User blog:MC Photos/Give-and-Take Items

When creating ideas, I tend to draw upon my gameplay experiences for this. Games I have drawn upon in the past include: I recently started playing Team Fortress 2, and while I'm no good at it to be sure and don't really enjoy its killing storyline, I do recognize its greatness in the item system.
 * Minecraft
 * Terraria
 * Lantern Forge

In Team Fortress 2, you can get items through trades, gifts, bought in the store or just found randomly after you die. The items can be equipped on your class - primary, secondary, tertiary (melee) or just as an accessory.

This isn't so strange for a game. However, the thing is, all these items have advantages and disadvantages. Take, for example, three of the Pyro's weapons, the Flamethrower, Degreaser and Backburner.

The Flamethrower is the Pyro's default weapon: it sprays flames in a short area, igniting and damaging severely anyone caught in that range. In addition, using right-click, it can launch a blast of air (costing 20 of its 200 ammo) that knocks back projectiles such as rockets and grenades.

The Backburner is an obtainable weapon that can replace the Flamethrower. It is excellent in ambush situations, since it has a 100% chance of dealing a critical hit (which are a big thing in TF2) if aimed at the enemy's back. This allows it to deal incredible damage. However, its airblast costs 150% more, making it cost a whopping 50 ammo.

The Degreaser is interesting: its good side is a 65% faster weapon switch, allowing it to be used in devastating combination attacks. However, it also deals 25% less burning damage and 10% less damage overall.

The thing about TF2 is that getting a new weapon does not automatically mean you are at an advantage, and all have drawbacks.

That's what I want to see in Terraria: only the Turtle and Beetle Armors have drawbacks, and nothing else does. Gray's Shield of Achilles gave me this idea originally, so I credit him.

This is why I plan to make several items that have weaknesses and advantages over others. Leave a suggestion in the comments if you wish!

MC Photos (talk) 00:01, October 7, 2014 (UTC)