[Version] LF2 Rebalance [LF2-RB] - Progress Thread

[STM1993]

It has been a long time. I'd like to create a proper forum thread for my project; not just a Discord channel.

This mod is far from complete, due to many delays and project restarts owing to abysmal management on my part.
I am releasing a playable beta today on 4th January 2021, even if it is mostly just original LF2, as a sign of my new approach to managing this project.


What is LF2 Rebalance [LF2-RB]?
The original LF2 is actually not very well-balanced in some aspects, whether for PvP or PvE.
In addition, the Stage Mode is repetitive/boring. It fails to bring out the best of its combo gameplay, instead favouring big Army vs Army battles.
These frustrations, along with the general lack of balanced LF2 mods, led to the development of LF2 Rebalance.

The goal of the mod is not only to address these frustrations, but to also keep the original feel of LF2.
That last point is very important.

No matter how overpowered Deep's >>JA is, how ridiculous Woody's combos are, how unfair infinites like Rudolf's are...
They are all integral to the experience of using these characters in LF2, both in the context of PvP and PvE.
New special moves & buffs to existing weak moves must not overshadow the rest of the char's kit either.
The mod should reward players for legacy skills from original LF2, while keeping things fresh.

Another important limitation is that I will avoid using EXE-dependent DC techniques.
That means practically everything about the mod also works on Original LF2 - basically a DC-only mod.
* Using a modded LF2 exe by itself, new MP Regen rate, enemies deal less damage in Stage Mode - these are okay.
* Using EXE to fix specific bugs & improve QOL without hindering normal gameplay - also okay.
* Relying on new features in a way that cannot be done in original LF2 - NOT acceptable.
* Directly lowering Henry's D^J flute damage from EXE - NOT acceptable.
* I also will not use ddraw.dll AI for any character that appears in Stage Mode as a mandatory enemy.

Lastly, I will now always ensure that I can just launch my own mod and play it.

Previously, I tried to apply my old LF2 Demake's project methods of planning everything out perfectly and then creating everything from scratch. This method does not work for a project whose scope is to be an extension of the original LF2 rather than a full re-creation. I overthought everything to perfection and was never able to play out my own mod, making me lose sight of the goal and change my mind multiple times, causing me to lose motivation.

If I can't have fun playing my own mod, I would never be able to finish this mod.


Media:

Here's a long GIF showing Davis, Henry, Julian, Firen, Dennis.

Beta Download(04-Jan-2021):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qdBbIDB...tUaKtjIw1r
Hotfix: Bandit picked_caught wasn't changed correctly, John D^J sprites, etc_mirror.

Notable Changes so Far:
Many ideas were tried and scrapped, as I gradually got better at playing, understanding and modding LF2 over the years.
EXE:
* lf2.exe modded by @Leaf.F himself!
* x3 faster loading speed, better F2 pause, "skin" folder.
* Some new features. Fixed an F6 bug. Ik8 no longer overwrites(that means ik8 injury0 will not cancel healing).
* Take only 80% damage from enemies in Stage Mode.
* MP Regen Rate changed from 1-5mp/3tu at 500/400/300/200/100hp, to 2-4mp/3tu at 565/365/165hp.

Data(Main Points): (Click to View)

* New data and spritesheet format.
* Some subtle tweaks to hitboxes; I'll be implementing more hidden bdy/itr as I go along.
* Stage 1 Prototype + a placeholder Stage 2,3,4,5,Survival for testing purposes.
* Added RatioAdder so players can further adjust their preferred difficulty.
* Added Steiner v4.00 Beta, converted for this mod's data format.
* Template has taken steroids and is now physically as strong as the 10 fighters. Still no special moves though.
* Everyone's damage has been adjusted quite roughly around the 70hp value. >>A is generally vrest now.
* All chars can cancel drinking with J, some changes to Frozen mechanic. Grab+Throw no longer faces backwards by default.
* All chars can change direction while grabbing, and duration has been adjusted.
* All chars can escape Dennis's Grab+D>J infinite now, but the AI will probably never know how to do it.
* All chars can escape Julian's D^J wallbang infinite by adding a state14 blink that only triggers if you flip from too high in the sky.
* Julian's D>J/D^J no longer instantly destroy milk/beer/baseball.
* Firen can now use ALL his combos on Julian/Knight due to standardizing their burning hitboxes!
* Firen is less likely to get self-burned when using D>A. Groundfire punch combo is a bit easier to do + bugfix.
* Fixed Freeze's inconsistent punch speed (use the slower one).
* Energy Balls that get converted by Iceball are now weaker. (conversion by melee attacks/icesword is unaffected)
* Hunter has been nerfed in many areas. Notably, his arrows cannot juggle and his z-axis aim is 2 instead of 2.5.
* Henry's flute has been nerfed greatly and uses the old 1.7 sound.
* Henry & Hunter will no longer throw weapons during Grab+Throw; this was a very stupid bug with no gameplay benefit.
* Rudolf now has z-axis movement during >>D and D>J. super & >>A can no longer be punished from flip.
* Louis gets a faster punch and some buffs/bugfixes to >>A/>>JA/D^J/D>A.
* Davis has a new DJA move, some adjustments to super/DvA/D^JA, D^A has an added leap-like bdy.
* Dennis >>A+DvA is now much more potent against armored enemies.
* Woody's D^A is weaker and D>J only hits once + blockable. >>AA is improved. Fixed teleport input. DvA can be used from >>,>>A(A),teleport.
* Deep's D>A sword fall25->1. The ball also starts with state12 for 1tu, making it slightly better against Davis/Dennis D>A ballspam.
* Rudolf's shurikens have proper throwing sounds.
* All chars except Knight have bpoint in all frames, not just standing/walking!

