Create a Conan Video Game - Submit freely
Oct 20, 2019 13:32:58 GMT -5
Post by lordyam on Oct 20, 2019 13:32:58 GMT -5
Back when this forum was in it's infancy I posted an outline of how I would have done an hour of the dragon game. It wasn't overly popular but it got some praise. I've decided that with time and more maturity I'd like to update it while also allowing others to put down their own versions. So far I have two games largely planned out and a third one as an outline.
First up is Conan the Thief
This would largely be a sandbox game. After the tutorial mission (which teaches basic movement, running combat) we get five different cities. Numalia Zamora, Shadizar, Yezud and Magyar (Corinthia). In each game you can get optional missions (side missions), contracts that sorta thing. You also have the experience of seducing different women (Though a different approach will be needed for each one). This would be a combo of grand theft auto and assassin's creed. There would be multiple "bridging" sections: Between Numalia and Zamora, The "hall of the dead" mission, and between Zamora and Magyar. Story events will also force Conan to change cities for a while.
All things said the game takes place over 3 years or so.
There are certain game mechanics (you can bribe individuals to avoid trouble; some instances require using stealth rather than facing an opponent head on).
Tutorial Missions: First up would be Frost Giant's Daughter (this would teach you combat and the like) and then you get Hyperborean (you learn stealth in this section).
City 1: Numalia: this is a VERY short city; not a lot of optional missions, or story missions; basically helps you build up so you can reach Zamora; the act ends with God in the Bowl. It's not a particularly hard city.
City 2: Zamora: This is one of the biggest cities. Important story missions like Tower of the Elephant or "Halls of the Dead" open up once you reach high enough levels; certain side missions need to be done to advance in the game. You can do various contracts (thefts), and seduce women. Things culminate in the Halls of the Dead mission; after this you can't go back until the end of the game.
City 3: Shadizar the Wicked: This city opens up midway through the game. You complete some story missions here, gain some loot and experience. It has what's probably the hardest love interests in the game to seduce.
City 4: Yezud: This isn't a big city but it makes up for it by being really damn hard (you need experience to triumph here). The loot however is some of the best in the game.
City 5: Magyar: The final city; like Yezud in that it's not QUITE as big as the other cities but makes up for it by being hard (the guards are smarter and less vulnerable to bribery) Focuses on Nestor; the point of no return is the mission of hitting the Priest of Anu. After this you're locked into the "rogues in the house" mission.
Second up is Hour of the Dragon. I played the 07 game and while it wasn't BAD it was repetitive at times so the combat could use an overhaul. As I posted earlier
"If one were to adapt a conan story into a video game I think Hour of the Dragon the most likely candidate. the 07 game needed a novel length storyline to justify thirteen levels and I believe that Conan's tales provide a few levels (Beyond the black River could squeeze out possibly 4). Hour of the Dragon is in many ways the biggest Conan tale and most importantly takes us everywhere, from Aquilonia to Stygia."
Jason Aiken also said the Bloodbourne engine could work so I was thinking that could work
I'd have the campaign is follows
Level 1: Introduction: This is a tutorial level just before they head out to Valkia. We learn some of the basics of Combat, observation, exploration.
Level 2: Aftermath of Valkia. Conan's army has been wiped out, but Conan is being accosted by Tarascus's army. This is where we learn about combat. Before hand we fight a hopeless boss fight with Xaltotun that is over in ten seconds.
Level 3: Escape from the dungeons: You are accompanied by Zenobia. The boss fight would be the haunter of the pit. While the fight wasn't long in the books, a video game is a different beast entirely. Having a cutscene killing would be LAME! We have cutscenes of Conan trying to kill Tarascus and witnessing him stealing the heart. We get Conan and Zenobia kissing, and Conan promising to save her.
Level 4: In Aquilonia. Conan fights his way through various wilderness; the level ends with him encountering Zelata.
Cutscene: Escape with Zelata
Level 5: Aquilonia: This is when Conan enters Tarantia, and learns that Albiona is being held captive in the Iron Tower. The level would be trying to save Albiona. The level ends with Conan and Albiona being helped to escape.
Cutscene: Conan meets Hadrathus; learns that with heart of ahriman they have a chance of defeating Xaltotun.
Level 6: Conan tries to get the heart back; fights the men in the bandit fortress; second half is a fight against ghouls as well as an “uber ghoul”. The Uber Ghoul is the boss fight
Level 7: Argos: Conan has to sneak his way to the merchants house in a stealth section (following the paranoid guy without being seen). This would be a stealth mission for the first half. Than you have the fight with the goons by the waterfront.
