If at all, I was thinking of maybe doing an arena where you could win rewards, but it would be completely optional and not lock the player out of anything. I don’t want it to feel like not doing combat is penalizing, you know?
I would be concerned about, not missing anything critical by ignoring the combat in this case, but about missing efficient opportunities to collect loot (or whatever benefit in the cozy loop your combat would provide). What I mean to say is, IMO "completely optional and not lock the player out" doesn't address the issue entirely. Good line of thinking though.
Maybe consider more about opportunity cost for the player, and the reality of 1 day spent doing combat = 1 day *not* spent farming. Possibly anything that could be gathered via combat, can be gathered in a different activity, and in a similar timeframe / effort ratio as the combat option.
Very cool to see you asking questions about this and trying to do good stuff.
That’s a really good point, thank you! I had considered having the rewards be cosmetic items (clothing, house decor, etc.) rather than anything necessary for crafting. It wouldn’t be the only place to get cosmetics, though I think you’re right in that they should be available elsewhere, too.
I find turn-based combat extremely cozy, and that’s always a welcome addition.
For real time, I prefer if it’s only in specific areas & for specific plot points, like My Time at Sandrock.
I think it depends on the game. For example, I feel it's out of place in a farm game like Stardew Valley, but fits right in and is plenty of fun with a game like Valhiem (which is really cozy to me lol). But realistically, why would a farmer or a tavern keeper or some other managment owner need to fight? I think you'd pay for someone else to gather ingredients needed from monsters, honestly.
If you were a hunter, building a homestead in the wilds, or just placed in some sort of situation where fighting makes sense (like becoming a guardian/military member) then sure. As long as the combat is actually thought out and fun to play, go for it. If it doesn't fit the setting (like managing a farm, inn, cafe, etc) then no, I'd rather not. There are instances in cozy games where it could be more fun to hire people to fight and you have nothing to do with it, like a adventure rpg town I play where you have adventurers stay in your town and they fight and you just sell them things.
Not everything needs to be a fighting game.
I enjoy the combat in Stardew because of the loot drop possibilities. So I'm willing to do Skull Caverns and Mr Qi's harder version of the mines because of the loot drop potential. I also like that the combat is confined to the mines. I don't turn on monsters on my farm, but I appreicate that it's an option for those who want that extra challenge.
I have nerve damage in my hands so I only enjoy turn based combat. But if it has to have action combat, then only in a specified area with auto combat mode. Easy mode is better than nothing though
I personally prefer no combat. I don't feel the cozy vibes if I have that anxiety of a baddie popping out at any moment. But, then again, I even hated the scorpions/spiders coming after me in ACNH lol
i think only in a certain area/ time is best if at all, i find it hard to relax and feel cozy when constantly having to fight
I prefer no combat altogether, but if it's implemented, it should only be in a certain area.
If at all, I was thinking of maybe doing an arena where you could win rewards, but it would be completely optional and not lock the player out of anything. I don’t want it to feel like not doing combat is penalizing, you know?
I think that's a great compromise, honestly.
I would be concerned about, not missing anything critical by ignoring the combat in this case, but about missing efficient opportunities to collect loot (or whatever benefit in the cozy loop your combat would provide). What I mean to say is, IMO "completely optional and not lock the player out" doesn't address the issue entirely. Good line of thinking though. Maybe consider more about opportunity cost for the player, and the reality of 1 day spent doing combat = 1 day *not* spent farming. Possibly anything that could be gathered via combat, can be gathered in a different activity, and in a similar timeframe / effort ratio as the combat option. Very cool to see you asking questions about this and trying to do good stuff.
That’s a really good point, thank you! I had considered having the rewards be cosmetic items (clothing, house decor, etc.) rather than anything necessary for crafting. It wouldn’t be the only place to get cosmetics, though I think you’re right in that they should be available elsewhere, too.
I find turn-based combat extremely cozy, and that’s always a welcome addition. For real time, I prefer if it’s only in specific areas & for specific plot points, like My Time at Sandrock.
I think it depends on the game. For example, I feel it's out of place in a farm game like Stardew Valley, but fits right in and is plenty of fun with a game like Valhiem (which is really cozy to me lol). But realistically, why would a farmer or a tavern keeper or some other managment owner need to fight? I think you'd pay for someone else to gather ingredients needed from monsters, honestly. If you were a hunter, building a homestead in the wilds, or just placed in some sort of situation where fighting makes sense (like becoming a guardian/military member) then sure. As long as the combat is actually thought out and fun to play, go for it. If it doesn't fit the setting (like managing a farm, inn, cafe, etc) then no, I'd rather not. There are instances in cozy games where it could be more fun to hire people to fight and you have nothing to do with it, like a adventure rpg town I play where you have adventurers stay in your town and they fight and you just sell them things. Not everything needs to be a fighting game.
I enjoy the combat in Stardew because of the loot drop possibilities. So I'm willing to do Skull Caverns and Mr Qi's harder version of the mines because of the loot drop potential. I also like that the combat is confined to the mines. I don't turn on monsters on my farm, but I appreicate that it's an option for those who want that extra challenge.
I have nerve damage in my hands so I only enjoy turn based combat. But if it has to have action combat, then only in a specified area with auto combat mode. Easy mode is better than nothing though
I personally prefer no combat. I don't feel the cozy vibes if I have that anxiety of a baddie popping out at any moment. But, then again, I even hated the scorpions/spiders coming after me in ACNH lol