Goblin Camp
May 15, 2011 9:42 AM Subscribe
Iron_Spike : "Obvious attempts to make Dwarf Fortress even remotely enjoyable" should be its own genre."
posted by The Whelk at 9:46 AM on May 15, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:46 AM on May 15, 2011 [8 favorites]
This looks promising.
I've always thought of myself as a relatively competent grand strategy / TBS / roguelike player, but I've only played Dwarf Fortress once.
For about five minutes.
In its own way, it was scarier than any survival horror game I've ever played or imagined.
posted by a small part of the world at 10:06 AM on May 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
I've always thought of myself as a relatively competent grand strategy / TBS / roguelike player, but I've only played Dwarf Fortress once.
For about five minutes.
In its own way, it was scarier than any survival horror game I've ever played or imagined.
posted by a small part of the world at 10:06 AM on May 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
The problem with Goblin Camp is, once the sun comes up, they all turn to stone.
posted by hippybear at 10:18 AM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 10:18 AM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm actually afraid to check this out. I have no free time, you see, so I can only play this by sacrificing sleep. And as I've watched Dwarf Fortress from the sidelines with envy, I might be tempted.
posted by Harald74 at 10:20 AM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Harald74 at 10:20 AM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Is losing still fun?
Is watching your orcs slaughter all goblins because you forgot to plant any food in the spring and now they're all starving fun? Is being overrun by ant-men crawling out the stone quarry fun? Is it fun to lose all your stockpiles in a fire because the wind suddenly changed direction? If your answer to these questions is yes, then losing is still fun. If you really dislike stockpile management, though, then it isn't fun at all.
posted by daniel_charms at 10:22 AM on May 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Is watching your orcs slaughter all goblins because you forgot to plant any food in the spring and now they're all starving fun? Is being overrun by ant-men crawling out the stone quarry fun? Is it fun to lose all your stockpiles in a fire because the wind suddenly changed direction? If your answer to these questions is yes, then losing is still fun. If you really dislike stockpile management, though, then it isn't fun at all.
posted by daniel_charms at 10:22 AM on May 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
I may or may not give in and write the logical endpoint of this evolution towards simplicity, tentatively titled "Kobold Pit". Watch MeFi Projects. :P
posted by Zarkonnen at 10:27 AM on May 15, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by Zarkonnen at 10:27 AM on May 15, 2011 [10 favorites]
(What I'm saying is that since the game is still in a rather early stage of development, some things - like stockpiles and job management - haven't been quite ironed out yet, which can be rather frustrating from time to time, especially if you're a veteran Dwarf Fortress player. Aryoc, the author of the game, has said he is going to change it, though, so it should get better soon.)
posted by daniel_charms at 10:29 AM on May 15, 2011
posted by daniel_charms at 10:29 AM on May 15, 2011
"Gully Dwarf Hovel"?
posted by m@f at 10:30 AM on May 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by m@f at 10:30 AM on May 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Whenever I see the words "stockpile management" I think back to the weeks and weeks I spent playing Settlers II and feel a little sick on the inside.
posted by nasreddin at 10:31 AM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by nasreddin at 10:31 AM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
daniel_charms: Is watching your orcs slaughter all goblins because you forgot to plant any food in the spring and now they're all starving fun?
No.
Is being overrun by ant-men crawling out the stone quarry fun?
Yes!
Is it fun to lose all your stockpiles in a fire because the wind suddenly changed direction?
Nope.
If your answer to these questions is yes, then losing is still fun. If you really dislike stockpile management, though, then it isn't fun at all.
Ah well, one out of three is kinda bad. I guess I'll wait for updates.
posted by Kattullus at 10:33 AM on May 15, 2011
No.
Is being overrun by ant-men crawling out the stone quarry fun?
Yes!
Is it fun to lose all your stockpiles in a fire because the wind suddenly changed direction?
Nope.
If your answer to these questions is yes, then losing is still fun. If you really dislike stockpile management, though, then it isn't fun at all.
