Shards update
So I wanted the player to have the ability to run from an incoming attack, and hide behind an enemy to have that enemy get hit instead. It seemed like a good idea at first, until I realized that when enemies are bunched up they can be significantly more dangerous to each other than the player is, especially when they're using area affect attacks. So dangerous that it's too significant of an advantage for the player as they blow themselves up.
To negate this, I'd have to at least implement line of sight for the enemies, which isn't a problem, but it would still be a pretty 'stupid' check because I'm not good enough of a coder to write an ai that'll check what units will be in the way by the time the attack gets there (especially since units change their minds about what they're doing frequently), so I'm thinking that's one feature the game is going to have to go without.
The combo mode is implemented!
You can now string attacks together, unpause the game and watch them play out. Alternately you can leave combo mode off and input them one at a time for one click command input and resuming of action (I've been trying to reduce the number of clicks needed to as few as possible to streamline the ui).
In a lot of RPGs, there are abilities you can select from a list which are essentially a string of attacks that play out exactly the same each time. That doesn't give the player any interesting choices other than the initial choice of using that combo rather than another.
There are games out there that let you make your own combos, but in the ones I've seen there isn't much difference between which attacks the player uses. A punch will do damage, and so will a kick.
In Shards, you get to make your own combos, and each move has its own advantages and disadvantages. Normal attacks are quick but weak. Spin slashing hits in 360 degrees, but uses more sp and has a higher recovery time, which isn't good if an opponent blocks it. Hitting harder causes more damage and knocks the enemy back, but isn't as quick to hit with, uses more sp and has a higher recovery time.
Advantages and disadvantages to each, and no one move is always superior. Interesting choices!
Next step
I think I'm getting close to the point where the game is ready for a first video, I just need to fix a few bugs and make some animations so the characters aren't performing all their actions in the same pose.