Let's Talk About Lust Combat

[Enigmatic D]

Don't worry I chose cargo bot over tamwolf. Can we han so cargo bot and add a synthcock please?

I don't think the cargo bot could handle han so.

 

[NEET-Hime]

I'm pretty sure the anus of a 4'9" femboy cant handle Kiro, why bring fact into it.

 

[Woider]

I'm pretty sure the anus of a 4'9" femboy cant handle Kiro, why bring fact into it.

What are internal organs? I've never heard of such preposterous things! BEGONE, I SAY! That ponypecker is dope, though, and I wouldn't mind being on the receiving end of a full blast of cum from it.

 

[BlueRaven]

Kinda feels like the whole Lust system would have to be turned on its head rather than trying to do little fixes, given the current 100 Lust max. Static resistance vs non-static attack is bound to fuck everything up.

 

[Lashcharge]

Kinda feels like the whole Lust system would have to be turned on its head rather than trying to do little fixes, given the current 100 Lust max. Static resistance vs non-static attack is bound to fuck everything up.

It would be very hard to work around it and the lust will have to work more similarly to HP to work.

 

[Eva]

So, a couple of notes from my end:

• I agree that the Tease Proficiency system is dumb and super grindy. I'd like to see it done away with.
  
• While I'm note hugely fond of the "manually select a bodypart to tease with" system, I think that menu gives us a lot of room to work with. If you consider worn equipment/Talents to be the customization for physical combat (not TF does or should give physical combat bonuses, IIRC), TFs could very well be the lust-system equivalent there... so long as they're balanced against normal body part attacks. For example, R.-Myr Venom bite should do the same damage as a tease attack, but might do it as Lust (Drug) rather than Lust (Tease) damage, potentially bypassing a resistance on some enemies, while hitting heavier resistance on others. Same with Vanae Milk. TFs could be used to give more options.
  
• The same could go for a "Lust Prop" or some such, though that seems more like something that ought to go in the Accessory slot. eg. a Techie's holoporn-spewing drone or a whip. Fuck, could put all lust weapons as Accessories (though there's not a huge need to; remember you can swap weapons in combat). That slot doesn't do a whole lot right now other than drone replacements and cool dusters. Either way, lust props could be accessed via the Tease menu rather than taking up the shoot/attack slots.
  
• Stats. It's definitely weird how Physical combat brings in every mainline stat either as a defense or offense (or both for Physique). I'm not sure why Willpower doesn't provide some sort of (small) Lust defense, or why Libido doesn't factor in at all really (Libido doesn't really do a whole lot at all, afaik). I could easily see a revised Lust Combat system using Libido/Reflexes as offensive stats, Willpower as a defensive one.
  

A big part of why Lust Combat is kinda lame right now IMO is that there's both a pretty steady 100 pt. cap on Lust (versus enemies having hugely-scaling Health), and resistances are fairly static (meaning Lust Weapons just fucking wreck people, and Tease attacks can't scale). This could probably be resolved by either having the Lust cap rise with level, along with scaling resistances, but I sort of doubt that's in the cards.

1) I'm glad to hear this: I'm not a fan of farming mobs in any game, and having this sort of grind exist in TiTs is weird considering the design goals (fast & casual) you guys have laid out.


2) I agree with the first two-thirds of this point. ('Select a body part' feels a bit clunky, but having the menu is good.) However, I think using TFs as the Lust System equivalent of gear would be awkward - either A: you'd have to give every lust attack from a TF scaling into the endgame, B: you'd have to keep Lust caps static so that there was no such scaling, or C: there would be mechanically 'better' TFs. None of these really strike me as an elegant solution.


3) Using the Accessory slot for a 'Tease Prop' is a nice idea. 


As for why I think having a separate prop slot is important - while you can switch weapons in combat, it wastes a turn each time, as well as an inventory slot. This means that you often can't smoothly move between lust combat and physical combat. 


