(Please help proofread prior to publication: spelling, grammar, and pointing out any inconsistency or confusing section. Gameplay feedback not needed until later, we want to focus on getting the book to print).
Omniframes
Omniframes are lightweight, powered-armor designed for combat operations. Gatestriders use military grade omniframes to run defense and escort support for mining THMPRs. While the THMPR mines, players pilot omniframes to defend it from waves of attacking Tsi-Hsu, and to escort the THMPR back to the closest refinery when mining is complete.
Players can craft, collect, and customize multiple omniframes. Players can customize their omniframe to suit their play-style or role by slotting different upgrades and components into their frames. The configurations can be saved, named and shared in a database with other players. Player omniframe hangers can also be expanded to allow the collection and storage of more omniframes. Players may customize the look of their omniframe by purchasing skins, emotes, and sound fx from the game’s online store.
Classless Design
Instead of confining players to “classes,” Em-8ER lets players define their own role. Players start by selecting one of the three variants of frametypes: light, medium and heavy. There is a common pool of crafted upgrades and components shared by all frames, as well as suites of upgrades and components that are exclusive to each frametype. Building an omniframe may remind players (loosely) of building a small “deck” for a collectible card game.
All frametypes share a common pool of craftable upgrades and components. In addition, there are many abilities, weapons, and abilities unique to each of the three frametypes. By combining common upgrades and components with those exclusive to the frametype, players will be able to create a wide variety of omniframes. Each omniframe will have its own unique signature and unique style of play. Players can name their unique frametype and share its specifications in an online database.
Movement
Omniframes are a class of MEK (Mechanically Enhanced Kinetics). Operators are called pilots, and the MEKs behave like lightweight vehicles. They are highly mobile and feature three primary mobility modes:
Omniframe Mobility Modes:
Movement modes can be tweaked and upgraded by crafting and slotting upgrades. Potential ideas for tweaks include speed, recharge rates, and various boosts. Additional movement modes, such as vectored dodge and grappling hooks may also be added in the future given enough budget and time.
Shields, Armor and Damage Types
Omniframes are equipped with both energy shields and armor. Any living creature, including the omniframe pilot, also has health (note, this means the THMPR only has shields and armor, as it is not a living entity). Energy shields are useful against ranged weapons but less so against melee. Armor is effective against both projectile and melee weapons. Shields can regenerate over time when players are not taking damage, while armor never regenerates and must be repaired either in the field or at the nearest base or facility. Health does not normally regenerate, but can be healed in the field or at the nearest base or facility.
There are also a few main categories of damage types being contemplated in Em-8ER. The effectiveness of shields and armor varies against each damage type:
Melee Damage – Melee damage is damage cause by natural weapons (claws, Kaiju chomps, tail whips, etc.) as well as melee weapons (powered hammers, swords, etc.). Melee damage is progressively more effective against equal sized or smaller targets, and progressively less effective against targets larger than the attacker. Targets in Em-8ER are categorized as small, medium, large, and monstrous (the biggest Kaiju). Melee damage is only partially absorbed by shields, and most of the damage passes through to armor beneath the shields.
Kinetic Damage – Kinetic damage is damage caused by most ranged weapons that hurl anything of mass against a target, explosives, and some abilities. Kinetic damage is equally effective against all sizes of targets. Kinetic damage must go through shields before it can affect armor, and pass through armor before it can affect health.
Energy Damage – Energy damage is caused by ranged energy weapons, some explosives, and some abilities. Energy damage is equally effective against all target sizes. Energy damage is very effective against shields, but less so against armor. Energy damage is very effective against health if no shields or armor are present.
Splash Damage – Splash damage is any non-direct damage that is incurred, no matter what the source of the original damage. Large and monstrous targets are less affected by Splash Damage. Shields are very effective against splash damage, while splash damage does normal damage against armor and health. For AOE weapons and abilities, this means that direct targets of AOE will incur the primary damage type of the attack, while everyone farther away will only incur splash damage. Splash damage does not result in critical hits.
