Devlog #7 - Refining Combat, Inventory Integration, and Adding Visual Effects

This week, I focused on refining the combat system, integrating inventory-based item usage, and implementing visual effects (VFX) for attacks. While combat was functional, I needed to ensure animations and health updates synced correctly while also making fights feel more impactful.  I also started integrating stamina, magic, and evasion into combat.

reating VFX for Combat Actions

One major improvement this week was beginning the integration of visual effects (VFX) into combat actions. Previously, attacks lacked visual feedback, making combat feel static. To address this, I designed and implemented basic VFX assets, but they are not yet fully triggering in combat.

• I created sprite sheets for attack effects, such as slash animations and magical impacts.
• These VFX assets are instantiated as UI elements under the combat canvas, ensuring they are properly positioned.
• The system is set up to automatically disable effects after all animation frames play, preventing lingering visuals.

Next Steps for VFX Integration

While the VFX are set up, they still need to trigger correctly based on combat actions. The plan to integrate them includes:

• Assigning each combat action a corresponding VFX prefab.
• Ensuring the correct VFX plays at the moment of impact rather than at the start of an attack.
• Delaying health updates until the VFX animation completes to improve feedback timing.
• Using coroutines to manage VFX duration and syncing them with attack events.

Once these steps are implemented, combat animations will feel much more dynamic and immersive.

Integrating Inventory and Item Usage in Combat

A major step forward was syncing the inventory system with combat, allowing players to use collected items in battle.

• The inventory system now detects when items are picked up and categorizes them for combat usage.
• Players can use healing items during combat to restore health or stamina.
• Offensive items (e.g., throwable objects or magical scrolls) can be used to attack enemies.
• Item usage dynamically updates stats and applies effects in real time.
• Inventory changes persist between the overworld and combat, ensuring consistency.

This addition makes exploration and item collection more meaningful, as gathering the right resources can improve survival chances in combat.

Enhancing Enemy AI with Adaptive Attacks

To make combat more dynamic, I improved enemy AI so that they can use multiple attacks and adjust their strategies based on the player's health.

• Enemies now have multiple attack options, rather than a single static move.
• Attack selection is based on player health—if the player is low on health, enemies use weaker attacks instead of instantly finishing them off.
• Enemies with healing abilities now prioritize healing themselves when their health is critically low.
• This creates more strategic battles where enemy behavior changes over time, making fights feel less predictable and more engaging.

Integrating Stamina, Magic, and Evasion into Combat

With health syncing between combat and the overworld, the next step was extending this functionality to stamina, magic, and the new evasion stat.

• Stamina is now required for physical attacks, meaning repeated actions can tire the player.
• Magic is consumed when using abilities, preventing unlimited spellcasting.
• Evasion determines the likelihood of dodging an attack, adding an extra layer of strategy.
• If stamina reaches zero, the player is forced to wait a turn to recover.
• These stats persist between the overworld and combat, just like health.

This change adds more depth to resource management and forces players to consider their actions carefully.

Next Steps

With combat mechanics solidified, I plan to:

1. Fully implement VFX triggering for different attack types.
2. Implement a save system to track player progress between play sessions.
3. Complete game greybox/all interactions & events
4. Implement art and music
5. Polish systems