Bay 12 Games Forum

Since you have a big game idea in mind, you should strongly consider to start with ASCII graphics. You can use Tiles later... You find some tutorials https://www.reddit.com/r/roguelikedev/ in the tutorials section in the right view.
If you want to learn Kotlin, there is also a pretty new engine for tile/grid games, which has the advantage that it has a GUI system...https://hexworks.org/posts/tutorials/2018/12/04/how-to-make-a-roguelike.html. Personally I would not choose Python if I want to make a big game but for learning it is perfect.
*Disclaimer* I am one of the contributors of Zircon. */Disclaimer*

But again....if this is your first game, start a small one...look at https://7drl.com/ for some inspirations. Your scope should not be bigger for your first game.

Looks really neat and unique. Keep it going

Castle of No Escape looks nice, although I am searching a more slow-paced (e.g. turn-based) game with a more modern setting....but I guess that does not exist...

For this usecase, I'd go for  VmWare/VirtualBox...

If you have the Windows 10 Pro version, another even more lightweight option would be to use a docker image for Ubuntu or whatever linux version you wanna have (Docker runs without a virtual box under Windows 10 Pro)

You cannot compare Cold Waters with Dangerous Waters or the SH series. It is more a tactical simulator, where you act as a captain, that is as I've written a spiritual successor of the original Sid Meiers' RedStormRising. Personally, I'd have favored an atmosphere like in RSR and not that the game is centered about an outside 3D view....but I guess that's a personal taste.

1920 x 1080

xD

So some of you know the board game Arkham Horror, I guess...is there any PC game out there with a similar 'feeling' ? No need to have the same theme but capturing a complex boardgame setting...

After recently realizing I have exactly zero friends that aren't only on the Internet, I figure I probably need some advice on making them.

How am I supposed to get to know people, on a relatively large college campus?

My interests are basically Bay12, video games, and reading.  I play the violin, but I can already tell I'm not going to make friends from the orchestra.

Also I absolutely detest partying.

Any advice?

I guess you're an introvert like me too ?

What about doing sports...I'm not from the US, but I would guess there are sport activities offered at Colleges/Universities. You might get know some people there and as a plus you will feel better after doing some exercises. And no excuses you do not like sports ...I had the same attitude but you can change that ^^...

Else, I can only recommend what the other guys here also told you: Try to find some new interests...it will increase the likelihood that you meet new potential friends...

Wish you luck and keep it trying ^^