What we've been working on [May Edition]

[BasiliskWrangler]

We've received a few PMs asking for an update, so here's May's tweaked or added features:

- Lots of combat related work done (targeting, party movement during combat, animation timing, fixed some lingering bugs in the the attack/defend sequence).

- Removed Cloaks (both as an item category and as a slot on the Equip panel). Cloaks where simply not adding anything of importance to the game (they were the least effective armor, and their enchantment bonuses could be easily adopted by other items), so that slot was changed to...

- Added Archery (as an Equip Slot). Now characters can have both melee and ranged weapons equipped together as part of a character's overall loadout. This solves a gameplay issue where manually switching from ranged to melee weapons, for 4 characters, during combat, just felt cumbersome and ruined combat flow.

- Modified several UI elements based on feedback from screenshots; the Stats panel got a big overhaul; added the Ranged Damage stat to the Detail panel now that bows/crossbows can be equipped along side of melee weapons.

- Started work on the Character Creator. As it has been, a New Game results in getting 4 random characters made for you. That's fine for early system testing, but almost impossible for game balancing.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

Sound like great updates. I think because of the cloak of invisibility in LotR, everyone thinks you need cloaks. Definitely rather not have to switch four characters between ranged and melee constantly.

Maybe you make it a game challenge to start out with four randomly generated characters and try to get through. Of course, with the flexible character growth, it's easier as you can differentiate over time to fill party niches, but just four characters meet on the road and figure it out sounds kind of fun.

[BasiliskWrangler]

Maybe you make it a game challenge to start out with four randomly generated characters and try to get through. Of course, with the flexible character growth, it's easier as you can differentiate over time to fill party niches, but just four characters meet on the road and figure it out sounds kind of fun.

Yes, there will be an option to take on a fully randomized character or party. The code is already there, and it does make for some interesting characters.

[Painted Lady]

Do you still have dice that can be re-rolled on the character creation screen? Doesn't sound like it would work for a four character party.

[BasiliskWrangler]

Do you still have dice that can be re-rolled on the character creation screen? Doesn't sound like it would work for a four character party.

Yep! So the game will provide you with a selection of eight pre-made characters if you don't like making your own, or you can make as many new, custom characters as you want. You assemble your party from any combination of custom or pre-made characters that you choose.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

You assemble your party from any combination of custom or pre-made characters that you choose.

The all-Dwarf drunken wizard party - for the real challenge.

[BasiliskWrangler]

You assemble your party from any combination of custom or pre-made characters that you choose.

The all-Dwarf drunken wizard party - for the real challenge.

This is the way.

[IJBall]

Yep! So the game will provide you with a selection of eight pre-made characters if you don't like making your own, or you can make as many new, custom characters as you want. You assemble your party from any combination of custom or pre-made characters that you choose.

Honestly, making your own character was the most enjoyable part of the original Eschalon series! I can't imagine anyone not wanting to do that.

[blatherbeard]

Oh ill be making(the closest i can) to one of my original dnd campaigns.

Grell the orc cleric, Kahrhoshe the elven monk, kahterina(kahroshes sister, they do NOT get along lol) sometimes a druid, but some kind of mage for sure, Blatherbeard the fighter/cleric dwarf, Hollibar the "treasure finder even if its hiding in your pack" and since that was the whole party id add Craig Williamson the master of arms.

all of these ive tweaked for games over the years but this is my party baseline.

May the gods be with them.