Mountain Trail Ideas?

[Deleted]

Well, my first dungeon was a volcano and it was easier for me to make it not be just a straight path (FFX) or dungeon of splitting paths (one to treasure, one to key, one to door, etc.).

My next dungeon is a Mountain Trail though. I was thinking I could have the splitting paths, ropes, ladders, push-rocks, small jumps, and log bridges to make it more interesting and interactive for the player, and I'm wondering if any of you'll think of any other things for me to do in it - preferably not VFX-intensive or mind-boggle-puzzley. Mostly I just don't want to bore the player with a straight path dungeon like a lot of FFX.

Thank you to everyone who at least reads this!!!

[NASH7777]

Well I'm always full of ideas. First off you could have sliding ladders triggered by switches, nothing too complicated just afew here or ther to get to treasure chests, etc... Another would be to have railroad mining cart paths. Have the mining cart a controlled vehicle so when you step in it follows a controlledd path and have that path possibly change based on a couple simple switches again. Also maybe so a log bridge that falls apart would be an added fun effect to the game.

[Rodak]

An idea I'm working on may help you out here.

How about a chase?

I have an almost working script that changes your movement speed with button presses (constant wait).

The pursuer is on a preset path with constantly changing speed.

The trail is perfect for it because it naturally restricts movement.

I'm still stuck on how to end it... but I'll come up with something. Or not.

If all else fails I'll just use my data for a cut scene, but you may be able to script a "racing" min game better than I.

Hope that helped.

Peace.

[Bigfoot]

you could have cute little mountain animals that will help you with puzzles.... like a rabbit that will stand on a switch so you can go thru a door.

[BlackBoxx]

Being a mountain trail, wouldn't you expect it to be a simple, straightforward path? It seems like an overly complicated trail would defeat the purpose. Sure, a few turns, elevation changes, and whatnot could fit, but why would there have to be puzzles? It's just a mountain. Unless of course, it's an inhabited mountain with traps and such.
What I plan to do in my RPG is to make natural, outdoorsy areas just that. Simple, open areas with a lot tro explore, and more than one path to your destination. This allows a lot of space to pout things you plan to use as secrets later in the game, or possibly paths to new, tougher areas once conditions are met. I'm saving puzzles for man-made structures, and inhabited areas. I don't see a reason to force the player to solve puzzles everywhere.

But, this is just my advice. If you want the player to interact with the environment, more power to you. I'm just saying the interaction should match the environment. For a mountain trail, you could require the player to aquire dynamite from someone in town, and use it to clear some blocked paths. Or maybe gather supplies to rebuild a bridge. Have some townsperson give them directions using landmarks, and then make a maze that can only be completed by following those directions exactly (like LoZ lost woods).

[Deleted]

Thank you for all the ideas and suggestions guys!! ;D

Well, I drew out my 2nd dungeon plan on paper and am set to start making the maps for it.

Yeah, I definitely agree with you BlackBoxx in that it should be reasonable and believable. In fact, my first dungeon (volcano) involved using explosives to blow up stuff like you suggested. I too am waiting till later in the un-natural dungeons to use stuff like switches and moving platforms and whatnot. Thank you for all the good suggestions! For interaction with the environment I do really stick to believable stuff.

Ah, bigfoot, you touched upon something I already have planned for the 4th dungeon. I plan to have them be little colorful penguins named Kumo and Jugem. Thank you nonetheless!

I don't think I'll try making an actionous minigame, but I'm intrigued to see how yours turns out Rodak. Thank you for suggesting it though. Who knows; maybe I'll use it in a cutscene or something.

Wow, you are full of ideas Nash! I really like the switches for ladders idea and will probably use that in the 6th and/or 7th dungeon (where that's be more realistic). The mine cart idea's perfect for one of my two 3rd dungeons though, and I'll do if I can. Thank you very much man!

I guess I won't say what I'm using in my 2nd dungeon so I don't spoil it, but all your suggestions were helpful (if not for this dungeon for a later one), so thank you very much!

[The Smurf]

bigfoot721 said:

you could have cute little mountain animals that will help you with puzzles.... like a rabbit that will stand on a switch so you can go thru a door.

unfortunately there are no rabbit models, so you'd have to make VFX rabbits...


-the smurf