LF2 - Arcade Empire (beta)

[JCostal]

INTRODUCTION
I met Little Figther II 15 years ago. The classic arcade style with action combat makes me enjoying until today. Last year I restart my programming study and in parallel restart my own LF version.


CONCEPT
1) The most important topic that motivates me to create this version is to make it well accepted and fun by the players in the LFE community. I want to know everyone's opinion.
2) Graphical improvement. Increasing quantity and quality of sprites. Develop beautiful visual effects without excessive visual pollution (gameplay > graphics).
3) Redefine some points in the combat mechanics: clarity and competitiveness.

My Idea:
Mixing LF2 Beat em Up style with strategy elements, without losing the action genre.
Initially i was focused on Battle-Mode, with strategy and gradual complexity (inspired by Fighting Hero) and VS Mode, by extending the duration of each match (more precisely granting reserve x3). I already change a lot, undone and reissued again.
The current status of the project is described below.

DATES: Achieved Goals
LAST UPDATE: 07/17/2020 - AI
Untill this very moment i already made 75% of the total AI.
Once done, it will be implemented for all char (heroes and troops) in the same day.
Also i'm making this code aiming to be easy manipuled for all members of the community.

Spoiler (Click to View)

05/12/2019 - DLL TESTS
Testing lf-empire dll. Frindy-fire and itr / kind 8xx

05/28/2019 - DLL TESTS
Frindy-fire working only with efefct 21/22. Itr/kind 85 working. Created a magic-stick system (named super.dat). Super important date. The concept of the mod becomes possible.

10/08/2019 - BACKGROUNDS
Testing new look for backgrounds.

08/20/2019 - SPRITES
Making combat start animation sprites.

02/05/2020 - BACKGROUNDS
Creating new design for old backgrounds.

02/15/2020 - FIREN/FREEZE
New sprites and skills for Firen and Freeze.

04/11/2020 - SPRITES
MASSIVE new sprites to skills and effects to allmost every char.
Also testing some new hero skills too.

04/15/2020 - LV SYSTEM
Testing beta level system, using total attack as score. Affects total mp and mp regen.

04/16/2020 - GAME MECHANIC
Modified hex code to stick itr/kind 85 with invincible char.

04/19/2020 - LV SYSTEM
Level system tested and working but not fully implemented in all heroes.

04/22/2020 - LV SYSTEM/CONCEPT
Refined level system. Gradual bonus per level. Each character gains 2 attribute bonuses: Attack, Defense/Hp, Magic, Mp regen.

04/24/2020 - GAME MECHANIC
State 20 ceoncede armor lv2 (rigth now only Freeze have).

04/23/2020 - GAME MECHANIC
Implemented hex code for "respond" tag. The char changes the frame hen hitting a successful blow.

04/26/2020 - FALL SYSTEM
Fall system changed: fall less than 20 does not frame-change if opponent is in frame number above 270 (skills).

04/29/2020 - LV SYSTEM
Level system with improved visuals. Using itr/kind 83.

05/02/2020 - GAME MECHANIC
Itr/kind 85 only active and stick on the owner character.

05/05/2020 - LOUIS
Louis sprites and skills remade.

05/10/2020 - GAME MECHANIC
Altered frame_change of type 3 objects: magic projectiles. Object gos to the frame indicated in the "mp" tag (only if it is not 0).

05/11/2020 - CONCEPT
One week focused on reformulating level system. Skills are unlocked by level up until level 4. Each character starts with 2 mechanics that consume mana. Level 5+ concedes double bonuses (so leveling up remains impactful in gameplay).
Also created itr/kind 83 and 84 and refined itr/kind 85.

05/15/21020 - TESTING CONCEPT
Hiatus of 5 days: i had a crisis of ideals. Made only little makeover in Davis. Swapped D^J: Air DualBlast, to D>J: Super-Sonic Speed. Add a passive effect that grows each level: successful hits recover % of maximum mana.

05/18/2020 - BALL MECHANICAL
Altered frame_change of type 3 objects: projectiles. Object go to the frame indicated in the "hit_d" tag when hits enemy attacks or enemy defence (if "hit_d: 0" go to frame 20). A successful hit will change the frame indicated in the "hit_ja" tag (if "hit_ja: 0" go to frame 10).

