Larian Studios Forums Divine Divinity (English) Suggestions Combat systems

We recently had a discussion over here on the topic of how combat is best handled in a role playing game. As you know, Divine Divinity took the action approach and much as it may surprise you, this wasn't necessarily the preferred approach of several developers over here, me included. Personally, when it came to combat, Fallout was the game where I had the most fun but of course, Fallout combat was also turnbased. So the question is - which in your opinion was the RPG that had the best combat system ?

Lar

Fallout was really good, and I like both action-based and turn-based rpg's. Probably the most fun system for me is Strategy Rpgs, a la Final Fantasy Tactics or the Shining Force games.

For a regular rpg I think a turn-based system that utilized movement rate, terrain, cover from terrain, and pretty much everything around (within reason) would be pretty pimp. I like thinking and taking my time rather than twitch gameplay. And if I could duck behind that barrel and pop up to take shots with my crossbow it would do a world of good for my immersion into the game.

I really like DD too though, so as long as it's a good action game I have no problems with that.

This won't be a popular choice, but I love BG2. I loved that I could pick when and where it would stop...for example, after a spell was cast, so I could ready another. Or after a weapon became unusable. I think having all these options was more important because I had a large party I was dealing with. If you are only controlling one character, it's not so crucial, but controlling a whole party is virtually impossible in real time.

Worst was PoR2. Awkward combat, poor targeting, and yucky interface that made me feel like I was working with an MS Office application.

i haven't played many games, but i like the fighting style of games like divinity and diablo. the style of final fantasty (which i haven't played, but i have watched someone else play for hours) seemed boring and never made sense to me. no one takes turns in a real life battle.

For single character games, action-based combat is good. For parties, I liked the time-based combat of Grandia 2 / Final Fantasy VII. With options for when to pause or automatically continue, you can adjust turn/time based combat to cover a wide range of preferences.

I used to say I liked the RT style of gameplay because it kept you on your toes. This is still true but by playing games such as BG2, IWD1 & 2 I love the way you can pause combat there. Without the pause the complexity, coupled with my lack of dexterity would make the game very hard.
The control style of the combat system has to suit the game style. For the last 2 months I've been playing Age of Wonders 2. The turn-based combat is very well implemented there and makes it easy to control large armies.

Generally, as I get older, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mage.gif" alt="" /> I prefer pausing the action.

For action: Diablo II. The fast action and overwhelming odds.
For turn based: Septerra Core. The need for learning your enemy.

For action i liked Divine Divinity(oh wait...i'm still playing it)
And for turnbased
i like Divine Divinity cuz....it's always my turn! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

I LOVED Fallouts TB combat. I am a big fan of turned based games. However Fallout's TB combat fit well for it. If Baldurs Gate or say Divine Divinity were turned based... I do not think they would have been much fun to play. Each battle system for each game seems to have worked well for each one.

I like turned based games, however the market just isn't all to accepting to turn based games. (I am still shocked that ToEE will be turn based) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Not that I am complaining.

So far I liked Baldurs Gate's real time + pause. But again that worked with the engine and the game very well.

I prefer turn based, too and like switching to real time if the monsters are easy (BG, NWN, IWD, Div). Though I found those movement points in Fallout a bother, specially when I was in trouble.

Septerra Core had turnbased with a time factor, I liked that

Wizardy 8 was great for me, I sometimes spent 15 min. pondering/discussing about the best combat tactic.

I'm a gamer more interested in the plot than in slaughtering, so turn-based takes out the pressure for me.
Kiya

If monsters don't come in herds I can manage realtime combat (Darkstone, Ultima series)

The only thing I really hate, has nothing to do with combat, are fix saving pts, bah.
Kiya

Considering, how "ancient" turn-based play is seen in some people's minds, I'm always surprised how much I like it ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

The best classic games are turn-based. Can you imagine chess in RT? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

The best combat system is no combat at all. But I don't think that's a popular one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
I prefer turn-based combat over real-time combat, but it shouldn't take too long. If every fight takes endless time, I get bored, because I want the story to continue and not the fight.
I also liked the combat system of summoner (that chain thingie) but I don't know if it would fit to a game like divinity.
The system I like the least is the Diablo/Divinity approach. Either a tactical approach (i.e. turnbased), or something that does need "Real-Life-Skills" like in Daggerfall (and Silver I think), but just clicking isn't good. What does clicking have to do with fighting?

I loved the Fallout battle system, you had enough time to think about your next move. Also the ability to target bodyparts was a nice option as wel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

You can combine Turn based with realtime though, Fallout : Brotherhood of steel tactics pulled that one off. You still had Action points and such but they regenerated during what they called Continious turn based.

I agree. I'm sick of RTSs that let you "build a civilization", but when you study the tech tree you find out that everything eventually supports your military. That's why I like Emperor. Your citizens are worth more than your army. The army is there to protect your people, not kill others (although it is an option).

I have always liked turn based games as long as there is not a long gap in between. Return to Krondor is definately up there as far as the combat system is concerned like to be close to the action,games that mix both TB and RT are the best. I loved BG and IWD because they could be made TB to a point. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devil.gif" alt="" />

I love BG too, and this is the best combat sytem. And I like when I control a party.
BG RLZ.

I must say that I like strategy more than hack&slash. The best combat system for me was HOMM3's which you play turn based combat with a general and up to seven armies of monsters.
I like to think and find a way to defeat my opponent. I like it to be competitive.

for real time : diablo 2, i liked the combat of that game better than that of div div, because its way faster.
In div div it can be quite dangerous when larger groups attack you.

for TB : Fallout 2, but of course <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
great game <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

i dunno which is better, maybe the way kiya said, intergrate both options and make it able to switch between them, but i think it will not be easy, nog in the style of fallout anyway.

I like the two ways, but in divinity and diablo case i don't like wait to kill the enemy, and it's good when you havy many enemies to kill in one second with your superior attack(high lvl) and your good things(armors, weapons, etc), once time i was playing final fantasy 5, and my friend saw that and told me: what is that? You put your enemy in the wall and trow rocks (when you have more personages) because of the turns. I said: Not exactly, the enemy is extra strong. And he said: don't had fun.