Gast Method: Fan-Made Stance (With Doodles)

edited September 2017 in Fan Art

GAST METHOD



Synopsis
This is one of two fan-made stances I am currently concepting. Right now the art is fairly rudimentary sketches, but I plan to add a few more decent illustrations to it later. The Gast Method is based on a more animalistic approach to martial arts, based vaguely on the ‘claw-based’ animal arts of Kung Fu with a few other mystical flavors thrown in, lending towards the mythological creature the name leans towards.

The basic premise is that the Gast Method Stance is one based on mobility and distance while using its unique defense action to steal shard energy from an opponent while granting some breathing room. The stance rewards keeping back from an opponent, while using the broad sweeping strikes to chip away health, prevent the use of an opponents special skills or healing and control the battle with your own equipped powers.

Posture
The Gast Method takes a very animalistic approach, but most apparent is the use of dangling arms and extended fingers in a claw-like fashion. The head is tilted somewhat like a predator watching prey, and the movement of the arms is limited, much as if they were hanging lifelessly.

When using a sword, the weapon is gripped in reverse (much like the Khalt Method), but the tip is dragged along the ground, held in one of the dangling arms. Stave use (when it is implemented) would be much like leaning on the weapon for support, again, the appearance of bestial, limpness being fundamental to the stance.

Blocking is done by the legs. Since the arms are used purely to attack, the legs are used defensively, drawing up close to the body and absorbing hits from the front, or intercepting blows from the back with athletic twisting. Blocking a blow results in much further push back and stamina consumption than other styles though, making it difficult to sustain when close to cliff edges and the like.

Idle poses should be animalistic. Grabbing at their own mask, howls to the sky, aggressive posturing, anything that speaks to being savage or at the edge of control.

Attacking
Unlike other Stances, the Gast Method does not use kicks or sweeps. All attacks are made with the hands, flung around on the end of sweeping arm spins and athletic maneuvering at full extension. Many of the moves have a side or retreating motion, to keep attackers at bay, with other two-handed slices moving forward to assault with brutal effectiveness.

The arms are swung around as if they were lifeless. These swings leaving large arcs, ending in outstretched fingers in a claw formation. Attack damage is, for the most part, Blunt Damage as normal, but Gast Method heavy attacks are too swift and ranged to warrant guard-breakers, rather they do Cut Damage, chipping away at health with razor like slashes from their fingers.

Weapon maneuvers are similarly sweeping. Large arcs while advancing or retreating, athletic speed and animalistic posturing as blows chip and slice. Full arm extension and blade grant a lot of room to attack but lack the impact of other, close-range styles.

Stance Defense Action
The Stance Defense for the Gast Method is based on mobility and clearing distance. It is directional in control and has the potential effect of stealing shard energy from an opponent. Depending on the direction moved, the distance and the amount of stolen energy varies.

When engaging the right stick, the character goes into a prepared crouch, as if ready to push off in a given direction. There is a black, swirling effect of energy, much like the aftereffect of a feinted attack. When the impact lands, the Gast Method character takes no damage, and shifts in the pressed direction in a wisp of black smoke, reappearing a small distance away. This range varies depending on the direction pushed, however, there is no stamina recuperation for a successful defense.

Right Stick in the UP Direction
The Gast Method practitioner shifts forward and passes the attacker, landing in a position where they are both in a rearward stance, facing away from each other. The distance is still within assault range, but as a result, the Gast Method user steals two shards of essence from the attacker to place in its own reserves.

Right Stick LEFT or RIGHT Direction
The defender likewise becomes a smokey after image and reappears to the side of the attacker in forward stance. The distance traveled is about 150% of the distance traveled from pressing up, but as a result, they only steal one essence shard from their attacker.

Right Stick in the DOWN Direction
The defending Gast Method user shifts backward in the same smokey effect, reaching a full 200% distance away (when compared to the distance traveled by the UP direction) but does not steal any essence in return for the distance.

