Planned Progress Screen - Stats and Branches β¨
Added 2020-02-23 11:10:24 +0000 UTCOkay - so as you know, I've been talking about my plans for Phase 2 and stat-training for a while now (it's a major preoccupation of mine given the amount of planning that has to go into it! π) I'm finally ready to share some of the details with you guys - and hear your thoughts. Please talk freely here in the comments, because your feedback will be invaluable to making sure I'm on the right track and haven't missed anything! π
As you can see in the image, there are two major parts - Ethics and Skills. I'll deal with them one by one!
ETHICS:
You'll all be familiar with the Ethical Stats by now - Obedience, Faith and Tribalism - and I know a few of you have found it annoying that you can't see your current scores! That's why I'll be introducing the Ethics part of the screen in the v0.2.9b bugfix and tech update at the end of February. π It will be found under the Progress entry of the main menu.
Hovering over the stat icons will bring up some info on their meaning, and beneath the score I'll have a 'rating' like 'Goody-2Shoes' (I'd particularly like to hear your thoughts on that - specifically if anyone finds that kind of thing judgemental rather than fun!)
You can also see a Health icon - which is probably self-explanatory, and will not be activated for many updates.
SKILLS:
This will not be activated until Phase 2 begins under current plans (so a few months) - but it's worth discussing! Skills will determine which Branch of SpaceCorps you get into (e.g. MediCorps or Comfort) - each of which has a different requirement. They're ranked in order of difficulty, and as you can see, THERE ARE ONLY 7 BRANCHES. π
I've settled on 6 Skills - IQ, EQ, Learning, Combat, Strength and Courage - so you'll need more IQ and Learning to get into SciCorps, more Combat and Strength to get into Forward Infantry. You'll also need EXP (experience points) to fulfil the Branch requirements - 5 missions for the Branch you want - at which point you can click the medal and graduate! π
I shall now talk a little about the individual stats:
- IQ (which MC sorely needs!) will be gained in missions such as: where you attend lectures like Xenobiology101, solve mysteries for SecuriCorps, or inject yourself with mysterious substances for MediCorps and SciCorps!
- EQ (emotional intelligence) will be gained in missions such as: Interrogation of suspects or Comfort Section try-outs, but mainly by reading minds, making friends, and visiting the Ship's Guidance Counsellor (a new character π¦)
- Learning will happen whenever you learn important new things - whether from Prof Alpha's lectures, Nurse Fiora's Field Medicine, or Cis' Flight Training. I warn you - there might be a few pop-quizzes!
- Combat points will be earned in a variety of ways - win Sarge's Wrestlemania contests, weapons-train with the Constable, or dog-fight in a Flight Training sim.
- Strength points will be gained by training - in the gym, in Sarge's fights... climbing mountains on a new planet! Also, probably some injections π
- Courage will be earned by being brave - e.g. Saving Anna from Sarge, defeating a powerful alien, standing up to a bully, or even having sex in a situation you don't feel comfortable in (if appropriate).
As an additional note, you won't have to just accept the first Branch you qualify for - you can carry on until you have the one you want! (or the total number of mission have been completed/rejected). I'm also going to be very generous with the number of available points.
PS: for any newcomers - I should reiterate that all the missions I'm talking about are unique storyline missions... there won't be any grind here!
So - What do you think? Let me know in the comments, or just like the post if you're happy with what you see! π
Comments
He's a male alien - a new species - but I'm keeping the rest a secret π¦
RanliLabz
2020-02-26 12:53:51 +0000 UTCthe Ship's Guidance Counsellor would be male, female or both? Human, alien or synthetic?
AdΓ‘n GarcΓa
2020-02-26 02:27:50 +0000 UTCGoodie2shoes is just where you start off (MC is a good boy!). I havenβt worked them all out yet, but loyalist and zealot would be good options as you increase - probably ending with Totalitarian at the 100 mark :) Also - yes, I plan the counsellor will gain you EQ points in your 1-1 sessions ;P
RanliLabz
2020-02-24 21:05:13 +0000 UTCHow married to Goodie2Shoes are you? Would fanatic or zealot work better? Loyalist maybe...or is that a little too watered down? I do like that everything will be unique, even if that's going to be a tremendous amount of work. Also are you saying the guidance counselor would help build psi powers or is that someone else...spoiler maybe? Questions aside, it looks good! Forward Infantry here I come! (too bad I didn't save Anna, I blame Chad)
Ryan Fox
2020-02-24 20:59:49 +0000 UTCNo time or mission limit - aside from literally running out of all the content I've made! I'm going to be massively generous with points and second chances, because the way I see it, the focus of the game isn't 'winning' but enjoying everything along the way. At the end, I'd consider an 'Ironman' mode for anyone who like to be challenged, though π
RanliLabz
2020-02-24 01:25:25 +0000 UTCThere certainly is (soooo much!) Tribalism is in-group preference - currently for Terrans, Ganymede and the Union. This can change though... you'll see it put a bit better in the Progress screen pop-ups π
RanliLabz
2020-02-24 01:18:57 +0000 UTCSo in the overall final release version of the game (however long down the road that will be), will there be a time/mission limit (such as there will only be enough time for 20 missions so if you don't finish a branch you wash out) or will someone be able to play every mission, fuck every alien, subjugate every race, and every other conceivable thing in one playthrough?
Umbreeyoree
2020-02-23 23:41:35 +0000 UTCReading your post just reminded me I met several people with high IQ, but they learning...uh uh...