Consider a character with a Goovolver and a Nova Rifle as their best weapons for Lust and Physical combat respectively. They're wandering in an area with one physical-immune monster and one lust-immune monster. (As an extreme example, but just a relative weakness is good enough.) If the character wants to be effective, they have to start roughly every other combat by swapping their weapon. That's just clunky. I'd rather have a system that lets the player move easily between Physical and Lust combat, so that both options are always under consideration. (I mean... Currently we have a puzzle boss whose puzzle is 'remember that the tease button exists.' Yep.)


4) I'd be tempted to key Lust Defense off of Will, Lust Offense off of Intelligence, and make Tech Specialists' identity the dedicated hybrid Lust/Physical class. 


5) There's already a precedent for increased lust caps in the game (Inhuman Desire), so I'd be in favor of option 1. Scaling innate lust resistances feels much more awkward, IMO. (Making a stat defend against Lust based attacks might provide other options here, though.)

Kinda feels like the whole Lust system would have to be turned on its head rather than trying to do little fixes, given the current 100 Lust max. Static resistance vs non-static attack is bound to fuck everything up.

Well, the game's already got characters like the Grey Goo and the Queen of the Deeps, who have abilities that heal Lust damage: increasing encounters' maximum lust cap is just another way of doing the same thing. (Providing more 'Lust HP', that is.)

This could probably be resolved by either having the Lust cap rise with level, along with scaling resistances, but I sort of doubt that's in the cards.

... Let me guess - It's an interface issue, because then you would have to display the size of the enemy's lust cap? 

 

[Nik_van_Rijn]

1) I'm glad to hear this: I'm not a fan of farming mobs in any game, and having this sort of grind exist in TiTs is weird considering the design goals (fast & casual) you guys have laid out.


2) I agree with the first two-thirds of this point. ('Select a body part' feels a bit clunky, but having the menu is good.) However, I think using TFs as the Lust System equivalent of gear would be awkward - either A: you'd have to give every lust attack from a TF scaling into the endgame, B: you'd have to keep Lust caps static so that there was no such scaling, or C: there would be mechanically 'better' TFs. None of these really strike me as an elegant solution.


3) Using the Accessory slot for a 'Tease Prop' is a nice idea. 


As for why I think having a separate prop slot is important - while you can switch weapons in combat, it wastes a turn each time, as well as an inventory slot. This means that you often can't smoothly move between lust combat and physical combat. 


Consider a character with a Goovolver and a Nova Rifle as their best weapons for Lust and Physical combat respectively. They're wandering in an area with one physical-immune monster and one lust-immune monster. (As an extreme example, but just a relative weakness is good enough.) If the character wants to be effective, they have to start roughly every other combat by swapping their weapon. That's just clunky. I'd rather have a system that lets the player move easily between Physical and Lust combat, so that both options are always under consideration. (I mean... Currently we have a puzzle boss whose puzzle is 'remember that the tease button exists.' Yep.)


4) I'd be tempted to key Lust Defense off of Will, Lust Offense off of Intelligence, and make Tech Specialists' identity the dedicated hybrid Lust/Physical class. 

• Don't want to see Tease skill progression gone entirely, just made into one skill. I think it gives a nice option of specializing your character, and since the blurbs are varied and interesting enough, I don't mind grinding a bit. However, if the design goal is to create not only a streamlined and relatively easy experience, but also quick progression through content, then it indeed doesn't fit.
  
• If the abilities you get from TFs would be used to modify the damage type/stats used/hit chance, then they would scale automatically with your other 'natural' options.
  
• Wouldn't adding a whole new slew of options to it make Accessory slot way too competitive and cluttered? In any case, I still think that there should be a distinction between things than can be classified as lust weapons and things that fit into props category. The former is a way to utilize your character's physical combat skills to damage enemy's 'Lust pool', to shoot them full drugs/w.e. instead of lead. So it should scale fully with normal combat stats. The latter gives new Tease special options or boosts existing ones, and it uses an entirely different set of stats. For example, Goovolver shouldn't be a proper lust weapon IMO, since it doesn't make make sense for the damage it does to scale with Aim.
  
