Greetings everyone!

Yesterday I shared some
general (though fundamental) feedback, and some improvement suggestions for the combat system, SFx, VFx, animations, camera angles, zooming-in possibilities, combat reactions, music, battle speed or pace, and the general “feel” or “atmosphere”, and how everything it’s linked with the music, because indeed “attention to music matters” (
https://www.realms-beyond.com/forum/index.php?topic=68.msg153#msg153 ).
Today I’d like to share something from my notes: some less general, much more
specific feedback, together with some important life-quality suggestions for improvement, as well as some questions and doubts that emerged watching the the first iteration of the combat system (“details are indeed everything”
https://www.realms-beyond.com/forum/index.php?topic=35.msg64#msg64 ).
Oh, and I also took the time to make a screenshot, to perhaps explain better what I meant by "camera angle" and "zoom-in", in case it was not clear.

Cheers!
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[ 1:57 ] When Sieglinde the Cleric successfully casts “Bless” on all the party, it would have been nice to see some sort of little
reaction besides the “Blessed” pop-up text, like a little movement animation, or some sort of voice reaction when they receive buffs.
[ 2:22 ] Didn’t understand why Kharzain couldn’t attack the orc in the first row, after moving in front of him (say’s
“Full Attack, INVALID ACTION”).
[ 2:55 ] Exciting moment when Magnus the Wizard successfully casts “Web” on the large area. It’s a game changer. But same as with Sieglinde’s “Bless” AOE: would’ve been nice to see
some sort of reaction from the Orcs besides the “Stuck/Entangled” pop-up text.
[ 3:18 ] When the Orc Archer shoots Kharzain the barbarian dwarf and misses, Kharzain laughs at him! BRAVO DEV TEAM! This is what I’m talking about. Can we please get more of this
reactions like ALWAYS? Not only for missed or eluded attacks, but also when characters get conditions, buffs, debuffs, fizzles, etc.
[ 3:53 ] The Orc Shaman casts “Heal” on the Orc Warrior: camera shows this, but the casting ACTION of this spell as such
didn’t appear in the battle-log (i.e. it didn’t record
“Orc Shaman casts X spell on Orc Warrior”. Don’t know if this was meant like that). Battle-log only showed the EFFECT of this action:
“Orc Warrior got Healed by 7 Hit Point(s)”. Something to think about for the future, when more exotic enemy units cast less straight-forward spells, with less obvious effects, and the player doesn’t know exactly what specific spell or action the enemy has performed. I’d personally like to know everything: who used the spell, what exact spell did he use, and what was the effect.
[ 4:12 ] When Sieglinde the Cleric casts “Bane” on all enemies, it would have been nice to see some sort of little
reaction besides the “Cursed/Avoided” pop-up text, like a little movement animation, or some sort of voice reaction when they receive the curse. As in the previous case,
the battle-log didn’t show Sieglinde’s ACTION (
“Segliende casts Bane”), just the effects (
“Orc chieftain is cursed now”, etc).
[ 4:43 ] Kharzain the barbarian dwarf performs a
DOUBLE-attack and misses
BOTH times, however
the “evasion” animation was triggered only ONCE (i.e. what we SEE is the orc eluded the first attack, but received the second one, because the second evasion animation didn’t happen). There’s many other situations like this during the whole fight.
[ 4:48 ] Almost immediately after, there’s something very odd: there’s either
a sound bug, or something’s happening off camera with some weapon sounds. Either way, it’s unclear and confusing. For almost 10 seconds
[ 4:48 – 4:59 aprox.] we’re hearing many noises, like a “throwing” or “weapon” sound, perhaps an “evasion” sound, but it’s unclear what they are, where are they coming from, or to what action/character/animation they correspond. If the noises correspond to the web spell effects shown in the battle-log in [ 5:03
“Orc Archer managed to avoid the effects of the web partially, Orc Archer is hit by Web, Reflex Roll”, etc] the camera should have focused on each of these events (so we can actually see the Orc Archer partially avoiding the web, etc), and show us the corresponding animation
so we can VISUALLY understand what is happening exactly in the battlefield. [ 5:14 ] Another exciting moment from Magnus the Wizard, casting “Stinking Cloud”. VFx and SFx-wise is the best looking/sounding spell we’ve seen so far in the battle. It’s just the best looking spell so far. In
[ 5:26 ] I believe Magnus makes a satisfaction sound (“He!”) when seeing his spell is successfully hitting the orc. Bravo Devs! Character Reactions! However, it would have been nice to see some sort of reaction from the orcs besides the “Nauseated/Avoided” pop-up text, like a little movement animation, or some sort of voice reaction when that Orc gets hit by the spell, and the other three avoid it.
[ 5:34 ] Cave Troll attacks Kharzain the barbarian dwarf. Similarly as above: Cave Troll performs
2 double attacks, I clearly see him launching
4 hits (one hit with each arm, twice). However I only see Kharzain evading once, and getting hit once. It’s a bit odd:
there’s 4 actions from the Cave Troll,
but only 2 reactions from the dwarf. Yes, I read the battle-log: each of this “double attacks” from the Cave Troll are really just a single attack (although we’re shown 2 attacks per action). I’m just pointing out the
visual inconsistency so devs can think about it and fix it.
