Temple of The Roguelike Forums
Announcements => Traditional Roguelikes (Turn Based) => Topic started by: Legend on March 17, 2012, 06:34:36 AM
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This is my first entry into the 7drl challenge. This is a pen/paper/card/dice roguelike.
This is Dark Valhalla: Prelude (to Ragnarok)
I intentionally only used paper, pencil, graph paper, poker cards, and six sided dice as the game components because I thought it would be a little nod to ascii format of most roguelikes where you use your imagination. It was also to cut down on time of trying to make nice looking cards and having the players having to print and construct tons of cards.
The game is actually complete and playable, You only need to print the game rules and have the equipment needed to play. Poker cards, scratch paper, graph paper, pencil, eraser, and a fist full of dice. Most of things people will already have, or can be bought cheaply.
You can find the most recent pdf here:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJMlZ3dmRtTDA0WVE (https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJMlZ3dmRtTDA0WVE)
The only thing currently missing is the game sheets, which I would rather be able to put a good amount of time into them. You can just use scratch paper to keep track of stats and inventory.
It is also missing the flavor text for the items and enemies. I intend to include these as a separate document called the Marine's Journal.
Sorry, the rules are a little hefty at 16 pages. But you could get away with just printing the last few pages with the tables and event, monster, and item info as long as you can remember the rules by reading them from your computer.
The game takes place in a military complex in Scandinavia where an archaeological dig was taking place. Something terrible has gone wrong. You have received a distress call and immediately make your way
there only to be greeted by carnage inside of a complex getting ready to self destruct. You must find a way to get out and find out what exactly has happened here.
The theme of the game is a mix of military horror like doom and quake and norse mythology.
Hope you enjoy. Please let me know what you think.
Also let me know if your think this should not be considered a successful 7dr. And I suppose whether or not you feel it is roguelike enough. I tried to make sure I kept genre staples like random levels, random items and enemies, some strategy to the combat, character progression.
Supplemental Files:
Codename: Valhalla:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJZnpKTGRHN2NSYmFXbTVLSUFaallLdw (https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJZnpKTGRHN2NSYmFXbTVLSUFaallLdw)
Post 7drl "bug fix" version:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJbHI1VDU2V05STy1nY29pV0tWczJydw (https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJbHI1VDU2V05STy1nY29pV0tWczJydw)
Bug Fix Version 2
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJY1FUbDN3NXVUWUdBQnFNS1dtRkZ2dw (https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJY1FUbDN3NXVUWUdBQnFNS1dtRkZ2dw)
Bug fix version 4 (skipped 3 :P )
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJMlZ3dmRtTDA0WVE (https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJMlZ3dmRtTDA0WVE)
***NOTE***
If you find the game too short or easy, you can just play more than 3 levels. The enemies grow in strength each level you go down.
Also, on the enemy table where it says "only on level # or higher" that means that that enemy can only appear on or after the specified level. If one of those enemies is rolled on a level where they don't appear, then roll again. Or you can choose to have it mean no enemy is encountered for an easier game.
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Well I'd say you just entered. Maybe give people something to download? Like a .txt?
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Well I'd say you just entered. Maybe give people something to download? Like a .txt?
I hope to have a downloadable pdf by this evening. The only thing that will most likely be missing are the game sheets, so you will have to use scratch paper instead. Most likely, the flavor text for enemies, events, and items will be missing too.
Didn't have as much time as I had hoped to work on it yesterday.
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Finished. First post has been edited and updated with a download link.
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Hey man I've been going through the rules and it looks pretty neat. I don't have a deck of cards though so I need to dig around in order to play it. I'll give you more feedback then.
-Jo
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Hey man I've been going through the rules and it looks pretty neat. I don't have a deck of cards though so I need to dig around in order to play it. I'll give you more feedback then.
-Jo
Right on. Thanks. Let me know what you think when you scrounge up some cards. Also let me know what you think of the rules themselves. Are they clear enough, do they cover everything, are they organized ok, etc.
So far this game is the longest instruction manual I have put together and in the shortest period of time. As far as being an instruction manual, I don't think it's quite my best work.
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Since this IS technically playable on a computer, I'm going to be showcasing it during the 7DRL 2012 series. However, as it requires certain elements not normally found on a computer, I figure I may as well link what I plan on using:
Random dice (http://www.random.org/dice/) (as many six-siders as you want)
Random deck of cards (http://www.random.org/playing-cards/) (jokers too)
The rest should be doable with word and bitmap processors as necessary (probably Notepad++ and Microsoft Paint), in addition to whatever game sheets come out over time. I would try to record an in-real-life play of it but I have no webcam to speak of, and I feel that the quality would be somewhat lower anyway.
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Sounds interesting.
I can try to whip up a no frills game sheet by the weekend. But, the way you're doing it, it seems like just using notepad might be a better bet to keep track of stats and inventory.
I definitely hope to have the Codename: Valhalla dossier / Marines journal ready to post by this weekend. It's not essential to the gameplay at all. But it will add to the flavor of the game and include more interesting descriptions of the enemies, weapons, and items as well as more background to the story.