• Speaking of those stats: Willpower as Lust Defense seems like an obvious choice. Before this discussion, I was certain that it already works that way. I'm more skeptical about making Intelligence boost Lust Attack, since I don't see the connection there. It can be used to boost specific abilities related to Lust Combat, just like it does Sense. Things like that pron-projecting drone or other nifty gadgets. Libido can be a double edge sword, boosting Lust Attack while lowering Lust Defense.
  

 

[Rare Pleasure]

Honestly, the curent lust combat system should just be scrapped and redone from the ground up, it was an effective placeholder during the begining days of TiTS but the game is advanceing past the limitations imposed upon it by the curent system.


As a starting point I would give the player a third weapon slot spesifically for lust weapons (One melee, one ranged, and one lust) so you can be as lusty as you want without getting automatically fucked over when you fight a lust imune enemy. Then I would then add an auxilary skill tree the player can select perks from that are about being sexy and suductive. Last of all I would remove the seperate bodypart teese veterancy (which does not appear to do much at all anyway) and replace it with an overall teese modifier that the player can then decide to focus down spesific bodyparts (So instead of Hips: 47/100 Butt: 22/100 ect, you have something like Teese 47/100, hips +10, Butt +2)

 

[Savin]

2) I agree with the first two-thirds of this point. ('Select a body part' feels a bit clunky, but having the menu is good.) However, I think using TFs as the Lust System equivalent of gear would be awkward - either A: you'd have to give every lust attack from a TF scaling into the endgame, B: you'd have to keep Lust caps static so that there was no such scaling, or C: there would be mechanically 'better' TFs. None of these really strike me as an elegant solution

Fair point, though as I said I'd rather have each TF path be an additional option, not really a bonus. Since most TFable races already have fairly obvious sexual themes, it wouldn't be hard to make a unique tease or two for each. But hey, that's just me spitballing.

As for why I think having a separate prop slot is important - while you can switch weapons in combat, it wastes a turn each time, as well as an inventory slot. This means that you often can't smoothly move between lust combat and physical combat. 


Consider a character with a Goovolver and a Nova Rifle as their best weapons for Lust and Physical combat respectively. They're wandering in an area with one physical-immune monster and one lust-immune monster. (As an extreme example, but just a relative weakness is good enough.) If the character wants to be effective, they have to start roughly every other combat by swapping their weapon. That's just clunky. I'd rather have a system that lets the player move easily between Physical and Lust combat, so that both options are always under consideration. (I mean... Currently we have a puzzle boss whose puzzle is 'remember that the tease button exists.' Yep.)

Well, you DO have two weapon slots already, and given how Evasion actually works (and the fact that your attributes THEORETICALLY won't be scaling with Lust damage soon probably maybe), it wouldn't be amiss to dedicate one to a lust weapon. 


That said, yeah, I wouldn't mind having a lust weapon slot of some kind (though I'd rather keep the focus of lust combat on actually teasing rather than weapon spam. Might be too late for that, though >_>').

4) I'd be tempted to key Lust Defense off of Will, Lust Offense off of Intelligence, and make Tech Specialists' identity the dedicated hybrid Lust/Physical class. 

Ech. If anything, I'd pick the Smuggler as the Lusty class (stereotypical dashing scoundrel type). Besides, they already have the one and only lust ability!

... Let me guess - It's an interface issue, because then you would have to display the size of the enemy's lust cap? 

Oh, no, the bars automatically scale in the UI. 


I just think Fen's pretty happy with the current system and isn't likely to go for big sweeping changes to combat. (Again.) Could be wrong, though.

 

[Rare Pleasure]

I just think Fen's pretty happy with the current system and isn't likely to go for big sweeping changes to combat. (Again.) Could be wrong, though.

Well a big dweeping change is.not needed, just some upgrades. For example the player only has one teese attack in truth (more or less), but enemies can do anything from spray the air with hormones to grapple the player and rub them all around. What is stopping us from tazeing an enemy and useing the brief window to inject them with some stimulant? Just giving us options like that will satisfy me at least.

