07-25-2015, 03:25 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-03-2018, 03:33 PM by Dane Regan.)
The Move Approval topic often gets clogged up with moves that are obviously unbalanced or which need help, which members can often assist with. Thus this topic! If you're creating a move, try posting it here first. Other members are free to give feedback, point out imbalances, or other things which staff members are likely to pick up on. This saves time for everyone. Staff members may read this thread, and we may try to correct anything stated here that's "wrong", but we will always try to leave feedback and discussion to other members.
Remember that advice given by members is just that, and is not necessarily a representation of what a staff member is going to say. This is more of a discussion topic for creating moves so that the move approval topic can stay cleaner.
Relevant links:
Move Approval Topic
Moves Guide/FAQ
Move Rules
Advise: If you're not sure about whether a move is balanced or possible, don't worry so much about it. That experience is something people tend to build up over time. One thing you can focus on is whether a move has the right proficiencies listed and whether it has the required information. Both the Move Requirements and Writing Moves parts of the Move Rules have some useful information, including two helpful checklists it may be worth looking through:
[spoiler]
• Is it melee-based? If so, you'll need the Physical Strength proficiency.
• Does it attack at range? If yes, you'll need the Ranged Proficiency.
• Is the target area larger than three feet in diameter? Can it miss and still do damage from 'splash' damage? If yes, you'll need the Area Attack Proficiency.
• Is the shield larger than three feet in diameter? If so, you'll need the Area Defense Proficiency.
• Can it be manually controlled by the user at range, like an appendage made out of an element? If yes, you'll need the Remote Control Proficiency.
• Can it be manifested at range, like a wall of sand or a pillar of flame? If yes, you'll need the Ranged Materialize Proficiency.
• Can it home in on an opponent without needing to be aimed? If yes, you'll need the Homing Proficiency.
• Can it boost an ally's fighting abilities in some way? If yes, you'll need the Buff Proficiency.
• Does it inflict lingering negative 'debuffs' on opponents, for example by slowing speed or interfering with their senses? If yes, you'll need the Debuff Proficiency.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]
• Is it instantaneous, or quick to use? Or is it slow? (Almost instantaneous? A moment? Several seconds? Longer? Be specific.) Required for almost all moves (exclusions include weapons that exist in real-life). Examples: "This move takes a half-second to execute." "This move takes fifteen seconds to charge." "This move is almost instantaneous."
• Can the user move around or do other things while using/charging the move, or must they be stationary? Required for all moves except weapons that exist in real-life. Examples: "Can be used while moving at full speed." "Slows the user to half speed while using." "Must be stationary to use." "Can be used while moving, but splits focus, making it harder to aim and use at full strength."
• Is it difficult to aim? Must it be aimed at all? Unless otherwise stated, we assume ranged moves are neither easier nor harder to aim than an average projectile of its type, or a thrown object for spells and the like. Not necessary for for melee weapons. Examples: "This move is extremely difficult to hit with past ten metres."
• Once activated, how fast does it travel? Required for original attacks and spells, but not for bullets and arrows unless they are different from the assumed speed. Examples: "Moves slowly at about five feet per second." "Moves about as fast as a thrown tennis ball." "Moves as fast as an arrow." "Moves as fast as a bullet."
• Does it have a limited range or does it travel until hitting something? Unless otherwise stated, we assume the latter. Examples: "Loses speed and height past ten metres."
• Does the user have to keep their focus on the move, or is it 'fire and forget'? Unless the move requires you to keep your focus, we assume it's fire-and-forget. Examples: "The user has to stay focused on channelling the spell and cannot move or attack, otherwise it dissipates instantly."
• How powerful is it? We assume that quick moves and/or moves with few downsides have low power, and slow moves and/or moves with large/many downsides have high power. However, it may help clarity to state whether you intend for this to be a weak, strong or moderately-powerful attack. Examples: "This move is fairly weak." "This move is moderately strong." "This move is quite powerful."
• Does it have a wide area of effect, or multiple projectiles? Unless otherwise stated, we assume it does not. Example: "After hitting, the fireball explodes with a five-meter diameter."
• How big is the weapon? Length is required for all melee weapons, width should be included for axe-heads, greatsword blades or other very large weapons. Examples: "The sword is about two and a half feet long total." "The sword is about five feet long, and a foot in thickness at the base of the blade."
• What size/diameter are the projectiles? Required for any projectile, unless it's a simple bullet/arrow. Examples: "The spikes are around the length of a hand, and the thickness of a finger." "At one second charged, the fireball is one foot in diameter, but increases to around ten feet by the time it has been charged for ten seconds."
• Does it have effects that linger after the user is no longer performing the move? If so, how long do they last? If not included, we assume it does not. Attacks that slow or immobilise the opponents are usually based on the difference between the attacker's ATK and TEC, and the defender's DEF and TEC. Examples: "Immobilises the target for a half-second if the user's ATK/TEC and the target's DEF/TEC are equal. Up to a second if the target's stats are half of the attacker's, and not at all if the defender's stats are double that of the attacker's." "Slows the target hit for ten seconds, during which time they gradually speed back up to normal speed."
• What does it look like? How is it performed? How does it feel to get hit with it? These are 'fluff' details, but should be included if not obvious, so that other players may write your character using the move in fights.
