Yes, I know that there are already several Ranger's Apprentice games out there. Some are terrible, some are decent, but none of them reach the quality that the series deserves of a game adaption. I have decided to change this. What I lack, however, is an artist. I will submit a list here of all the costumes I need.

So what can you expect from this Ranger's Apprentice game?

You can expect an RPG-like feel to it. The basic movement is top down, inspired by a very similar Ranger's Apprentice game on Scratch (thanks, 16cchandler). You can expect a plot that covers the first book, Ruins of Gorlan, a balanced leveling system, and various locations. You can expect an archery system that will take into account more than just whether your mouse is aligned to the opponent; expect to judge distance, wind, obstacles, shields, and similar when you aim.

How does combat work in this game?

Expect this as a typical combat situation. You will be facing groups ranging from five to fifteen opponents at any one time, each of whom starts at a significant distance from Will. They will start to run towards you; the goal here is to take out as many as possible before they reach you. You start with a quiver of arrows, ranging from six to twenty four depending on the number of upgrades you got for it. To shoot, hold down left click, drawing the bow. At the top of the screen variables such as the direction and force of the wind will turn up; you need to judge the distance of your targets as well, before adjusting your aim and letting go of the mouse.

Now lets say they have reached you. Either that or you are out of arrows. Not having time to aim, seeing the first mere meters away, you can quickly tap W to throw your knife. But you can only use this once every fight. Now the second is on you, attacking again and again. What do you do? B;pcl by holding Q, then hit back with E. This is a typical combat situation, though the speed and number of opponents can vary.

Note that the costumes are sorted in groups of Priorities - showing the most necessary to the least. Priority 1 is the most necessary.

Priority 1 - Basic Archery, Will

-Will, seen from over his shoulder, from behind. Two copies of this, one in normal clothing, one in ranger's clothing. Every frame after this is Will in his Rangers' cloak and hood.
-For both of those, Will walking from side to side. A few frames each direction.
-Will, seen from behind over his shoulder, bow in his hand.
-A few frames of Will drawing back the bowstring with an arrow in it. To be shown when you draw an arrow. Over the shoulder, once again, from behind
-The same frames, but in reverse order without the arrow. To be shown after the arrow is shot.

Uses: The game itself will have various over the shoulder archery situations to replace combat. They rely on rapid, accurate aiming; you only have a certain amount of arrows for each fight, and taking too long to aim leads to the enemy reaching Will. The player can hold down the mouse to draw an arrow, aim, and release the mouse to fire; however, you also need to account for wind and distance.

Priority 2 - Combat, Will

-Will recoiling, to be shown when the player takes damage - this should only be him leaning back slightly. Once again, over the shoulder from behind. Every frame in this section is over the shoulder from behind. Around three frames long, at least.
-Will collapsing to the ground, to be shown when the player is killed. Short animation.
-Will, raising his knife slightly above his head. This is a short block animation.
-Will, slashing with the knife. This is the melee attack animation.
-Will, raising a knife above his head, before throwing it. Short animation.

Uses: A fight does not end in a ‘game over’ screen when enemies get within striking range. Priority 2 is for melee combat, as well as the short ranged knife throw. Will can move from side to side with A and D, as in Priority 1 costumes, but in close range he needs to use his knife. Press Q to block with the knife, E to stab with it. You can also quickly throw a single knife when the situation demands it, short range but no need to account for wind in your throw.

Priority 3 - Enemies

-A Wargal, seen from in front. Holds a small ax or mace, with a round shield in its other hand. Short forward moving walk animation. From the front.
-Same Wargal, recoiling slightly in a short animation. Shown when wounded.
-Same Wargal, except collapsing backwards in a short animation. Shown when killed.
-Same Wargal, swinging its weapon
-Same Wargal, running to the side Small animation, front view
-Same Wargal, running diagonally left down, and right down. Small animation, front view
-A target, with a few arrows in it.
-A boar, sniffing the ground. From the front
-The same boar, running forward, from the front
-The same boar, collapsing on its side, seen from the front
-The same boar, swinging its tusks. Shown when it attacks
-The same boar, running to the side
-The same boar, running diagonally bottom left and bottom right
-A Kalkara. Appears with large talons, covered in brownish grey hair, red eyes, very tall. Arms appearing too long for its body, red eyes.
-The same Kalkara, running forward. Short animation.
-The same Kalkara, swinging its arms as it attacks. Short animation.
-The same Kalkara, staggering slightly. Short animation, only a few frames.
-The same Kalkara, burning. It collapses to the ground, flails for a moment, then dies.
-The same Kalkara running to the side
-The same Kalkara running diagonally bottom left and bottom right

Uses: You can't have archery without enemies, can you? These are the animations needed for the enemies you have to target.

