A GDD document on a custom Skyrim Feature.
Concept
A Player can interact with different kind of animals to obtain certain advantages and a companion that can be instructed to do certain things.
Research
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Game |
Details |
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Minecraft |
Give Bones to Wolf to make it your Dog, he attacks enemies. Give fish to Ocelot to make it your Cat, he protects your chests and scares Creepers. |
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The Sims |
Buy a Pet from the Store. The Pet will act like an NPC that will need their requirement fulfilled. |
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Fallout 4 |
Dogmeat is found at a Red Rocket truck stop southeast of Sanctuary Hills and can be recruited as a companion. Dogmeat can be equipped with a variety of cosmetic items. Dogmeat loves the Sole Survivor unconditionally and thus is neither negatively nor positively influenced by their actions. |
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WoW |
Pets are divided in 3 categories: -Guardian Pets are creatures that can be summoned, but cannot be directly controlled; -Combat Pets are companions that a player can partially control to aid them in battle; -Companions are lesser creatures that only provide aesthetic appeal and do not affect combat. |
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Fable 3 |
The Dog is a supporting character with different breeds and with its own abilities which can be leveled. |
Features
Animal Handling is a skill a player can learn throughout their journey in Skyrim, it levels up by interacting with animals and unlocks the ability to tame them and make them your companions. (Only one animal at a time can follow the player).
Constellation Concept
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1 - 1/3: Nature’s Path, hostile creatures are 20/40/60% less likely to attack you; 2a: Pet Trainer, you can tame small animals, they will attack or increase your Magika recharge by 10%; 2b: Rider’s Care, if you give a riding animal its favorite food its stats will increase; 3a: Companion’s Bond: You gain Experience by killing enemies while your companion is with you; 3b: Wild Ride, horses will run 10% faster and jump 20% higher; 4a- 1/2: Power Within, your Companion will increase you Magika by 30/50 and your Magika recharge by 20%; 4b- 1/2: Sharp Teeth, your Companion will deal 15/30% more damage; 4c: Journey in Nature, horses run 25% faster on grass; 5a: Arcane Guardian, your spells are replicated by your companion but they deal 25% damage, while you are casting you both get 15% damage reduction; 5b: Vigor of Battle, your Companions attack will make the enemy bleed, when the bleeding enemy dies, you both get a damage increase of 15%. |
Components
Love Points
When interacting with animals players will earn Love Points to unlock other interactions.
Animal Interactions
Players can crouch down and equip specific food to attract animals, once the animal is close an UI will appear with different interactions:
- Pet, the player will pet the animal adding 5 Love Points;
- Offer additional food, the player will give the animal some of their food adding 10 Love Points or 20 if it’s its favorite food (players will not know instantly what their favorite food is but they can guess);
- Tame (requires leather collar and at least 50 Love Points), players will proceed to tame the animal with a 40% chance of succeeding;
- Tummy Rub (requires being Tamed), the animal will turn itself, allowing the player to rub its belly;
- Teach Command (requires being Tamed), the player will teach a command to a pet with a 50% chance of succeeding:
- Sit, the companion will learn to sit;
- Roll, the companion will learn to roll on its back;
- Stay/Follow, the companion will learn to stay and follow the owner;
- Distract, the companion will learn to distract humanoids in the vicinity;
- Pick Up (requires the animal to be a baby and Tamed), the player will pick up the small animal, during this time he can't cast spells or attack;
- Kill, the player will kill the animal instantly.
NPC Changes
Dogs and other animals inside towns will become Companions to a person in the town, and their owner can command them to attack the players if bounty is increased.
Guards will sometimes have wolves as companions.
Horses will become companions to the sable owner until bought, the player can still steal the horse but will need to achieve an high enough level of Love Points.
Accessories
Players will be able to buy and equip accessories for their Companions, they divide into different categories:
- Cosmetic, these are items that will only ornate your Companion;
- Weapons, these are accessories that increase the Companion’s damage;
- Apparel, these are defensive accessories, some will increase the Companion’s armor others will create weak Auras that affect the owner (Health regen, Magika Regen, Speed or Damage Reduction).
MDA Analysis
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Mechanic |
Dynamic |
Aesthetics |
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Interacting with Wild Animals |
Players will explore what kind of interaction can be done with animals Players will discover new ways to play the game |
Animal Lovers |
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Fighting together with Pets |
Players will be persuaded into discovering the taming mechanics Players will be encouraged to tame a pet and to add accessories |
Self Expression and Achieving a higher power level |
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Taming Pets |
Players will be persuaded to spend their money on their Companion Players will need to decide what Companion they want to tame |
Animal Lovers |
Audience
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Player Type |
Mechanic |
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Explorer (Bartle) |
Exploring to find different animals to tame |
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Socializer (Bartle) |
Interacting with Pets and Wild Animals |
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