Heyyo!

Since the last devlog, I've been putting together most of the major mechanics that'll go into the more interactive parts of the game: combat, QTEs, and supplies. But first, have a look at the codex!

It's handwritten and drawn from Killigan's perspective, offering insight into Canavar and its lore as he learns more about it, fresh out of his old town. It won't be accessible *right away* but you'll know when you get it.

Next, let's discuss QTEs!

The rapid-tapping QTE is pretty much the same as before, but now the progress bar gradually depletes instead of just statically going up and up.

Additionally, it can be disabled in preferences, for accessibility consideration! Situations that would have this QTE will instead continue normally with a line of text and the player will be acle to choose whether or not Killigan was successful.

This new QTE is one that emulates charging up power, ideally for an attack. But be careful, it fills faster as it gets closer to the success window! And who knows, maybe that success window will get wider at higher brawn tiers...

This aiming QTE has been redesigned to feel more like it's lining up an accurate shot! ...And that's about it. A higher charm tier might give you more time to aim...

The old reaction-based QTE has been redesigned to this now, much better than just a flashing bar! A higher wits tier might give you more time to react...

And this new QTE happens with defense-based actions! Holding down the button will fill the bar, but be careful as it does accelerate! Capping out means the QTE will fail, as if you were too focused on defense to consider that your opponent might come at you from another angle...

While most of the time, it won't matter where the bar ends up once the QTE times out, for certain attacks, you'll need to keep it above a certain point or risk equipment breaking! (Which we'll get to in a sec) A higher wits tier might slow down the bar's draining though...

Additionally, whenever a QTE is about to happen, the click-to-continue indicator will let you know. Usually. Sometimes it might get the jump on you.

Onto combat!

If you haven't seen it already, check out combat in action here!

(Don't worry, this is a non-canon test battle)

To lay it all out:

• Usually, the battle progresses like turn-based combat...but this rule often gets broken
• There'll be 3 actions that Killigan can take, when he has the chance to act. Most are self-explanatory
• Opponents don't have an explicit indicator for their health, but Killigan will usually be able to tell their state of health by context clues.
• Killigan's health is based on how much equipment he has on. Failing a QTE or taking an action that's *definitely* wrong often results in the outermost piece breaking off.
  • If Killigan has no equipment left intact, he'll instead take the brunt of damage, indicated by the flame above his health. He can take about 3 hits before the battle will end, and not in his favor. There's no game over, but he won't be in the best situation...

As for supplies...
We'll get to that in the next devlog! It'll go hand in hand with the introduction of a few other mechanics that'll take place when travelling between towns.

See you then!