When designing the player character I wanted to maintain a careful balance between making the player feel powerful, conveyed through the weapons and tools at their disposal, and fragile. The fragility of the player emphasizes the danger of the enemy and the reliance on tactical decision making / tool usage to survive and win.

The player’s movement immediately communicates much of the gameplay’s pacing and tone. A stamina system balances the player’s ability to aggressively engage or disengage the enemy. Stamina is consumed by sprinting or dodging.

Sprinting prevents the player from being able to aim their weapon. Aiming or firing the player’s weapon exits sprint.

Player movement also communicates how the player can explore the environment. To broaden the options of exploring a space and expanding level design choices, crouching, jumping, and climbing (ledge-grab / climb up on defined edges) are supported.

With all of the player’s tools, it is important to present the player choices. Exemplifying this, each item has a secondary function. While the player has an item in their off-hand, they cannot aim down the sights of their weapon.

The Torch: Has an active life-span when lit. Creates a radius of light that makes enemies vulnerable as they approach it. Enemies are more vulnerable the closer they are to the source of the light. When held by the player, the torch will block / absorb incoming enemy projectiles (from supernatural enemy types) at the cost of some of the torch’s lifespan.

Secondary Function: The torch can be thrown into an enemy as a powerful one-hit kill. Sacrificing the tool (and protection provided) as a weapon alternative. The torch can also be dropped at the player’s feet.

Holy Water: Holy water is the primary form of recovering health for the player. When equipped, the player can drink from the bottle to restore health. The player takes drinks from the bottle based on how much health needs to be restored, to a total of four drinks.

Secondary function: Holy water can be thrown to create an area (puddle) that damages enemies who enter the area, and makes them vulnerable. The size of the puddle is relative to the amount of uses left in the holy water item.

The Lantern: The lantern functions similarly to the torch, in that it provides a light radius that makes enemies vulnerable and protects the player from incoming attacks when held. It burns significantly longer than the torch, and its oil can be refilled at stations (when available). Similar to the torch, the lantern can be destroyed if it absorbs too many attacks.

Secondary Function: The lantern can be thrown, in an arc, that creates an explosion on impact. After the explosion, a pool of oil burns and radiates light, damaging enemies in the area and making enemies vulnerable around the fire. The lantern can also be dropped to the ground (and shot) to explode and produce the same fire pool.

In its current design, Witching Hours supports three weapons: the revolver, the double barreled shotgun, and the ax. Each has a one-handed variant for when the player has a torch, holy water, or lantern equipped in their off-hand.

The Revolver: Standard six-round sidearm that’s accurate with low damage. Ammo is more readily available.

The Double-Barrel: High power and damage, slow reload, fires one shot per barrel before needing to be reloaded.

The Ax: Incredibly powerful, one-hit kills, but forces the player to get up close with enemies. The ax is destroyed once its durability is depleted. Can be aimed with the ADS input and thrown, but is destroyed on impact with its target.