Message 12567 : Combat System (Nazgúm)
Written on Wed Apr 11 06:17:33 2001

I recently tested a mud that had a very cool combat system that I
think Mume could benefit greatly from adapting something similar.
(Their system was kinda fucked up so I post it how I think it
would work nicer).

First, different weapons will have different attacks that will be
shown when you type: consider weapon.

Example: consider shortsword
- Stats on shortsword are shown as old consider
- This weapon may be used as: Jab, Thrust, Slash

Example: consider warsword
- Stats as shown with old consider
- This weapon may be used as: Smite, Swing, Hack

Defence would then be changed so that Parry and Dodge contained
several different defence manuveurs.

Example: Nazgum dodges nimbly backwards narrowly avoiding his
opponents weapon.

Example: Nazgum twists his waist and pulls his left arm up and
around in a warding block, fending off his opponents weapon.

The system does not seem so difficult too implement.  When kill
target is sent, a random attack would be selected from the weapons
possibilities. Then, if it is a miss, the appropriate defence message
would be sent showing the defender to evade/block the attack.  If
the attacker hits, the defender would get a faulty defence message.
Example: Nazgum runs into Anolad and types k Anolad

*Nazgum the Orc* attacks *Anolad the Elf* low and hard, with a single
thrust. *Anolad the Elf* blocks the attack with a crossdown parry
of his longsword.  *Anolad the Elf* spins to his side and launches a
blinding upwards slice with his longsword.  *Nazgum the Orc* attempts
a feeble backwards dodge and is slashed hard to the body.

The coding for this would not be much at all I think, Select several
Ainu and have them design some combat messages for the different weapon
types and some defence messages and then it seems only a slight change
in the code.

The advantages I see are that Mume would have a lot more realistic
and interesting combat system that would be fun to watch and to
fight in.

The disadvantages is each combat attack would take two lines instead
of one, but I don't think that would provide too big of a problem.

Please provide some input on this one I put quite a bit of thought
into it.