Playstyle Notes
The general idea of having longer-ranged swings alongside a mechanic that moves and shifts the player is a given counterweight to having less resistance, high mobility and a lack of armor. Although dexterity benefits the damage more than strength for the Gast Method, a high endurance and high mobility keep them moving, able to use normal position shiting more regularly, and wear down heavy opponents without the need for spam.

Spacial awareness would be essential, however. The movement and shifting defense action mean that players need to be aware of cliffs, edges and their vulnerability to falling. This would be a style based on movement, mobility and general positioning over a slew of attacks that either wail on a defender endlessly or engage in heavy, guard-breaking smashes. Stamina management is at the forefront of keeping high mobility, as the defense action gives you distance, but no stamina.

Because of the lack of damage output and general squishiness, the essence theft mechanic gives a Gast practitioner a few more options in the field to prevent an opponent using their own skills, while also granting them distance and energy to use their own. Using strike-and-run techniques the Gast strategically picks apart an opponent bit-by-bit, using their own essence against them.

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Comments

  • this would honestly be so terrifying and awesome to fight, I say... BRING! IT! ON!!!!!!! Though I personally feel like it would be a better idea if they stole tension shard energy based on the amount of will your character had rather than a set amount. (Sloclap please put this in the game)
  • edited September 2017
    Quick test animation on the idle pose..



    End game is to make a short combat animation to show attacks and the defense mechanic.
  • Holy crap this looks cool. I'd love to see this in game.

    I'd actually like to ask, how would you learn this style? Just curious, because goddamn this would be awesome to fight and use in fights

    Also awesome art and animation
  • The whole concept seems pretty unique and balanced except for one thing: the amount of tension stolen. Stealing two whole Tension shards from a unidirectional defensive ability seems pretty excessive. That would leave the opponent with 0 shards nearly the whole game if it was used consistently and allow for nearly constant use of abilities. I'd say half a shard for the forward, a quarter of a shard for the sides, and none for the back. This would mean you would have to use the defensive ability consistently and effectively to keep an opponent's Tension down, while also managing to keep them off of you to ensure that they do not build more up. Also, you need a name for the defensive ability. Something like "Pounce" would seem appropriate. But, all-in-all, good idea.
  • This would make me feel like I'm playing a Lost Prospect.

    I approve.
  • DoritoMan said:

    The whole concept seems pretty unique and balanced except for one thing: the amount of tension stolen. Stealing two whole Tension shards from a unidirectional defensive ability seems pretty excessive. That would leave the opponent with 0 shards nearly the whole game if it was used consistently and allow for nearly constant use of abilities. I'd say half a shard for the forward, a quarter of a shard for the sides, and none for the back. This would mean you would have to use the defensive ability consistently and effectively to keep an opponent's Tension down, while also managing to keep them off of you to ensure that they do not build more up. Also, you need a name for the defensive ability. Something like "Pounce" would seem appropriate. But, all-in-all, good idea.

    This sounds like a reasonable adjustment to me. I mean it would be a matter of testing in the real world, but yeah, you get the idea. Even if it was half a shard with a bonus based on will (as suggested above) It would be a fair amount.

    Thanks for the feedback guys!
  • I'm not so sure about the style but the art is fucking sick dude.
  • Cool!
    By the way: What's you other idea?
  • Awesome man, bad ass style!
  • As an idea for learning this, I think it'd be somewhat identical in the way of learning Stagger Style; A new boss would probably be added to the game, which I think would be really interesting, maybe a new addition to the hunting path or the Forgotten Temple, and fighting them will unlock a hidden area with a teacher. If not that, maybe just a whole new 'faction' entirely out in this new area. Not enemies that just sit around waiting to get their shit kicked in by you, but ones who watch and wait for you to appear first before attacking. As you go through the area, maybe you find a certain NPC, the teacher or the 'clan leader' of this group, to learn from. Just an idea, all up to Sloclap if they actually go through with this. (Btw, Sloclap, please add this, kthx.)
  • This idea of an animal style seems phenomenal to me. It'd also be amazing if they could watch you, much like Ranty said above, but more in detail. Where they just watch you as you fight other lost prospects. Maybe they even register your moves, and know when to block or move back, since they've seen your moves. Or, something to give off the idea that they have been watching you. You just haven't noticed.
  • perhaps a claw type weapon that is specific to this style. perhaps when they use pounce or a specific attack from the gast style move set has a chance cause rending damage for a short term "bleed" effect.
  • Wow this is great and very intense, a scythe type weapon could benefit(maybe two like gauntlets) like curved tiger claws. Due to the fluid movements something like repositioning ability(maybe that uses some tension shard instead of all) to help keep you in a better place since the guard would be weaker. Man if you got this stance some npc that would be a pretty crazy encounter to be sure.
  • Thanks, guys.

