Refactoring, refactoring, refactoring. It’s surprising how much code one can pile up in only one #GameDevMonth to get a first game version out. And how much longer it takes to clean up the mess!

The core parts of the code (Card deck, spawning, actions and more) are now close to a shape and concepts I want them to be, while others (fighting, inventory, and crafting) are still a mess and source of some nasty bugs. I will tackle them with the ongoing refactoring.

New Features

While  all this rather unproductive code massage kept me busy, I was still able to implement the following list of new features.

• Separate Tutorial game mode and more Tutorial cards (the new Cards spawn in the right context, like a tutorial for infested buildings in the moment players find such a building)
• Crafted Weapons spawn as Cards, players can equip them (prepares more advanced weapon concept where players can improve and repair axes and clubs)
• Buildings can be infested by giant rats now. Before players search such buildings, they should better scout them, otherwise rats will trigger an immediate battle – and all zeds around will happily join it 😊
• Dead rats can be cut into meat pieces and bones. While meat can be roasted over a crafted campfire, the bones prepare a coming fishing mechanic. The inventory space is bigger now, leaving some free slots for more new items coming
• The player stats (top bars for health, hunger etc.) now give better feedback when stats are critical low. The energy bar in addition shows the AP penalty, should players decide to start a battle under such critical conditions
• New sound effects for rats and actions like smashing windows

Bugfixes

• Limited Scouting/Reading range
• Health gets restored only through Resting or Eating
• Broken cooking mechanics working now (meat and some veggies can be roasted over a campfire)
• Broken weapons get removed and replaced by newly crafted ones
• Several Card deck issues and incorrect updated Card states got fixed
• Fights are still buggy due to an incomplete refactoring of these codes

Coming Next

I will probably look more into the fighting mechanics next – refactoring the codes and add some more ideas along the way.

• Rats will steal food from players inventory in fight to heal themselves
• Some tutorial cards will explain the fight mechanics
• Cards of buildings close to the fight will be added to allow taking cover tactics

The moment of “everything is coming together” is far away – game is still in an experimental, unstable prototype mode. But working on it feels so rewarding and fun – slowly it will grow into something complete and consistent.