• Is the move variable, or does it have a fixed method of use? If the move is variable, you should include how, otherwise this is not necessary.
[/spoiler]
Remember that advice given by members is just that, and is not necessarily a representation of what a staff member is going to say. This is more of a discussion topic for creating moves so that the move approval topic can stay cleaner.
Relevant links:
Move Approval Topic
Moves Guide/FAQ
Move Rules
Advise: If you're not sure about whether a move is balanced or possible, don't worry so much about it. That experience is something people tend to build up over time. One thing you can focus on is whether a move has the right proficiencies listed and whether it has the required information. Both the Move Requirements and Writing Moves parts of the Move Rules have some useful information, including two helpful checklists it may be worth looking through:
[spoiler]
• Is it melee-based? If so, you'll need the Physical Strength proficiency.
• Does it attack at range? If yes, you'll need the Ranged Proficiency.
• Is the target area larger than three feet in diameter? Can it miss and still do damage from 'splash' damage? If yes, you'll need the Area Attack Proficiency.
• Is the shield larger than three feet in diameter? If so, you'll need the Area Defense Proficiency.
• Can it be manually controlled by the user at range, like an appendage made out of an element? If yes, you'll need the Remote Control Proficiency.
• Can it be manifested at range, like a wall of sand or a pillar of flame? If yes, you'll need the Ranged Materialize Proficiency.
• Can it home in on an opponent without needing to be aimed? If yes, you'll need the Homing Proficiency.
• Can it boost an ally's fighting abilities in some way? If yes, you'll need the Buff Proficiency.
• Does it inflict lingering negative 'debuffs' on opponents, for example by slowing speed or interfering with their senses? If yes, you'll need the Debuff Proficiency.[/spoiler]
[spoiler]
• Is it instantaneous, or quick to use? Or is it slow? (Almost instantaneous? A moment? Several seconds? Longer? Be specific.) Required for almost all moves (exclusions include weapons that exist in real-life). Examples: "This move takes a half-second to execute." "This move takes fifteen seconds to charge." "This move is almost instantaneous."
• Can the user move around or do other things while using/charging the move, or must they be stationary? Required for all moves except weapons that exist in real-life. Examples: "Can be used while moving at full speed." "Slows the user to half speed while using." "Must be stationary to use." "Can be used while moving, but splits focus, making it harder to aim and use at full strength."
• Is it difficult to aim? Must it be aimed at all? Unless otherwise stated, we assume ranged moves are neither easier nor harder to aim than an average projectile of its type, or a thrown object for spells and the like. Not necessary for for melee weapons. Examples: "This move is extremely difficult to hit with past ten metres."
• Once activated, how fast does it travel? Required for original attacks and spells, but not for bullets and arrows unless they are different from the assumed speed. Examples: "Moves slowly at about five feet per second." "Moves about as fast as a thrown tennis ball." "Moves as fast as an arrow." "Moves as fast as a bullet."
• Does it have a limited range or does it travel until hitting something? Unless otherwise stated, we assume the latter. Examples: "Loses speed and height past ten metres."
• Does the user have to keep their focus on the move, or is it 'fire and forget'? Unless the move requires you to keep your focus, we assume it's fire-and-forget. Examples: "The user has to stay focused on channelling the spell and cannot move or attack, otherwise it dissipates instantly."
• How powerful is it? We assume that quick moves and/or moves with few downsides have low power, and slow moves and/or moves with large/many downsides have high power. However, it may help clarity to state whether you intend for this to be a weak, strong or moderately-powerful attack. Examples: "This move is fairly weak." "This move is moderately strong." "This move is quite powerful."
• Does it have a wide area of effect, or multiple projectiles? Unless otherwise stated, we assume it does not. Example: "After hitting, the fireball explodes with a five-meter diameter."
• How big is the weapon? Length is required for all melee weapons, width should be included for axe-heads, greatsword blades or other very large weapons. Examples: "The sword is about two and a half feet long total." "The sword is about five feet long, and a foot in thickness at the base of the blade."
• What size/diameter are the projectiles? Required for any projectile, unless it's a simple bullet/arrow. Examples: "The spikes are around the length of a hand, and the thickness of a finger." "At one second charged, the fireball is one foot in diameter, but increases to around ten feet by the time it has been charged for ten seconds."
• Does it have effects that linger after the user is no longer performing the move? If so, how long do they last? If not included, we assume it does not. Attacks that slow or immobilise the opponents are usually based on the difference between the attacker's ATK and TEC, and the defender's DEF and TEC. Examples: "Immobilises the target for a half-second if the user's ATK/TEC and the target's DEF/TEC are equal. Up to a second if the target's stats are half of the attacker's, and not at all if the defender's stats are double that of the attacker's." "Slows the target hit for ten seconds, during which time they gradually speed back up to normal speed."
• What does it look like? How is it performed? How does it feel to get hit with it? These are 'fluff' details, but should be included if not obvious, so that other players may write your character using the move in fights.
• Is the move variable, or does it have a fixed method of use? If the move is variable, you should include how, otherwise this is not necessary.
[/spoiler]
Quote:Fixed the links and added in some info.
-Dane
Curious about me and the characters I play? See the 'Staff' page! See also the rosters for my characters Samus Aran or Enel if you'd like to see examples of well-formatted rosters. Hope you enjoy the Omniverse!