Cutscene: Conan is knocked out. The Khitains force Publio to take them to the docks and find they just missed Conan
Level 8: The Black Corsairs: Basically kill the shit out of all the enemies on the ship.
Level 9: The Black Walls of Khemi: Conan has to sneak into the city. Killing enemies stealthily to avoid being noticed entering the city.
Level 10: Into the Dark: Conan has to escape from the murderous crowd for the first half. The second half involves a quick prompt when the guard realizes Conan is no priest (if you don't hit the button the guard kills you) and than involves following Akivasha. The final part is running the hell away from Akivasha.
Level 11: The Great Pyramids: Conan has to fight his way through the pyramid, past various undead warriors and creepy horrors. At the end there's two parts: the three way melee with the priests and Khitains. After that we get a boss fight with the Khitain leader
Level 12: Rallying the soldiers: This involves attacking a major fortress in preperation for the final battle; involves several parts to gain the army.
Level 13: The Road to Acheron: Conan prepares to join his troops but there's a problem. While the heart will weaken Xaltotun it won't kill him. Conan will need to help finish the wizard; Even worse Zenobia has been chosen as the sacrifice to usher in Acheron. The first half of the mission is desperately fighting your way to King's altar past Xaltotun's acolytes (the crazed hillmen, new toadies that he's gotten due to his influence as Fakir). We get there in time to stop the ritual. Hadrathus bares the heart and it weakens Xaltotun. However, due to his time studying in preperation he's gained strength. Cue final boss fight with Xaltotun. This would be like Graven in the game, but less annoying and more challenging. After the fight with Xaltotun we get a final playable section where Conan joins the troops and kicks Tarascus's hiney. The battle plays out like Cloud and Sephiroth's fight in FF7. You can't loose even if you want to. Xaltotun is the real final boss of the game and a major challenge.
Now some of the concepts might be blasphemous (the heart doesn't immediately waste xal.) however in a video game having Conan not be involved in what's arguably the most important part of the battle would annoy a lot of gamers, and having Xaltotun go down like a chump once the heart is unveiled would be anticlimactic. Having a full on boss battle remedies this and it gives players the satisfaction of kicking Xaltotun's ass.
Bosses:
1.) Haunter: This is a test of speed. The beast hits fast and he hits hard. You CANNOT let him get in range so you have to always pay attention where the beast is (sometimes he climbs into the rafters and leaps onto you.) You have to dodge his swipes and then wail on the bastard when he's vulnerable. Conan has no armor and only the dagger. I'd have Zenobia help more than in the book; it would explain why Conan sees HER as the woman who he marries and fathers children with.
2.) Uberghoul: This is just a straightforward fight. Kill the ghoul before he kills you.
3.) Khitan Leader: This is modeled after the fight with deathstroke in arkham origins. If you charge in like an idiot you might land a hit or two but he'll be able to clobber you with three to four of his own powerful hits. The only way to win the battle is to be patient; block the attacks when they come, and during the brief opening at the end of the last attack with your sword. You can only land a few hits before retreating, but if you keep on it the guy will regain his bearings and beat the shit out of you. Basically, you have to be PATIENT.
4.) Xaltotun: Even though the guy's weakened he is NO pushover. This is a multi phase fight that combines the elements of the other fights in the game.
Phase 1: The first part of the fight is trying to reach him, since he’ll be hurling magic at you in order to stop you from getting close. He’ll be weakened by the heart, but he’ll still be strong enough to give you a run for your money (the heart weakened him but xaltotun was able to shrug off the spell due to the practicing he’s been doing in his spare time out of a desire to be the strongest one) and he’ll have knocked out Hadrathus. Zelata will tend to Hadrathus leaving Conan to face Xaltotun. Conan will have to dodge energy bolts, which will inflict damage if Conan gets hit.
Phase 2: Close quarters. Xaltotun has close range attacks (the black hand of set) which will kill you instantly, or knock off one third of you’re health. Similar to the fight with the Khitan leader but with less room for error. You have to wail on him, but also be cautious enough to know when to block.
At 1/3 Xaltotun repulses Conan, starting Phase 3. This is pretty much phase 1, with more bolts. Than you get phase 4, where Xaltotun throws in some nasty abilities.
At 2/3 health Xaltotun repulses Conan. Phase 5 is ranged, but even deadlier. Phase 6 is the hardest. You have to dodge the attacks, as well as the newer ones Xal throws in.
