RADIANT TACTICS

Comparable Gameplay: Magic the Gathering, Classic turn-based RPG Battles (Final Fantasy Series, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Warrior Series, etc.)

Distinguishing Features: ‘Micro’ scale lens. Roster or deck focused, unit identity via card combos & synergy. 

Style Highlights

Players Supported: Typically, 2+ Co-Op or PvP.

Estimated Play Length: Optimized for brevity. 5-10 minutes for experienced players.

Force Size: Dynamic by players so to ensure quicker play length.

Unit Action Complexity: Low

Lethality: Mid to High

Lens: Micro, a close up on squads without their immediate environment also in the picture.

Subject: Greater focus on direct relations between units in squads. Greater emphasis on both squad synergies and incompatibilities.

Fun & Identity Focuses

Focused learning. The fun-blocker of learning a new combat system is mitigated by the more constrained decision space, yet room is left for fun of mastering fundamental battle mechanics.

Yet, the same simplicity also leads to design challenges stemming from too little and too much content. To little content runs into exhausting fun of novel components to build with. Too much content risks creating barrier to new players from the increased game-knowledge perquisites. Likewise, new content may introduce unforeseen unbalancing combinations of new and old assets.

Deck Building. Fun is focused more on composing squads that overcome challenges than in in-battle decisions; more akin an auto-battler.

Synergy Emphasis. In this style, unit identity is expressed more strongly through the combos and synergy unlocked by taking it as part of the limited roster space. It’s easier for allies to prevent allies from doing what they intended on their turn — the style can draw greater attention to unit relationships of harmony or discord.

Additional Flavors

Speed Optimized. Micro tactics battles can be played very quickly. This means time saved can be spent playing other systems, shifting emphasis for fun on crafting, exploration, progression, etc.

Roster Up progression supports additional fun of personalizing squads, overcoming squad composition challenges, or mastering a variety of playstyles.

Varied Challenges. Battles can be linked with Exploration and Social Challenges to offer a more varied adventure.

Shorter battle length makes larger scale engagements more practical to play. This style pairs well with multi-squad world map battle. (See games like Unicorn Overlord, Ogre Battle.)

Demo Scenario Setup

Goal. The side with the most units in the front two rows wins. Control is determined using standard capture point rules.
Turns. Three turns.
Enemy AI. For demo, enemies will move and attack nearest, prioritizing left to right.

Player Units: Shortbow Human, Dual Axe Gobold, Longspear Necrotic, Dual Mace Dverg.
Opposition Units: Bat, Zombie, Armored Skeleton.
Weapon Cards: Use Precision Style Weapon Cards for fastest playtimes.

Micro Battle Special Rules

Targeting. Melee can only attack targets directly adjacent to. Ranged must attack same or adjacent column, and can’t target units directly behind another unit.
Movement. Units can only move through empty card spaces in the formation.

Playtest Feedback

Q. How similar is the demo’s gameplay to comparable games?
Q. What adjustments would make the gameplay better?

Key Parameters
(lower/higher/about right)

Lethality: How quickly units are KO’d.
Action Complexity: How many choices per unit, how long force play decision making takes.
Force Size: Total number of units.
Play Length: How long should it take to play out a tactical battle. (‘Too long, too short.’)
Challenge: How difficult the tactical battle should feel. (‘Too hard, too easy’.)
Unit Expendability: How concerned with losing units should players be. (‘Feels too punishing to lose, feels too expendable.’)
Map Design: How fitting map design is for gameplay mode.
Objective vs KO Focus: Which should genre’s gameplay emphasize more?

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