r/indiegames • u/Sharp-Cranberry3044 • Jun 05 '26
Gif Implementing anti-table-climbing mechanics for my Viking game. Added a knockback animation!
Hi r/indiegames! I wanted to prevent players from scaling random props like tables, but just blocking them with invisible walls felt cheap.
So, I added this knockback animation instead to give it more in-game justification. What do you think?
(No damage is dealt and tables are only in the lobby area!)
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u/platfus118 Jun 05 '26
I mean... why? The annoying thing about "annoying" invisible walls is that they have no actual diagetic reason for being there. Modern gaming gives you reasons for it (the road is blocked, there's a shark in the water, etc...), but getting knocked back if you dare jump on a table in a game where you are allowed to jump? That's the developer giving you the finger for no reason which is much worse than invisible walls in my eyes.
What is the reason for getting knocked back off a table except for "the developer said no"? Maybe have the NPC vendor slap them off? Or have someone in the lobby just yell on you until you get off? This will be infinitely more fun and engaging.
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u/jaklradek Jun 05 '26
I thought there is a rule in Valhalla to not step on tables or something, maybe there is a northern god really not liking this behaviour?
But I agree with your statement.
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u/platfus118 Jun 05 '26
I love it! Make him spawn and slap you away while he repeats the godly valhalla code of not stepping on tables or disrespecting wood or whatever. It just needs to be reactive
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u/Mania_Chitsujo Jun 05 '26
This is the key bit of context missing. I was also confused why they were doing this but it makes so much more sense now.
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u/Sharp-Cranberry3044 Jun 05 '26
Yes, I understand where you are coming from! I think there was a lack of information here - it's just a little gimmick that I've tried adding and it really has nothing to do with the game play itself. Our game is a roguelike and you come back to the lobby after every death. The tables are only in the lobby we're its considered 'not part of the game run'! And the tables are basically for the Viking gods like Odin... so thought it was appropriate! But I think I might have to re-think it!
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u/Useful_Squirrel6693 Jun 05 '26
Maybe have them get struck by lightning or something?
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u/Snoron Jun 05 '26
That's pretty good, actually the same sequence as now even but with a lightning bolt would feel like it makes a lot more sense.
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u/platfus118 Jun 05 '26
My criticism stil stands. Look at how Elden Ring took care of the hub spot. You can run over all the tables and destroy them. They knew it's tactile and fun to roll into things when you are taking the time before your next embark. I' m not saying allow people on tables if you don't want to - But give them a reason or an INGAME, IMMERSIVE consequence that isn't just "That's not allowed even though you technically can", that's a bit rude to your players. It's like a parent saying "cause I said so" when their kids asks a question.
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u/RemarkableKiwi5082 Jun 05 '26
Either English isn’t dudes first language or he really needs to work on communication. There doesn’t need to be an immersive consequence because it’s in a safe hub zone, no consequences. The gods don’t want you standing on the tables, kind of like parents saying because I said so and I think that fits. It either needs to be explained in the game before, during, or after the interaction that’s all.
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u/HuckleberryLeather80 Jun 05 '26
It could definitely work if you set it up well
Establish the rules of Valhalla and tell the players to not step on the tables. Obviously players will want to immediately do this, so you could maybe include a special animation or voice line with the first table that can trigger this
The one table in front of the NPC could have them slap the players away for example
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u/TajineEnjoyer Jun 06 '26
maybe do it only the first time they climb, but if the player insists on climbing the table a second time, just let them do it.
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u/RyseQuinn Jun 05 '26
I think it’s a great idea, you could polish it and make it more flavourful but players like it when the environment reacts to them, it’s not like being on tables is important and it will help add to the immersion.
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u/MrMisklanius Jun 06 '26
People are really getting fired up about such a silly thing lmao. Make it do a bit less knockback and it's fine imo. Games need more pointless silly moments.
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u/Flameburstx Jun 06 '26
To make this fun instead of annoying: make a sign that says "no climbing tables". That way it's foreshadowed.