Ah well, one out of three is kinda bad. I guess I'll wait for updates.
posted by Kattullus at 10:33 AM on May 15, 2011
"We are the merry Goblins three, the Goblins merry are we." amirite?
posted by dhartung at 10:39 AM on May 15, 2011
posted by dhartung at 10:39 AM on May 15, 2011
I'm more of a Halfling Bivouac guy.
posted by BeerFilter at 10:52 AM on May 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by BeerFilter at 10:52 AM on May 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
Real connisseurs play Gnomish Leper Colony.
posted by jedicus at 10:58 AM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by jedicus at 10:58 AM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm more of a Halfling Bivouac guy.
Didn't they do a split 7" with Aztec Camera?
posted by nasreddin at 10:59 AM on May 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
Didn't they do a split 7" with Aztec Camera?
posted by nasreddin at 10:59 AM on May 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
There's a game called "Human City." It goes by the alternate title, "The Sims."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:25 AM on May 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:25 AM on May 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Gobliiins
posted by rollick at 11:41 AM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by rollick at 11:41 AM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
The problem, Malotori Betwqergh, the druids staff is in the Grassy Gnoll.
posted by clavdivs at 11:53 AM on May 15, 2011
posted by clavdivs at 11:53 AM on May 15, 2011
"Obvious attempts to make Dwarf Fortress even remotely enjoyable" should be its own genre."
I enjoy Dwarf Fortress, so it is able to be enjoyed, now.
posted by JHarris at 12:59 PM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I enjoy Dwarf Fortress, so it is able to be enjoyed, now.
posted by JHarris at 12:59 PM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Centaur Co-Op
posted by robocop is bleeding at 2:38 PM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 2:38 PM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was under the impression the game was freezing upon starting. Turns out it just has a really long initial load time, due to generating the entire game world in much the same way Dwarf Fortress does, but without showing you any of its progress.
posted by LogicalDash at 3:02 PM on May 15, 2011
posted by LogicalDash at 3:02 PM on May 15, 2011
I enjoy the theory of dwarf fortress, but actually playing it is another matter.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 3:32 PM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 3:32 PM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I played the 2d and first generation 3d DF. Then I read about how the military was made complicated and no longer can overcome the activation energy to start it. Also, Toady added a ton of additional pointless crafting details.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 3:37 PM on May 15, 2011
posted by a robot made out of meat at 3:37 PM on May 15, 2011
Downloaded this.
Realized that this isn't any more intuitive than Dwarf Fortress. Decided I didn't want to learn a new set of arbitrary controls while looking at an equally ugly interface.
Browser...drifting...
I see you can build beehives and chicken coops in Dwarf Fortress now. Apparently you don't have to build an elaborate irrigation system just to start farming anymore -- something became less awkward! Also new, making clay pots. Overall, basic functionality unimproved, bizarre new features added by the day.
Stop me before I delve again.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 3:40 PM on May 15, 2011
Realized that this isn't any more intuitive than Dwarf Fortress. Decided I didn't want to learn a new set of arbitrary controls while looking at an equally ugly interface.
Browser...drifting...
I see you can build beehives and chicken coops in Dwarf Fortress now. Apparently you don't have to build an elaborate irrigation system just to start farming anymore -- something became less awkward! Also new, making clay pots. Overall, basic functionality unimproved, bizarre new features added by the day.
Stop me before I delve again.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 3:40 PM on May 15, 2011
I don't get how people get so involved with these things. Complexity and micromanaging can be interesting. But the executions are so difficult and opaque for a new player that it's just way too much work to even figure out the basics.
Shrug.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 4:35 PM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Shrug.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 4:35 PM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Is being overrun by ant-men crawling out the stone quarry fun?
Game idea: SimAnt-Men.
Hop to it, Maxis.
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:17 PM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Game idea: SimAnt-Men.
Hop to it, Maxis.
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:17 PM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, Monstrous Manual idea: gurgling horror.
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:18 PM on May 15, 2011
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:18 PM on May 15, 2011
I can't believe Toady (the developer of Dwarf Fortress) still hasn't implemented a mouse-driven interface.