06/01/2020 - TESTING CONCEPT
One full month seeking to finalize the concept of each character. Bery difficult to adapting them in the new Lv system (increasing skills or mechanics).
In the meantime Dennis gain the same Sonic-Rush as Davis.
Deep is receiving a complete visual remake.

06/06/2020 - ATTRIBUTES
Davis new sprites to: Standing, Walking and Defending.
Defined new formula for combat elements.
Sub-attributes:

• Attack -> amplifies(+%) injury and bdefend of every blows.
  
• Defense -> decreases(-%) injury received and amplifies(+%) defend power.
  
• Magic -> amplifies(+%) injury and bdefend (only to skills).
  
• Focus -> grants(+) mp per hit (maybe will increases fall-resistence).
  
• Lethality -> amplifies(+%) injury in red-hp and fall-resistence (maybe will grants mp-damage).
  

Attributes:

• Strength = Attack + Defense
  
• Will = Magic + Focus
  
• Dexterity = Attack + Lethality
  

To Magic attribute work properly it's necessary to set "mp" tag (in the frame) above 0.

06/11/2020 - ATTRIBUTES
Applied the necessary modifications to the Attribute system work.
Firen now attacks from a distance and his AI has been adjusted (need to improve).

06/16/2020 - TOWER
Tower sprite created (by using the Tower sprite in LF2: Fighting Hero as template).

06/20/2020 - TOWER
Suffering to add the towers right at the beginning of the Battle mode.
Currently, it will require the presence of Jan.
Towers do not grant "total attack" or "kill" to their opponents (and will remain so).

07/01/2020 - FALL SYSTEM
Modified my old hex code: fall system.
Previously: frames above 270 ignore frame_change of attacks with fall 20 or less.
Now: the "mp" tag in the frames is the main reference of how much the character can absorb the damage without going to the injury frames:
___CHAR GET HIT____FRAME RESULT______FALL RESULT______MP RESISTENCE______RESISTENCE RESULT
___FALL >= 100_____FALLING____________FALL = 80_________MP >= 9000_________FALL = 0_________
___FALL >= 80______FALLING____________FALL = 80_________MP >= 400__________FALL -= 15_______
___FALL >= 60______DANCE OF PAIN______FALL = 60_________MP >= 300__________FALL -= 15_______
___FALL >= 40______INJURED2___________FALL = 60_________MP >= 200__________FALL -= 10_______
___FALL >= 20______INJURED1___________FALL = 40_________MP >= 100__________FALL -= 5________
___FALL >= 1_______INJURED1___________FALL += 5_________MP >= 100__________FALL -= 1________

Every char now needs more "fall" value to be in Dance-of-Pain/Falling.
It can also mean that everyone is passive to take more damage if they don't use some skill-movement to change positions.

07/04/2020 - AI
Making and testing new artificial intelligence. Using YinYin's Chrusher v1.0 as a template.
Currently in development for: new skills, recognizing weapons and drinks, recognizing towers range.

07/17/2020 - AI
Untill this very moment i already made 75% of the total AI.
Once done, it will be implemented for all char (heroes and troops) in the same day.
Also i'm making this code aiming to be easy manipuled for all members of the community.

SYSTEM: News
05/09/2020 - 1° Post: Basic info, mod concept and initial goals.
Some information has already been changed in the current version. Read the notes in DATES.

Spoiler (Click to View)

Changes in the Original

Spoiler (Click to View)

MP Regeneration: no longer follows the traditional regeneration. Fixed value por second.
-Why?
It makes the whole strategic concept more present in the game.

Physical vs Magical: magic projectiles (obj t3) cannot be rebounce. Only magic can cancel/override magic.
-Why?
Imagine that: at a critical moment, you decide to spend the rest of your MP by casting a magic ball that ends up being accidentally rebounded by your own ally…!
And even if it was rebounded by an enemy, a simple punch having more priority than an action that consumes MP it’s not right.
This separation between physical and magical also increases the variety between characters.

