Baihua Pavilion
A mechanics-based 3D online multiplayer combat game, combining PVP combat with the art style of Peking Opera for a uniquely Chinese experience.
The game is built around the combat gameplay centered on "deception," where four players are divided into pairs to compete against each other. One team is tasked with collecting items and escaping from the dream realm, while the other team must prevent them from doing so within a given time limit.
- ROLE
- Gameplay / Combat Designer
- TEAM SIZE
- Team project
- ENGINE
- Unity · PC
- DURATION
- 3 months
itch.io
What I Learned From This Project?
Main Contributions
-
Combat Mechanics Design： As the sole Game Designer in an eight-person team, I designed the rules and mechanics of the online multiplayer indie game "Baihua Pavilion."
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Create Stylized Shader： Collaborated with team members to successfully develop an ink-style shader, enhancing the game's visual aesthetic.
Key Features
Story & Character
Story
Ru and Lv are two Peking Opera performers who have been studying Peking Opera since they were very young. The troupe they work for is on the verge of disbanding and they can only place their hopes on the upcoming national performance event. The stress of intense daytime rehearsals and the pressure of livelihood at night make them constantly exhausted.
One night, they dream that they are on the stage and are being chased by the demonized characters in the play…
Character
Bunny
The Jade Hare in “The Drunk Beauty” appears in a dream as a demon with red and shrill eyes because of her resentment.
Dan
Yang Guifei in “The Drunk Beauty” has complex emotions of disappointment and resentment in the play.
Ru and Lv
Ru and Lv are two Peking Opera performers who have been studying Peking Opera since they were very young.
Gameplay (Combat)
Core Mechanics
The game is built around five core mechanics: Resource Collection / Combat (Trick) / Energy Control / Escape / Teamwork.
Confrontation — Ink Collect & Win
The ink marks are randomly generated on the map and will regenerate after a certain period of time after being collected by players.
Basic Rules & Objectives
The game requires 4 players, divided into two camps.
Human Camp
- Collect 120 Ink Marks to activate the escape gate
- Collect > Combat
- Collecting ink increases movement speed
- Win: Activate the escape gate
Monster Camp
- Stop humans from escaping
- Combat > Collect
- Win: Stop humans from escaping in 120s
The “Trick” Mechanics
- Release before the end of the accumulation, which will play the animation but will not impact the effectiveness and consuming energies
- Players can use this feature to trick and consume the enemy’s energy
Control your energy and consume enemy’s through tricks to defeat them!
HP & Energy
Players in the game action (Run, Jump, Block, Attack) need to consume energy. Without energy, players can only walk and cannot perform other actions.
Energy will be restored over time.
4 Actions: Block, Attack, Run, Jump
- When the player receives an attack, HP is reduced
- Block can protect you from damage, but requires energy consumption
Death & Respawn
UI & Input
When HP drops to 0, the player needs 10 seconds to respawn. Player cannot perform any actions during respawning.
Collected Inks on Respawn
Human Camp: ink will not be cleared when respawning
Monster Camp: ink will be cleared when respawning
Map & Scenes
Map Design
The center of the game scene is Baihua Pavilion, with 8 bridges extending outward: Xiu, Si, Shang, Du, Kai, Jing, Sheng, Jing (named according to the digit and position of the Eight Trigrams).
Scene Art
The game refers to the writing techniques in classical Chinese gardens and landscape paintings. It is designed and produced in conjunction with contemporary Chinese stage art.
Shader
The game is rendered with a stylized visualization style through our own shader, reflecting an ink-based theme.
Production
Soundtrack
The soundtrack artfully blends traditional elements with modernity, featuring delicate hammering sounds and the distinct tones of the Guzheng. In the melodic section, the Pipa and Jinghu — two instruments quintessential to Beijing opera — are skillfully used to play traditional Chinese pentatonic scales. This fusion endows the entire composition with a distinctive Chinese character.
Modeling & Texture
Animation
Network Function
Gallery
