Personally I would like to see the following options: - Dirt/Rust Armor - Damage on Armor - Few preset shade options on armor (separate to the dirt/damage system) I'm fine with looking similar to other players in terms of armor, I just want my armor adornments to be what distinguishes me on the battlefield. TLDR - Armor colors simple, adornments as advanced as possible!
Yea ideally I'd like to see a couple of options as far as damage goes. Perhaps broken pauldrons/armor, open wounds, blood stains (BLOOD? I ACHE FOR THE TASTE OF BLOOD!), etc. Particularly for Chaos Space Marines!
Just a question to you guys: Would you prefer to have Damage Textures to be related to customization and be only cosmetic or related to your Health State (Armor is wrecked, low health, etc.)? The later option would mean that most of the time your armor is normal and you need to be half dead to look awesome
While having damage related to your armor state looks cool and all, I just feel its a waste of the artist's time considering you probably won't be alive for a very long time at <50% health. Also if you had it as a mechanic, one would have to consider whether your base mitigation level is reduced due to the damage you've taken. I.e. I get healed to 100 health, but my armor remains at 75. However if I was to implement such a system, I would make it so that: Alternative 1: Player has survived 5 minutes and come under fire - Minor battle damage on armor Player has survived 15minutes+ and come under fire - Extreme battle damage Alternative 2: Alternatively you could have a damage accumulated system. I.e. Player has taken 1000 pts of damage, gets minor battle damage on armor. Player has taken 5000 pts of damage, display extreme damage skin. Whether you choose to make it purely cosmetic or actually impact armor rating is up to you guys, if you want such a mechanic. I think a lot of people would like this if you guys had the resources to implement such a system. But if resources are a constraint, I'm perfectly happy with damage as a skin option. Just don't force me to use a specific shade of armor because of it!
So I guess you first need to ask whether players want Armor 'permanent damage' to be a mechanic, or if we just want cosmetic damage on our characters. If Permanent Damage -> Implement Damage skins based upon the damage taken as I mentioned above If Cosmetic -> Either go with the skin option, or implement the damage taken system but only have a visual effect. From 'the game developer point of view' I'm not sure whether you want armor mitigation to be another variable to balance with
I really hate to complicate this but: Sort of depends. On one hand you do see a common thread of people who prefer permanent battle damage as a skin option. Not just Nurglites either. A good number of contributors in 'battle damage' threads indicate that damage as a customization option is popular even with LSMs and Eldar. I've seen plenty of TT enthusiasts who paint scarred and battered Eldar/Tau and neat, production-line shiny Orks/Guard, so that has precedence I guess. Tyrannic War vets even manage to both keep their armor shiny and display their scars proudly (reference image). I prefer spotless armor as it suits my in-game character. I see it as a chance to insert a lot of character into your- ... Character and in a way that can't possibly violate GW's IP (I hope). On the other hand, I do like the idea of the armor getting gradually more dented and frail as damage is taken. One caveat being that it shouldn't regenerate it's sparkle and sheen if you're health is restored (except Eldar Aspect armor maybe ? Not 100% on that). A sparking, bare-metal shoulder pad and thigh with the trim ripped off like the middle UM here would look amazing in the moment, until we kill them more (Ignore the zombie thing going on). But that's a point too: Are the 2 mutually exclusive ? Could you look at having some custom damage, even aged damage with rust and copper tones, tarnish and stripped paint for those who want it and then live battle damage accrued for everyone during each deployment ? I'm very interested in what art direction people want, and your perspective of course. You should set up a poll Nicolas. The Ladies members love polls
I would like it to be a skin, but also your character should get blood all over himself during combat, maybe also some dust from the explosions nearby.
