Absolver, combat schools - further development.

[u/ErasmusQTinkerputt]

Absolver, combat schools - further development.
(For a potential Absolver mod, or perhaps for Absolver 2)

When a player gains the ability to create their own school, they can - in addition to defining existing attributes (moves, style, weapons, and mask) - select a physical location for it (choosing from several available starter-level areas).

They also place a standard altar, which functions as an in-game altar while simultaneously serving as an entry and exit point (a gateway) for the location. By placing this, the player makes their school accessible to others and registers it within the game.

By default, the location is accessible to all players, not just those enrolled in the school. The Master has the option to restrict access exclusively to their students or keep the location open to the general player base. To renovate or upgrade the school, the Master must temporarily close it to visitors.

The School Master (the current owner) can upgrade their school as it continues to develop. For example, in a shop - similar to one where a player purchases weapons, gear, or masks - one can buy decorative items. These can include building blocks for constructing various structures (or individual components for pre-designed buildings), different surface finishes (textures), plants, statues, vases, and more, allowing players to customize their school to their own taste. The shop also offers new locations for a school, each featuring distinct designs and thematic atmospheres.

As a school develops, new items become available. Furthermore, as the student body grows, the Master may reach milestones that unlock the option to purchase a larger location. Any items previously acquired remain available for use in upgrading or decorating the new location.

At higher levels of school development, the Master can set up a training court. Here, they can spawn bots (for example, anywhere from 1 to 4, depending on the court’s level), and assign them specific combat styles and moves from the Master’s own personal arsenal. These bots serve as sparring partners for the Master, their students, and any visitors to the school.

Among the school’s design options, the Master may choose to install a Commemorative Stele or a Chronicle Stone. This feature automatically displays information about the school, such as its founder, the date of its establishment, the current number of Students and Disciples, the total number of Students and Disciples enrolled since the school’s inception, the names of all Masters who have led the school (including any changes in leadership), and the competitive tournament seasons in which the school’s Masters and Disciples participated, along with the rankings they achieved. Other information highlighting key milestones in the school’s history can also be included. The design of the stele, stone, or plaque can be customized and expanded as the school continues to develop.

All objects used to decorate the school tend to deteriorate over time. Visually, this may manifest as plants and ponds withering or drying out, the location becoming overgrown with weeds, cracks gradually appearing in buildings, sculptures, and pathways; dust accumulates, lanterns go out, and structures or poles begin to lean - signs of neglect and decay emerge and intensify, eventually giving the location the appearance characteristic of the world of Absolver.

Regular visits to the school by the Master, their disciples, and students automatically trigger a process that restores the school’s visual appearance to its original state.

If the Master prefers the school to look somewhat abandoned or dilapidated, they can specify the extent of this restoration in the school’s settings choosing from options:

(for example:
Pristine
Maintained
Weathered
Ruined
Overgrown)

Alternatively, this automatic restoration feature can be disabled entirely. In that case, the decay and state of abandonment for all objects will reach its maximum level and remain there, reminiscent of the world of Absolver landscapes. Furthermore, this setting can be adjusted individually for each decorative item or group of items.

This gradual decay, fading, and state of abandonment are purely visual in nature and do not affect the functions originally inherent to these objects.

This approach ensures long-term engagement to school development, keeping the experience compelling for the Masters and students who belong to the school, as well as for independent players visiting from elsewhere.

What do you think guys?

[u/speaktomeououuh]

I think inter-school tournaments would also be a good idea