At this we get the end. Conan impales Xaltotun, he falls to his knees lamenting that this can't be the end. Hadrathus uses the heart to finish him. After this we have Conan in essentially god mode. You can't loose even if you try. Tarascus is kinda a post final boss in that he's there but not a challenge.
Finally I'd do a game that actually IS queen of the black coast. This would be modeled in many ways on Assassins Creed Black Flag. You sail around on a large open world map, you have the option to either sink or board ships....but these actions have costs. You might loose x numbers of crew members depending on how high profile the target is (certain targets and missions might require your soldiers be a certain level or that you have x amount, or that your ship is also sufficiently upgraded). You can raise your soldiers stats by building a rapport with them (This allows you to flesh out the black corsairs as well). Certain targets are harder than others (Stygian Ships yield greater rewards but are harder to attack). You also gain notoriety as the game progresses. This opens missions and upgrades but it also means that you're more likely to run into an enemy patrol.
While for the most part it allows you to leisurely advance at your own pace there are Story Missions to provide SOME form of a focus.
I'll give a few examples.
1.) The Well of Skelos: The Ibis Priest Kalanthes needs to retrieve a dangerous artifact from the Well of Skelos so that he can destroy it before the agents of Thoth Amon claim it; in exchange he has promised that the crew can claim all the other treasures located within the well. Reaching this requires a certain notoriety; the enemies are a.) Thoth Amon's agents (who ALSO want the deadly artifact) and b.) The Giant disgusting toad monster who lives in the Well who just wants all the intruders to go away.
2.) Burning the Fleet in Khemi: This is a sequel to the last mission point. Kalanthes repays you by placing the blessing of Ibis on you and your crew, which means Thoth can't go after you with sorcerous means. He can, however, make your life miserable by arranging for the Stygian navy to hunt you down. This leads to the set of missions where the heroes are forced to go on the offensive. You find the cove that Conan will use in Hour of the Dragon to establish a temporary hideout (you fight the Python there) before you engineer a daring raid into Stygia during a festival (the guards will be less attentive due to needing to control the unruly crowd).
3.) Rumble in the Jungle: Conan and Belit tangle with Thuthmekri over some treasure, setting the stage for Jewels of Gwahalur.
4.) Abombi: Probably one of the most difficult missions in the game.
5.) Zarkheba River: This is the point of no return. Once you make the decision to sale up the river you're locked in until the end of the game. The final boss is the Winged Ape.
First up is Conan the Thief
This would largely be a sandbox game. After the tutorial mission (which teaches basic movement, running combat) we get five different cities. Numalia Zamora, Shadizar, Yezud and Magyar (Corinthia). In each game you can get optional missions (side missions), contracts that sorta thing. You also have the experience of seducing different women (Though a different approach will be needed for each one). This would be a combo of grand theft auto and assassin's creed. There would be multiple "bridging" sections: Between Numalia and Zamora, The "hall of the dead" mission, and between Zamora and Magyar. Story events will also force Conan to change cities for a while.
All things said the game takes place over 3 years or so.
There are certain game mechanics (you can bribe individuals to avoid trouble; some instances require using stealth rather than facing an opponent head on).
Tutorial Missions: First up would be Frost Giant's Daughter (this would teach you combat and the like) and then you get Hyperborean (you learn stealth in this section).
City 1: Numalia: this is a VERY short city; not a lot of optional missions, or story missions; basically helps you build up so you can reach Zamora; the act ends with God in the Bowl. It's not a particularly hard city.
City 2: Zamora: This is one of the biggest cities. Important story missions like Tower of the Elephant or "Halls of the Dead" open up once you reach high enough levels; certain side missions need to be done to advance in the game. You can do various contracts (thefts), and seduce women. Things culminate in the Halls of the Dead mission; after this you can't go back until the end of the game.
City 3: Shadizar the Wicked: This city opens up midway through the game. You complete some story missions here, gain some loot and experience. It has what's probably the hardest love interests in the game to seduce.
City 4: Yezud: This isn't a big city but it makes up for it by being really damn hard (you need experience to triumph here). The loot however is some of the best in the game.
City 5: Magyar: The final city; like Yezud in that it's not QUITE as big as the other cities but makes up for it by being hard (the guards are smarter and less vulnerable to bribery) Focuses on Nestor; the point of no return is the mission of hitting the Priest of Anu. After this you're locked into the "rogues in the house" mission.
