iPhone Lich Tower of Doom (rougelike board game - rpg)

Discussion in 'Upcoming iOS Games' started by expleo, Jul 16, 2013.

  1. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    #1 expleo, Jul 16, 2013
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2013
    name is still tbd, but should be something involving a lich and a tower. You, the player, will be a young mage apprentice trying to clense the once great tower of the magicas, now inhabitated by the evil lich and the shadowrest realms monsters he lets live there.

    To survive there is a basic spellbook set of four spells, and a basic combat spell.
    other skills and spells must be found and equipped.

    combat is simple in apearance, yet a bit more complex under the hood. for each round in combat, player can attempt a staff swing, cast a combat spell or use item from inventory (potions,scrolls,wands). also, if player has any equipped passive spells. he gets a shot at casting these at first round. (spels like mirror image, haste, mage armour).

    so player do not get the option to have a standard set of spells to cast (buf self, attack spell, attack spell, heal self etc), but must try set up a decent "character card" by equipping items, skills and artifacts that either spread out to lots of options with small chance to proc, or specialize. A lot of gameplay is resource management and risk vs reward.

    there is no standard level up, instead. when player moves to next floor, he can purchasebard inspiration songs (boosting stats) and buying stuff from merchant- more mana, pouch to carry more items etc.

    All enemies are animated pixel sprites, in "large" size., and most heronactions are also animated. Player moves on a random map "board", and the action is played out in a seperate view.

    still lots of work to do, so not out for yet a while, but I figured it could be nice starting a dev "blog". and who knows, perhaps some players out there comes up with some super ideas :)

    for now a screenshot of game in progress: mage has killed a spider warrior (half spider, half woman), and are using some precious mana to meditate and cast healing spell.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. kurtalb1

    kurtalb1 Well-Known Member

    Apr 16, 2013
    219
    0
    16
    Michigan
    Sounds interesting. Looking forward to more information in the near future!
     
  3. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    The fun thing ..

    the fun thing about game creation is setting up a world and filling it with creatures and items.

    One day I asked Lorena if she could come up with a demi-god thing that the ancient death-cult would worship deep below where the sun didnt shine. It should (my words) "have some tentacles or stuff, and it is called... Balghaar"

    Now this is where it is essential to have good people around you. Some days later, Balghaar was born:

    [​IMG]

    I figured Miguel would get the honor of bringing the creature to life. He was a bit puzzled about the anatomy, but again, having good people around brings rersults. A week later balghaar was a 12 framed monster who could double slap, take a hit and die :)

    [​IMG]

    Of course, before the player can actualy come to Balghaar, he/she must pass some of the death cultists. Some of them are priests, others are 'templar' types.

    Cherrys crew would get the assignment for the cult, and with just a brief explenation the first frames of the priest and warrior was created:

    [​IMG]


    So there we go. An entire floor in the lich tower populated by an ancient demi-god and its death-cult followers.

    Pretty far from cheap, but the process is quite fun.
     
  4. undeadcow

    undeadcow Well-Known Member

    Dec 4, 2010
    9,493
    2
    36
    Houston, TX
    Wow... this looks very promising. Will it be iPad only or can there be iPhone/iPod/Universal application? More devices = more sales.
     
  5. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    Hi, universal, probably not. the game is set up (button size, teleport to area by touch) that would need a bit redesign (game is not coded in any auto scaling engine). idas and tests of moving by tilting is one option, same is showing only the tiles next around the player (like most rougelikes) is another. another issue is size of game, as the smaller devices must have art for the larger (and lots of art).

    that said, we have a lot of assets and would be a waste to limit to ipad. so a couple of variants is on the drawing table to fit better the iphone. the most promising is a sideway-scrolling rougelike where player does not controll the actual path to walk, and instead of mana/energy, skills and spells are on timer.

    so in one way or another, the games "setting" and assets will probably be for both smaller and larger devices, but if that will be same game or different (gameplay will at least need to be different) is yet to be decided. Lots of time to test such things though, event when outsorcing pixel animation to multiple parties. it is probably 7-8 weeks before enemies and all hero animations are done.
     
  6. ojtitus

    ojtitus Well-Known Member

    Jul 7, 2010
    3,228
    5
    38
    Male
    Canton, Ohio
    Looks very interesting, I look forward to seeing more.
     
  7. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    And as the summer nears end, it is time to pick up some pace :)

    Just got in the initial Bard song-selector screen from Lorena:

    [​IMG]

    (this image is just flatened and published, as we can see on the comment burned into the image is about 'this is tricky to do' -- this is where the current selected bard song will blend into the background.)

    But, here is where the 'more is more' philosophy comes in. Why not place an animated Kareena the Bard playing the tunes the players are spending their hard earned gold on ?

    [​IMG]
    (one frame)
     
  8. Shyft

    Shyft Well-Known Member

    Jun 12, 2013
    129
    0
    0
    you had me at roguelike...
     