Progressive Damage and Critical Hits
Omniframes incur progressive damage to components if they sustain critical hits. An Omniframe whose shields are down, and which is already heavily damaged, has a chance to sustain critical damage if hit by a direct weapon. Critical damage affects the vital systems of the omniframe or THMPR. A critical hit usually results in random damage to a particular system such as a weapon, an ability, shield regeneration, jump-jets, wings, movement and other systems. If a system is critically hit, it becomes inoperable or less effective. An omniframe may lose the ability to jump-jet, or skim, or may walk or run with a limp. Abilities may go offline, and passive or other systems may go down. Repairs to critical system can be made in the field or at the nearest base or facility.
Creating Custom Frames – The Frametype
While players will be provided with a stock choice of frametypes at the beginning of the game, players will eventually unlock the ability to craft their own omniframes. Designing and crafting an omniframe begins with choosing between the light, medium and heavy frametypes. The type of frametype a player selects affects:
When players create a new frame from scratch, players can craft its exact parameters, choosing the balance between armor, power and speed. Choosing more armor will generally decrease speed and power. Increasing power with a larger reaction core will decrease speed and armor, but may enhance shield upgrades. After selecting the balance players desire, the resources needed will be calculated. If players have the resources on hand, they can craft the frame, otherwise they can queue the resources to their resource tracker. Adding resources to the resource tracker will help remind players of what resources they need when out in the field.
Power Allocation
Omniframes are powered by a reaction core. Reaction cores generate power over time, filling up a reserve that can be used to power frame abilities, countermeasures, movement, weapons and defensive systems. Abilities recharge by draining power from the Reaction core. Jumpjets recharge in this way too. Power can be prioritized between Mobility, Abilities/Weapons and Defense.
Using keyboard shortcuts, power can be shared equally or diverted to:
By default, each main system (Mobility, Weapons/Abilities, and Defensive systems) receives 33% of the total power produced by the reaction core. Diverting power to prioritize one system over another will boost the prioritized system to 60% power and divert 20% each to the remaining systems. The amount of power diverted to each system can be customized if the omniframe has a power-manager installed. A power-manager upgrade allows a player to customize the exact amount of power allocated to each system by default, as well as the three priority settings.
Slots
Each frametype also has a set number and type of slots available to it. Slots are where players can insert upgrades or components to improve or customize their omniframe. Light frametypes have more slots and less overall power, while heavy frametypes have a lot of power but fewer slots for upgrades. Medium frametypes offer a balanced amount of slots and power.
Slots fall into categories. Each category and its slots and upgrades are listed in a different section of the omniframe upgrade user interface. Upgrades and components must match the slot type they are slotted into. All frames have these base slot categories:
In addition to these standard categories, omniframes have specialized slots depending on their frametype:
There is only one “constraint” in Em-8ER’s upgrade system, and that is the total power cost of a players upgrades and components.
Each upgrade, in addition to requiring a free slot in the omniframe, also carries a power cost. The power cost is the amount of power consumed by the upgrade or component when slotted. The total power cost of a player’s upgrades cannot exceed the total power capacity of the frame’s reaction core.
Frametypes also determine the size of the reaction core that is available to power its upgrades and components. Generally, larger frametypes have bigger reaction cores and more power. But this can be customized (within the bounds of the frametype), by the player, when they create their own omniframe.
Generally, upgrades and components exclusive to lighter frametypes will cost less power, and those exclusive to heavy frametypes will cost more.
Omniframes
Omniframes are lightweight, powered-armor designed for combat operations. Gatestriders use military grade omniframes to run defense and escort support for mining THMPRs. While the THMPR mines, players pilot omniframes to defend it from waves of attacking Tsi-Hsu, and to escort the THMPR back to the closest refinery when mining is complete.
Players can craft, collect, and customize multiple omniframes. Players can customize their omniframe to suit their play-style or role by slotting different upgrades and components into their frames. The configurations can be saved, named and shared in a database with other players. Player omniframe hangers can also be expanded to allow the collection and storage of more omniframes. Players may customize the look of their omniframe by purchasing skins, emotes, and sound fx from the game’s online store.
Classless Design
Instead of confining players to “classes,” Em-8ER lets players define their own role. Players start by selecting one of the three variants of frametypes: light, medium and heavy. There is a common pool of crafted upgrades and components shared by all frames, as well as suites of upgrades and components that are exclusive to each frametype. Building an omniframe may remind players (loosely) of building a small “deck” for a collectible card game.