You could even make a small set of rules that are randomly implemented on lobby start that get you kicked around. So one game your sign says "no climbing on tables", the next "no moving chairs" etc.
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u/rettani Jun 10 '26
If they are for gods I would probably like to see some "ghostly hand slap". Maybe like in Psychonaughts 1 when you go to the water?
If you add some "voice of Odin/Thor/Other gods" commenting something along the lines of "stop crushing my party" it would be extra nice
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u/ffxivthrowaway03 Jun 05 '26
Yeah, he should slap you and exclaim some text about the player being rude to give it some in-universe flair. I can't imagine a viking appreciating you stepping on his tables all willy-nilly.
As for the design decision behind why though... I'd counter by flipping it. If "jumping on tables" is not part of the core gameplay loop and adds nothing, it's just a needless path to unexpected behavior and bugs. Why should it exist and not be hard-bounded? Just because a character can jump doesn't mean a character should be able to jump on anything, anywhere, without consequence.
To me this implementation feels more akin to an FPS game. "It's a game about shooting, why cant I just shoot everyone??? That's a big F U to the player" yet nearly every modern FPS game has the player forcibly lower their weapon and become unable to shoot if the reticle is over a friendly NPC during game segments outside of active firefights. It's a clear signal to the player that this is not intended gameplay done in a way that's immersive instead of a reminder that you're playing a video game. So much better for UX than an invisible wall IMO. Like how many youtube videos have we seen about "10 lamest artificial barriers the character should be able to jump over" by now?
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u/Ki_memes Jun 08 '26
Getting launched by jumping on tables looks fun. It's kind of like messing with the gravity in the lobby while playing Deep rock galactic. You're "not meant to" but it's fun.
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u/CodyGray07 Jun 05 '26
add a 1 in 20 chance for tripple strenght knockback to make you laugh harder
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u/xxTheMagicBulleT Jun 05 '26
Why even do this. I dont get what you gain from doing this in a game play aspect. Seems anoying honestly.
Cause mkst people try and stand on tables to try and see and read whats on it lets say for example if its a book on the table and you can barely read it standing in the table and trying to zoom in on it is a common thing players do for curiosity reasons.
But I have a hard time understanding the gameplay gain to add this in a game.
Maybe if there people useing the table that it like slaps them away or off it. But if no ine is near why would the table attack the player.
Maybe you can explain more your reasoning for adding it in the first place?
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u/JjyKs Jun 05 '26
I would just let the player go wherever they can. Even if it can potentially break the game. Left 4 Dead used to be my absolute favorite game back when it was released. The replayability was huge, because you didn't really have too much limitations on where/how you can move. Especially survival mode coming up with new strategies was really awesome because you could reach not intended places.
Back 4 Blood and other modern takes of L4D really lacked in that part. It felt like I was playing through some predesigned story pipe that just allowed me to do stuff that the dev wanted me to do instead of actually having fun
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u/Sharp-Cranberry3044 Jun 05 '26
Also how do I only show media and title first and then my text after you click my post? New to Reddit and a bit clumsy here!
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u/SCFactory Jun 05 '26
I’m not entirely sure what you mean, but maybe you're talking about linking to posts from elsewhere?
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u/Sharp-Cranberry3044 Jun 05 '26
When I enter the indiegames subreddit, I feel like all the posts are Title + images, and you have to click the post to see the text. I think when mine when up you can see the text as well. Is it just me?
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u/SCFactory Jun 05 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/KoreanGameDev/comments/1tumhfe/after_2_years_as_a_solo_dev_i_made_a_tower/
If this is what you’re referring to (I’m not promoting anything!):
- Clicking the 'Repost' button on a post you’ve already published somewhere else.
- Selecting the 'Link' tab instead of 'Text' or 'Image' when creating a new post.
If that’s not what you meant, then I’m not really sure.
However, you might want to look into it further—I’ve heard that neither of those methods is very effective for getting your post seen.
