Accepting a feature in your game that is fundamentally flawed is a tough pill to swallow. However, part of the joys of open development, is being able to iterate on features in an attempt to deliver a better game at the end. So what is this wonderful feature in question? Crafting.
The current crafting system in place is quite clunky, confusing, cumbersome, and not only poorly documented but also poorly presented. There is no need for such a system in a city-management game such as SoR. Well, it's about high time we stopped living in denial, and started reworking the system.
We wanted to create a crafting system that was easy to use and understand right from the get-go. One that would be more functional and make more sense in a city-management game like SoR.
I suppose we should break down what your seeing.
Top: The item being crafted.
The end result when requirements for Middle and Bottom have been met. Whether it be chair, wall, trap, or mushroom soup. In this particular case, a sandwich.
Middle: Materials required to make said item.
Sandwiches just don't form out of thin air. Bread, lettuce, and ham are required to make a proper sandwich.
Bottom: Prerequisite required before item can be created.
These can be require a: certain item built, specific job, or tools, required to to bring all our ingredients and turn it into a sandwich. In this wonderful example, kitchen stove and a Grand Master Chief.
Once all the prerequisite are complete you guys should end up with a wonderful ham and lettuce sandwich for consumption. Unfortunately for you guys, Dwarven women don't exist soooo... sandwiches are a logical impossibility within SoR.
To further go into more detail, we settled down on a more traditional list system. You'll be able to navigate through a wonderful designed menu and see what items you can create and place in the game world.
We imagined it would look something very similar to this...
Players should be able to navigate easily and efficiently through the interface. Craftable items are organized into categories and can be added to the quick-slot bar below.
If a player is short on materials a red outline will indicate which material the player does not have enough of.
With certain items on the list being locked until requirements are met. In this case an Expert Carpenter is needed to unlock reinforced chest.
Redoing crafting in this fashion will take quite some time. However we feel this is a much better approach to constructing items then our previous approach and will hopefully make SoR feel more like a game. To get this implemented this means features such as stockpiling will have to be implemented before starting work on the new crafting system.
Half the fun of still being early in development is being able to iterate and drastically change game mechanics. Although you guys are usually much smarter than us when it comes to how the game should function so we would love to hear your opinions on what you think of this new system. More importantly, if you guys have any feedback on what we can improve on or what we should implement, we will more than gladly listen!
So now, that's all thoroughly(?) explained, let's move on to This weeks update. We have implemented dwarf jobs, stats, and inventory finally into the game!
-Added 'Stats' for Dwarfs.
-Added 'Equipment' for Dwarfs.
-Added Jobs UI.
-Added 'Pause' button.
Also because flying pigs were soooo last year... and the fuel for their jet-packs were quite expensive, we thought we should celebrate the 'Year of the Dragon' in style. So whether you feel it's your destiny to rid the world of these terrifying beats or your dream soar across the skies on the back of these majestic creatures, we are letting you do just that!
Unfortunately we won't be giving away these little guys like we did with our pigs! (Dragons are quite difficult to catch.) However we will be supplying Dragon Capture AND Slaying Kits for this year! So get 'em while they last! And believe you me, if these things are anywhere near as popular as our flying pigs you'll want to grab them fast before we end up packing our kits with rope and sticks.
And of course as everyone knows this would not be a proper Alpha release news post without a wonderful new Dwarven Parenting!
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How would you get a Dragon Capture Slaying Kit?
We just wanted to make new art for our pre-order button. It won't be any different from our previous version.
Apart from the silly misogynistic "joke", a very interesting post.
Have you looked at Epic Inventor? Their crafting system seems very similar. Unfortunately it's crap to use; you can't just select an item and see the "chain" of items and raw materials required.
Also, I'm getting very confused about what I paid for. What has been released so far is nothing like the images you've got everywhere. And now there are new games? New ... products?
I'm feeling a little same about the game packs or what they are. I see so many images, but never feel I can do anything, when playing the game.
I'm really looking forward to the game, but at the moment, I can't seem to play it at all...
Try to remember: this is a really early alpha build. Aww, look. Its a little baby game! I wouldn't expect a baby to write a dissertation on the modernization of farming techniques in medieval Europe, so don't expect this baby game to impress you with deep, complete gameplay mechanics. You can move and jump and there are graphics! Excitement! Thats all you can, and should expect at this point.
