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So in storygame's like my current project one of the staples of the suspense is the possibility of being able to lose and die. As is such, I have a health variable that can reach 0 and then hit a "Game Over". None of my other variables are visible but I was debating leaving this one visible for the convenience of the player wanting to know when they need to be careful and when they're ok.

But I was also wondering if maybe it'd be better to leave it invisible so that it's a little bit more suspenseful when you don't know how you're currently doing? Promote caution and attention to your actions instead of just "I have full health so let's just do whatever"? (I only wonder because I've fallen prey to that kind of thinking.)

So, any opinions? Visible or no?

You could set up a global script

IF %HEALTH > 3 THEN %DISPLAYHEALTH := 1

IF %HEALTH > 6 THEN %DISPLAYHEALTH := 2

and on pages when you check your health, or before danger, you can put in

IF %DISPLAYHEALTH =1 THEN $PAGETEXT = $PAGETEXT + "You're not feeling so good"

Means it's a little more fuzzy what the numbers are at, using text.

 

From a player perspective, I like knowing what's going on. Dying cause I was at 1 HP, had health restorers but didn't know to use them, just means I'll be clicking back, healing and going again. Doesn't add anything to the experience, just a bit of frustration.

 

Fair point, that would be rather annoying if players just die randomly and have to go back just to continue on. Especially so since I don't plan on including any health restoratives (since I want this to be more choice-based than item-based) so they'd have to keep going back and back until they find which choice it is that went horribly wrong.

That's hard. There are ups and downs. Also depends on what game. A horror would be delightful if health wasn't visible. But if you are making a fantasy or even sci-fi, I think visibility would be recommended.

True, horror relies more on the unknowing, my story is a sci-fi though so the suspense won't really be relying on not knowing what's around the corner... which would make invisibility less of a staple idea. Okay, that makes sense.

Also, what TYPE of science fiction are you writing? Future, I suppose. But what will be the object, the role that drives the game? If it is a military deal health points are very recommended.

But also, it depends on how you want to work out damage. Will it be like, small chips that eventually kill you, for example, 100 health points.

But maybe every hit is realistic and will do big damage, then the overall points recommended is 5 or 10.

I would most likely classify it under "adventure science fiction", although there will be action, it's not one of the main "selling-points" of the game- which is more about the adventure and moral (or immoral, if that's how you chose to play) decisions.

The max health is 120, (there will be opportunities to gain even more health, like special protective equipment and such), but the starting health is 100. I want it to be somewhat realistic- but again since action isn't the main point it depends on what you do.

For example, if you get shot, you'd lose a large amount of health points, 20 if it's somewhere vital for fighting like the leg or arm, 40-50 if it's somewhere deadly like the chest or stomach, you lose all 100 if its the head, which is where things like the equipment can come in handy, but only 5-10 if it's in the hand or foot or somewhere less useful. But if you get punched because you annoyed someone just a bit too much? Okay, maybe you lose 2 health points, maybe it's only 1 if they're a weak hitter.

Only time health would be a non-issue is if everything kills you in one hit.

A real horror game makes your health matter. You need to make the decision between risking one more injury and scavenging for some sort of food/weapon that you desperately need.

A health bar would be too childish though. You're better off just doing something like:

Healthy -> Injured -> Seriously Injured -> Dying -> Dead

And keeping track of actual health behind the scenes.

EDIT: Nevermind, thought this was for a horror game, lol. In the case of sci-fi, normal health bar can be fine.

Even with your edit, the childish aspect is something I'm worried about. Would it be better to just try my hand at making it text-based? (I'm horrible at coding but always willing to use guides and try.)

If you need help with making it text based, you can always just ask for it. Lots of people here (myself included) are pretty good with the editor now.

I think I might end up doing that. I'm going to set the health bar as visible for now and see how it runs as I write and edit and such, but if I find it too atrocious I'll change (and likely ask for help). Thank you for your help!