    Will work on this a little bit more to flesh it out.

    In answer to the question of the other stance, think a kind of cocky, sumo kind of stance. Would revolve around angering and sapping stamina, but would require excellent timing management and distance. (A good analogy would be Jetstream Sam from MGR:R).
  • Awesome work! Just linked the thread to the designers :)
  • Thanks, @jess for the linkage!
  • I like it- bar a couple of things.

    Namely- most animals aren't primal or savage. Look at a panther, or a tiger. They're not leaning on things, scratching wildly, or struggling to sit still when about to fight- they are masters of control. And they certainly wouldn't drag a sword about- or lean on a stave as a walking stick. This is more of a savage style, than an animalistic one.

    Further, right stick leads to actively stealing tension shards? A game balancing nightmare. Gosh no. Right stick turns you into unhittable mist, and moves you around? That's basically just dodge without a stamina drain- and dodge already lets me win matches as it is. A dodge that has zero setbacks, and can actually be used to get double the advance distance in retreating is- well.. Broken.

    The fact that a moveset could include claws and do slight cutting damage- ultimately chipping through block- is nice though.

    Should rethink it being animalistic, and more focus on the fact that, if anything, your fighter sounds/looks either insane, or just wholly savage.

    Looks cool tho'.
  • Awesome feedback @SΔND, but just a quick correction (if I am reading it right).

    The dodge will still cost stamina to perform, and the shard stealing aspect is based on direction. So if you use the reverse to get the full distance, there is no tension gain. To the side for a bit longer length, you would get half the tension gain, and if you dodge through, it is still close enough for a swift counterattack, but you get maximum shard gain (whatever it would be.)

    I agree on the animalistic reference. Whereas this is not really focused on one animal, in particular, I was hinting that it is a little more feral or instinctual. The claw-fingers were noted to be reminiscent of the eagle and tiger styles of kung fu, but the overall pose is certainly more feral than animalistic.

    Brutal, swift and evasive. That's the base idea.
  • Dude that's sick as hell I would totally drop my current style for that!
  • Very cool would be awesome if this made it in game
  • I'd like to see how sloclap would incorporate this into the game.
  • Thanks guys. They kinda added a few things that are similar in the form of powers: The shadow step and the sharp hand attacks both seem to follow this kind of thing pretty well. Still, I would love to see it included as a stance.
  • What would the stat scalings be? Something like these?:

    Strength B
    Dexterity B
    Vitality E
    Endurance E
    Willpower A

    or

    Strength A
    Dexterity A
    Vitality D
    Endurance D
    Willpower E

    or

    Strength B
    Dexterity D
    Vitality B
    Endurance B
    Willpower E
  • Insane mate, please put this in the game!
  • This is SICKKKK! Awesome idea, I'm kinda late though.
  • I wonder if it kinda represent Iori's (KOF if you guys don't know) Fighting style
  • Quick question, Silver: Do you have a concept for the symbol? The fighting style symbols are personally one of my favorite parts, and I often have the Faejin symbol drawn in sharpie on my forearm. I'm interested in what you might come up with! Best of luck!
  • great drawing keep going
  • OH MY GOD IF THEY PUT THIS IN ABSOLVER I WOULD WEEP TEARS OF JOY STRAIGHT CRY IN HAPPINESS!!!!!!! Please Devolver SloClap someone PPPPPLLLLLEEEASE I BEG YOU! LOOK AT THIS POST!!!!!!!
  • Yo, I’m totally fuckin down for this. If this comes out, I am going to be maining it all the way.
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