Preparation for combat.

[Bishop81]

Would be interesting if we had to prepare for combat. You recon the area and learn what needs to be done to maximize your chances of success - with the preparation being part of the gameplay.

Right now, it's just run in guns blazing with fingers cross and learn by dying repeatedly.

The key here is giving players information then allowing them to formula and prepare their own solutions - so no, it's not quite like watching a video.

PS:

From what I know, old school pen and paper RPGs are fond of "prepare a spell before use" variety of magic. It's often too cumbersome as it's hard to predict what spells you will need, so it got simplified into a MP system where you prepare "general purpose points" and can use them to cast any spell you know. Over time, we ended up with the system we have today.

However the general concept can work if you give players ample hints as to what to expect, so they know what to bring to the fight.

[Lyzern]

I would like something more than "watch video, wipe, retry" fights, maybe something more random, or more obvious but more difficult (timing, elemental wheel, status afflictions, reflexes, etc), so I'm not sure I agree 100% with you, but in your case, a spell like "Scan" or "Sense" (Very common in the FF series) would make a lot of sense.

[Bishop81]

I would like something more than "watch video, wipe, retry" fights, maybe something more random, or more obvious but more difficult (timing, elemental wheel, status afflictions, reflexes, etc), so I'm not sure I agree 100% with you, but in your case, a spell like "Scan" or "Sense" (Very common in the FF series) would make a lot of sense.

"Scan" is kind of a cheap way out. [1]

I was think more along the lines of hiding the clues in NPC dialogue, books, scrolls ... etc. plus use of common sense, i.e. terrain might play a part in disadvantaging the target.

[1] Actually you can just show the attribute the players need to know on the UI automatically without having to manually activate the a scan-type ability.

[ChazNatlo]

Would these NPCs be in the dungeon and the fight and what the NPCs say changes every instance? Like the note in Sastasha, only the tips are for the boss and not a quick puzzle.

I imagine it would have to involve changes so that you can't just watch a video or look up the solutions online, and so that the changes fit with all members of a Duty finder. Does this make sense?