EDIT***
I can also provide a .doc version of the rules if it would be preferable to pdf.
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Looking through a box I found an old deck of nudie cards. They won't work for this game but I'm glad I found them.
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Looking through a box I found an old deck of nudie cards. They won't work for this game but I'm glad I found them.
lol. Awesome!
Why won't they work? No pips or jokers?
I actually collect playing cards. I have over 100 decks so far. But for some reason, I don't think it ever occurred to me to seek out a deck of nudie playing cards. I have no idea why not.
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No pips. The pips will help with the aesthetics I think. Next time I hit the gas station I'll get some.
EDIT: As for nude decks, the more old school the better. I had a poker night one time with this deck and without saying anything or making an expression at all I dealt a hand...shocked reactions were priceless.
I recommend something vintage like here:
NOT SAFE FOR WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.vintagenudephotos.com/vpc6.htm
Mine is the 4th set down on that link.
EDIT2: Here is a better price for the ones I have...again 4th set down. Mine is pretty mediocre though now that I've seen others....:-(
http://nawtythings.com/novelties/playing.html
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Hey Legend you should check these guys out.
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/
They will manufacture your game and sell it for you on their website if you give them all the specs. You keep all of your intellectual property rights. They'll just split the profit with you 70/30.
Seems like a scam but it's pretty legit.
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Hey Legend you should check these guys out.
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/
They will manufacture your game and sell it for you on their website if you give them all the specs. You keep all of your intellectual property rights. They'll just split the profit with you 70/30.
Seems like a scam but it's pretty legit.
Thanks Jo.
I actually know of them already. I frequent the Board Game Geek quite a bit and This game is actually my 7th completed game so far.
Game Crafters is more or less like Cafe Press from what I can tell. It does actually seem like a pretty good deal on the surface, I have considered using them before, but I rarely get much feedback from most of my games to really warrant trying to sell them. The big one though is being able to come up with original artwork for the games. I actually do artwork myself and am an amateur artist, but lack the money for proper equipment to digitize and edit/tweak my art cleanly and properly.
I have a handful of other games on the board game geek design forum and pagat.com if you want to check them out. They were all created with cheap and easy printing/construction in mind.
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The Codename: Valhalla Dossier is up. Check the bottom of the original post.
There is also a "Bug Fix" release which fixes a couple things I noticed that I forgot to include.
Hope you enjoy. Please let me know if anyone tries it and enjoys or hates it.
I know the map generation isn't that great/interesting and the writing isn't the best.
Please let me know if you have any questions, clarifications, or comments.
Thanks.
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This is the first time I posted one of my games to a forum other than the Board Game Geek where most people have no shortage of dice. Seeing as this game requires at least about 7 which most people may not have, here is a link to some simple printable dice you can print out on card stock or paper.
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/personalized-paper-dice-coloring-page/ (http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/personalized-paper-dice-coloring-page/)
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Sorry for the triple post.
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This is the first time I posted one of my games to a forum other than the Board Game Geek where most people have no shortage of dice. Seeing as this game requires at least about 7 which most people may not have, here is a link to some simple printable dice you can print out on card stock or paper.
http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/personalized-paper-dice-coloring-page/ (http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/print/personalized-paper-dice-coloring-page/)
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Sorry for the triple post.
As an old school tabletop player, I made some comments over on the rgrd: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups&hl=en#!topic/rec.games.roguelike.development/BpNmH8zpOkY
Basically I question your choice of roll x dice with y rerolls. First off, is that re-roll y dice total or reroll up to x dice y times? Also with a single die in the target range equally a hit and effects that can happen regardless of a hit, you end up with odd effects like spider's missing you, but still poisoning you. Also the first room in the game can have zero doors.
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Basically I question your choice of roll x dice with y rerolls. First off, is that re-roll y dice total or reroll up to x dice y times?
The way the dice rolling works is basically like yahtzee. You roll how ever many action dice you currently have, and can hold certain dice that you want, then re-roll the rest up to 2 more times for a total of 3 rolls.
Also with a single die in the target range equally a hit and effects that can happen regardless of a hit
I'm afraid I don't really understand what you mean by this.
you end up with odd effects like spider's missing you, but still poisoning you
The enemies section of the rules for the Giant spider does state that if you get poisoned, you take a hit of damage. Was it not clearly understandable? Do you think I should re-word it?
Also the first room in the game can have zero doors.
Thank you for pointing that out. I thought I had included a stipulation that the first room should have at least one door. Maybe the first room should automatically start with a specific number of doors? 3 or 4 maybe? I will try to fix this soon.
1. All weapons are near guaranteed hit. The lowly shotgun hits only on a 1, but as the minimum number of dice you can roll for an attack is 9 (or 12 depending on if you re-roll a total of 3 times or you have a total of 3 rolls) your odds of hitting are 1 - (5/6) ^ 9(or 12), or 81(or 89)% and it goes up from there.