Second up is Hour of the Dragon. I played the 07 game and while it wasn't BAD it was repetitive at times so the combat could use an overhaul. As I posted earlier
"If one were to adapt a conan story into a video game I think Hour of the Dragon the most likely candidate. the 07 game needed a novel length storyline to justify thirteen levels and I believe that Conan's tales provide a few levels (Beyond the black River could squeeze out possibly 4). Hour of the Dragon is in many ways the biggest Conan tale and most importantly takes us everywhere, from Aquilonia to Stygia."
Jason Aiken also said the Bloodbourne engine could work so I was thinking that could work
I'd have the campaign is follows
Level 1: Introduction: This is a tutorial level just before they head out to Valkia. We learn some of the basics of Combat, observation, exploration.
Level 2: Aftermath of Valkia. Conan's army has been wiped out, but Conan is being accosted by Tarascus's army. This is where we learn about combat. Before hand we fight a hopeless boss fight with Xaltotun that is over in ten seconds.
Level 3: Escape from the dungeons: You are accompanied by Zenobia. The boss fight would be the haunter of the pit. While the fight wasn't long in the books, a video game is a different beast entirely. Having a cutscene killing would be LAME! We have cutscenes of Conan trying to kill Tarascus and witnessing him stealing the heart. We get Conan and Zenobia kissing, and Conan promising to save her.
Level 4: In Aquilonia. Conan fights his way through various wilderness; the level ends with him encountering Zelata.
Cutscene: Escape with Zelata
Level 5: Aquilonia: This is when Conan enters Tarantia, and learns that Albiona is being held captive in the Iron Tower. The level would be trying to save Albiona. The level ends with Conan and Albiona being helped to escape.
Cutscene: Conan meets Hadrathus; learns that with heart of ahriman they have a chance of defeating Xaltotun.
Level 6: Conan tries to get the heart back; fights the men in the bandit fortress; second half is a fight against ghouls as well as an “uber ghoul”. The Uber Ghoul is the boss fight
Level 7: Argos: Conan has to sneak his way to the merchants house in a stealth section (following the paranoid guy without being seen). This would be a stealth mission for the first half. Than you have the fight with the goons by the waterfront.
Cutscene: Conan is knocked out. The Khitains force Publio to take them to the docks and find they just missed Conan
Level 8: The Black Corsairs: Basically kill the shit out of all the enemies on the ship.
Level 9: The Black Walls of Khemi: Conan has to sneak into the city. Killing enemies stealthily to avoid being noticed entering the city.
Level 10: Into the Dark: Conan has to escape from the murderous crowd for the first half. The second half involves a quick prompt when the guard realizes Conan is no priest (if you don't hit the button the guard kills you) and than involves following Akivasha. The final part is running the hell away from Akivasha.
Level 11: The Great Pyramids: Conan has to fight his way through the pyramid, past various undead warriors and creepy horrors. At the end there's two parts: the three way melee with the priests and Khitains. After that we get a boss fight with the Khitain leader
Level 12: Rallying the soldiers: This involves attacking a major fortress in preperation for the final battle; involves several parts to gain the army.
Level 13: The Road to Acheron: Conan prepares to join his troops but there's a problem. While the heart will weaken Xaltotun it won't kill him. Conan will need to help finish the wizard; Even worse Zenobia has been chosen as the sacrifice to usher in Acheron. The first half of the mission is desperately fighting your way to King's altar past Xaltotun's acolytes (the crazed hillmen, new toadies that he's gotten due to his influence as Fakir). We get there in time to stop the ritual. Hadrathus bares the heart and it weakens Xaltotun. However, due to his time studying in preperation he's gained strength. Cue final boss fight with Xaltotun. This would be like Graven in the game, but less annoying and more challenging. After the fight with Xaltotun we get a final playable section where Conan joins the troops and kicks Tarascus's hiney. The battle plays out like Cloud and Sephiroth's fight in FF7. You can't loose even if you want to. Xaltotun is the real final boss of the game and a major challenge.
Now some of the concepts might be blasphemous (the heart doesn't immediately waste xal.) however in a video game having Conan not be involved in what's arguably the most important part of the battle would annoy a lot of gamers, and having Xaltotun go down like a chump once the heart is unveiled would be anticlimactic. Having a full on boss battle remedies this and it gives players the satisfaction of kicking Xaltotun's ass.