[ 5:53 ] Orc Chieftain attacks Aewoyn twice. First hit is successful, and we’re shown her taking the damage (animation). Second hit misses, but
we are not shown when she evades the hit. (I know there’s a difference between a “failed attack” and an “evaded or dodged attack”; doesn’t change the fact that both should be clear visually).
[ 5:59 ] The
“SOUND BUG” again (see above
[ 4:48 ] ). Unclear where is it coming from.
[ 6:07 ] Waldo the Halfling shoots Orc but misses. Waldo REACTS with a “Hmm!” sound. BRAVO DEV TEAM! Character Reactions! Can we please get more reactions ALWAYS and TO EVERYTHING? Thanks, makes things so much ALIVE!
[ 7:12 ] Kharzain, the barbarian dwarf, valiantly kills a distracted Orc. Kharzain REACTS with a “HAAAHAHAHA!” sound, celebrating his kill. Good! Character Reactions! MORE! Everywhere!
[ 7:56 ] Another exciting moment from Magnus the Wizard, casting “Summon Monster V”. Beautiful casting animation, nice spell effect. Nice sounds coming from the summoned demon, kudos for those. But wait... What’s that shiny glowing thing on the demon’s back? It’s like purple and black. Is it a magic symbol that keeps him subjected to Magnus’ will? I can’t see it, camera’s too far, and I can't f***g ZOOM!! This I why I insist so much with the possibility to
ZOOM IN REALLY CLOSE, and change camera angle to a more horizontal angle, so I can see each enemy in the battlefield as I see my characters on the “Party Screen – User Interface Still Under Construction”
[ 1:28 ]. THAT’S how much I want to zoom-in, and how much I want to lower camera angle when fully zoomed-in, to be able to see each character and enemy on the battlefield (and that summoned demon with the strange glowing thing on the back) exactly like we see Sieglinde in that party screen, that big, that precise camera angle. (… I think I’ll just post a pic, I don’t feel I managed to convey properly what I mean by “lower camera angle when zooming in” :/ )
[ 9:50 ] Magnus the Wizard plans to cast “Acid Arrow”, but Fizzles! Magnus makes a disappointment sound. Wonderful, Kudos for that! More character reactions please!
[ 10:14 ] Orc Chieftain attacks Aewoyn
twice. He hit’s
twice! Aewoyn model moves
twice when receiving the hit, as it should be! Thank you! Would you please consider adding the corresponding movement to EVERY reaction, either if it’s receiving a hit or dodging and everything for as many times it happens? (i.e. if character dodges a triple attack, for instance, that should be visually clear and clearly shown exactly as it happens: 3 dodging movements, even if it’s the same animation, please let it play 3 times or make new ones but SHOW us what's happening).
[ 10:34 ] Sieglinde the Cleric casts “Cure Moderate Wounds” on Aewoyn, but this
ACTION is not reflected on the battle-log, just the EFFECT (
“Aewoyn got Healed by 12 Hit Points”). Nice casting animation, VFx and SFx for this spell btw, it’s the second best looking spell after “Stinking Cloud”. Again, to some it might sound redundant, unnecessary, absurd or ridiculous to have these
actions recorded on the battle-log, but when it’s not a so obvious, straightforward thing as a healing spell, but a more exotic spell from an enemy with a more complex or less obvious effect,
it’s nice and necessary to have everything recorded in the battle-log, also for cases in which the player wants to review something that happened earlier.
[ 11:30 ] Magnus the Wizard casts “Heroism” on Kharzain the barbarian dwarf, but this
ACTION is not reflected on the battle-log, just the EFFECT (
“Kharzain feels Heroic now”). Gorgeous casting animation, VFx and SFx for this spell btw, now It’s my favorite looking spell after “Stinking Cloud”.
[ 15:00 ] Magnus the Wizard casts the “Crushing Despair” AOE spell, “a cone of despair that causes great sadness in the subjects”. Two orc warriors and cave troll are hit, and now “feel great sadness”, while Aewoyn and Kharzain avoided the spell (
this was not reflected on the battle-log). However,
there were NO VISUAL NOR SOUND REACTIONS whatsoever to this spell. It would have been nice to see
some sort of reaction from everyone besides the “Despaired/Avoided” pop-up text, in particular allies that avoided should have reacted with the DODGE animation, while affected orcs should have played the HIT animation (the same animation they play when hit), all together with the roaring sound they play when hit. Just saying, not everything needs new animations and sounds, it’s OK to sometimes use the same ones to maximize time/budget. Point is
a visual/sound reaction is needed. [ 15:27 ] Summoned Demon portrait looks beautiful, it really reflects the model. Love how the demon walks and the sounds it makes… I wonder why the demon “dies”
[ 23:25 ] and its corpse remains there when the spell ends (he was full
HP 55/55), instead of teleporting back into hell (just play the same teleport animation that you use for summoning him but make him disappear, to show the spell ends and the summoned demon went back to the abyss)… to see him die there, without having taken any damage whatsoever, and leave his corpse on the material plane
makes no sense at all! I also wonder why the lower level demon (Summon Monster III) summoned later
[ 25:20 ] looks exactly the same as the higher level demon (Summon Monster V). Shouldn’t they look perhaps a bit (i.e.
much) different? Just asking.