2. Monsters are even worst. Giant Spiders hit 99%, web 26%, and poison 3% per attack. The P. Marine hit on 52% of attacks, Dwarves 67% and everything else is 97% or higher.
Not sure you fully understood how the combat works. The minimum number of dice is not 9. It's 3 that you start with. When you re-roll dice, you take the final results. You can't count a roll of 1 for a hit, then re-roll that same die for another hit.
The enemies are supposed to be tough. But I don't think the hit stats are as high as you seem to think they are. Spider has a 1/3 chance to hit you with a normal attack. The odds of getting 3 or 4 of a kind on 4 dice is pretty slim. The enemies only re-roll dice that are not one of the hit values.
Leveling works against you. The higher your level, the more action dice you have, and the harder it is to pass luck and stamina tests. It's far safer to avoid combat and keep your level low.
Your luck is supposed to be difficult to pass if you use it too much. You also have to make sure you keep your stamina up. One way that could balance this out better though if you really think it's a bad thing, would be to subtract the total number of extra action dice you are rolling past the initial number of dice from the roll. So if you started the game with 3 action dice and have gained 2 levels, then you would have 5 action dice total. When you needed to do a "test" roll, you would subtract 2 from the results to make up for the extra dice.
Thank you very much for your feedback.
May I ask if you have actually played the game yet, or are these impressions from just looking over the rules?
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Also with a single die in the target range equally a hit and effects that can happen regardless of a hit
I'm afraid I don't really understand what you mean by this.
Basically, a shotgun hits on a roll of 1, so if any of the up to 9 dice you roll (3 dice, 3 rolls each) comes up a 1, you score a hit.
you end up with odd effects like spider's missing you, but still poisoning you
The enemies section of the rules for the Giant spider does state that if you get poisoned, you take a hit of damage. Was it not clearly understandable? Do you think I should re-word it?
Probably, that was unclear to me.
1. All weapons are near guaranteed hit. The lowly shotgun hits only on a 1, but as the minimum number of dice you can roll for an attack is 9 (or 12 depending on if you re-roll a total of 3 times or you have a total of 3 rolls) your odds of hitting are 1 - (5/6) ^ 9(or 12), or 81(or 89)% and it goes up from there.
2. Monsters are even worst. Giant Spiders hit 99%, web 26%, and poison 3% per attack. The P. Marine hit on 52% of attacks, Dwarves 67% and everything else is 97% or higher.
Not sure you fully understood how the combat works. The minimum number of dice is not 9. It's 3 that you start with. When you re-roll dice, you take the final results. You can't count a roll of 1 for a hit, then re-roll that same die for another hit.
A 1 is a hit, if you roll 3 dice and get no 1s, you re-roll all 3, if still no 1s, you roll a 3rd time. That means, all 9 rolls must be something other than 1 to fail to hit, the odds of which are calculated above.
The enemies are supposed to be tough. But I don't think the hit stats are as high as you seem to think they are. Spider has a 1/3 chance to hit you with a normal attack. The odds of getting 3 or 4 of a kind on 4 dice is pretty slim. The enemies only re-roll dice that are not one of the hit values.
Unless I am miss reading the rules, spiders need to roll a 1 or 2 on 4 dice with 2 re-rolls. Per the rules, in order for them to miss, they have to roll all 12 possible dice and none come up 1 or 2. The odds of that are particularly slim.
Leveling works against you. The higher your level, the more action dice you have, and the harder it is to pass luck and stamina tests. It's far safer to avoid combat and keep your level low.
Your luck is supposed to be difficult to pass if you use it too much. You also have to make sure you keep your stamina up. One way that could balance this out better though if you really think it's a bad thing, would be to subtract the total number of extra action dice you are rolling past the initial number of dice from the roll. So if you started the game with 3 action dice and have gained 2 levels, then you would have 5 action dice total. When you needed to do a "test" roll, you would subtract 2 from the results to make up for the extra dice.
Each extra die adds an average of 3.5 to the roll. At level 1, with S&R of 5, giving you 3 Action dice, Stamina 18, you would pass a stamina test 100% of the time. At level 2, now with S&R 6 you have 5 action dice, and with stamina of 18 you'd have a little over a 50% chance of passing the test.
Thank you very much for your feedback.
May I ask if you have actually played the game yet, or are these impressions from just looking over the rules?
I spent some time playing last night and either I don't get the rules or the game is just very lethal, I never made it passed 4 rooms. A single failed ambush roll cost me 75% of my health once.
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I uploaded a new bug fix version in the original post. It addresses some of the issues Burzmali pointed out and has a few tweaks to make the game a little more forgiving. Please let me know what you think.
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Just curious if anyone has tried this out yet? I've only received feedback from one person so far and would like to get some more feedback from others as well before I make time to do another revision.
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Finally got around to revising this in case anyone is interested. If you try the game, please let me know what you think. Any/all feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
Dark Valhalla: Prelude "bug fix 4"
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJMlZ3dmRtTDA0WVE (https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0SZbVHCrTCJMlZ3dmRtTDA0WVE)
The new version addresses some of the difficulty issues and clarifies some rules.