Bosses:
1.) Haunter: This is a test of speed. The beast hits fast and he hits hard. You CANNOT let him get in range so you have to always pay attention where the beast is (sometimes he climbs into the rafters and leaps onto you.) You have to dodge his swipes and then wail on the bastard when he's vulnerable. Conan has no armor and only the dagger. I'd have Zenobia help more than in the book; it would explain why Conan sees HER as the woman who he marries and fathers children with.
2.) Uberghoul: This is just a straightforward fight. Kill the ghoul before he kills you.
3.) Khitan Leader: This is modeled after the fight with deathstroke in arkham origins. If you charge in like an idiot you might land a hit or two but he'll be able to clobber you with three to four of his own powerful hits. The only way to win the battle is to be patient; block the attacks when they come, and during the brief opening at the end of the last attack with your sword. You can only land a few hits before retreating, but if you keep on it the guy will regain his bearings and beat the shit out of you. Basically, you have to be PATIENT.
4.) Xaltotun: Even though the guy's weakened he is NO pushover. This is a multi phase fight that combines the elements of the other fights in the game.
Phase 1: The first part of the fight is trying to reach him, since he’ll be hurling magic at you in order to stop you from getting close. He’ll be weakened by the heart, but he’ll still be strong enough to give you a run for your money (the heart weakened him but xaltotun was able to shrug off the spell due to the practicing he’s been doing in his spare time out of a desire to be the strongest one) and he’ll have knocked out Hadrathus. Zelata will tend to Hadrathus leaving Conan to face Xaltotun. Conan will have to dodge energy bolts, which will inflict damage if Conan gets hit.
Phase 2: Close quarters. Xaltotun has close range attacks (the black hand of set) which will kill you instantly, or knock off one third of you’re health. Similar to the fight with the Khitan leader but with less room for error. You have to wail on him, but also be cautious enough to know when to block.
At 1/3 Xaltotun repulses Conan, starting Phase 3. This is pretty much phase 1, with more bolts. Than you get phase 4, where Xaltotun throws in some nasty abilities.
At 2/3 health Xaltotun repulses Conan. Phase 5 is ranged, but even deadlier. Phase 6 is the hardest. You have to dodge the attacks, as well as the newer ones Xal throws in.
At this we get the end. Conan impales Xaltotun, he falls to his knees lamenting that this can't be the end. Hadrathus uses the heart to finish him. After this we have Conan in essentially god mode. You can't loose even if you try. Tarascus is kinda a post final boss in that he's there but not a challenge.
Finally I'd do a game that actually IS queen of the black coast. This would be modeled in many ways on Assassins Creed Black Flag. You sail around on a large open world map, you have the option to either sink or board ships....but these actions have costs. You might loose x numbers of crew members depending on how high profile the target is (certain targets and missions might require your soldiers be a certain level or that you have x amount, or that your ship is also sufficiently upgraded). You can raise your soldiers stats by building a rapport with them (This allows you to flesh out the black corsairs as well). Certain targets are harder than others (Stygian Ships yield greater rewards but are harder to attack). You also gain notoriety as the game progresses. This opens missions and upgrades but it also means that you're more likely to run into an enemy patrol.
While for the most part it allows you to leisurely advance at your own pace there are Story Missions to provide SOME form of a focus.
I'll give a few examples.
1.) The Well of Skelos: The Ibis Priest Kalanthes needs to retrieve a dangerous artifact from the Well of Skelos so that he can destroy it before the agents of Thoth Amon claim it; in exchange he has promised that the crew can claim all the other treasures located within the well. Reaching this requires a certain notoriety; the enemies are a.) Thoth Amon's agents (who ALSO want the deadly artifact) and b.) The Giant disgusting toad monster who lives in the Well who just wants all the intruders to go away.
2.) Burning the Fleet in Khemi: This is a sequel to the last mission point. Kalanthes repays you by placing the blessing of Ibis on you and your crew, which means Thoth can't go after you with sorcerous means. He can, however, make your life miserable by arranging for the Stygian navy to hunt you down. This leads to the set of missions where the heroes are forced to go on the offensive. You find the cove that Conan will use in Hour of the Dragon to establish a temporary hideout (you fight the Python there) before you engineer a daring raid into Stygia during a festival (the guards will be less attentive due to needing to control the unruly crowd).
3.) Rumble in the Jungle: Conan and Belit tangle with Thuthmekri over some treasure, setting the stage for Jewels of Gwahalur.
4.) Abombi: Probably one of the most difficult missions in the game.
5.) Zarkheba River: This is the point of no return. Once you make the decision to sale up the river you're locked in until the end of the game. The final boss is the Winged Ape.