 

[Eva]

Fair point, though as I said I'd rather have each TF path be an additional option, not really a bonus. Since most TFable races already have fairly obvious sexual themes, it wouldn't be hard to make a unique tease or two for each. But hey, that's just me spitballing.


Well, you DO have two weapon slots already, and given how Evasion actually works (and the fact that your attributes THEORETICALLY won't be scaling with Lust damage soon probably maybe), it wouldn't be amiss to dedicate one to a lust weapon. 


That said, yeah, I wouldn't mind having a lust weapon slot of some kind (though I'd rather keep the focus of lust combat on actually teasing rather than weapon spam. Might be too late for that, though >_>').


Ech. If anything, I'd pick the Smuggler as the Lusty class (stereotypical dashing scoundrel type). Besides, they already have the one and only lust ability!


Oh, no, the bars automatically scale in the UI. 


I just think Fen's pretty happy with the current system and isn't likely to go for big sweeping changes to combat. (Again.) Could be wrong, though.

1) The trouble with additional options is that balancing diverse options is hard. I mean, major game design companies have problems with it. It's one thing to have a 'best weapon' in the game - it's another thing to have a 'best body'. 


2) Yes, but then you have problems with melee or ranged specialization - you're ignoring your class features for one half of your skills. 


3) I think the issue is really the 'spam' part, wether it's Tease or Shoot that you're spamming. 


4) Okay, maybe that's my SCIENCE kink talking.


5) Yes, but currently the player knows that enemies max out at 100 lust: if they have higher lust caps then it becomes more ambiguous as to when they'll actually succumb. 


6) Adjusting lust caps ought to be a relatively simple addition to the system, at least for monster lust - just slap some Inhuman Desire on anything that you want to have a higher lust cap. Totally doable with the current engine, AFAICT. 

 

[Nik_van_Rijn]

1. If the new options and/or normal Tease buffs would not change raw numbers too much, then balancing should be a matter of tweaking lust resistances and preferences of various enemies. Besides, since the game is single-player only and porn-and-plot focused on top of that, achieving the perfect balance isn't that important.
   
2. As I've said before, people like Woider, who focus their character around shooting/hitting things, ignore the Tease system and want to be able to win by Lust should be able to do so. Especially if enemies like Amara Faell will be around. Having melee and range lust weapons that scale with appropriate stats (probably to a lesser extent than they do now) is a good way to achieve that IMO. Most of us will prefer non-weapon lust abilities simply because they are more sexy and fun. Still think it's OK that you need to either have the weapon ready or switch to it. Mobs are too easy and boss fights too long for the single lost turn to matter.
   
3. Wasn't 'all the regular mobs should be defeatable by Attack/Tease spam' a conscious design decision?
   
4. Both are viable IMO. Charm/underhanded tricks sounds just as interesting as high-tech gadgets. Hell, we can even invite the Mercs, or at least their melee variety, to the party in form of sex wrestling. Not gonna lie, full credit for that idea goes to Silver Bard's game and that Cowmazon Reaha image.
   

 

[Hanzo]

I agree that lust combat is underdeveloped. All three classes are "serious", so they barely have any lust-related skills or perks. I guess that leaves TFs and learning through NPCs, and gating powerful lust moves behind a certain transformation doesn't sound like a good idea.


EDIT - And moves/perks related to body parts and/or their sizes (something like blue balls).


I've thought about it a few times and I wrote some ideas for lust moves in a notepad. I'll post them, because why not.


- Striptease


Sensually remove your armor to deal lust damage. Has a high chance of stun (sexiness-based chance, vs willpower?).


Sounds powerful but I think it's fair because you can't put on your armor back so it's a once per fight move and you'll fight for the remaining of the battle without armor.


Optional stuff:

• Wearing "clothing" armor is required.
  
• Pc gains tease and exhibitionism point(s).
  
• Damage goes up with tease skill points.
  
• Factor in all sexprefs.
  
• No energy cost (it's a once per fight move, after all). Maybe this should be limited to exhibitionists.
  

