Project Abyss: Battle System final polishing and battle quote list!

All right, I’m at the point in Project Abyss where everything for the battle system is typed up and ready to go, and I even have someone doing the special animations for the character’s physical skills.

I still need a voice artist for Marybelle though!  I may potentially have TWO people willing to do Ion, but I still don’t have anyone for Mary.  If anyone wants to jump on the bandwagon and thinks they can pull of Mary well, please don’t be afraid to say something.  You can either post here with a link to some voice samples (or hell, all of her lines), or you can e-mail them to me at skyladoragono at gmail dot com.

Now for all the new battle stuff, posting it all here for sanity’s sake:

Okay, first off, this for the battle system.  Because it is made of awesome (well, actually, because it’s easier to make custom skills).  And yes, I realize, OMG TALES GAME WITH RPG BATTLE SYSTEM yeah yeah suck a cock.

(Note 10/21/08: This is the same system, but one that enables battlers, so the movement will look a lot less blocky and a little more realistic.  Not to mention adorable.  Adorable is always a plus.)

Anyway, outside of battle, these are things that can affect characters’ stats.

Capacity Cores
Capacity Cores are like accessories, only they’re equipped through a menu separate from the main equip menu (see the menu system post for more info).  When equipped, at each level up, they provide a set amount of bonus points to a stat or stats.

Fonon Slot Chamber (FSC)
FSCs are “gems” equipped to a skill through a menu in the main menu.  These gems grant different abilities depending on the skill, varying from increased damage to adding a steal effect to certain skills to lessening the TP cost.

Titles
Different titles can be earned during the course of the game and are equipped in the status menu.  While most don’t effect battle, some can enable you to earn an extra amount of Gald (currency), or can add skills to a character’s skill menu.

Getting into the battle process itself…

Overlimit

• Overlimit is mode that does the following:
• Prevent bad status.
• Prevent KO (character can’t go below 1HP in overlimit)
• Has a chance of triggering a special skill known as Mystic Arte, which is different for each character.

The overlimit gauge goes up one point (out of 100) with each physical action against an enemy (so healing abilities don’t count).  Once full, the option to activate Overlimit appears in the character’s menu, and this takes up that character’s turn.  While in Overlimit, the Overlimit gauge normally goes down 25 points with each action until the gauge is gone.  Accessories can make this value shorter.

Only one character in the party can be in Overlimit mode at any time.  If the player tries to activate Overlimit while another character is in Overlimit, an error noise will play (like when selecting something you can’t select, duh).  Lastly, Overlimit applies to ENEMIES as well, and the same conditions apply to them as they do characters.  An enemy and a player character can be in overlimit at the same time, but two enemies or two allies cannot.

Mystic Artes
Mystic Artes are akin to limitbreaks.  They can only be activated randomly during Overlimit mode, and under special conditions.  Once used, they totally deplete the Overlimit gauge, no matter how much is left in it.

Luke

• Radiant Howl - Randomly activated after using an Arcane Arte or a linked attack (ex: if Fang Blade links with Rending Thrust, there’s a chance this is activated afterwards).
• Lost Fon Drive - Second Playthrough only.  Luke must have the Complete Key of Lorelei equipped; randomly activated after using an Arcane Arte if HP is 15% or lower.

Asch

• Rending Saber - Randomly activated after using an Arcane Arte
• Binding Doom - Second Playthrough only.  “Not the Replica” title must be equipped, and Fang Blade must be used 100 times or more.  Randomly activated after using Fang Blade.

Mary

• Phoenix Blessing - Activated randomly in place of a high level fonic arte.
• Saber Rain - Second Playthrough only.  Thunder Saber must be used 150 times or more.  Randomly activated while guarding during Overlimit.
• Blast - Second Playthrough only.  Randomly activated after Saber Rain.

