So some may recognize that I attempted to make a game before. I'm still on that. But some things just kinda stared at me and went "You sure you wanna tackle me, bub?" so I muttered something about my mother calling and needing to go because I was busy.
Then I thought a bit about what I enjoy. Autonomous games, or the 'zero-player genre' as some call it. I opted to do something similar, and make a shopkeeper sim, or 'item shop tale' as some may know it. Except do it Dwarven. And that means metal. In fact, that means 'blacksmith sim' or 'bearded metal midget tale'.
What does that mean?
Material Choices: Every part of a weapon will have a different (or same, if you choose) material. Axe head, axe shaft, axe handle. The head can be metal, the shaft can be metal or wood, and the handle can be leather. Cheap copper axe, oak handle, common leather handle for the farmer. Exquisite steel blade, iron shaft, troll hide handle for the soldier.
Irrelevant Materials: Silver daggers wouldn't be good for combat. But maybe a necromancer will buy one. Solid gold short sword would be terrible. But perhaps the local priest wants to hang one in the Temple of Eternal Warfare. Black Bronze arrows are actually made from precious metals and cannot hold an edge. But maybe an adventurer is hunting a night creature with a particular weakness. Platinum plate armor is poor. But it is fancy, and the duke needs something he can rub in everyone else's face when he attends the next royal court. Steel will be standard, but every item will have its place... somewhere, probably.
Non-Specific Overworld: Nations and wars matter, in the sense that you get better business and it may affect who rules your area and how that ruler handles the market. You may be approached by one general to make a cluster of spears for his men. Accepting or denying his request may change the course of a battle, and the war. Or it may not, and fate tips one way anyways and you're just along for the ride.
Non-Specific Instanced Dungeons: What's that? Out of iron because goblins have taken the mine? If only some brave adventurer would go down and clear them out? Too bad you're a buggery old smith. But you do have the funds to hire a mercenary... You can also lend the merc a wheelbarrow. Sounds like a perfect chance to score some free ore! There's probably no one selling dragon leather either. Might want to get a mercenary decked out and on his way to harvest the goodness.
Outfits Matter: Goblin> "Oh I see you're wearing a metal helmet. I'll just die then." Nope. If your merc isn't wearing leg armor, expect him to come back without shins! If your plate armor has cheaply-constructed rivets, expect the pauldrons to fall off and expect your customer to hold a grudge over his recently-missing arms!
So what have I got so far? Not much. I've mostly been removing code from my last attempt (in a copy, of course). Item shop doesn't matter about things like Line of Sight, or scrolling map view, or many of these nice things. This makes it all much simpler and smaller and easier to handle. I've been brainstorming and pecking at code, and am ready to open myself to Bay12 suggestions and get to work!
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Topic: Dwarven Roguelike Shopkeeper Simulator (being created) (Read 5767 times)