I wanted to make sure the game had 1 aspect that was restricted by turns, and 1 that would allow someone to play continuously throughout the day if they choose.

PvP will be turn based, in that only so many moves may be made in a single day.  This will eliminate contested territories from having a high rate of turn-over.  In other words, control over the world will be slow, and take much time.

However, I believe a player should be able to enter as many dungeons as they would like to, and kill as many beasts as they see fit.

There is some overlap between the two in that spoils from PvE will aid you in PvP, and vice versa.

[Nox]

Mixed PVP and PVE for more variability...thus more fun

[ranting]

Deciding your combat system should depend alot on what the theme (for the lack of a better word) you want to have on the game.
If you want your game to be focused on pvp gaming, then you maybe should go for a pure pvp combat system. Because if your game is focused on pvp, then introducing pve battle elements will draw the attention away from pvp. Likewise, if you want your game to be very focused on pve gaming (for example building trailing stories and quests) you maybe want to go for a pure pve combat system.
Then you have the range in between. But this should also go along with the theme you want, to make it feel as if it really belongs in the game. Don't throw in a pvp or pve element just because you think it could be good to have, add it because it makes sense in your theme.

[Delifisek]

Check The Steve Jackson's GURPS.

There where tons of combat systems. You can use on. Or take some ideas and generate own combat system.

[travo]

On Tribal Wars, it is both pve and pvp, and it works well. Attack barbarian and abandoned villages to gain resources, atack players to gain resources/kill them off. It worked really well IMO

[jannesiera]

On Tribal Wars, it is both pve and pvp, and it works well. Attack barbarian and abandoned villages to gain resources, atack players to gain resources/kill them off. It worked really well IMO

I recently came up with the basics of a strategy game, in some ways similar to Tribal Wars. That's the reason why I started playing it again now. It's the best online strategy game I know.

I'm really into strategy lately, because I read the rules of GO (but not been able to play a real game yet), learned backgammon and played some games of chess again. Really want to learn Shogi and / or Chinese Chess too, btw.

I'm now thinking if I'm going to have a real strategical-tactical battle system, or more à la Grant strategy.  For inspiration I (quickly) read the Art of War again. I can get ideas for strategic and tactical options.