- Pole Dance


Requires to wield a polearm.


Deals lust damage to all enemies, buffs pc's sexiness for the rest of the battle (doesn't stack with itself, scales up with pc level).


This is the future with spaceships and all, so why not be able to pole dance with a polearm because gyroscopes, magnets or some sci-fi tech stuff?


Optional stuff:

• Damage goes up with tease skill points.
  
• Physique boosts damage a bit.
  
• Factor in all sexprefs.
  
• Damage halved if energy is below 50.
  

- Dirty Thoughts


Fill your enemy's thoughts with visions of sex.


"Magic" (more like "Psychic") attack (Int and Libido based).


Optional stuff:

• May lower Aim and or Will (non-stackable, scales up with pc level).
  

- Kiss


Before I say anything else, this is clearly inspired in CoC's kiss.


Requires the application of a special lipstick.


Deal lust damage plus each color has a different side-effect. Examples:

• Lust damage over time (poison purple)
  
• Lowers Phy (glossy pink)
  
• Lowers Will (black)
  
• HP gain (succubus red).
  

The sticks last forever, but the applied layer wears off if kiss connects, so it's virtually a once per fight move.


Optional stuff:

• +10-15 lust when the lipstick is applied.
  
• Low accuracy, but it's doubled if the enemy is Tangled/blinded/stunned/etc.
  
• Side effects scale up with pc level.
  
• Lip rating boosts damage.
  
• No energy cost.
  

While I'm not too keen on TF-related powers, something that doesn't translate directly into power seem fine to me, like characters with antennae or other special sensorial body parts getting sense used for free at the beginning of the battle.

 

[shadefalcon]

I agree that lust combat is underdeveloped. All three classes are "serious", so they barely have any lust-related skills or perks. I guess that leaves TFs and learning through NPCs, and gating powerful lust moves behind a certain transformation doesn't sound like a good idea.


EDIT - And moves/perks related to body parts and/or their sizes (something like blue balls).


I've thought about it a few times and I wrote some ideas for lust moves in a notepad. I'll post them, because why not.


- Strip


Sensually remove your armor to deal lust damage. Has a high chance of stun (sexiness-based chance, vs willpower?).


Sounds powerful but I think it's fair because you can't put on your armor back so it's a once per fight move and you'll fight for the remaining of the battle without armor.


Optional stuff:

• Wearing "clothing" armor is required.
  
• Pc gains tease and exhibitionism point(s).
  
• Damage goes up with tease skill points.
  
• Factor in all sexprefs.
  
• No energy cost (it's a once per fight move, after all). Maybe this should be limited to exhibitionists.
  

- Pole Dance


Requires to wield a polearm.


Deals lust damage to all enemies, buffs pc's sexiness for the rest of the battle (doesn't stack with itself, scales up with pc level).


This is the future with spaceships and all, so why not be able to pole dance with a polearm because gyroscopes, magnets or some sci-fi tech stuff?


Optional stuff:

• Damage goes up with tease skill points.
  
• Physique boosts damage a bit.
  
• Factor in all sexprefs.
  
• Damage halved if energy is below 50.
  

- Dirty Thoughts


Fill your enemy's thoughts with visions of sex.


"Magic" (more like "Psychic") attack (Int and Libido based).


Optional stuff:

• May lower Aim and or Will (non-stackable, scales up with pc level).
  

- Kiss


Before I say anything else, this is clearly inspired in CoC's kiss.


Requires the application of a special lipstick.


Deal lust damage plus each color has a different side-effect. Examples:

• Lust damage over time (poison purple)
  
• Lowers Phy (glossy pink)
  
• Lowers Will (black)
  
• HP gain (succubus red).
  

The sticks last forever, but the applied layer wears off if kiss connects, so it's virtually a once per fight move.

These are some pretty good ideas. I especially loved the polearm dance. 


I think the stripping could have a varied effect depending on the enemies preferences. Some might enjoy stripping it off you by themselves, making it have less of an effect, if not negative. But I agree on Steele having to be an exhibitionist to do it.

