Item Themes | Patreon Poll #12
Added 2020-11-30 20:48:15 +0000 UTCHey Patrons!
For this poll, I’m suggesting some thematic changes to some of the game’s more iconic unique items. For each of these, I think that there is an opportunity to improve the item’s theme while keeping the function pretty much the same. I recognize that some people might like these items to stay the way they’ve been for so long though, so I thought I’d put these changes to a vote!
---
This poll has a yes/no choice for every option! Please vote yes/no for as many options as you like! You can also abstain from voting for an option if you have no opinion, or vote for both yes and no if you support both. Each option with a majority of support will be implemented!
All patrons are encouraged to share their opinion by commenting and voting, but currently only the votes from Golden+ Supporters are counted when determining a poll winner. Votes from Shattered Supporters are worth double!
The Dew Vial
The dew vial is one of the first items players can find in the game, but it has always seemed strange to me that the dungeon contains such an oddly specific item. Many players have also wanted me to give the vial to heroes at the start of the game, but this just exacerbates that thematic issue.
I’d like to change the item to a waterskin, flask, or similar, and give it to all heroes at the start of the dungeon. The functionality of the item will be unchanged, but this will let it fit in much better as a starting item for the game’s heroes. It makes tonnes of sense for the game’s heroes to bring a container for water with them.
The Tome of Mastery
Considering how interesting Tengu is, it always felt underwhelming that you unlock new powers after beating him by reading a seemingly random book that he drops. The book feels totally unrelated to the fight itself.
I’d like to change the Tome of Mastery to Tengu’s Mask. The mask would have basically the same functionality, unlocking subclasses, but with a much better theme. Putting the mask on unlocks hidden potential within the hero, letting them pick a subclass, before it then breaks in two and falls off their face.
The Armor Kit
Just as with the Tome of Mastery, the Armor Kit feels detached from the Dwarf King fight. The function of the item follows quite well from its current theme, but I’d rather change it to something that also fits well as a reward for the boss fight.
I’d like to change the Armor Kit to Dwarf King’s Crown. The crown, when worn, transforms the player’s current armor before fading into dust like the King himself. This not only follows from the fight much better, but also better explains why the armor gives the hero new abilities. There could even be a bit of special dialogue if you go back up to Rat King with the crown =).
Comments
I'm definitely not out to make the game totally realistic or consistent with itself, I agree that pursuing that rigidly is pointless. Mainly I'm adjusting these specific things as I think they are easy big wins when it comes to item themes. Starting the player with random items is a bad idea IMO because it just encourages the player to keep restarting until they get the item they want. As for Tengu, I removed those traps because many players strongly disliked the puzzle mechanic being placed in the middle of the fight. Making it optional either makes it pointless if the reward isn't good, or essentially mandatory (in the player's mind) if the reward is good. I opted instead to make the trap mazes during the first phase of the fight harsher, which preserves the mechanic without making it totally separate from the fight. As for Dwarf King, those hits do count but IDing items also requires gaining experience, which you don't do during the boss fight.
Shattered Pixel
2020-12-04 18:13:24 +0000 UTCThank you and also I'm sorry, lmao. That is technically correct as the trap is being triggered by a corpse, but wow I'll bet it's frustrating.
Shattered Pixel
2020-12-04 18:08:52 +0000 UTCBtw, found a really fun outlandish 'bug' - no, feature - this week: Elastic weapon, a grim trap room behind your enemy, deliver a killing blow that also procs elastic, pushing the dying victim onto one of the grim traps - grim will hit you! Made my day... Shows off nicely why shattered keeps being fascinating: endless possibilities. Thumbs up. Really. Also - if this is the kind of 'bug' one notices, code quality must be quite high indeed.
Robert Heinig
2020-12-03 22:40:12 +0000 UTCSuspension of disbelief is necessary to play shattered anyway, so none of these *really* matter much. Story pages that stay the same whenever you encounter them will get skipped over blindly soon enough... But maybe not when there's some random variation involved? Sometimes you start with a waterskin, sometimes you don't, sometimes you find two containers and can choose, sometimes you find a *better* container (maybe capable to hold 40 drops still using 20 to bless), sometimes, rarely, you have to do without? Best thing IMHO to do with Tengu is bring back the poison trap labyrinth rooms in the middle of the fight - they were cool because they were a different kind of challenge for once... If you think they annoy too many players then make them optional - the keys you get open a side room and a gold chest in it... As for the Dwarf King, I mostly just wish one thing - hits in that fight to count against item identification which at the moment they never do at all if I'm not sorely mistaken...
Robert Heinig
2020-12-03 22:28:18 +0000 UTCI wouldn't be changing any of the lore relating to dew, it is still magical and filling up your water container with it means you get to drink it to heal yourself. Just because the container becomes a bit more general doesn't mean the dew has to be normal water.
Shattered Pixel
2020-12-01 18:39:23 +0000 UTCI don't see how adding more complexity to the ankh blessing system would do anything to change the thematic issues I mentioned with the dew vial. The problem doesn't have anything to do with ankh blessing, it's that the dew vial seems like it's an oddly specific item to find in the dungeon, and a more general liquid container makes more sense for that purpose.
Shattered Pixel
2020-12-01 18:37:48 +0000 UTCAll the poll suggestions are fantastic. Please implement them immediately,
Hank Stanglow
2020-12-01 03:18:47 +0000 UTCRegular dew picked up cleanses the Ankh at 60% and a well of health cleanse the Ankh to 90%. Then the magical "dew, water etc" makes sense. A dirty or un pure Ankh from the store doesn't hold the same resurrection values anyways so if you have them in 3 tiers, it could fix the lore and the new item type!
Chewyou
2020-11-30 22:52:26 +0000 UTCHere's how you fix the dew vial.
Chewyou
2020-11-30 22:49:08 +0000 UTCIt's also perhaps helpful to have the word "dew" involved to explain why its found in grass. Grass is not where you'd normally expect to go to refill your flask. Sorry by the way for all the separate comments - can't see how to do paragraphs on the phone!
Alex
2020-11-30 22:40:32 +0000 UTCThis can probably be addressed with a change to the name - some less-clunky version of "Magic Water Collecting Flask".
Alex
2020-11-30 22:39:25 +0000 UTCAlso if they bring a water flask with them why don't they bring it full of water?
Alex
2020-11-30 22:38:29 +0000 UTCI'd gotten used to the idea that the dungeon contained some sort of extraordinary "dew" (admittedly a bit weird), but making it into just water that you put into a flask really takes the mystery away and makes it unambiguous that it doesn't make sense.
Alex
2020-11-30 22:37:08 +0000 UTCThe trouble with the water flask idea is that it exacerbates the thematic weirdness of water being so magically powerful - better than a potion of healing, and able to bless ankhs.
Alex
2020-11-30 22:35:35 +0000 UTCIn summary, I'd love to see the crown - and could get behind the flask and mask - as long as the tome and dew vial make a return somehow, because I somehow feel an attachment to both of those items.
Arkaide
2020-11-30 21:00:41 +0000 UTCThe Dwarf King's crown sounds awesome, especially if there's extra dialogue from the Rat King if you bring it to him! The other suggestions: Tengu's Mask and water flask, are also both cool and your reasoning is sound, but I would like to see the dew vial and tome of mastery preserved in some way. Perhaps the dew vial can make a return as an artifact, one that can flood certain areas and affect terrain and apply debuffs to enemies? Just throwing out random ideas.
Arkaide
2020-11-30 20:58:57 +0000 UTC