It is just so much easier to right click somewhere, go down to farming and then drag your plot than to remember b -> p and use the umkh keys to resize it
posted by Cloud King at 8:28 PM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
It is just so much easier to right click somewhere, go down to farming and then drag your plot than to remember b -> p and use the umkh keys to resize it
posted by Cloud King at 8:28 PM on May 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I can't believe Toady (the developer of Dwarf Fortress) still hasn't implemented a mouse-driven interface.
To be fair, it's on the list, right after he implements mendelian and non-mendelian genetics and links it into the biopsychosocial model which will determine the likes/dislikes section of each dorf's biography page. I mean, wouldn't you feel weird issuing orders to a dwarf whose preferences in ambient objects are determined by a random number, rather than their social context and biological features?
Let's face it: existing functionality in Dwarf Fortress will not be improved, except in such ways as the crazy simulationist rabbit hole Toady's gone down impinges on it. Dude seems willing to fix things he's broken, eventually, but I think that's it. For a long time, reading the changelog for new versions has been more fun than actually playing them.
posted by monocyte at 12:55 PM on May 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
To be fair, it's on the list, right after he implements mendelian and non-mendelian genetics and links it into the biopsychosocial model which will determine the likes/dislikes section of each dorf's biography page. I mean, wouldn't you feel weird issuing orders to a dwarf whose preferences in ambient objects are determined by a random number, rather than their social context and biological features?
Let's face it: existing functionality in Dwarf Fortress will not be improved, except in such ways as the crazy simulationist rabbit hole Toady's gone down impinges on it. Dude seems willing to fix things he's broken, eventually, but I think that's it. For a long time, reading the changelog for new versions has been more fun than actually playing them.
posted by monocyte at 12:55 PM on May 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
Let's face it: existing functionality in Dwarf Fortress will not be improved, except in such ways as the crazy simulationist rabbit hole Toady's gone down impinges on it. Dude seems willing to fix things he's broken, eventually, but I think that's it. For a long time, reading the changelog for new versions has been more fun than actually playing them.
I'm always amused when he creates detailed complicated stuff for worldgen (ex: random necromancer generation; they have life histories, teachers, etc). The part of the game that nobody can play.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 1:08 PM on May 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm always amused when he creates detailed complicated stuff for worldgen (ex: random necromancer generation; they have life histories, teachers, etc). The part of the game that nobody can play.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 1:08 PM on May 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, in adventure mode you can encounter them. The aim of the project is to make a program that simulates a fantasy world, then use that simulated world as a basis for games. It's not unlike the way Tolkien first spent years constructing Middle Earth before he used it as a basis for his books. Dwarf Fortress mode is just one part of Toady's project, it's just the most developed one. Personally I love this game. Having something so complicated to get to grips with did help me get through the worst breakup I ever had.
posted by Kattullus at 3:07 PM on May 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 3:07 PM on May 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
If you really dislike stockpile management, though, then it isn't fun at all.
Uh oh. So if I do like stockpile management, this game is going to ruin my week? I'll dip into the waters tonight.
For a long time, reading the changelog for new versions has been more fun than actually playing them.
I played 2010 for a little bit after the major bugs were fixed, but I'm now firmly in this camp. It is like reading a Scientific American magazine about a video game. And still keep up with Bravemule (previously.)
I am still holding out for some genius to hook a Minecraft UI to the guts of Dwarf Fortress.
posted by chemoboy at 4:42 PM on May 16, 2011
Uh oh. So if I do like stockpile management, this game is going to ruin my week? I'll dip into the waters tonight.
For a long time, reading the changelog for new versions has been more fun than actually playing them.
I played 2010 for a little bit after the major bugs were fixed, but I'm now firmly in this camp. It is like reading a Scientific American magazine about a video game. And still keep up with Bravemule (previously.)
I am still holding out for some genius to hook a Minecraft UI to the guts of Dwarf Fortress.
posted by chemoboy at 4:42 PM on May 16, 2011
I am still holding out for some genius to hook a Minecraft UI to the guts of Dwarf Fortress. (it's a start!)
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 1:55 AM on May 19, 2011
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 1:55 AM on May 19, 2011
« Older Zhang Xiao | Flawed Typefaces Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by nasreddin at 9:46 AM on May 15, 2011