Ion

• Daathic Circle - Activated randomly in place of a high level fonic arte
• Akashic Torment - Second Playthrough only.  Must have encountered and beaten Sync at least once.  Activated randomly after attacking during Overlimit.

Artes
Artes are essentially skills.  There are two types of Artes:

• Strike Artes are physical skills.  There are two types: base artes and arcane artes.
• Fonic Artes are recovery and attack magic.  There are three types: Novice, Mid, and High.  Recovery Fonic Artes CANNOT trigger Mystic Artes.

The system needs to be able to tell if a Strike Arte is a base or arcane, and if a Fonic Arte is a high level one or not.

Note: In the next section, anything marked “default skill” doesn’t need any special scripting.

Character Special Animations
Luke
Luke is LEFT handed.  This is important.

Base Strike Artes

• Fang Blade - One slash down, followed by a rising upward slash before the character jumps back to position. 2-hits. Has a 25% chance of linking with Havoc Strike or Raging Blast.  Uses sword attack animation.
• Havoc Strike - Luke jumps up as he approaches the enemy, and comes down at an angle with his sword out. 1-hit. Uses sword attack animation.
• Rending Thrust - Luke thrusts his sword forward, followed by an upward slash. 2-hit. Has a 25% chance of linking with Fang Blade, Havoc Strike, or Raging Blast.  Uses a piercing animation, and the normal sword slash animation.
• Steel - default skill
• Raging Blast - Luke darts to an enemy before the animation for the skill plays. 1-hit. Has a 25% chance of linking with Havoc Strike.  Uses a small fiery explosion animation.
• Sonic Thrust - Luke jumps before the enemy, before thrusting forward with his sword out. 1-hit.
• Guardian - default skill.

Arcane Strike Artes

• Light Spear Cannon - Luke slashes upward, knocking the enemy up into the air, before thrusting his sword up at an angle, hitting the enemy as it comes down. 4-hit.  Uses the sword attack animation, and a piercing animation.
• Guardian Field - Luke spins around with his sword out, before jumping up and ramming his sword into the ground. 1-hit multiple enemies.  This skill also has a random chance of healing allies, so it cannot be used in activating Mystic Artes.  This uses a circle animation (for the first part), screen shake, and a standard hit animation against the enemies.  If allies are healed, the animation used is a minor healing animation.
• Devil’s Inferno - Luke thrusts his sword forward with an explosion, knocking enemies up and down to the ground. 3-hit multiple enemies.  Animation is a piercing animation, followed by an explosion for each enemy affected.
• Swallow Fury - Luke dashes through an enemy with his sword out, turns around, slashes upward to knock the enemy up into the air.  He jumps after it, followed by a slash, a kick, a slash and another kick, before the enemy (and Luke) drops back to the ground. 7-hit.  First animation is a piercing animation, followed by alternating sword slash and hit animations.  The screen shakes when the enemy is dropped to the ground.
• Demon Fist - Luke jumps up and lands on the ground before the animation for the skill plays.  2-hit multiple enemies.  Animation is a fiery circle expanding out from around him.
• Lightning Blade - Luke darts forward to thrust his sword into the enemy.  The enemy gets knocked up into the air from the resulting electric attack. 4-hit.  The initial attack is a sword slash animation, followed by a lightening bolt animation.
• Slag Assault - Luke darts about midway out, jumps, and strikes the ground (which results in an animation of rocks flying out to the enemy). Has a random chance of hitting one to three enemies.
• Sonic Blast - Like Sonic Thrust, only with multiple, rapid thrust attacks. 4-hit. Uses sword slash animation.

Mystic Artes

• Radiant Howl - Luke jumps to the center of enemy formation, initiating a blast that hits all enemies for 4 hits.  The remaining hits are taken by whatever enemy or enemies are directly in front of him in the enemy formation.  See this for a reference.  12-hit.
• Lost Fon Drive - Luke jumps before an enemy and raises his sword, hitting the enemy for 6 hits through a blast animation.  He then slashes back and forth for 6 more hits, before jumping back and pointing his sword at the enemy, the resulting blast taking the rest of the hits. See this for a reference. 30-hit.

