itch.io

Being able to change in combat can help, though I still think there should be some additional slots. Not a lot, either; only one or two. Would it be possible to add one more equipment slot and convert some of the items to that? Maybe make it that this slot explicitly doesn't do damage? The reason why I'm asking for this will make sense once I cover Azuli.

As for making combat unique, here's an idea that focuses more on the visual side. First, we need to change some names. MP is going to be renamed as Energy while TP will be renamed something else. I don't know what yet, but it should be something unique to Azuli. I thought "Anger" or "Rage" at first but these don't feel right. Maybe "Temper" or "Passion"? I'm going to use Temper because I think this might better reflect her and the use behind her actions.

HP, or Health, will be displayed differently by remain in a numerical sense. However, MP and TP are no longer shown as numbers unless you're choosing the attack for that character. Instead, TP is only shown when you're choosing for Azuli while Flor (And likely Lang, I've still not done anything with him) will emit auras that change based on how much energy they have remaining:

0-10% energy: no aura.
11-35% energy: faint aura
36-60% energy: medium aura
61-85% energy: strong aura
86-100% energy: Intense aura

Next, we're going to remove skills for others. For now on, Flor can't use Attack while Azuli can't use Guard. This'll make sense in a moment.

When Flor's turn comes up, rather than a menu coming up it shows an image of a staff (You could even make it that this staff changes appearance based on what she has equipped). On the staff are small pieces of wood that stick out and glow (alternative idea: make it coloured rings based on what is equipped to Flor. So instead of the items being equipped to Flor, they're put on the staff). These represent your skills (so no glow = no skill in that slot). You can still navigate them the same way (arrow keys, mouse, etc) but now when you have one selected it'll give extensive information about that skill. It'll state the name of the skill, the energy needed for the skill, the power of the skill if applicable, the type of skill via an icon (so if it's healing, it'd be a green or something. If it does Fire damage, it'll be a flame. If it's just a buff/debuff, it'll be arrows), a text description of the skill that tries to connect back to the monster it belonged to, whatever status effects it may apply and the chance of applying said status effect. At the top of the staff is a numerical listing of how much energy Flor has left. Lastly, for when Flor can't use her skills, at the bottom of the staff are options for Guard and Items. When using Guard, she generates a small about of Health and Energy, usually enough for one turn. Oh, also Flor has a set energy of 100.

For Azuli, for her she'll still get a menu but it'll look very futuristic. It's meant to look like it's on her suit, maybe on her arm. It could also be like a cybernetic vision thing. Like Flor, it lists all her abilities flat out starting with attack. Highlighting one causes a secondary screen to appear. This screen gives the details for the skill. Since Azuli doesn't use magic, all of her attacks are just doing physical, non-elemental damage. As such, she doesn't need as much info. However, what she does need is some of her skills having higher costs while the amount of Temper she generates increases. So here's how we do that: every time Azuli does a basic attack, she generates 15 Temper. Every time she's attacked, she generates 10 Temper. Every time Flor is attacked, she generates 20 Temper. Yes, she should generate Temper when Flor is attacked. This is part of why she loses Guard. She cares more about Flor than herself, and should be more focused on helping Flor and killing enemies than on taking care of herself. Her group buffing skill now takes 20 Temper. Her dual attack skill now takes 15 Temper. Finally, she gains a starting skill that costs 100 Temper called "Temper, Temper." She'll do several attacks at once (I'm thinking, like 10) that hit random targets. However, their accuracy is reduced to give a higher miss chance (if the standard miss rate is 90%, this should be 70%). Cheer Up also restores 100 energy for Flor (if this can be used on Lang, it should only be 40 for him). Now, Cheer Up and Temper, Temper are baseline skills. All her other skills are based on her equipment. This is why I want that one extra equipment slot: Azuli has four other skills but only three equipment slots. She needs a fourth slot to allow each ability to be upgraded. Her weapon affects her dual attack, while each slot covers its own support skill. For example, upgrades improve the strength of the debuffs/buffs she applies and later on can do damage or heal at increased Temper costs.

For Lang, I'll leave that one to you. XD

I hope this gives an idea of how easy it can be to make combat more unique feeling. This is purely just a visual idea, yet its presentation makes it feel wholly different.