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[Nightmare]

After a large amount of feedback from Russ playing in Prototype 6F and P-Tux 7 playing in 6N, it was deemed that the party system is deemed way too broken for the older Zelda 1 classic style of quests (namely, the 1st and 2nd quests up to New Quest and most classic variants pre-2.50).

 

So, I have to make a move.

 

Unless people want me to be very daring and install this on AlphaDawg's 3rd Quest as an ultimate test of difficulty nerfing, I will probably make a very unpopular decision with the community and move the prototypes to the Zelda NES Remastered Framework and work from there until Cambria comes ready.  I do not want to rush the Cambria developers as I want their work to be of the best quality.

 

Why?

 

The Zelda NES Framework is an extended Classic tileset and scripting set that allows for extended Classic features, has updated enemies, custom guys, and several new features over the years, including many different palettes..  I know it doesn't have the best reputation in terms of made quests, but it has hooks to support more modern quests, where New Quest 2013 cannot without a lot of work and Demo barely can.  ZNR's framework is made for it.

 

Not saying Zelda NES Remastered (ZNR) was the best quest in the world (I enjoyed it very much, everybody else did not), New Quest Rebuilt was very controversial in its own right, and Downfall was way too hard (possibly even for me).  It's probably a move I have to make in the face of the Cambria delays.

 

You can download Prototype 6F on the Project forum, and post your reaction here to this news.

 

Try the 3rd, or ZNR (and its framework).  Which is the better route?

 

-James

 

EDIT:  I will make 6T (3rd Quest) since Lv. 11 of New Quest (the extra level) put the Dawn of Sorrow party in its place.  The answer will be definitive then.

[Nightmare]

Results from the extended test:

 

Prototype 6F (1st Quest)

Results:  James takes the lead in speedruns here.  He basically walls the early enemies, kills them early, and runs the early game well.  This shifts to Link and Zelda late as you obtain their major items and Link and Zelda destroy Ganon in style.

 

Result:  Party is broken, led by James.

 

Prototype 6N (New Quest)

Test 1 (using party all the way through):  Really busted.  James obtains the Red Ring, basically tanking the entire beginning game.  Difficulty at the end, but the tester does OK.  Thank you P-Tux7. 

 

Result:  Party is broken, led by James

 

Test 2 (with items at the end):  Still busted.  Link show here.  The enemies really have no defense for Link's new sowrd techniques.  The item table in New Quest comes out quickly, exaggerating the already broken cause.

 

Result:  Still broken

 

Level 11 Test:  The party is not broken in extra/DLC play.  While Mirrorrobes and Patras take a gigantic nerf, Fire Gleeoks stay the same, and DN Deathknights are actually buffed by the loss of their stab weakness.  The original they took 4 hits to kill with the Master Sword.  Link cannot stab and James takes 16 hits, inadvertently buffing them, lol.

 

Result:  OK for extra/DLC play

 

Prototype 6T ("Formerly official" 3rd Quest by AlphaDawg)

 

Result through Level 4:  Insanely busted.  Zelda makes AlphaDawg look like a cheap one-dimensional designer once she gets her items.  Before that, James's defenses prove invaluable.  Zelda looks a monster in this quest.

 

Result:  Party is broken, led by Zelda

 

Overall result in "standard" play (Using only Z1 enemies/items)

The party system is pretty busted.  If you are using this mechanic in your quest, you are going to have to design around it and keep all characters in mind.  Each of the three quests picked were broken by a different character and playstyle, and New Quest and 3rd Quest are no joke in difficulty.  The quest developer must keep the power of the mechanics in mind and must check for balance in all aspects.

 

See you in Prototypes 7 and 8 when I work on inventory and prepare for Cambria.

 

-James