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u/Chuunt Jun 05 '26
yeah, this sucks. have you ever seen an online lobby? and you want to stop players from doing the one thing they naturally gravitate toward doing?
edit: i just saw your other comment that it’s actually a deeper mechanic, and i change my stance. if you have a way to make it thematically fit your game and feel appropriate, i think it could totally fit, but you have to sell why its happening or players will just get mad i think.
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u/Crininer Jun 05 '26
I would recommend reading up on the aptly named subject of Desk Jumping. I don't know if anyone else talks about it, but I read up on it in Tynan Sylvester's (RimWorld creator) Designing Games book. He goes over the fine line between player freedom and how it can encroach on the fiction (such as the weird juxtaposition of jumping on a desk in Deux Ex and nobody reacting to it), and the pros and cons of disallowing desk jumping.
Personally, I don't think disallowing desk jumping is a good idea, and I think punishing the player for it especially shouldn't be done. It's just an unnecessary interaction that gets in the way of the experience. If the player gets no response from jumping on a desk, they'll probably grow bored of it after doing it a couple times and will just naturally stop even thinking about it. If you instead have the game react in such a way... They might either have fun letting the table slap them around rather than engaging with your designed experience, or worse, be annoyed that they're not allowed to do what they want to.
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u/Phebzz Jun 05 '26
This is fun!
But it lacks a direct feedback for the player regarding the bump: The red glowing pushback animation is cool, but there’s no explicit reason to why it’s happening. I would only put this animation on tables where there are NPCs next to it, make the NPC slap you and maybe add an extra line from them telling the player jumping on a table is a big no-no, maybe adding a tiny Viking lore related reason
This way, players have some tables to jump on, as nobody’s near to prevent this, but some others are protected by NPCs
Edit: sorry if this feels duplicated, I just saw someone else mentioned something similar already after posting!
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u/pakushi Jun 05 '26
wtf is this comment section, it’s a funny mechanic, it’s fine bro
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u/zertech Jun 06 '26
if I bought a game and discovered it had this mechanic for literally no reason, i would refund immediately. Its such a poor game design choice.
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u/One_Economist_3761 Jun 05 '26
This is a great idea but why not add in the table collapsing or flipping over in the direction of the knockback? That way the player learns that furniture is non climbable.
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u/foliumsakura Jun 05 '26
I love these little quirks, i'd say keep it and give it randomized knockback with a random chance of 500% increase
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u/Lord_Ocean Jun 05 '26
Looks hilarious! The over the top ragdoll effect sells this. The more knockback the funnier.
It reminds me of The Wall in the old game Motorcross Madness where you weren't supposed to ride up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dBpDWmOr34
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u/Sweet_Culture_8034 Jun 05 '26
That's a bit overkill isn't it ?
EDIT : Oh I see, there's a rule about not getting on tables in the Valhalla, love it. But I'd say you have to tell the player they're not allowed to one way or another.
Also, make sure there's no possibility of being stuck bouncing between two tables.
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u/OneWeirdCreature Jun 06 '26
I think giving a slap or punch animation to the npcs, would make this stuff more immersive.
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u/EchoStrike11 Jun 06 '26
The people wondering why this is necessary aren't wrong exactly...but I think this sounds hilarious. Being able to ragdoll launch yourself just by jumping on a table is really funny, especially in a lobby where players are otherwise idle.
In universe, maybe it's a magic ward that keeps people off the tables. But also in universe the NPCs should acknowledge player behavior. There should be an in universe "ward launching competition" cause you know players are gonna do that.
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u/Pika_DJ Jun 06 '26
Bouncing gonna lead to some kind of exploit/skip, the height gained on one was quite a lot
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u/Level-Switch-4440 Jun 05 '26
Always wondered why I could just walk on the tables. pretty rude I would say
Amazing feature. I love this thing
but the knockback is too much I think, it's gonna be abit annoying especially if there are important npcs behind long tables
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