Independent design exercise · Dynasty Warriors-inspired

Combat & Level Design

Combat systems and mission progression for an alternate-history route.

Dynasty Warriors game artwork showing a warrior facing an army

Project overview

I designed a hidden Wu-faction mission connecting stealth, combat and escape. Encounter rules change with the player’s earlier actions.

I developed the interface layouts, encounter rules and configuration tables as an independent design project.

01 / Progression

One mission, changing objectives

The mission unlocks on a second playthrough after saving Sun Jian and Sun Ce. Four stages connect the infiltration to its narrative outcome and escape.

Infiltrate
Avoid patrols on the way to the palace. Detection fails this stage.
Intercept
Stop the moving enemy before he raises the alarm. The result changes the palace approach.
Duel
Defeat the story boss, leading into Sun Ce’s imperial appointment.
Escape
Survive the pursuit and reach Zhou Yu’s boat within five minutes.

Figure 1. Mission sequence. Infiltration and interception share a ten-minute limit.

02 / Level flow

Level flow

A letter opens the mission; the story tree provides a route back to the alternate branch.

Commission: the letter introduces the mission and leads to the map.

Map entry: an NPC and quest marker indicate where to begin.

Story tree: the alternate route appears beside the existing progression.

Confirmation: the mission information appears before battle preparation.

03 / Map design

Map design

Original mission minimap with palace stages and escape route — Original mission map · Palace approach and escape route.

Stage	Player task	Rule	Feedback
A · Stealth	Navigate around patrols.	Entering a patrol’s view inside its suspicion range starts a three-second detection meter.	The overhead meter communicates the transition towards detection.
B · Interception	Stop the moving target.	Accumulated damage triggers a counterattack cycle, after which movement resumes.	The target’s status icon distinguishes damage-taking and counterattack phases.
C · Duel	Adapt the attack strategy.	Difficult mode records combat preferences and selects counterattacks.	Learning and counterattack icons distinguish combat phases; ground markers warn of area attacks.
D · Escape	Reach the boat with Sun Ce.	Boss pursuit alternates with cavalry attacks. Sun Ce dismounts to fight if the player falls.	A distance bar and changing pursuit icon communicate progress and the next threat.

Annotated patrol layout with movement tiles, sight cones and cover — Patrol layout · Paths and cover define the stealth route.

Minimap

Shows the player and accompanying officer, without enemy markers or route guidance.

Progress

The distance bar tracks progress. Darkened screen edges narrow visibility.

Patrols

Patrol routes vary by difficulty. Cover blocks sight; the alert indicator rises while the player remains visible.

B1 · Successful interception leads to the normal approach.

B2 · A missed interception introduces additional resistance.

Duel · Phase icons and attack markers communicate enemy behaviour.

Escape · Distance and pursuit cues communicate the next threat.

04 / Configuration

Configuration tables

Patrol configuration

Field	Description
`patrol_path_type`	Patrol path type: 1 = linear return; 2 = loop.
`patrol_path_normal`	Preset patrol path in normal mode.
`patrol_path_hard`	Preset patrol path in difficult mode.
`grid_size`	Grid-cell side length.
`npc_alert_range`	Suspicion radius.
`npc_view_range`	Sight distance.
`npc_view_angle`	Field-of-view angle.
`npc_detect_time`	Total alert-meter duration.
`npc_decay_rate`	Alert-meter decay rate.
`npc_turn_frequency_hard`	Turning and scanning frequency in difficult mode.

Interception configuration

Field	Description
`damage_accumulation_threshold`	Accumulated damage threshold.
`counter_skillcycle`	Counterattack skill sequence: [2010:2011:2023].
`movespeed_normal`	Base speed in normal mode.
`movespeed_hard`	Base speed in difficult mode.
`base_traveltime`	Start-to-end travel time without attacks.
`traveltime_range_normal`	Travel-time range under attack in normal mode.
`traveltime_range_hard`	Travel-time range under attack in difficult mode.
`stagger_hit_id`	Hit-stagger flag: 1 = yes; 2 = no.
`stagger_speed_decay`	Speed reduction during stagger, as a percentage.
`stagger_duration_time`	Stagger duration.

Adaptive boss configuration

Field	Description	Example
`boss_id`	Boss ID.	`1001`
`learning_phase_node`	Learning-phase behaviour-tree node.	`BT_Phase_Learning`
`active_phase_node`	Adaptive-phase behaviour-tree node.	`BT_Phase_Adaptive`
`memory_length_`	Memory length.	`10`
`update_interval`	Update interval.	`3.0`
`weapon_counter_skill_id`	Skill used to counter a weapon.	`5030`
`attacktype_counter_skill_id`	Skill used to counter an attack category.	`5040`
`combo_counter_skill_id`	Skill used to counter a combo.	`5050`
`evolved_skill_id_1`	Learned skill 1: forward counterattack.	`5051`
`evolved_skill_id_2`	Learned skill 2: blocking counterattack.	`5051`
`evolve_trigger_condition`	Condition for triggering an evolved skill.	`Combo_Frequency > 5`
`Combo_Frequency_number`	Number of times the player uses a skill.	`5`

Pursuit configuration

Field	Description
`chase_wave_count`	Total pursuit waves.
`boss_chase_interval`	Interval between boss pursuits.
`npc_chase_interval`	Interval between cavalry pursuits.
`wave_order`	Wave order.

Source: my original combat and level design document.

One mission, changing objectives

Infiltrate

Intercept