Asch
Asch is RIGHT handed.  This is important.

Asch has the same base artes as Luke, only his possibility of linking attacks together is 50% instead of 25%.

Arcane Strike Artes

• Lightening Tiger Blade - Asch slashes down on an enemy, then jump slashes up, followed by a blast of lightening. 7-hit.  Uses sword slash animation, followed by a lightening animation.
• Burning Havoc - Asch jumps up and kicks down at the enemy while shrouded in flame. 1-hit.  Asch is surrounded in a fire animation for this.
• Rending Quake - Asch thrusts his sword forward, followed by an upward slash that brings up the earth along with it. 5-hit.  A piercing animation is for the first hit, followed by a sword slash that is immediately followed by a raising earth animation.
• Frigid Blast - Asch darts toward the enemy before the animation plays.  No other animation needed. 2-hit  Uses an exploding ice animation.
• Shadow Fury - Like Luke’s Swallow Fury, only with two extra slash/kicks. 11-hit  Also the same animation wise, only the screen slightly tints a darkish red.
• Guardian Frost - Like Luke’s Guardian Field, only hits for more, and doesn’t have the chance of healing allies. 6-hit.  Animation is also the same, only the enemies have an ice animation instead of the hit animation.
• Light Blast - Like Luke’s Light Spear Cannon, only hits for more.  8-hit.  Animation is also similar, only a blast of light animation is used instead of the piercing animation.
• Devil’s Maw - Like Luke’s Slag Assault, only definitely hits all enemies multiple times.  4-hit.  Uses the same animation.

Mystic Artes

• Rending Saber - Asch jumps to the center of the enemy formation, raising his sword, the resulting blast hitting all enemies for 8 hits.  He then jumps up and slams the sword into the ground, hitting for 8 more hits.  See here for reference.  16-hit.
• Binding Doom - Asch goes into an attack frenzy, hitting random enemies 18 times.  He then circles around them, a circle of light following his movement, before jumping up and slamming his sword in the center of the circle, hitting for the remaining hits. 25-hit.

Asch’s Fonic Artes

• Stalagmite - Asch starts with this. 14 TP, Earth ATR. Mid.
• Icicle Rain - Learned at lvl. 9. 18 TP, Water ATR. Mid.
• Explosion - Learned at lvl. 32. 22 TP, Fire ATR. Mid.
• Thunder Blade - Learned at lvl. 48. 36 TP, Wind ATR. Mid.

Mary
Mary is equipped with two daggers, even though there’s only one weapon equip slot.  If this can’t be done like this, then I’ll settle with one dagger, but it will change her animations slightly.

Base Strike Artes

• Dual Punishment - Mary darts forward and pierces the enemy with one dagger, before slashing up with the other. 2-hit.  Uses piercing animation and a slash animation.
• Shadow Raid - Stabs the enemy multiple times really fast.  6-hit.  Uses piercing animation.
• Eagle Dive - Mary jumps up and lands on the enemy, dagger’s first. 1-hit.  Uses piercing animation.

Mystic Artes

• Phoenix Blessing - Mary jumps to the center of the screen, pointing at the enemy, a blast sending them up into the air (3-hit).  She then slashes both daggers up at them at an angle, shooting a phoenix out of it (6-hit).  Half of the enemy’s total damage is spread amongst the characters as healing.  9-hit.
• Saber Rain - uses default
• Blast - Since this is continued from Saber Rain, she’s still in the default casting pose.

