{"id":9,"date":"2025-12-08T16:10:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T15:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irenemarinabarbe.com\/index.php\/combat\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T01:39:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T23:39:07","slug":"combat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/irenemarinabarbe.com\/index.php\/combat\/","title":{"rendered":"Combat"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Every fight is a conversation between the player and the designer.<\/p>

I design enemy behaviors, encounter rhythms, and combat systems\u00a0that feel fair to lose and satisfying to master. Good combat\u00a0teaches through failure \u2014 bad combat just punishes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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SECCI\u00d3N 1 \u2014 Enemy Design: The Jumper<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ENEMY DESIGN \u2014 THE JUMPER
2.5D Platformer \/ Adventure \u00b7 Puzzle & Combat<\/h4>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tX-twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYoutube<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tInstagram<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEnvelope<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tItch-io<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Designed as part of a project, the Jumper is a complete\u00a0enemy design document \u2014 from visual identity and behavior logic\u00a0to progression curve and narrative intent. This is how I think\u00a0when I design a combat encounter: not just what the enemy does,\u00a0but why it exists in the world and what it teaches the player..<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Reference: Idea Jumpers<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Reference: Idea Boss<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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General Concept:<\/strong>
The Leapers represent small day-to-day problems, manifesting as annoying creatures that group together and seek to immobilise the protagonist. They are not extremely dangerous enemies, but their numbers and persistence may require players to think strategically about how to confront or evade them.<\/p>

Enhanced Visual Features:<\/strong>
Dark creatures with a faint inner glow that reflects their connection to darkness.
Spherical shape with erratic and unpredictable movement.
Slightly mocking expression and playful demeanour, reinforcing the idea that they are minor annoyances rather than lethal threats.<\/p>

Behaviour and Attacks:<\/strong>
Movement:<\/strong><\/p>

They move by jumping irregularly in the direction of the protagonist.
They will group together if there are more than one, creating a more difficult obstacle to negotiate.
Attacks:<\/p>

Direct Contact:<\/strong>\u00a0They stick to the protagonist, reducing their mobility.<\/p>

Attack Strategy:<\/strong>
If a single Jumper catches her, she must repeatedly press the call key to free herself.
If more than one catches her, the difficulty increases, requiring more presses or a better strategy to eliminate them.<\/p>

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Extra map with enemies<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Player Vulnerability and Strategies:<\/strong>
Sunbeam instantly destroys them within its radius of action.
Objects created by the Sunbeam (bridges, light gates, rocks) also eliminate them if they come into contact with them.
If the protagonist does not activate the Sunbeam in time, she has two options:
Escape:<\/strong>\u00a0Jump, run and re-activate the mechanic in a safe area.<\/p>

Break free:<\/strong>\u00a0Call out repeatedly to expel them from her body.<\/p>

Enemy Progression:<\/strong>
Starting Levels:<\/strong>
Appear in small groups (1-2) and are introduced as a minor nuisance.
Sunbeam mechanics are taught as the primary way to eliminate them.<\/p>

Intermediate Levels:<\/strong>
Jumpers appear in larger groups and actively pursue the protagonist.
Introduction of the mechanic where you can call the protagonist, allowing you to reach safe areas.<\/p>

Advanced Levels and Final Boss:<\/strong><\/p>

The Leapers begin to merge into a larger black blob with multiple limbs.
During the final boss battle, the final boss will launch Leapers as an additional attack.
More strategic use of Sunbeam and light-generated items is encouraged.<\/p>

Impact on Gameplay and\u00a0Narrative:<\/strong>
Gameplay:<\/strong>
Dynamic and strategic, forcing the player to move constantly.
Balance between combat and puzzle solving.
Narrative:
Reinforce the idea that the Jumpers represent small, everyday problems.
Show that, when confronted with the right tools, they can be overcome without difficulty.<\/p>

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Boss Design<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Boss Part 1<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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BOSS DESIGN
Full encounter designed in one week alongside active work commitments.<\/p>

I created a Miro board where I gathered all the information, organized ideas, discarded sections that didn\u2019t work, and documented my entire thought process. On the board you will find:<\/strong><\/p>