Fire State: does not damage the allies of the character who inflicted the blow. The victim in this state also have the same properties as the "falling" state.
-Why?
Last caos.

Flip: does not grants immunity and the animation ends quickly (to enable counter-attack).
-Why?
Free immunity by just hitting JUMP its OP.

Lying: reduced waiting time and remain exposed to low strikes or area attacks.
-Why?
Casting MP one of the main the main decision in the game. It's not fun have your attack ignored when you actually hit the enemy in a vulnerable moment.

Rolling: it's not grants full immunity. Low vertical strikes or area attacks can hit you.
-Why?
Maintain consistency in combat physics.

Fall System: changed some values. Dance of Pain varies. Is related to Defense attribute of each character. It Also, it's possible to hit falling enemies with Fall ending with "9". Exp = Fall: 19.
-Why?
More variety of attacks and effects.

Skills and Animations: have been redesigned and slightly modified, focused on competitiveness and clarity. This includes damages and MP costs. Added more frames in sprites. Some characters have gained new skills.
-Why?
Obvious reasons.

Autograb: removed.
-Why?
You could accidentally grab an enemy in the middle of the battlefield. Not good.
Also, veteran players abuse too much of this mechanic.

Grab sistem: the target can no longer be hit by allies.
-Why?
Its actually fun... only when it's not with you.

Added to the System

Spoiler (Click to View)

Level System: characters increase attributes and unlock abilities when advancing from Level. It goes from lv1 to lv7.
Total Attack is used in the calculation to level up (the game uses a formula that accepts overkill, I know how to change it but I haven't adjusted it yet).

Combat Attributes: a need some help formuling ideas. The main concept is to make characters gain more efficiency at leveling up. It is currently divided between Offensive and Utility. Each one is divided into more components:
OFFENSIVE
*Attack = Damage per hit (in all interactions).
*Magic = Percentage damage multiplier, only to projectiles (obj t3).
*Lethality = Increses Bdefend and targets loses more Red-HP.
UTILITY
*Defense = Damage reduction multiplier, additional BDefend and HP regeneration.
*Speed = undefined. In an old version it gave better Rolling, Recovery and Flip. (I accept suggestions).
*Resilience = MP bonus, Item-Drop resistance (in "falling" frames) and tolerance against hit-frame (avoiding Injuri frames and delaying Dance-of-Pain). Not implemented yeat.

Start Animation: cool animations when starting a match.

Itr/Kind 8++: created new objects interactins. Its  can stick on: owner only, enemies only or allies only (based on the community dll framework). Can be free-animated ou frame-by-frame depending on the target.
This enable me to create a new design-style: when a char performs a magical skill, even if frozen by a hit-lag, its possible to see a constant animation (like SNK fighting games).

Action on hit: enables an char to do additional moves/actions only if hits against an enemy.

CHARS: Davis
About:

Spoiler (Click to View)

The most completed character so far.
Attempting to keep as close as possible to the original concept, Davis is focused on versatility and quick responses. His damage comes from combos, but when applied in a short time, the result is weak values. Focused to dominate in a 1x1 combat.

New mechanics:
Combo-punch = input: +A (in a successful punch)
Evade-punch = input: +J (in a successful punch)
Backward Dash-Attack = +A (in a dash backward)

Attributes: Attack and Resilience.
Passive: Successful hits grants Davis MP bonus based on Resilience.
Level 1: Super-Sonic Speed (100 mp) / combo punch
Level 2: Energy Balls (double cast / 50 mp)
Level 3: Strafe (200 mp) / Knock-Down (100 mp)
Level 4: Dragon Punch (200 mp)
Level 5: +Attributes
Level 6: +Attributes
Level 7: +Attributes

Beta Sprite: davis_3.bmp

Spoiler (Click to View)

Spoiler (Click to View)

VIDEOS: beta test
05/09/2020 - 1° Post: 2 Battle-Mode gameplay with Davis. Has Level System and some new effects.
Some things may be different from the current version. Read the notes in DATES.

Spoiler (Click to View)

Spoiler (Click to View)

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I'm open to suggestions.