Long Post leads to BoreDom

Naming Mechanic

I wanted to make the game feel personal to each player; to give it something unique to make it special. So, I came up with the idea of a sort of file naming system. Each game playthrough has its own adjective and noun randomly assigned to it (for example, "Crappy Blog" or "Pointless Mechanic") that the player keeps through the game. If they start a new file, they get a different combination. It serves as a way to keep track of which file's which, as well as making it feel like you have your own special name.

This comes into play when Don looks at his sketchbook after waking up. it basically looks something like this.

Blankety Blank

leads to

ViDys

I thought about giving each word a stat too. Allow me to demonstrate it in the most exciting way possible: A CHART

For example, if your 'name' is Piercing Decay (i.e. 'Piercing Decay leads to ViDys'), Don will have +Attack and -Stealth. If it's Fleeting Loss, he will have +Speed and -Attack. In the case of getting two of the same stat - such as Clear Delusion (+ and - Sanity), they cancel eachother out and Don is unchanged.

This system was going to be random, but I asked Jack and he said he hates when the player doesn't get to choose such things. So, there will be some sort of area in which the player chooses 2 of 12 items - one they like and one they dislike. They will be asked a question, such as "Would you say you're quick-witted (+Speed) but reckless (-Defense)?" or "Would you say you're balanced (+-)?" If they say yes, they keep their stats. If they say no, they can choose different items.

As for the Special words, these will only be unlocked after completing the game. When the player is at the item select area, there will be a bang at the door (or something similar). If the player picks the items as normal, the same rules apply. However, if they go to the door and open it, they are automatically assigned the words "Vigil's Dysphoria". This is pretty much just unlocking Hard Mode. However, you get the bonus of an extra enemy:

This is meant to be the physical representation of the vigil's dysphoria: Don's confusing and distressing entrapment in both reality and dreams. If you stay near this guy for too long, the scene tends to fill with black. If it completely fills, you die - so run away!

He won't be around too often - lest the game become too difficult - so just think of him as a little bonus.