Been gone for a while, happy to see OG is still kicking
Like OP said, Id like to see further development of the different species. Each one should have some pros/cons and its own fighting/play style to match the "feel" of the animal. Rabbit is clearly most dialed, other species need some love IMO. I have not read comic yet (just realized it exists) so I don't know if the other animals have some established traits but here is my two cents just based on common sense and a love for game design:
Mice/Squirrel/Small Rodents - Slightly smaller than Rats, these are the Hobbits of OG. Less Damage Resistance than the larger critters of course but still effective if played with skill.
Faster than larger species (dogs, wolves), Small size means they could fit into tunnels or small holes when crouched, improved stealth, less jump than Rabbits but increased wall run (Jetpack Fuel in the code) and wall jump; Mice in real life can climb vertical surfaces, faster weapon pickup/grab ledge pull up animations, similar to Rats in most regards but more agile and differentiated for flavor.
Rats- Looking good but could feel more rat-like in combat styles, maybe some sort of increased climbing ability.. Of course Rabbits should always be the most mobile but Id like to see some of the other species still be able to access most of the areas Rabbits can, if not a good deal slower.
Birds, Avians- Again I don't know if this is story canon but some bird type playable characters would be a great addition. Le Petite Docteur's Tengu Mod is a great example, even includes unique combat animations! But Id like to see some further differentiation in the stats. Birds have light weight body frames so they should be more susceptible to damage than say a dog. Fast and light, less jump than Rabbit but improved wall run, full on flight is OP but increased air control could yield a great glide effect, some air based attacks/tackles/stealth kills. Combat with an Avian would require precise control as they cannot take a beating but the trade off is increased mobility.
Kitsune, Fox- I think these deserve their own "race" in OG. Similar to the cat but even more nimble, Fox has less jump but increased wall run and extremely fast ledge grab/pullup to compete in Ninja style with Rabbit. Less damage resistance but fast attack/block/counter. Maybe a unique capacity for counter attacks to demonstrate their innate wisdom. Stealthy, fast and lightweight, the Fox player must remain clever and stay out of harms way. Great capacity for story development IMO. Don't forget their tales are as long as their entire body!
Cats- Felines need some love. Playing as a Cat should feel fast and agile, but in a totally different way than playing a Rabbit. Cats are precise jumpers, should have slightly lower jump than rabbit but fast ledge grab/pull up. Less damage than a dog but faster attack/dodge/movement speed. Stealth bonus and a unique pounce attack would make playing a cat appealing for more than just cuddles.. watch out for the claws!
Dogs- Dogs feel pretty good but Id like the archetypes to be dialed in. Tougher than the smaller species, hit harder but a little slower, not much jump or climbing, more of a brute. A unique tackle or trip attack would make sense. It seems like Dogs in this universe prefer armor and heavy weapons/organized militaristic society.
Wolves- Already pretty big and scary! Combat style could be further developed. Fast and powerful, can take more damage than other species. Can wolves in Lugaru use items? I like that they are clothing-less and portrayed "wild" and vicious. Playing one should feel that way.
Big Cats- More mobile than the wolf and with different combat style. Still big and scary. Less damage resist than Wolf but more than smaller species.
Bear- Ive seen some concept art and heard some murmuring about Bear characters in OG, sounds like a great idea! Obviously, playing a Bear should feel like a tank compared to the speedy ninjas of the small races. Slow but super powerful attacks, can swipe multiple enemies. Propensity for armor/large weapons like a barbarian type race? All emphasis on speed and mobility traded for defense, and powerful attacks. Strong grab/grapple move. Maybe Bears can counter attack and then pick up the enemy and toss them into a wall or other enemies.
Other animals - Id like to see other critters but mainly as NPC type characters to improve the mood of the story mode or custom maps.
That and UI improvements, general bug fixing, better Mod tools, better map editing tools, improved library of characters fully equipped with preset AI and gear, unique and interesting items with their own subtle qualities for example a Fox Staff does not need to be dropped while climbing, Rat items infect and reduce health regen. Nothing game breaking just subtle differences in the way different species craft items. More stealth elements such as tall grass patches, more effective shadow concealing, audio cues, up/downwind element? etc.
Gotta be careful with RPG elements.. I like that if my Rabbit kicks a dogs head into a wall hard enough that dog is dead- no matter what "level" he may be. Some minor passive "perks" to develop play style sounds good but I don't want my Rabbit starting with zero block skill forcing me to level it up to be effective.
Better AI- Bots don't appear to utilize full range of mobility options.. haven't seen one juke me with a backflip or wall run to a ledge. Fleshed out species would offer the possibility for varied enemy types and require different skills/strategies to overcome.
) I'll start!