^ This is quite a long list even for a beta.

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This section below may be rather short on info, but there's way more than what I wrote here.

Credits (Click to View)

* TheHari - sprites
* Leaf.F - EXE edit & data advice
* Luigi - Easier Data Editor
* Fonix - many things, but especially LF2 gameplay
* Nyamaiku - advice & sprites
* luminance - advice & sprites
* Leviaiz - advice
* Razen - font used for some text
* YinYin - early DC knowledge & his VDC editor.
* Ramond - early testing from the irc days
* zort - the Cheat Engine address list is massively helpful for gather data & testing!

And everyone else who has helped on Discord.

Planned Changes (Click to View)

* Fully implement the new injury/falling-related hitboxes.
* Implement the new standardized hitboxes on all chars.
* New weapon on_hand frames, and make weapons able to hit falling enemies.
* Revive System + DeathCheck(to prevent bugs).
* Add a new "Sword" weapon that can be dropped from F8.
* Template: add DJA transform, D>JA weapon steal, DvJ/HJ transmute system, D^J re-roll f8 weapon.
* Deep: add DJA sprint, and D^A alternate input for DvA.
* John: add D^AA non-homing disc, decide on a new DJA move.
* Henry: add DvJ summon arrow weapon.
* Rudolf: nerf DJA by adding hidden bdy for John's D>J to hit(combo escape exploit fix).
* Louis: remake D^J and DJA(new LouisAM; hero version of EX). add DvJ armor buff move. various balance tweaks.
* Firen: add DJA summon flame sword. adjust D^J. remake D>J for new groundfire system.
* Freeze: add DJA summon ice sword (for others).
* Dennis: add DJA ik3 move.
* Woody: add DJA non-moving teleport(just like using DvJ without any allies).
* New Minions & Mid-Bosses for Stage Mode via WpnMinion system - you can see this already done with FlyingKicker & BossMark.
* Implement a full AI manipulation system.
* Fix Julian's mirror image bugs.
* Design a new stage mode.
* Add b_sprites for all characters(data is done, just need sprites).

...and probably more.

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Scrapped Ideas (Click to View)

• Every LF2 char(i.e. including soldiers & bosses) having a Hero version, plus a few completely new Heroes.
  There are so many problems with this idea, I can't believe I tried sticking to it as long as I did.
  * More than 19 new heroes. This is a massive strain on LF2's memory resources.
  * It will be a nightmare to select characters. This is not fixable even with 'lf2.net' cheat related tweaks to EXE.
  * I am caught in-between making an existing char into something new, yet still feeling like the original char as a Hero.
  * Many of the proposed ideas ultimately do not meet my balance standards, or are just copies/variations of the existing original 10 heroes.
  
• Standardized Hitboxes - based on average of original hitboxes.
  * Requires a lot of unnecessary data mining & re-calculations.
  * The characters don't match up, especially taking into account centering.
  * Standardized hitboxes help keep the game consistent, but this is not the way to go about it.
  * I'll use a simplified model instead based on a few key "states" (eg: merge stand/defend/drink into one bdy type instead of having a unique one for each).
  
• Being a Base LF2 mod for others to mod from.
  * There is no easy way to make sprites unlike the old LF2 Demake project.
  * The work required to make a nice template is too much & unnecessary, and doesn't fit all angles.
  * This is a mod version with its own self-contained system. It will never be compatible with other downloads.