alxd of the Story Seed LibraryApr 16, 2023

Layman's question for our #gamedev , #gamedesign and #VisualNovel crowd:

Do you know any good resources on using different mechanics in visual novels and how they impact the player?

I know that #Exocolonist did awesome things with its card economy by forcing you to choose friends (experiences generate cards) and rest over mindlessly grinding skills (more in https://www.thegamer.com/stardew-valley-labour-animal-crossing-cult-of-the-lamb-exocolonist/ ).

Any good overview, wiki, categorization?

#games #narratives #indiedev #indiegame

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Show threadJeff Miller (orange hatband)Oct 28
@alxd Reading back through the Exocolonist hashtag. As a fan of the game and its pacing and mechanics, I am curious to know if you got any good suggestions for your request for other good examples.
Show threadalxd of the Story Seed LibraryOct 29

@jmeowmeow hm, I generally really like the Fallen London / Sunless Sea / Skies / Mask of the Rose series, even if the themes are very different.

Are you interested only in video games, or also TTRPGs? Card prompt-based games like For The Queen, The Time We Have hit close. "The Quiet Year" is extremely close to the Exocolonist.

https://if50.textories.com/ has a nice analysis of some such games, including the Sunless* Storylet system and a few others.

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Show threadJeff Miller (orange hatband)

@alxd For The Queen is so excellent, and I also liked Alex Roberts' "Precious Little Animal" journal storygame. I am partial to the journal game genre and enjoy Paul Czege's work. ( #BeWithMe and #BalsamLakeUnmurders )

I had planned to go to Roguelike Celebration, bought a ticket... and forgot!

Oct 29 at 12:37pmWeb
Show threadJeff Miller (orange hatband)Oct 29

@alxd "The Quiet Year" is so excellent, and you're right, paced and themed and concluded much like Exocolonist (though I never understood Contempt Tokens) and Avery Alder has done quite a bit of story game work.

And then there's TCK Roleplaying's Mars Colony and Mars Colony: 39 Dark, about being a savior overmatched by circumstances, which especially fit the first playthrough and the last act of Exocolonist.

I was a habitué of the North Seattle Storygames meetup when that was still happening. TQY, Penny For My Thoughts.

Show threadalxd of the Story Seed LibraryOct 29
@jmeowmeow the Contempt Tokens are well explained in the Talk of the Table episode - https://spotify.link/EjTmCpTrRXb . They used to have their own mechanic, but for now they are used as just an emotional statement between the players