 

[Hanzo]

Removing anal beads to cum quickly could be an option lo lower lust during battle.

 

[Woider]

Removing anal beads to cum quickly could be an option lo lower lust during battle.

Please stop beating on me, good sir. I need to remove my posterior pleasurers so that I may properly focus.

 

[Fully Automated]

Please stop beating on me, good sir. I need to remove my posterior pleasurers so that I may properly focus.

Well, the enemies apparently have no problems taking a break whilst you strip down and perform a belly-dance routine. Or just shove your fist up your own ass.

 

[Couch]

Well, the enemies apparently have no problems taking a break whilst you strip down and perform a belly-dance routine. Or just shove your fist up your own ass.

Yeah, that one procs a disturbing amount of the time when doing an ass tease.  I don't usually consider cramming one's fist up their own asshole a good method of arousing someone, it's more like the start of The Aristocrats.

 

[Tainted-Alice]

Fair point, though as I said I'd rather have each TF path be an additional option, not really a bonus. Since most TFable races already have fairly obvious sexual themes, it wouldn't be hard to make a unique tease or two for each. But hey, that's just me spitballing.


Well, you DO have two weapon slots already, and given how Evasion actually works (and the fact that your attributes THEORETICALLY won't be scaling with Lust damage soon probably maybe), it wouldn't be amiss to dedicate one to a lust weapon. 


That said, yeah, I wouldn't mind having a lust weapon slot of some kind (though I'd rather keep the focus of lust combat on actually teasing rather than weapon spam. Might be too late for that, though >_>').


Ech. If anything, I'd pick the Smuggler as the Lusty class (stereotypical dashing scoundrel type). Besides, they already have the one and only lust ability!


Oh, no, the bars automatically scale in the UI. 


I just think Fen's pretty happy with the current system and isn't likely to go for big sweeping changes to combat. (Again.) Could be wrong, though.

I agree with all of this completely

 

[Fully Automated]

Yeah, that one procs a disturbing amount of the time when doing an ass tease.

Maybe if someone were to write a bunch of new teases... Ahem.

 

[Tainted-Alice]

Frankly I'm disappointed that it adds a passive perk at all, and I don't say that because of my well-recorded distaste for red myr venom.  That you are just automatically better by having venom than you would be without it is the same sort of bad game design as CoC's kitsunes.  Having the venom as a bite attack alternative to tease attacking, like with vanae milk, would be much more appropriate.


I have similar feelings regarding lust weapons.  While a Tease Prop slot could work, and I think is worth considering, an alternative would be for weapons to always do physical damage, but potentially provide a lust damage special attack while equipped.

Huh how was that a bad design Couch? it makes a lot of sense to me and I'm a bit disappointed it no longer applys ? but each to their own i guess. 

 

[Rare Pleasure]

Im just going to point out this, TiTS (and CoC) are games that largely are about TFs. It would not make sense if they didnt provide advantages in much the same way that armour or weapons can provide advantages. The problem is the fact that some TFs gives boosts, some dont. If every major TF had some form of special attack or perk, that could not be stacked then it would be a lot more fair.


Think of it this way, if you had 5 diferent options to gain the venom perk (or something that functions the same), then it would not be so bad.

 

[Woider]

Im just going to point out this, TiTS (and CoC) are games that largely are about TFs. It would not make sense if they didnt provide advantages in much the same way that armour or weapons can provide advantages. The problem is the fact that some TFs gives boosts, some dont. If every major TF had some form of special attack or perk, that could not be stacked then it would be a lot more fair.


Think of it this way, if you had 5 diferent options to gain the venom perk (or something that functions the same), then it would not be so bad.

Other than a few stat gains, TFs have always been largely cosmetic. Sure, there were a couple special abilities in CoC, but they were by-and-large useless. To connect various Transformatives to certain bonuses would stifle people's character customisation, as they would be heavily compelled to min-max. No matter how silly it is to think that a 4' Raskvel is as strong as a 9' Horse, it's simply a way to provide people with the character they want, independent of their arbitrary power.

