Ultima Ratio Regum is a middle-ground between roguelikes, RPGs and strategy games. It has no fantasy elements and seeks instead to be closer to a realistic history simulator, and a strategy/4x game which just happens to be in ASCII. Combat is rare and deadly - whilst these mechanics are modeled in detail, exploration, trade and diplomacy factors will have just as much effort put into them.
A screenshot of the new in-game guidebook, and a release date in the very near future!
Posted by UltimaRatioRegum on Nov 24th, 2012
Firstly, Ultima Ratio Regum 0.2 is scheduled for release at the start of next week, either the 26th or the 27th of November! It boast major changes - no fantasy elements, redone menus, character creation, upgrade world generation, skill trees, saving/loading, generated art, and quite a lot more. In the mean time, though, here's a quick screenshot of the guidebook.
The guidebook is an in-game database of help (though not too specific; the game is meant to be difficult and complex, and I don't want to give everything away). For instance, it tells you that types of tree/wood vary according to strength, weight and value, but it’s not going to tell you what the exact values of each material are and therefore which might be best for ship-bulding. Any entry in white is an entry included in 0.2, while entries in grey will be gradually added as the game goes along. The grey entries nevertheless show you many of the features that are going to be added!
Full version @ Media.indiedb.com

You can keep up to date on my devblog, Facebook page, or Twitter feed. The devblog is updated weekly on Mondays, Facebook a few times a week, and the Twitter roughly daily. Any thoughts, please leave them in the comments! As I say, 0.2.0 is scheduled for release on the 26th or 27th, and contains a massive number of fundamental changes to skill trees, character creation, combat, setting (no mythological elements any more), climate, movement, maps, two secret feature-bloats, and other things you'll see when it's out...
No fantasy elements? Wot?
That's been the plan for months! Going full realism now. Well, "realism". Humans only. The world doesn't need another high fantasy game, and this allows me to put in a lot more stuff I find interesting...
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@ Guest - who said anything about ruling out genocide?! Yes, admittedly on elves, but won't worry, your blood-lust can be quenched in other ways...