Developer Might and Delight announce a test for the new combat system for the MMORPG Book of Travels.
Book of Travels Invites Players to Test Out New Combat System
The ‘tiny MMO’ Book of Travels will offer players a chance to check out the new combat system coming to the game. Developer Might and Delight shared in a blog post that on the testing branch of the game, players will get to try out combat.
Book of Travels when it was released was just focused on combat, but had more emphasis on adventuring, survival and narrative in storybook styled. The combat system is getting an overhaul with the goal to improve the system to be scalable. This means being able to introduce new content such as “enemies, weapons, skills and new multiplayer features.”
Fight or Flight
If you decide you don’t actually want to get into a fight the new “Battle Stance” toggle will allow players a grace period with a “Tension meter” that will allow you to flee conflict. If you do decide to commit to a battle a new feature pops up with a “sequencer”. This determines what happens in the battle which is determined by scroll speed all happening in real time based on the target’s Speed statistic. A Decision Phase and an Action Phase is given. During the Decision Phase the icons move to the right. A large icon representing the player appears at the bottom of the bar, while the enemy icons are on the top.
Decision Phase
The Decision Phase will require players in the Book of Travels to choose Skills to use. There is a choice of 5 standard Combat Skills and a Knot Spell which is for the preview version. This suggests there could be more options in future but for now only one Knot Spell. The blog post outlines each of the skills which include Swift Strike, Balanced Strike, Heavy Strike, Defend, Knot Spell: Arrow and Flee. Players choose the Skills to use in the Action Phase.
Action Phase
The Action Phase does exactly what it sounds like, let players inflict attacks. Players perform actions based on the Skills chosen during the Decision Phase. Once in this phase, all Skills become locked in. Character movement is determined by the skill speed chosen. Once you reach the end of the Action Phase and the Sequencer, the Skill is performed. The attacker jumps forward in the combat circle to deliver their chosen Skill action then leaps back to their idle position. The combatant does the same during their turn. If you are successful, you will start further on in the Sequencer, gaining an advantage.
Stats will also determine how attacks are carried out in Book of Travels. Force for example determines Attack Power, while Ward is your defense. Speed will determine how fast your speed is during the Decision phase. While Burden has a negative effect on speed. Lastly, Energy is your health. If you lose a fight, you will lose all your life petal if it reaches 0. Ward will deplete first before taking Energy.
The developer states that once the battle ends players will be rewarded with loot but as this is in the testing phase, the NPCs will normally despawn when defeated.
Multiplayer
The post doesn’t talk about PVP, but previously the game was described as a title about exploring and adventure not player vs player combat. There is however the option to team up with another player to fight NPCs. The maximum number of players in one combat encounter is up to 4. Just simply walk up to player if you see someone else engaging with an enemy, which will put you in Battle Stance.
The combat system is quite unique as it doesn’t quite follow the same turn-based mechanics as most games but still has turn-for-turn combat but with an added bar scroll indicator.
What do you think of the new combat system? Would it be a system you would be interested in trying? Let us know in the comments below.
Book of Travelsis currently in early access on Steam.
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