 

[Darkwarpalg6]

Other than a few stat gains, TFs have always been largely cosmetic. Sure, there were a couple special abilities in CoC, but they were by-and-large useless. To connect various Transformatives to certain bonuses would stifle people's character customisation, as they would be heavily compelled to min-max. No matter how silly it is to think that a 4' Raskvel is as strong as a 9' Horse, it's simply a way to provide people with the character they want, independent of their arbitrary power.

And I always fought this philosophy. Even if freaking Ember's blood were to be added to the game, I doubt that everyone would jump on it just to acquire explodo-breath (although the dragon TF itself is sure to be popular on it's own...). Right now all the traits that 'are' making it in are redundant lust attack gains, a few infinite milk mods, one full-body shaping goo morph, and a set of mental cripples from the Treatment. Oh, and Kui-Tan and their magnificent balls.


So the people of Fenco isn't afraid of putting in traits to give some authenticity to races, but as soon as it goes into combat, something that would be a mere supplement to your class specials, its out? Whether Naleen could strangle and bite, a Sydian could erode armor, a Vanae could recover a bit of energy by sucking someone off (RIP JimT's idea), or a Raskvel would have a higher Reflex score at the cost of Physique would be ultimately superficial, while they may provide some advantages over other races nothing will keep people from making their ideal form. I'm sure there are raw numbers fetishists out there, then people who transform how they want, and then the many people who stay as a starter race plus vanae markings and/or ten different kinds of dicks... and then people who roll Leithans in spite of lack of support ;p.


The point I'm bearing is... not having the traits kills the aesthetic, as much as I'm sure I'll be disagreed with that.

 

[Woider]

And I always fought this philosophy. Even if freaking Ember's blood were to be added to the game, I doubt that everyone would jump on it just to acquire explodo-breath (although the dragon TF itself is sure to be popular on it's own...). Right now all the traits that 'are' making it in are redundant lust attack gains, a few infinite milk mods, one full-body shaping goo morph, and a set of mental cripples from the Treatment. Oh, and Kui-Tan and their magnificent balls. So the people of Fenco isn't afraid of putting in traits to give some authenticity to races, but as soon as it goes into combat, something that would be a mere supplement to your class specials, its out? Whether Naleen could strangle and bite, a Sydian could erode armor, a Vanae could recover a bit of energy by sucking someone off (RIP JimT's idea), or a Raskvel would have a higher Reflex score at the cost of Physique would be ultimately superficial, while they may provide some advantages over other races nothing will keep people from making their ideal form. I'm sure there are raw numbers fetishists out there, then people who transform how they want, and then the many people who stay as a starter race plus vanae markings and/or ten different kinds of dicks... and then people who roll Leithans in spite of lack of support ;p. The point I'm bearing is... not having the traits kills the aesthetic, as much as I'm sure I'll be disagreed with that.

Perhaps a compromise could be reached, somehow. People get to have their species-specific abilities, but have them be just as useful/useless as the normal counterpart. E.G. Vanae Milk doing the same aggregate lust-damage as a tease. That way you keep the flavour, but make them purely superficial.

 

[Etis]

Perhaps a compromise could be reached, somehow. People get to have their species-specific abilities, but have them be just as useful/useless as the normal counterpart. E.G. Vanae Milk doing the same aggregate lust-damage as a tease. That way you keep the flavour, but make them purely superficial.

It could be justified by small nuances. Like, Vanae milk doing nearly same damage as tease, but as drug/pheromone rather than tease. Barely useful generally, but can make a difference in specific situation.

 

[Couch]

Im just going to point out this, TiTS (and CoC) are games that largely are about TFs. It would not make sense if they didnt provide advantages in much the same way that armour or weapons can provide advantages. The problem is the fact that some TFs gives boosts, some dont. If every major TF had some form of special attack or perk, that could not be stacked then it would be a lot more fair.


Think of it this way, if you had 5 diferent options to gain the venom perk (or something that functions the same), then it would not be so bad.

