Turn Based Combat Demo

Description

This demo is a turn based battle system inspired by classic RPGs.

The project is built off the base project from Sara Spaulding’s “Turn Based Combat” Tutorial series, which is incomplete as of the time of writing. I made several significant additions and changes to the base project to get it functional, as well as to improve the overall game feel.

Background

In October of 2024 I played a game called "Chained Echoes" by indie developer Matthias Linda, and let’s just say that I had thoughts. A particular sticking point with the game was its battle system and how sauceless and undercooked it felt. In order to better understand my issues with it I decided to try my hand at making my own system. I started the project following a tutorial series by the wonderful Sara Spaulding, who can be credited with writing the base code on which the project is built. That tutorial series is still unfinished, missing several features I deemed vital for this kind of combat system. And that was when the project really got started.

Goals

I wanted to take the base established in that tutorial series and get it to a playable state. A common issue with turn based combat systems is failing to make it feel like actual combat. So once it was playable, I wanted to go about breathing some life into it to make it feel less stiff and more kinetic.

Reflections

In the process of making this demo I gained a huge new appreciation for state machines (which are used in the main battle system, individual battle units, and camera). I also learned enough about GameMaker in the process that I really started to feel the limitations of the engine. I also gained a ton of insight into how the small aesthetic and sensory elements of a game can go a long way in improving the way a game feels to play.

A Fun Fact About This Project

Sara Spaulding's tutorials are what got me into game development. She's always done an incredible job of making her tutorials really accessible for beginners, which was especially helpful for me when starting out. She's done a lot of great work to help new devs, and I respect her so much. I wouldn't be where I am without her tutorials.

I have been a huge fan of penusbmic's pixel art for years, so when I committed to making this a something worth putting in my RRC portfolio submission, I decided that only his art would do. I went on a bit of a shopping spree and bought the entirety of his STRANDED and DARK collections, which I used throughout the project. His art really helped bump this project up a notch, and I'm very thankful for all the great work he does.