Pilgrim
2020-02-23 21:20:56 +0000 UTCThis is all very exciting! I've been curious about the Ethics related points for a while... does the Obedience one mean how obedient we are to Spacecorps the organization? I've been a bit torn on some of the past choices for them. I know I want my MC to be openminded and not tribal, but I haven't decided for the other 2. The stats are interesting. IQ and Learning sound a bit similar from the names, but your explanation makes it clear what the difference is. Phase 2 sounds very intriguing and laborious, so as another patron said, do take care of yourself as well! Your pace has been really really great!
rogueremy
2020-02-23 20:35:26 +0000 UTCSeeing this image is really exciting. I like it a lot!! Keep it up!! Just realizing that there will be a WHOLE lot more content coming in the future. Wow, I am stoked. The only thing still not entirely clear to me, because it is never explained in the game (afaik) is what the ethics mean exactly. I get faith and obedience, but tribalism?? What does that mean. Is that being loyal to your shipmates, or your group of recruits or what?? I never really got that from context.
Pjotr NL
2020-02-23 20:35:23 +0000 UTCHappy to hear there's no grind, but I think my tribalism, faith and obedience are already low because I only remember seeing negative numbers when they pop up on screen when I made choices. Maybe I'll try a playthrough in the future with high faith because I kind of enjoy the whole "this is wrong, but I like it" aspect. It all looks very intriguing though, but also ambitious. Don't wear yourself out and keep up the quality work. I'm loving this stuff and hoping I will be able to get into a relationship with Sam or Cole or Chad or anyone :)
Goobly
2020-02-23 18:17:41 +0000 UTCVery helpful - and I should have been clearer! The bars are just placer images, because those are actually done in the code rather than with pictures. You'll need a little of all skills for each Branch, but that could be as low as 100/200 IQ for ServiCorps (your current level, so no missions required unless you lose some more!); or as high as 100/100 Learning for SciCorps (you currently have 0/100 π) It will all be highlighted, with red lines to show when you've completed the requirements for that Branch. π
RanliLabz
2020-02-23 18:05:12 +0000 UTCI feel that the way the grid is currently set up is a bit confusing. As it stands, it looks that there is a version of each skill needed for each branch choice. So to get into Servicorps you'd need the Servicorps version of IQ, EQ, Learning, Combat, Strength, Courage; and to get into Comfort Section you'd need the Comfort Section version of those same skills. I assume from your Post that the way it WILL work is that each branch has 1 or 2 skills that are requirements for the Branch. If you're set on the layout though, maybe give a bit of a highlight around the skills that matter to the branch row? Idk; hope my two cents is helpful.
SubtleStubble
2020-02-23 17:34:30 +0000 UTCExcellent! π PS I'd hardly say your English is limited... but I suppose I do test non-Anglophones with all my colloquialisms!
RanliLabz
2020-02-23 17:27:51 +0000 UTCDeath to Grind! π¦
RanliLabz
2020-02-23 17:14:17 +0000 UTCThanks Pierre! Very much the sort of reaction I was hoping for! π
RanliLabz
2020-02-23 17:13:51 +0000 UTCUnfortunate it doesn't exist then π The other branches will all have their own exciting storylines, but I'm not surprised 8th is the most enticing!
RanliLabz
2020-02-23 17:13:22 +0000 UTCLol - well, SpaceCorps isn't much of a slice-of-life set-up π Unless you live a very odd sort of life!
RanliLabz
2020-02-23 17:11:13 +0000 UTCHehe - you may well be onto something there, Sarge. That's exactly the sort of thinking that might get one into an 8th Branch. Were such a thing to exist π
RanliLabz
2020-02-23 17:10:07 +0000 UTCOh - probably just a mind-wipe π
RanliLabz
2020-02-23 17:08:57 +0000 UTCIt sounds truly amazing! I mean, if MC is able to go through all (or at least the most) of the assignments and then choose the branch, it means we have a huge game options and fun ahead without sacrificing a lot (or doing too many saves and replays of the game in other way)! Hats off, Ranli, and, please, be so kind and follow a healthy diet and lifestyle, we need you to be in shape for a long time π ---- Concerning your "question" about 'Goody-2Shoes' = I have never heard it before, my English is obviously rather limited, so I asked Uncle Google to explain. No offence to anybody π --- Question: Do I understand well, players will know before taking an assignment/doing some work which points will MC earn? (Otherwise it would be rather difficult.) If yes, it seems to me logical, the qualifications for the 8th Branch will mysteriously display in the same time when MC earns certain points in other branches. -- Thank you Ranli, can't wait to see it working!!!
Pilgrim
2020-02-23 17:04:31 +0000 UTCIf there were an eighth branch, which of course there isn't, it's members would most likely be integrated within the other branches. Therefore a potential candidate would have to qualify for both the nonexistent eighth branch and another lesser... I mean actual branch. But what would those qualifications be I wonder?
Jeremy Charles
2020-02-23 15:50:44 +0000 UTCNo 8th branch... But it has a branch icon, exp bar and medal.. Do I get an iq boost for noticing? (or will I vanish for pointing it out?)
Viking
2020-02-23 12:23:25 +0000 UTCYES! This sounds soo cool!
Pierre Storm
2020-02-23 12:03:53 +0000 UTCSounds good here. I've gotta say that I'm most intrigued by the "non-existent" eighth branch...
76 Yankee 10
2020-02-23 12:00:42 +0000 UTCI like it sounds gud to me and luv how its not a endless grind. I wont mind seeing this format implemented in the second phase good job dev
michael1984
2020-02-23 11:53:07 +0000 UTCI was worried this was going to be the part where we enter the slice of life stat-grinding JRPG dating sim part. Altho, I wouldn't be mad???
Sentimental Penguin
2020-02-23 11:35:39 +0000 UTC
