For Secrets of the Obscure, I worked on what we call our Build-a-Boss system. For further context, in randomized open world boss fights across the maps these bosses have randomized attacks which are pulled from the suite of Build-a-Boss skills.

I was assigned to assess the most outdated aspects of the system, and specifically change 3 of the 12 attacks. Part of this task was also understanding how this system works since there was little to no documentation on it.

These mechanics are picked from a list that specifically work with the design of the creature. This allows us to revitalize older content and make repetitive encounters more fun. I identified several which didn't work to create interesting fights / confused players. In the engine the way these attacks work is very strange and highly particular, so much so that they require their own specific design process. A lot of the constraints that come with these kinds of attacks and combat scenarios are incredibly difficult to work with and, without restraint, can cause designers to create overly complicated designs. So, for these revised and redesigned attacks I simplified them as much as possible and made them approachable for any kind of player, ranged or melee, hardcore or casual.

It was also important for me to think about where these attacks will be used in the open world. While we do have control over where the encounter starts there are too many of these kinds of boss fights spread across the game for any designer to tailor that. This became an additional constraint on the design of these attacks, but one I knew my approach of simplification would address as well. Mostly these attacks are used in our “Rifts” a type of infinitely grind-able open world boss rush gauntlet, so I could rely on these specific instances as example cases.

After my changes were approved and implemented, I used what I had learned and researched from other games to draft a document about updating and redesigning more of the overall combat systems / adding new excitement to the Rifts.

Below are the details of the most difficult skills to redesign.

Ley Energy Build Up

This skill was very difficult to redesign mainly due to the way it was originally coded as well as how the system calls this attack. Ley Energy Build Up introduces a new mechanic into the fight where players get hit by lightning if they don’t enter a radius of an electric orb to ‘discharge’.

Before my changes:

• AOEs would appear at totally random locations, punishing all players for trying to fight in their preferred way

• AOEs would also appear on top of each other and thus commonly cause bugs to appear which are inherent in our game systems.

• On top of all this the attack was extremely punishing and would quickly build up more damage over time.

• Any mobile enemy would also cause issues with these AOEs, lasting too long in areas outside of the fight.

After my changes:

• AOEs were designed to specifically spawn in three rings around the monster so that ranged, melee, and mid range players were able to discharge. This placement would also ensure no overlap with other AOE’s reducing the amount of bugs that could appear.

• The respawn time was increased for the AOEs to make sure that they moved and appeared in more frequency. So for instance if one spawned in an area that wasn’t close, a player they could choose to take the damage and wait for the next station to be closer, or move towards it. This reduced the impact of bad luck and increased more chances for risk and reward.

• I decreased the damage and slowed the build up both slightly. This is to make sure casual players aren’t penalized for not immediately dealing with the mechanics of the fight.

• I added a visual message that played on the third and increased the size of the AOEs and their respective hovering orbs. This made sure the more complicated aspects of the mechanics were communicated more frequently.