- Light Frames: Light frames can be tailored for support roles such as healing, engineering (deployables), stealth and recon (snipers, etc.).
- Medium Frames: Medium frames range from general purpose assault roles, to a range of roles suited for “front-of-line” duties.
- Heavy Frames: Heavy frames specialize in heavy armor, high energy weapons, and artillery. They also provide heavy armor for tanking duties.
All frametypes share a common pool of craftable upgrades and components. In addition, there are many abilities, weapons, and abilities unique to each of the three frametypes. By combining common upgrades and components with those exclusive to the frametype, players will be able to create a wide variety of omniframes. Each omniframe will have its own unique signature and unique style of play. Players can name their unique frametype and share its specifications in an online database.
Movement
Omniframes are a class of MEK (Mechanically Enhanced Kinetics). Operators are called pilots, and the MEKs behave like lightweight vehicles. They are highly mobile and feature three primary mobility modes:
Omniframe Mobility Modes:
- Skim: Omniframes can assume a low stance, unfolding their wings and activating their jump jets to enable skim mode. Omniframes can skim, hovering just slightly above the ground, for long distances. Skimming drains the reaction core, meaning shields and abilities must recharge after skimming.
- Jump-Jets: Jump-jets enable omniframes to gain altitude for brief periods of time. Omniframes use vectored thrust, and can hover and maneuver briefly while in the air. Jump-jets are used to achieve the altitude necessary to engage larger Kaiju, who have shield generators and other enhancements implanted high along their spine.
- Glide: By leaping from a height and deploying their wings, omniframes can glide over great distances. While they can’t self-launch, an omniframe can glide from any higher land to lower ground.
Movement modes can be tweaked and upgraded by crafting and slotting upgrades. Potential ideas for tweaks include speed, recharge rates, and various boosts. Additional movement modes, such as vectored dodge and grappling hooks may also be added in the future given enough budget and time.
Shields, Armor and Damage Types
Omniframes are equipped with both energy shields and armor. Any living creature, including the omniframe pilot, also has health (note, this means the THMPR only has shields and armor, as it is not a living entity). Energy shields are useful against ranged weapons but less so against melee. Armor is effective against both projectile and melee weapons. Shields can regenerate over time when players are not taking damage, while armor never regenerates and must be repaired either in the field or at the nearest base or facility. Health does not normally regenerate, but can be healed in the field or at the nearest base or facility.
There are also a few main categories of damage types being contemplated in Em-8ER. The effectiveness of shields and armor varies against each damage type:
Melee Damage – Melee damage is damage cause by natural weapons (claws, Kaiju chomps, tail whips, etc.) as well as melee weapons (powered hammers, swords, etc.). Melee damage is progressively more effective against equal sized or smaller targets, and progressively less effective against targets larger than the attacker. Targets in Em-8ER are categorized as small, medium, large, and monstrous (the biggest Kaiju). Melee damage is only partially absorbed by shields, and most of the damage passes through to armor beneath the shields.
Kinetic Damage – Kinetic damage is damage caused by most ranged weapons that hurl anything of mass against a target, explosives, and some abilities. Kinetic damage is equally effective against all sizes of targets. Kinetic damage must go through shields before it can affect armor, and pass through armor before it can affect health.
Energy Damage – Energy damage is caused by ranged energy weapons, some explosives, and some abilities. Energy damage is equally effective against all target sizes. Energy damage is very effective against shields, but less so against armor. Energy damage is very effective against health if no shields or armor are present.
Splash Damage – Splash damage is any non-direct damage that is incurred, no matter what the source of the original damage. Large and monstrous targets are less affected by Splash Damage. Shields are very effective against splash damage, while splash damage does normal damage against armor and health. For AOE weapons and abilities, this means that direct targets of AOE will incur the primary damage type of the attack, while everyone farther away will only incur splash damage. Splash damage does not result in critical hits.
Progressive Damage and Critical Hits
Omniframes incur progressive damage to components if they sustain critical hits. An Omniframe whose shields are down, and which is already heavily damaged, has a chance to sustain critical damage if hit by a direct weapon. Critical damage affects the vital systems of the omniframe or THMPR. A critical hit usually results in random damage to a particular system such as a weapon, an ability, shield regeneration, jump-jets, wings, movement and other systems. If a system is critically hit, it becomes inoperable or less effective. An omniframe may lose the ability to jump-jet, or skim, or may walk or run with a limp. Abilities may go offline, and passive or other systems may go down. Repairs to critical system can be made in the field or at the nearest base or facility.
