Mortis on 19/10/2009 at 06:32
Would you guys prefer the rope arrow to be exactly like the original i.e. with only vertical movement or would you like to be able to use the rope arrow in multiple ways such as swinging or as a tightrope ?
Personally, I would like the latter as it allows greater freedom of movement and at the same time I dont think it would make Garrett into a ninja or anything.
Discuss !
jtr7 on 19/10/2009 at 06:58
The big problem is in setting the rope horizontally, the gameplay of doing it, including resetting it if the player makes a mistake. The frobbing to recollect it would have to change. Esme suggested being able to pluck it out from either side, near or far. If they have body-awareness, it really slows down production. We could have tightrope (which would mean either automatic movement or a return of the older titles' fine control of moving where the camera is pointing, not the feet), or hanging and going hand over hand, or with the feet on the rope, too, with hand over hand.
Swinging dynamic ropes that are subject to the physics engine, while the player character is able to stay connected and stable almost all the time, barring explosions are something causing it to whip around. Ropes that can uncoil over slanted surfaces, like pitched roofs, are possible, as in the Dark Mod. More movement is desired, certainly.
Beleg Cúthalion on 19/10/2009 at 07:31
Since the rope arrow is a very... difficult thing in terms of reality (even in-game reality) in the first place I fear that too many other purposes could make it more freaky. And the really (
http://www.thief-thecircle.com/fanworks/art/castiello/showimage.asp?source=6.jpg) creative ideas wouldn't be necessarily thievy I guess. :p I wouldn't mind a fully-functional grappling hook.
Iroquois on 19/10/2009 at 17:36
After Arkham Asylum, I expect a grapple device somewhere there and to be honest, I always wondered why Garrett never carried any, but maybe that's just because I'm a Batman fan.
If rope arrows are back, then multipurpose it is. But, once again, all that's just assuming the gameplay will be highly reminiscent of that of the original three titles.
Captain Spandex on 20/10/2009 at 06:49
I, too, was skeptical of how a 'tightrope' could be achieved with the rope arrow...
...then I played Ghostbusters.
The function where you throw a tether into something, then it constricts and pulls objects... honestly, with a good physics engine, I think it could easily be adapted into a very cool tightrope mechanic. A grapple hook is more practical, but Rope Arrows are... just more 'Thief'.
Bakerman on 20/10/2009 at 08:51
I think being able to make 'rope bridges' would be a great way to empower player movement, though it seems like with the current rope arrow paradigm it would be tricky - the rope comes out of the arrow, instead of remaining tethered at the firer's position. That's a great simple system - rope arrows are just simple and intuitive to use, so it would be nice if they didn't have to mess with that.
Swinging on ropes would be a lot of fun as well - any ideas how it might fit in the control scheme?
Iroquois on 20/10/2009 at 19:26
It wouldn't be that hard if the timing was decided by the game for you. You reach the end of the swing and it prompts you to hit a key to jump to the next or something like that.
Same with the tight rope thing. You shoot a rope arrow and the game asks you to tap a key to tie the other end to an obstacle on the map.
Bakerman on 20/10/2009 at 23:26
But how would you be swinging in the first place? Movement keys are already used to move up and down the rope, except for strafing, but it would be kind of weird to have to strafe to swing. I guess if you leaped onto the rope you'd be swinging - but I was thinking about starting to swing while already on the rope.
And my point about tethering was that the other end of the rope is actually inside the rope arrow, unless they changed them to make non-magical rope arrows - which would totally solve the problem.
Malleus on 20/10/2009 at 23:56
You didn't try The Dark Mod? You can swing on ropes in it. Once you grabbed a rope, you press the attack button to swing forward. Then you can use the existing momentum to make larger swing if you press the attack button again at the right moment (and face the right direction).
Bakerman on 21/10/2009 at 02:33
Nope, I don't own Doom 3. I plan on getting it next time I see it, though. Anyway, that sounds good. I forgot that being on a rope freed up the hands and therefore the mouse butons.
