Technically, the Random Dungeon Generator as a Dungeon Map kickstarter is complete. I’ve delivered everything that I said I’d deliver. However, I do have one more Dungeon Map-related project that I’d love to finish.
One of the Kickstarter rewards was a board game where you play a dungeon explorer, navigating the poster and trying to stay alive. Another reward was an interactive, online version of the poster, to help people generate Gygaxian mazes. The obvious intersection of those two projects, and one that I’ve been working on for months, is a Random Dungeon roguelike video game.
Like most of my projects, this one has succumbed to “featuritis” – it’s a lot more ambitious now that it was when I started programming. Here are some of the features I didn’t know I needed until I added them:
You can get yourself a pet. Unlike Nethack, you don’t start with a kitten or puppy. You have to earn it. If you find a whip, you might be able to tame a giant lizard or a carrion crawler. Some characters might one day gain the capability to raise undead minions. Or, if you prefer human henchmen, you might be able to hire them back in town – once you’ve built an inn. Speaking of which:
Unlike many roguelikes, you can leave the dungeon and return to town. The town’s economy is dependent on your success in the dungeon. When you start, there’s not much available besides a handful of weapons for sale at the market, a graveyard to commemorate all your dead characters, and a few other buildings. But as your characters loot the dungeon and retire as independent yeomen, wealthy bishops, or even nobility, new buildings will spring up, and new treasures will become available for sale for new characters.
The Dungeon Robber game is about what happens before your first game of Dungeons and Dragons, before your character has fighter or wizard skills and can afford decent equipment. But if you’re successful enough to retire as a merchant, a thieves guild moves to town. If you retire as a knight, you’ll be able to start your next game as a fighter. Eventually, when you’ve unlocked the four original D&D classes and starting equipment, you’re actually playing D&D.
So will I even finish this game? No promises, but I think I might. I have a deadline in mind. My wife and I are expecting our first child in early August. I’ve heard that babies are a lot of work, so I’d really like to get a beta of the game done in late July.
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Like most of my projects, this one has succumbed to “featuritis” – it’s a lot more ambitious now that it was when I started programming. Here are some of the features I didn’t know I needed until I added them:
I am so looking forward to this. Both of your posters are framed and prominently displayed in my Dragon Room, where they fill our non-geek guests with a faint unease.
I hope you finish it but understand completely about featuritis and babies.
Sounds really cool. Congrats with the baby though and I won’t blame you if you take a few months or a year off from gaming projects starting in August! A new baby is not as bad as a lot of people say (especially if do your homework … actually if you haven’t been reading up on babies, I’d advise putting the game on hold immediately) but nothing anyone tells you will really prepare you. Good luck!
We’ll all still be here next year when the baby is sleeping through the night and you have time for this again!
This sounds extremely awesome, and I can’t wait to play the beta.
Congrats on the baby, and good luck!!
Wow this does sound completely awesome! I’m a big fan of roguelikes and would love to play this. Looking forward to a beta if it happens. Best wishes and congratulations on the baby!
This is awesome, any chance of getting the town building rules? I love the added immersion of building your own town
God in heaven, this would rock my world.
OS X compatible, I hope I hope.
Totally rad! (It would also make a great app.)
“My wife and I are expecting our first child”
How’d that happen?
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