Development Log – June 2025: Save/Load System Implementation, Game State Persistence, and Action Point (AP) Combat Management

Changelog

This update focuses on significant refactoring of core game systems, introducing Action Points for turn-based combat, implementing a minimap, and improving overall game stability and player experience.

[MILESTONE]

• Save/Load System: Implemented a foundational Save/Load system, allowing game state to be persistently stored and retrieved. This includes a robust refactoring of character and game data structures.

[GAMEPLAY]

• Action Point (AP) System:
  • Implemented a core Action Point (AP) system, fundamentally changing how turns and abilities are managed in combat.
  • Unified Action Cost calculations for abilities to ensure consistent gameplay mechanics.
  • Player turns now accurately conclude based on remaining Action Points.
• Player Abilities:
  • Refined and simplified the Dash and Stomp abilities for a more intuitive player experience.
  • Resolved multiple issues related to ability state handling, improving reliability.
• Interaction & Combat:
  • Refactored the core interaction system, enhancing player interactions with in-game objects.
  • Updated and improved combat mechanics, including adjustments to damage and armor calculations.
  • Fixed critical issues with enemy spawning logic, ensuring encounters trigger as intended.
• Character Systems:
  • Decoupled the instantiation process for characters, weapons, and behaviors, enabling greater flexibility for game content and modifier application.
  • Initiated the architectural groundwork for a character leveling system.

[GRAPHICS]

• Asset Management: Added new sprites and reorganized the game’s asset folder structure for improved development workflow.

[UI/UX]

• Minimap: Introduced and fully implemented a Minimap, significantly improving player navigation and spatial awareness.
• Cursor & Input:
  • Developed and integrated a new Cursor Manager to centralize and refine mouse input and cursor control logic.
  • Improved visual feedback for object interaction and general mouse movement.
  • Fixed issues related to mouse movement and camera targeting when using the movement cursor.
• Player Feedback:
  • Implemented predicted Action Points (AP) display on player portraits, providing clear feedback for turn planning.
  • Extended and refined the Action Bar logic, resolving issues to ensure abilities function correctly based on character states.
• Tutorial: Made several adjustments to the in-game tutorial content to improve the new player onboarding experience.

[PERFORMANCE]

• Pathfinding Optimizations:
  • Optimized node access and pathfinding algorithms within the NodeManager, leading to improved AI performance.
  • Removed an unused GetNodesVisibleToEnemy method to reduce processing overhead.
  • Refactored general pathfinding and guardian logic for enhanced efficiency.

[FIXED]

• Resolved multiple interaction bugs, including a specific issue with door interactions.
• Addressed various minor bugs and null reference exceptions across the codebase, contributing to overall game stability.
• Corrected issues affecting event triggers and player portrait displays.
• Fixed problems related to abilities and their initialization following system refactors.
• Restored stability and functionality after significant system refactors, particularly concerning character and unit creation.

[TECHNICAL]

• Core Systems Refactoring:
  • Undertook significant refactoring of character and unit creation systems for enhanced modularity and maintainability.
  • Extensively refactored save data structures and general game asset handling, incorporating generics and a new IGameAssetTemplate interface for standardized management.
  • Prepared a generic state machine framework and implemented a dedicated Unit State Machine.
  • Cleaned up and improved project structure and file naming conventions.
  • Updated the Unity engine to the latest version.
• Developer Tools:
  • Integrated Debug Console Pro and resolved an underlying assembly definition problem.
  • Developed a Level Design Editor Tool to react dynamically to in-editor changes, streamlining level creation.