Would this be annoying in a game?

[Whataface2]

I was thinking about adding a status effect to one of the characters in the game. The status would take a small amount of hp from the character after a certain number of steps. The only way to cure the status would be to destroy the curse on the sword. I was thinking of having it appear later on in the game. Do you think it would add to game or take away from it?

[Wavelength]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

I think it would probably annoy most people, especially if the solution is to keep going to your menu screen and using heal spells or something. I could tolerate it if it lasted for like... one dungeon or something.

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

It sounds just as annoying as the poison status effect in Pokemon.

Maybe if it took... A lot of steps before you took damage. ...Maybe.

[Ωbright]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

I never really enjoyed using cursed items in games. The bonuses (if there even are any) almost never seem to be worth the pitfalls to me. Maybe if the bonuses are really, really good?

[Wavelength]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

I never really enjoyed using cursed items in games. The bonuses (if there even are any) almost never seem to be worth the pitfalls to me. Maybe if the bonuses are really, really good?

Mmmm, this brings up a good point. Is it a cursed item you can use, or is it a mandatory part of the plot? I assumed it was mandatory based on the original post but it's a bit ambiguous.

I actually do like the idea behind cursed items (even though, like Obi said, they're almost never worth using), but I think it could get very annoying if it's something that the player *has* to go through, and especially if it doesn't add a significant strategic wrinkle to the gameplay in that arc.

[Whataface2]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

That is what I thought. The sword of Vengeance is a cursed blade. I'm just stuck on how to show curse affecting the main character. I already have a bunch of ideas on how having the sword changes how people view her. For example people who fear the blade will no longer talk to her once she gains ownership of it. This is something I'm going to have to rethink.

[Ryner]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

You could just make the sword lower the characters stats. That gets relatively the same effect with less player frustration.

[Whataface2]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

You could just make the sword lower the characters stats. That gets relatively the same effect with less player frustration.

That would not really work. The sword is a powerful weapon that eventually destorys it's wielder. That is why people and demons want the blade but don't realize that it is cursed.

[Ωbright]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

Judging from what you just said, it sounds like you would want it to increase ATT by a lot, but eat away at HP (body) or MP (soul) while equipped? There's very little difference between that and a simple poison condition though.

Hmm. You might even want to switch characters at that point, to an identical one which has different growth curves...higher STR bonuses per levelup, and maybe none or very few HP gains. Only problem is that you'd have to track EXP with that, which is doable, but a pain.

[Whataface2]

Re: Would this be annoying in a game?

Actually I never gave that a thought about the HP and MP. I could set a couple of auto events that trigger a loss of HP and MP. Experince is not a problem because I'm controlling when I want the party to level up. I did this by not allowing random battles to give out experince. But I have let the game keep track of how many battles the party has fought. This way I can still hand out abilities in battles. I figure I would let the party level up after a boss fight or a critical moment in the game.