In this tutorial we’ll set up our first abilities.

The regular/base attack will deal physical damage to HP using a formula, which we’ll also set up. We’ll also set up a poison attack, that does reduced damage and adds poison to the target.

All abilities we’ll set up in this tutorial series (both physical and magical) will be very simple, we don’t use any hit chance or critical hit calculations – each attack will hit and deal regular damage.

We’ll also take a look at target selection templates – they’re used by abilities and items to define the targets that are available, e.g. targeting a single enemy or ally, a group of enemies, etc.

We’ll set up

• damage formulas
• target selection templates (only look at them)
• content types for abilities
• 2 abilities

Let’s get to it!

Formulas #

We’ll start with setting up 2 formulas, one for physical and one for magical damage.

Formulas work as a steb-by-step calculation, calculating each node at a time to the current formula result. We’ll use sub-calculations (via Begin Sub Calculation and End Sub Calculation nodes) to make sure the math is still correct.

Open the ORK editor and navigate to Gameplay > Formulas. We’ll change the already added Default formula and add an additional formula. You can optionally use organizer types for organizing them in the editor, but it’s not required (and isn’t part of this tutorial series).

Calculating Damage #

The physical damage is calculated like this:

User.ATK / ((50 + Target.DEF) / 50)

It uses the following values:

• User.ATK
  The user’s ATK status value.
• Target.DEF
  The target’s DEF status value.

Due to how formulas work, we’ll pack the 2nd half of the formula ((50+Target.DEF) / 50) into a sub-calculation.

For magical damage, just replace ATK with MATK and DEF with MDEF.

0: Physical Damage #

This formula calculates the physical damage, using a sub calculation for the defence part of the formula.

Formula Settings #

Status Value #

Add Node > Combatant > Status Value

Add the user’s ATK.

Using the formula uses an initial value (a starting value passed to the formula), the ATK is added to that value, increasing the used ATK value.

Begin Sub Calculation #

Add Node > Base > Begin Sub Calculation

This node starts a sub calculation.

The result of the sub calculation (ending using an End Sub Calculation node) is added to the current formula result using this node’s operator.

We’ll divide the current formula result by the sub calculation’s result. We’ll also immediately set the sub calculation’s current value to 50.

Status Value #

Add Node > Combatant > Status Value

Add the target’s DEF.

Value #

Add Node > Value > Value

Divide by 50.

End Sub Calculation #

Add Node > Base > End Sub Calculation

This ends our sub calculation, using it’s Begin Sub Calculation node’s operator to change the formulas value.

Any open sub calculation is closed at the end of a formula, i.e. we don’t really need to add this node, but it’s better to keep things clean and organized – every Begin Sub Calculation node should have an End Sub Calculation node.

No further settings needed.

1: Magical Damage #

This formula calculates the magical damage and works exactly like the physical damage formula, just with different status values.

So, we’ll copy the Physical Damage formula and change the status values.

Formula Settings #

Status Value #

Change the 1st Status Value node’s status value to MATK.

Status Value #

Change the 2nd Status Value node’s status value to MDEF.

Target Selection Templates #

As said, target selection templates define the target selection that is used by abilities and items.

We’ll mainly use them in the form of the default target selections, which define templates that are used for e.g. Enemy Single or Ally Single selections.

A new project already has a wide range of templates set up and used for the default target selections – we don’t need to do any setup for our tutorial, but we’ll check out 2 of them to see how they work.

Navigate to Battles > Target Selection Templates and select the Enemy Single template.

Enemy Single #

This template is used for abilities and items that target a single enemy. Our tutorial project is pretty simple and doesn’t use any advanced setup like use ranges or affect ranges, so the target selections are mainly using 2 settings – Target Type (e.g. enemy or ally) and Target Range (e.g. single or group).

Target Settings #

Ally Single #

Select the Ally Single template.

This template uses the Ally target type to target a single ally instead of an enemy.

Target Settings #

Default Target Selections #

The default target selections are set up in Battles > Target Settings.

A new project already uses the default templates that are created for the corresponding default target selections, e.g. Enemy Single and Ally Single.

We don’t need to change anything here, just remember that you can change them here. Also, content types can override the default target selections with custom templates for all abilities/items of their type.

Damage Type #

The damage type manages which animations will be used on targets to animate damage, evade, etc.

A new ORK project already has a damage type set up using the Damage and Evade organizer types.

Navigate to Status > Damage Types and check if the Default type is set up correctly.

Content Types #

We’ve already set up content types for status effects – now we’ll add more for our abilities.

Content types can also define the target selection settings for abilities and items using them – i.e. if enemies or allies are targeted, single or group, use range, etc.

Each ability and item can define their own setup, though. We’ll set up the target selection settings in the content types and have the abilities (and later items) use them.

Navigate to Content > Content Types, we’ll change the Attack and Magic type and add an additional type.

2: Attacks #

Physical attacks will be using this content type.

Content Information #

Base Settings #

1: Magic #

Magical attacks will be using this content type.

Content Information #

Base Settings #

7: Support #

Support abilities will be using this content type.

Copy the Spells content type and change the following settings.

Content Information #

Base Settings > Target Selection Settings #

Support abilities will target allies, not enemies.

Feel free to move up the Support content type to place it after the Spells type.

Attack Ability #

Our first ability will be the base attack of our combatants. We’ll set up more physical and magical abilities (also adding status effects) in a later tutorial.

Navigate to Status > Abilities, we’ll change the Default ability.

Content Information #

Base Settings #

Target Settings #

The target settings handle status changes on targets.

Target Selection Settings #

These settings define who can be targeted by the ability. The default setup will target a single enemy – we’ll change it to use the ability’s content type setup instead (which is also single enemy).

Target Changes #

Poison Attack Ability #

The poison attack ability is very similar to the attack, but it’ll cost 3 MP to use it. The ability will be used by enemies.

Copy the Attack ability and change some settings.

Content Information #

Use Costs > Status Changes #

Using the ability costs 3 MP.

Target Settings > Target Changes > Target Change 0 > Status Change 0 #

We’ll reduce the damage by changing the efficiency of the status change.

The poison attack should only do half the damage of the regular attack.

Target Settings > Target Changes > Target Change 0 > Status Change 1 #

However, we add another status change to add the Poison effect to the target.

Save Changes #

And that’s it for now – we’ll later return to those abilities to set up how they’re animated in battles (using schematics).

Save the changes using the Save Settings button at the bottom of the editor.

 

Next, we’ll continue the player’s setup.