KoD Preview: Combat

We've been dancing around the combat system for a little while now, hinting at how it's different, so this week it's finally time to explain what role direct combat will play in Kingdom of Deception.

Though warfare will play a major role in the game, we wanted to place more of the focus on the broader aspects. Therefore, we didn't want to have a conventional combat system. The end result will still include fights at key moments, but there won't be a major gameplay aspect of grinding levels. We want the fights to have a little more weight, whether they're stressing Sabia's difficulties in the camp or key duels in the plot.

Accordingly, the system is set up for one-on-one fights. It focuses more on strategy than tactics, though we hope to increase the tactical aspects as the game goes on.

Your main tool in battles is your selection of skills. At the beginning, you have nothing but "Attack" and "Defend" - but the core idea of the system is that these options will keep expanding. Each item of equipment Sabia is wearing has the potential to grant her a new skill or replace an old one.

For example, if Sabia is using a magical sword, she might have two attack skills, one that is stonger against magic-using opponents. But both might be inferior to the brute force of a different sword, so you'll choose your equipment situationally. Armor and accessories can grant skills too, though they'd tend to be different kinds.

You'll see the beginnings of this system in the first release, but this is one of the pieces of the game we hope to build on over time.

 Back next week with another update!