Mary’s Fonic Artes

• Energy Blast - Mary starts with this. 7 TP, No ATR. Low.
• Photon - Mary starts with this. 4 TP, Wind ATR. Low.
• Eruption - Learned lvl 5. 6 TP, Fire ATR. Low.
• Stalagmite - Learned lvl 9. 14 TP, Earth ATR. Mid.
• Ground Dasher - Learned lvl 36. 32 TP, Earth ATR. High.
• Frigid Coffin - Learned lvl 30. 28 TP, Ice ATR. High.
• Splash - Learned lvl 13. 18 TP, Water ATR. Mid.
• Icicle Rain - Learned lvl 11. 14 TP, Water ATR. Mid
• Blessed Drops - Learned lvl 40. 32 TP, Water ATR. High.
• Flame Burst - Learned lvl 28. 22 TP, Fire ATR. Mid.
• Explosion - Learned lvl 25. 20 TP, Fire ATR. Mid.
• Infernal Prison - Learned lvl 52. 38 TP, Fire ATR. High.
• Turbulence - Learned lvl 24. 15 TP, Wind ATR. Mid.
• Flare Tornado - Learned lvl 20. 14 TP, Wind ATR. Mid.
• Thunder Saber (it’s really Thunder Blade) - Learned lvl 48. 36 TP, Wind ATR. High.
• Gravity Well - Learned lvl 42. 32 TP, Earth ATR. High.
• Negative Gate - Learned lvl 21. 16 TP, Dark ATR. Mid.
• Crimson Riot - Learned lvl 29. 14 TP, Dark ATR. Mid.
• Bloody Howling - Learned lvl 55. 26 TP, Dark ATR. High.
• Maelstrom - Learned lvl 58. 34 TP, Dark ATR. High.
• Absolute - Learned via sidequest. 48 TP, Water ATR. High.
• Prism Sword - Learned via sidequest. 64 TP, Light ATR. High.
• Meteor Storm - Learned via sidequest. 80 TP, no ATR. High.

Ion
Ion just uses a staff; he’s probably the least complicated person out of the group.

Base Strike Artes

• Pow Hammer - Ion steps before the enemy and raises his staff.  1-hit.  Uses an animation of a hammer falling down on the affected enemy.
• Inlay Nocturne - Ion steps forward from his spot and taps the ground with his staff.  After an “awkward pause” (maybe have the sweatdrop balloon appear over him?) he taps his staff on the ground again, and rocks fall on the enemy.  4-hit, multiple enemies.  Animation is a rock falling animation.
• Searing Sorrow - Ion jumps to the enemy and smacks them with his staff, before pointing his staff and blasting them with fire.  4-hit.  Uses the staff hit animation, followed by a fire blast.

Mystic Artes

• Daathic Circle - Ion runs to the center of the screen and raises his staff for the duration of the spell animation.
• Akashic Torment - Ion jumps to the center of the enemy formation, raising his staff to call on a Daathic power (4-hit) before jumping and slamming it against the ground for the remaining hits.  12-hit.

Ion’s Fonic Artes

• First Aid - Ion starts with this. 8 TP, healing, low. Heals one.
• Meditation - Learned lvl 5. 13 TP, healing, low. Heals all.
• Healing Circle - Learned lvl 20. 32 TP, healing, mid. Heals one.
• Fairy Circle - Learned lvl 23. 39 TP, healing, Mid. Heals all.
• Cure - Learned lvl 46. 48 TP, healing, high. Heals one.
• Restore - Learned lvl 50. 54 TP, healing, high. Heals all.
• Revive - Learned lvl 54. 64 TP, healing, high. Revive one.
• Angel’s Breath - Learned lvl. 59. 73 TP, healing, high. Revive all.
• Holy Lance - Learned lvl 48. 34 TP, Light ATR. High.
• Divine Saber - Learned lvl 36. 32 TP, Light ATR. High.
• Raging Mist - Learned lvl 52. 38 TP, Light ATR. High.
• Barrier - Learned lvl 16. 16 TP, support.
• Sharpness - Learned lvl 27. 20 TP, support.
• Resist - Learned lvl 30. 18 TP, support.
• Invoke Ground - Learned lvl 9. 8 TP, support (raises the attack power of earth-based attacks for EVERYONE, including enemies.)
• Invoke Aqua - Learned lvl 10. 8 TP, support (raises the attack power of water-based attacks for EVERYONE, including enemies.)
• Invoke Flame - Learned lvl 11. 8 TP, support (raises the attack power of fire-based attacks for EVERYONE, including enemies.)
• Invoke Gale - Learned lvl 12. 8 TP, support (raises the attack power of wind-based attacks for EVERYONE, including enemies.)