  9. Exact-Psience

    Exact-Psience Well-Known Member

    Jan 12, 2012
    22,664
    2
    38
    The Work-At-Home Guy
    Philippines
    This does look solid. Will follow.
     
  10. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    #10 expleo, Aug 2, 2013
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2013
    To celebrate

    that the Version 1 of the soundtrack is Complete (and the first Battle track), here is a small compilation of the Young mages struggle in the imperial Dungeons in search of the seal to unlock yet anoter part of the Lich entrace.

    In this :30 montage the mage is pretty solid With the staff fighting, With items and skills boosting staff damage, staff hits, Block and life leech, but also have a regeneration item going as well as a passive buff of Mirror image.

    Music by Lawrence Steele


     
  11. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    #11 expleo, Aug 9, 2013
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2013
    Maxime Plasse, a friendly french cartographer given the task of creating the master map of the area the game takes place in, just finished it up. As you can see, there are several areas, and the intention is that there will be several small dungeons to explore/conquer in search of the sigils that seals off the entrace to the lich tower.

    3 sigils means 3 dungeons need to be visited. Funnily, that is also the exact number of dungeons the game will launch with. On a personal note, I'd love it for all planned 6 dungeons where ready, but the cost is very high per dungeon to dress up and populate with critters and bosses, so a smarter move is to finish up the base of game, and add more goodies. So make sure to get a copy when it is ready, and we can all hope that it gets enough sales so the other dungeons can be launched .. IAP free.

    Be well all, and have a great weekend.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. ^DJ_Link^

    ^DJ_Link^ Well-Known Member

    Aug 7, 2010
    147
    0
    16
    Programmer
    Portugal
    Nice work, it is looking really good. Keep it up
     
  13. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    Item pouch system finished except some polishing up. Player starts with a 3 slot belt (here filled with some assorted potions to aid in the quest to save the world), and can purchase up to two more slots trough hefty IAP of course. (JK, the slots are purchaseable between dungeons for ingame gold (unfortunatly not available as IAP either, sorry).

    So player must choose between adding more pouchslots, skillslots or spellbook pages, as well as balancing it all with same gold towards character customization (levelup) trough bardsongs.

    Lots of choices for a game that in essence have 3 buttons when fighting !


    Pouch brought out, time to down that rage potion for a nice boost of tohit and damage, to whoop down that Imperial Xbow man:

    (Not fun when the effect wears out though, as the extra strain leaves a little dent in the players health)

    [​IMG]
     
  14. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    #14 expleo, Aug 31, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2013
    New gameplay video

    To show basic gameplay. Loot system implemented, and we use high quality handpainted art for items to find.

    [videolink removed, new video up]
     
  15. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    Sharing is Caring

    The main startupscreen is pretty much ready with some sample menu items:

    [​IMG]

    We can see that the illustrator is a bit light on the copyright side when she adds 'bla bla' to the (c) notice :)

    Will our hero manage to even _enter_ the lich tower ? Probably not. This game will be labeled 'not for people who didnt play games at least 20 years ago: You will just whine and die'
     
  16. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    Greetings all !

    A quick question today, and we would greatly accept some input. The designer for everything graphical is a bit unsure how to make an icon that fits the game and is somwhat appealing to the 'probably core audience'.

    She went a bit 'bold' and suggested something that is 'different', enclosed here. So if anyone on TA have any oppinion, please take 1 min to share them

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    The colour scheme is easy eough to change, but is the general idea good or not.
     
  17. mekanikal fiend

    mekanikal fiend Well-Known Member

    Sep 9, 2010
    814
    0
    16
    whats the icon supposed to be, a window with blood on it?
    my two cents would to be something else, i mean i cant even tell what its supposed to be...
     
  18. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    #18 expleo, Oct 7, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2013
    small update

    Well, the appicon has been redesigned:

    [​IMG]

    and also the GUI is modified. Not all elements are re-coded in their right place, but this is pretty close to how the layout will be:

    [​IMG]

    In this image we see the young wizzard managed to fire off a poison web spell at an undead hound guarding the Lich Tower, adding both direct damage and also some damage over time.

    Besides that, current work includes adding various combat spells and passive spells, balancing toughness (that is real tough indeed) and waiting for rest of furnishing to arrive from the graphical department.
     
  19. MrMojoRisin

    MrMojoRisin Well-Known Member

    Jul 27, 2012
    1,183
    0
    0
    Looks awesome so far. You gonna need beta testers?
     
  20. expleo

    expleo Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2012
    159
    0
    0
    Computer Guy
    Norway
    #20 expleo, Oct 9, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2013
    MrMojoRisin: thanks. Well, its a bit hassle setting up beta testing as it is now (no testflight), so to test in Device is by adding Device UI as dev Device in appstore, and distribute ad-hoc.
     

Share This Page