Creating Custom Frames – The Frametype
While players will be provided with a stock choice of frametypes at the beginning of the game, players will eventually unlock the ability to craft their own omniframes. Designing and crafting an omniframe begins with choosing between the light, medium and heavy frametypes. The type of frametype a player selects affects:
- The maximum armor, power and speed of the omniframe.
- The weapon types available to the frame (sniper rifles, assault weapons, heavy weapons, etc.).
- The number and type of upgrades slots available for abilities, passives, sensors and other types of upgrades.
When players create a new frame from scratch, players can craft its exact parameters, choosing the balance between armor, power and speed. Choosing more armor will generally decrease speed and power. Increasing power with a larger reaction core will decrease speed and armor, but may enhance shield upgrades. After selecting the balance players desire, the resources needed will be calculated. If players have the resources on hand, they can craft the frame, otherwise they can queue the resources to their resource tracker. Adding resources to the resource tracker will help remind players of what resources they need when out in the field.
Power Allocation
Omniframes are powered by a reaction core. Reaction cores generate power over time, filling up a reserve that can be used to power frame abilities, countermeasures, movement, weapons and defensive systems. Abilities recharge by draining power from the Reaction core. Jumpjets recharge in this way too. Power can be prioritized between Mobility, Abilities/Weapons and Defense.
Using keyboard shortcuts, power can be shared equally or diverted to:
- Prioritize power to movement speed, jump-jets, glide and skim (travel) modes.
- Prioritize power to abilities and weapon systems. Abilities recharge faster, weapons recharge faster or do more damage.
- Prioritize power to defensive systems. Shields recharge faster, and if an auto-repair module is slotted, this will increase the rate of repairs.
By default, each main system (Mobility, Weapons/Abilities, and Defensive systems) receives 33% of the total power produced by the reaction core. Diverting power to prioritize one system over another will boost the prioritized system to 60% power and divert 20% each to the remaining systems. The amount of power diverted to each system can be customized if the omniframe has a power-manager installed. A power-manager upgrade allows a player to customize the exact amount of power allocated to each system by default, as well as the three priority settings.
Slots
Each frametype also has a set number and type of slots available to it. Slots are where players can insert upgrades or components to improve or customize their omniframe. Light frametypes have more slots and less overall power, while heavy frametypes have a lot of power but fewer slots for upgrades. Medium frametypes offer a balanced amount of slots and power.
Slots fall into categories. Each category and its slots and upgrades are listed in a different section of the omniframe upgrade user interface. Upgrades and components must match the slot type they are slotted into. All frames have these base slot categories:
- Sensors (omniframe head)
- Movement (jump-jets, servos, wings, etc.)
- Active Abilities (abilities that the player can trigger and control)
- Passive Abilities (abilities and upgrades that function in the background automatically)
- Primary Weapon (the primary weapon used by the omniframe)
- Secondary Weapon (the secondary weapon used by the omniframe)
- Melee Weapon (the melee weapon used by the omniframe)
In addition to these standard categories, omniframes have specialized slots depending on their frametype:
- Light frametypes: Light frametypes have an additional slot for their melee weapon and can dual wield melee weapons.
- Medium frametypes: Medium frametypes have an additional slot for both their secondary weapons, allowing them to dual wield certain guns.
- Heavy frametypes: Heavy frametypes have an additional slot for a shield.
There is only one “constraint” in Em-8ER’s upgrade system, and that is the total power cost of a players upgrades and components.
Each upgrade, in addition to requiring a free slot in the omniframe, also carries a power cost. The power cost is the amount of power consumed by the upgrade or component when slotted. The total power cost of a player’s upgrades cannot exceed the total power capacity of the frame’s reaction core.
Frametypes also determine the size of the reaction core that is available to power its upgrades and components. Generally, larger frametypes have bigger reaction cores and more power. But this can be customized (within the bounds of the frametype), by the player, when they create their own omniframe.
Generally, upgrades and components exclusive to lighter frametypes will cost less power, and those exclusive to heavy frametypes will cost more.