Voice Quote List
This is mostly for my reference, and for those that end up doing the voices of Mary and Ion.  Quotes with a * before them have an echo effect for Mystic Artes.

Luke

Attack1, 2, 3: various attack noises, no dialog.
Battle end 1: Just… stay dead.
Battle end 2: Ha! Get out of my face.
Battle end 3: We’re done here.
Battle end 4: Guess that does it.
Battle end 5: That’s your best?
Battle end costume: Agent of Justice, Abyss Red!
Battle end low HP 1: That took too long.
Battle end low HP 2: Guess we won.
Battle end no damage 1: I win. You loose. We’re done.
Battle end no damage 2: You should pick your fights better.
Battle end no damage 3: Too easy.
Battle end special 1: If you get in my way, then I have no choice.
Battle end special 2: N-no more…
Battle end special 3: I’ll do whatever it takes.
Battle start 1: Leave it to me!
Battle start 2: You’re dead!
Battle start 3: I’ll destroy you!
Battle start 4: Let’s go!
Battle start easy 1: There’s no way we’re loosing!
Battle start easy 2: Ha, these guys are wimps.
Battle start hard 1: Damn these things are annoying!
Battle start hard 2: Hey, what the hell happened?
Death 1: death cry
Death 2: So uncool…!
Death 3: Lame…!
Effective: Found your weakness!
Enemy defeat 1: See ‘ya!
Enemy defeat 2: Who’s next?
Guarding: No way!
Hard hit 1: Dammit!
Hard hit 2: Oooowww…!
Hit1, 2: various hit noises, no dialog.
Ineffective: Didn’t work!
Item: Using this.
Item party 1: Here!
Item party 2: Watch yourself!
Level up: I just keep getting better.
Low HP: I’m so dead…!
Overlimit: Bring it on!
Party death 1: You’re gonna pay!
Party death 2: No…!
Party death 3: Didn’t make it!
Arte Overkill: Aren’t you going overboard with your artes?
Party low HP 1: We’re not doing too well.
Party low HP 2: I’ll pass on dying here, thanks!
Party low HP 3: We all right here?
Party low HP 4: This isn’t good…
Receiving item 1: Thanks!
Receiving item 2: Thanks for the help.
Skill start 1: How’d'ya like this?
Skill start 2: This is it!
Skill start 3: Take this!
Too many items: Don’t use so many items!

Luke’s Skills

Asch

Attack1, 2, 3: various attack noises, no dialog.
Battle end 1: Let’s keep going.
Battle end 2: ‘Course we won!
Battle end 3: You’re being a pain!
Battle end costume: Enter the evil noble, Abyss Silver!
Battle end low HP 1: You made me slip up.
Battle end low HP 2: I’ve grown weak…
Battle end no damage 1: Don’t get cocky, this was nothing!
Battle end no damage 2: You’re weak! Nothing!
Battle end special 1: Hn, that’s done.
Battle start 1: I don’t have time for this.
Battle start 2: C’mon, let’s go!
Battle start easy 1: A pitiful excuse for a fight!
Battle start easy 2: Guess you wanna die!
Battle start easy 3: You weaklings just keep coming. Idiots.
Battle start hard 1: Brace yourself!
Death 1: death cry
Death 2: How could I…?!
Effective: Ah, you didn’t like that.
Enemy defeat 1: How pathetic.
Enemy defeat 2: Die!
Enemy defeat 3: Anybody else wanna die?
Guarding: Please!
Hard hit 1: Idiot!
Hit1, 2: various hit noises, no dialog.
Ineffective: That didn’t work!
Item: This is mine.
Item party 1: This’ll help.
Item party 2: You’re being a bother.
Level up: What a nuisance.
Low HP: How could I get like this…!
Overlimit: That’s enough!
Party death 1: I’ll kill you!
Party death 2: How could I do that?
Party death Luke: He’s gone…
Party low HP 1: Regroup if you don’t wanna die!
Party low HP 2: You idiot!
Receiving item 1: Don’t expect any thanks.
Receiving item 2: Fine.
Skill start 1: Can you take this?!
Skill start 2: You’re gone!

