Hello guys, I am trying to figure out how to make muscle growth system in my Top-Down Action RPG game Vermonut (playable version isn't ready) . Gaining fat was simple: just every tick gain/lose fat depending on calories value. For muscle growth first I planned to just give player Ability points for experience and be able to waste this points to increase “Strength” stat which increase muscle mass, but it sounds boring and have issues with reducing muscle mass. For example if character didn’t gain enough calories then of course character going to loose muscle mass and fat. Loosing muscles mean decreasing “Strength” stat on which player already wasted ability points and expected that it increased melee attack power. So, I am looking for alternative ideas of how to make character gain strength(muscles) via gameplay in Action RPG. Of course when character make melee attacks it increase strength too, but I need more ways and to be sure those ways isn’t boring. If someone have some ideas please share with me.
Let me make sure I understand the set up here.
Muscle growth is tied to strength statistic. More strength = more muscle mass and vice versa. Performing melee attacks raises your strength stat - similar to Elder Scrolls skill levelling - the more you use it the more it advances.
Assuming this understanding is correct - if you want a fun way to increase muscle mass that is tied to gameplay assuming there is an inventory you could have a soft cap and a hard cap. The hard cap being the absolute maximum you can carry - cannot be exceeded. The soft cap is where you could put in muscle growth mechanics - depending on your strength stat being high enough to “unlock” it. Carrying inventory between the soft cap and hard cap could be used to increase muscles/strength. You could even have it in stage tiers as muscle mass/strength stat increase.
This could function alongside the ES style strength training. You could potentially tie it to character weight as well - but that could result in every character being strong fat which might not be the intended goal state. Another potential idea - though unfortunately somewhat more vague - is structure the game play loop with activities that involve heavy lifting - either puzzles or just a side activity.
As for muscle reduction - I’d say stick with the calories system - it seems to already be set up do handle that. I can’t think of a logical way to have “interactive” muscle mass loss. Well I can - but wouldn’t be conducive to gameplay sitting still with empty pockets in order to have muscle atrophy over time.
Thank you. Do you also have an idea which minigames could be fun for player to grow muscles?
Having had a wee skim through your project outline - there are a couple that come to mind.
You’ve got Giantess in there I see - depending on how that’s being implemented you could have bench pressing/picking up/juggling NPCs (just had a vision of Hulk vs Loki in the first Avengers film).
Some physics based puzzles similar to portal or Fenyx Rising where instead of using portal guns and magic to move boxes around you’re using physical strength to solve the puzzle and progress forward through the game - find the crates, lift the crates, stack the crates in the correct order to build stairs up a high ledge to get to the next area or something.
Some sort of super-market dash type thing where you’ve got a time limit to run around a store and grab as much food as you can carry - which can then optionally be used for weight gain after.
Just spit balling here.