Game Mechanics #2: Items and Crafting
In part two of our game mechanics series we will cover items, crafting, item combination, crafting recipes, and inventory in The Scoundrels Guild. I'll try not to make this sound like a user manual.
Items
In adventure games, as well as role playing games, items play a key role in the game play. From finding them, buying them, acquiring them, as well as crafting them. Some will give you boosts to your skills, others can be used in combat, while some may come in handy as a quest item.
Item Combination
Sometimes you will find yourself in a predicament which requires you to use a certain item to solve the puzzle. Like most adventure games, this will require you to figure out which items can be combined to make a new item. Maybe you have a rope in your inventory, but you're missing the axle and wheel needed to make one. That would be a simple puzzle that involves exploring the surrounding area and looking for the proper items to combine.
Inventory
Your inventory is crucial to your success. You will begin your adventure with a few simple items, your handy journal, a rusty old dagger, and your father's smithing hammer. These were the few things they didn't take from you. Along your journey your inventory will grow with new and useful items, as well items that are necessary to completing a task. Mousing over the bottom of your screen will bring up your inventory, right clicking on your mouse will give you a brief description of the item, left clicking on the mouse will drag the item around the screen so that you can use it on different areas and other items, you can even use it on an NPC.
Crafting
Crafting and item combination are similar in nature, both use the same technique of taking various items and combining them together to make a new one. Sometimes you will need to craft a new item from raw materials such as ore, ingots, stones, powders, gems, leathers, hides, and others. These items can be crafted with recipes that you will learn along the way. While stackable currency is prevalent in the game, remember, this isn't Minecraft, you probably won't find yourself spending hours crafting and selling your wares, but you are welcome to, we won't judge.
Whenever you feel the need or desire to craft something, you would simply check your inventory and click on your smithing hammer. This will bring up the crafting menu. The craftring interface is quite simple and user friendly.