Asch’s Skills

Something of note: Asch’s official character class is “magic swordsman”, so even his arcane artes have special “casting” phrases.

• “Begone!”
• “Burning Havoc!”
• “Rise, jaws of the earth!”
• “Devil’s Maw!”
• “Bring all to ash and ruin.”
• “Explosion!”
• “Fang Blade!”
• “A cold death awaits!”
• “Frigid Blast!”
• “Guardian!”
• “Freeze!”
• “Guardian Frost!”
• “Havoc Strike!”
• “Oh frigid blades pour forth.”
• “Icicle Rain!”
• “A blinding edge!”
• “Light Blast!”
• “Feel the roar of lightening!”
• “Lightening Tiger Blade!”
• “Raging Blast!”
• “I’ll destroy you!”
• “Rending Quake!”
• “Rending Thrust!”
• “Begone!”
• “Shadow Fury!”
• “Sonic Thrust!”
• “Oh maddening gale of the spirits of the earth!”
• “Stalagmite!”
• “Oh darkened storm cloud, loose thy blade and run mine enemies through!”
• “Thunder Blade!”
• “I’m done playing.”
• “Now DIE!”*
• “Binding Doom!”*
• “The weak should stay back!”
• “Annihilation!”*
• “Rending Saber!*

Mary

Mary’s Skills

Ion

Attack1, 2, 3: various attack noises, no dialog.
Battle end 1: Please, forgive us.
Battle end 2: Rest in peace.
Battle end 3: I’m sorry about this…
Battle end costume: The young guardian, Abyss Pu…Purple?
Battle end low HP 1: You… were a worthy opponent.
Battle end low HP 2: I’m sorry, I couldn’t cast fast enough.
Battle end no damage 1: We can’t slow down here!
Battle end no damage 2: We can’t loose if we’re all together!
Battle end special 1: Arietta… I’m sorry…
Battle end special 2: I… I WON’T be afraid anymore.
Battle start 1: Prepare!
Battle start 2: Looks like another fight…
Battle start easy 1: Must we do this?
Battle start easy 2: Please… just run…
Battle start hard 1: Ah, they’re strong!
Battle start hard 2: W-we should run…!
Death 1: death cry
Death 2: Not…not like this…
Effective: Ah, so that’s it!
Enemy defeat 1: I’m sorry…
Enemy defeat 2: N-next…
Guarding: Ah!
Hard hit 1: A-ahhh…!
Hit1, 2: various hit noises, no dialog.
Ineffective: That’s not it…
Item: I need this!
Item party 1: Here you go!
Item party 2: Watch out.
Arte Abuse: Don’t go overboard, please.
Level up: I can’t be afraid.
Low HP 1: I… I’m still alive…
Low HP 2: This isn’t good…!
Overlimit: It’s my turn!
Party death 1: I wasn’t fast enough!
Party death 2: Forgive me…
Party low HP 1: I’m casting as fast as I can!
Party low HP 2: Please, hold on a little longer!
Receiving item 1: Oh, thank you.
Receiving item 2: Thanks!
Item Abuse: We can’t afford to use that many items!
Skill starter 1: Ha!
Skill starter 2: Try this!

Ion’s Skills