It's precisely because the game is about TFs that their being purely cosmetic is important.  If I have an ideal design for my version of Captain Steele, and my design doesn't include aphrodisiac venom, there should not be any incentive to get it.

 

[MESeele]

Purely cosmetic TFs seems to be in hopes of preventing consensus on best builds. If all cosmetics possess some trait, stat mod, or ability, they will fall under different tiers of effectiveness, and some parts will become more desirable. "You want to be the best X in TiTS and don't have part Y? Then you're doing it wrong" is something nobody wants to hear. While this attempts to keep people happy, this choice does have issues of its own (inb4 they complain no matter what). The bad feeling inside of not choosing the most optimal build involves comparison with other players, but TiTS has no multiplayer. The other reason for min-maxing is to thrash the game and make it your bitch, but TiTS is easy. Even intentionally choosing the worst abilities, any Steele can plow through. So their reasoning for the ban falls a little flat. Their choice to be on the fence about it though; to say they don't want part perks, then add a few anyway but depower them to appease people is half-assed, and frankly, the worst way to go about it.


tl;dr: "I wanna be the best snowflake but I wanna be a special snowflake that looks the way I want it to and it's unfair if an ability I want is tied to a part I don't want so no parts should get abilities" -1/2 of the player base
        "I want every part to have abilities (so long as the parts I want happen to have the best abilities)" -other 1/2 of the player base
        "I sincerely don't care" -a few players who aren't the main demographic for these games


Everyone will never be happy

 

[Etis]

Purely cosmetic TFs seems to be in hopes of preventing consensus on best builds. If all cosmetics possess some trait, stat mod, or ability, they will fall under different tiers of effectiveness, and some parts will become more desirable. "You want to be the best X in TiTS and don't have part Y? Then you're doing it wrong" is something nobody wants to hear. While this attempts to keep people happy, this choice does have issues of its own (inb4 they complain no matter what). The bad feeling inside of not choosing the most optimal build involves comparison with other players, but TiTS has no multiplayer. The other reason for min-maxing is to thrash the game and make it your bitch, but TiTS is easy. Even intentionally choosing the worst abilities, any Steele can plow through. So their reasoning for the ban falls a little flat. Their choice to be on the fence about it though; to say they don't want part perks, then add a few anyway but depower them to appease people is half-assed, and frankly, the worst way to go about it.


tl;dr: "I wanna be the best snowflake but I wanna be a special snowflake that looks the way I want it to and it's unfair if an ability I want is tied to a part I don't want so no parts should get abilities" -1/2 of the player base
        "I want every part to have abilities (so long as the parts I want happen to have the best abilities)" -other 1/2 of the player base
        "I sincerely don't care" -a few players who aren't the main demographic for these games


Everyone will never be happy

Well, compromise is possible. Add flavored versions of common abilities to TFs. It is possible to just add multiple abilities with same effective result, but different description. This is the way I've used in LD - Blind And Illusion are just reflavored Flash Grenade, Whitefire and Fox Fire are reflavored single-target versions of Thermal Disruptor etc. The worst which can happen is one class gaining ability which is usually not accessible for this class, but this is not MMORPG where paper-rock-scissors balance is cornerstone, such cases usually just point to initially bad design, like with Nine Tails - neraly useless to Smuggler and Merc, but feels so good for Tech... And all it does is some energy regeneration over time, which can be as well done by resting.

 

[Hanzo]

- Things doesn't have to be either purely cosmetic or combat-oriented.


For example in another thread I suggested that having wings could grant a quick travel feature. It's not going to help you win a single fight, but it'll be a nice touch.


- TF-related abilities not restricted to X TF given only by Y item.


For example, there are many, many ways to have a tail. Let's have them do something... even if all they do is to help you to not get tripped, or trip opponents (so the same as stun skills).


Or since we're in a lust combat thread, being able to squeeze your opponent against your boobs (so the requirement would be to have big breasts) amazon style.


- Having the same power available as an item.


Like antennae giving Sense perfect accuracy (which won't be a big deal, BTW). An accessory like a DBZ-esque visor could do the same.