I would expect it to be able to write a dissertation on modernisation of farming techniques in medieval Europe if it had sent me a portfolio showing parts of its dissertation on modernisation of farming techniques in medieval Europe.
That would be a smart baby then.
Obviously the analogy is flawed, but in my opinion "alpha" means "As buggy and incomplete as a Bethesda game at launch"
...or maybe I just like making overcomplicated analogies...or similies or something...I suck at grammars so don't nitpick me about it.
You my good friend, Is WRONG!, Have a look at 3079, When it was in alpha it was a very enjoyable game and was quite stable and full of **** to do.
The problem with this game is that it seems like the dev's are doing **** all of work and are just making little pictures and ****. (Sorry, But it had to be said) (And i did say SEEMS not Are so BLAHGAEGH)
I feel the same way, we want to see these images in the game we play. Not much to play at the moment - hey, that's what its like to play alpha builds, that in mind, give it the review rating it deserves at this time is my take on it, nice thing about Desura, I can go back and give them a better rating if they add in those images with the corresponding promised accompanying gameplay mechanics. Its been years for other projects, so I think the same long term way with this, I'll keep checking back as they update, may they have the dedication to see that my low review ratings are not a rejection of their proposed game, just an evaluation of the current build.
Sorry if you offended by the joke, and yes, the different packs are sort of just fun new Icons for our buy button.
French Rice Time? xD
Looks very cool, good job. :)
keep in mind that the game is in its early development. there's not much gaming in it for now, you just play a bit around with the engine.
the potential is there, I'm really looking forward to the new stockpile/crafting system and further developments in the dwarf jobs/stats.
Looks like the crafting systems coming together well, awesome to see :)
Thanks!
I hope you guys are learning a little lesson in marketing here, considering people are confused about the 'different' packs ;)
And yay changing the crafting system sounds like a good plan!
Your crafting system shows promise, but try not to lock yourselves into the "Minecraft" way of thinking. Keep in mind how much information you're trying to convey in such a little space. Simple is good, but oversimplification of complicated crafting can only lead to confusion.
I like the idea of a crafting library. Mousing over on any of the crafting squares should give more information about what you're lacking. A red box around your wood definitely tells you that you dont have enough, but maybe knowing how many exactly would be beneficial.
We will keep that in mind!
Only now do we see the error of our ways. We do have a lot of odd things going on compared to other games though. With multiple games(Modes? Types? They just share saves) that span a single game and a couple different editions to buy. It is understandable when some people get confused. I know everyone will really love it when we get to a point to show off what we have had in mind the whole time.
DLCs BEFORE release?
That is just ******* retarded.
I thought the same thing at first glance, but after reading and searching some more it turned out it isn't DLC.
Wait... what... I wasn't aware we were releasing DLC.. this is news to me :-/
Must have been a decision Garrett made without me.
Nope, it wasn't me. Those greedy elves must be behind this. Always trying to sell me some damn wooden product.
hilarious sexist joke guys. its a wonder more women don't get involved in the indie game community!
Kinda a broad generalization that women don't have a sense of humor...
Sexism marginalises women whether they have a sense of humour or not, and creates an environment where more serious forms of discrimination can happen.
Wow, I seriously don't see the problem here. Ya'll need to take a chill pill.
While I agree with Bomblol and Hemebond on the possible construed context - this is kind of a case of the art failing or our eyes: Does no one else see the pointy ears? That is a dwarf trying to break the ice with a elf ... I think. This might not have been meant as sexist joke and more ... forbidden love, everyone knows at least when it comes to Dwarf Fortress and because its such a heavy influence for these guys I take it they beg/borrow/steal heavily from that where a dwarf trying to get it on with a treehugging elf would be ... horrifying. ;)
I'm not sure about Bomblol, but I was referring to the sandwich "joke".
Oh wow, look at that, there it is "Once all the prerequisite are complete you guys should end up with a wonderful ham and lettuce sandwich for consumption. Unfortunately for you guys, Dwarven women don't exist soooo... sandwiches are a logical impossibility within SoR." I guess I didn't think of it as sexist, that seems like if dwarves are asexual ... are dwarves clones of each other when they reproduce in in their setting? Anyways, sorry, I guess, I read the joke as not a joke and it flew right over my head, I thought the image at the end was what as potentially offensive. Huh, who woulda thunk it!
This is awesome!
What is the dragon capture kit? I'm thinking of buying the game.