🕹 Devlog - Chain Combat Prototype (2026-05-22)

🔥 New Systems

⚡ Event System

• NPC / Gate / Wave progression unified through an event-driven system
• Gate unlock flow triggered by event KING_TALKED
• Wave states now broadcasted via events (start / clear / escape)

💥 Chain Combat System

• Implemented ChainManager for combo-based damage reactions
• Chain triggers across all damage sources:
  • Melee slashes
  • Fire explosions
  • Lightning bounces
• Real-time chain counter UI added
• Chain resets after inactivity timer

⚔ Combat Improvements

🗡 Slash (Melee)

• Added homing behavior toward nearby enemies
• Impact scaling animation on hit
• Chain slash propagation (enemy-to-enemy spread)
• Knockback feedback on hit for stronger impact feel

🔥 Fireball

• Area explosion damage
• Burn / DoT effect applied to enemies
• Fully integrated into chain system

⚡ Lightning

• Multi-bounce attack system
• Hits multiple enemies in sequence
• Unified through DamageSystem for chain tracking

🧠 Design Direction

This game is no longer about simply defeating enemies.

It is about:

breaking enemy density through chain reactions

Each attack serves a different role:

• Slash → close-range pressure & burst impact
• Fire → area control and crowd damage
• Lightning → chain propagation across groups

✨ Feel Improvements

• Stronger hit-stop and impact feedback
• Forward impulse added to melee attacks for momentum feel
• Combat flow accelerates as chains grow
• Dense enemy groups naturally create higher excitement

🚧 Next Steps

• Improve chain UI presentation (center pop, glow, motion effects)
• Introduce chain multiplier system
• Balance enemy density around chain mechanics
• Add progression tied to chain performance

💡 Note

This is a gameplay-first prototype focused on feel, flow, and combat feedback over balance or content completeness.