Boss Intro Splash Screen!

[Grillkick]

One thing that I think would really add excitement and style to the game is a small splash screen for bosses and randbosses. It would be similar to the Warning! screens from shmup bosses and the Metroid/Zelda boss intro segments. As soon as a boss /randboss comes into view, the display would autocenter over/under the tile and there would be a large box that displays a large closeup of the tile art(as when inspected) along with its text description to the right. The top would splash stylized text that loudly announces DEADLY FOE, BOSS ENCOUNTER, or the classy and effective WARNING! with the name below. Possibly have a unique sound effect like a sword slash or a short, dramatic clip like tribal drums to accompany it. The player would click on a button in the lower right for confirmation so that it doesn't flash away in a storm of clicks.
This would also announce to players who might be just moving around or so swarmed that they didn't notice that a boss has appeared. It's the small touches like this that really add style and polish to a game and with such great art and already-present flavor text, would increase immersion.
Any thoughts?

[azrael]

I like it

[azrael]

But I don't know whether this might be a problem: what about bosses with stealth or invisibility, who sneak up on you? A big message telling you that they're there might feel a little like cheating...

[Grillkick]

Azrael, that's a good point! Easy fix though- we would just have the boss splash screen generate only when the player can first see it

[Sirrocco]

Having the intro splash screen come up on a boss right after he's stepped out of the shadows and backstabbed you for the first time feels *very* anime to me (and not in a bad way). I like it.

[James LaBrie]

Very big +1.

[PureQuestion]

this seems unnecessarily bombastic.

[Sirrocco]

Admittedly, it could very well be cooler in theory than in practice. Also, seems like it might be a pain to code. Might make a nice Add-on, though, if possible.

[AlexMdle]

I like small touches like that.

+1

[Grey]

I like it. Would be especially cool if there was boss music that played.

[PureQuestion]

hm, I seem to be alone in this opinion.

[supermini]

I really don't like this, for several reasons.

First of all, are you going to do it for randbosses and randelites as well? Because, really, there's a big chance that they are the real difficulty in the dungeon now. A sandworm tunneler berserker has a bigger chance of ending your run than the Sandworm Queen. Second, it takes away from the action. It's worse than having cutscenes - definitely not something I want in a roguelike. Finally, it will get boring. I skip through most of the lore and dialogue already since I saw it a 100 times. A boss splash screen will be interesting for the first time you see it, you'll be ok with it the next 9, and after that you'll just wish you could turn it off.

I'd suggest just adding lore for each boss after you defeat it. I feel it fits much better with Tome.

EDIT: Also, if you don't notice the boss and get killed it's your own fault for not paying attention. Lets not add hand-holding to the game please.

[Grillkick]

Supermini, you make some good points, I hope that I can address them well. I'm definitely not suggesting that this should be done for randelites- that would get really obnoxious. Also, with the extensive balancing of randelites that I've seen and played in the SVN, they are definitely not the equivalent of bosses. This would be for bosses and absolutely randbosses.(Although I think there should be a large ??? instead of warning, due to their strange, unknown Farportal nature ) For anyone who would eventually get annoyed by something like this, it would be minor- after all, you only run into a boss after 3-5 levels deep in a given area. And its not a cutscene, its a splash screen that takes one click to dismiss. There's a reason that a wide range of games over the years, from jrpgs to Metal Gear Solid introduce a boss- its a marker of progress, adds drama and excitement for an encounter that marks the end goal of a given area and represents progress. Bosses shouldn't just mosey on the screen with no fanfare- that just isn't boss-like at all. After going through level after level of the tower, I walk into a random room and...oh hey there's The Master. No! It should be announced.
For new players, it lets them realize what it is they're up against and respond with caution and tactics, instead of going "Hey, I wonder why this one is purple" and getting smacked down. For the people that would get tired of this- there's no need to wish to be able to turn it off- we could just put it in the options. I wouldn't do it as an add-on because I believe that this should be the default behavior for the above reasons.

[faustgeist]

I completely agree and like the splash window/screen idea... I also feel there should be more music announcing events in the game... I am certain free-ware music is difficult to come by, but when the community gathered to get new sounds for the game it worked great... perhaps new mood music announcing elites, events, and encounters will also be good

~Robin

[James LaBrie]

Also if you don't like it, like many things that don't affect the gameplay balance in any way, it should be toggable.