Priority 4 - Side Characters

-Halt, seen from in front. Ranger hood and cloak, bow slung over his back with quiver.
-Halt, seen from behind. Same as previous.
-Baron Arald, seen from the front. No weapons, expensive suit, with gold inlaid around the collar.
-Horace, seen from in front. Two costumes like this, one dressed normally, the other with chain mail armor and a sword.
-A guard, seen from in front. Armored, with a basic sword.
-A guard, seen from behind. Same as previous

Uses: Yes, movement when out of combat will be top-down. But what about when combat takes place near other characters? They will appear in the background, even if only for aesthetics.

Movement sprites will be handled when the combat engine is perfected.

What can be expected of this in future?

In future, I aim to make sequels, covering the plots of further books. Perhaps a new engine that perfects melee combat for playing as Horace or Gilan, and changing combat to allow Will or Halt to stalk their opponents unseen. If I reach The Icebound Land, you can safely expect to sail the Skandian ships. This is all assuming, however, that I can find an artist to do all this. Perhaps I may even branch off on a different path, and create sequels that follow fanfictions.

How long will this game take to make?

It depends on the artist's speed. If they can get priority 1 costumes done within a month of posting this, it will take me around 1-2 weeks for combat. Priority 2 means one extra week to handle the additional mechanics for combat. Priority 3 will take about 1-2 weeks to program when all those animations take place, while working Priority 4, missions, movement, plot and similar may take a month or two.

And it is not just one artist needed. Priority 3 may take one person months. I am inviting everyone to submit their costumes on any of these, not even an entire priority required to be covered. If you want, lets say, you can just do the Kalkara, or just Halt, but the important thing is that you do every one of your chosen part. If you just do Will's knife throw, for example, and someone else manages his archery animations, the difference will be noticed.

Any help, no matter how small, will be fully credited and listed in the finished game.

I will help! Im sorry, but, it will take me weeks to make one character, ( i dont own a computer) and can only draw small bits of blood, no gore, but can draw needed weapons ( i can only use computers at school.) GO RANGERS APPRENTICE!!!!!! Oh, and is pixely art style okay?

I'm a terrible artist, but I'd love to help with the programming.

Ideas:
The game is in levels. You complete the levels in order and can replay completed levels. You can also unlock additional characters and go back and replay previously completed levels as them.

The first two in Priority 2 could be replaced with a transperant red screen that blinks a few times when you are injured.

BUMP

I'll help. I'll do ideas and such. I am ADDICTED to Ranger's Apprentice

Im glad there is more Ranger's fans out there!

jji10 wrote:

I'll help. I'll do ideas and such. I am ADDICTED to Ranger's Apprentice

Are you any good at art?

Well, the first book's first half doesn't really have much action…so it'd need a really long intro without much combat.
It'd make more sense for it to start shortly before they set out to destroy the Kalkara.

Maybe instead of Will using his knife, Horace/another knight could act as an A.I. close range defender at times? Because Will trying to do battle at close range would be kinda suicidal.

Anyway, I suck at art, unfortunately…I could help for other things though. Maybe starting programming with placeholders would be better?

GCGCGC wrote:

Well, the first book's first half doesn't really have much action…so it'd need a really long intro without much combat.
It'd make more sense for it to start shortly before they set out to destroy the Kalkara.

Maybe instead of Will using his knife, Horace/another knight could act as an A.I. close range defender at times? Because Will trying to do battle at close range would be kinda suicidal.

Anyway, I suck at art, unfortunately…I could help for other things though. Maybe starting programming with placeholders would be better?

For action, there's the boar before they destroy the Kalkara.

Wrclass wrote:

jji10 wrote:

I'll help. I'll do ideas and such. I am ADDICTED to Ranger's Apprentice

Are you any good at art?

I'm more of an idea guy, but I can do art.

NOTE: Project dropped. Exams taking over my life