KickStarter Stoneshard - open world roguelike RPG - now available on Early Access

[Zboj Lamignat]

Is it really a scam

You heard about them potions m8? That's pretty messed up, isn't it.

 

[NotSweeper]

How much content is actually in there right now anyway?

Define content. It's still missing a third of the skill trees, there's no character creation, the main quest of the game has been sitting at the same point for 2 years now (the main quest consisting of completing 2 contracts for the elder in Osbrook, gathering 1000 gold and getting to Brynn). So what you're left with is the core gameplay loop which is take contracts, go to ruin, kill, loot, return, repeat. There's a tiered progression to the contracts or rather ruins with Osbrook being tier 1, Mannshire 2 and Brynn 3.
I've been harping on for several years about the character creation, but now that I'm actually playing it they could add character creation tomorrow and it wouldn't fix much.
The game's too ambitious for its own good, and with each passing year it's becoming more of a scam (than it already is). Eventually the devs will drop 50% (or more) of what they had planned for the game and call it complete.

All that aside you can play a lute, that's fairly cool right?

First and last time I bought an EA game.

 

[NotSweeper]

Is it really a scam

You heard about them potions m8? That's pretty messed up, isn't it.

I'm sure it'll be a fine game, in 10-12 years at the current rate.

 

[mediocrepoet]

How much content is actually in there right now anyway?

Define content. It's still missing a third of the skill trees, there's no character creation, the main quest of the game has been sitting at the same point for 2 years now (the main quest consisting of completing 2 contracts for the elder in Osbrook, gathering 1000 gold and getting to Brynn). So what you're left with is the core gameplay loop which is take contracts, go to ruin, kill, loot, return, repeat. There's a tiered progression to the contracts or rather ruins with Osbrook being tier 1, Mannshire 2 and Brynn 3.

Yeah, this is also part of what I was wondering. He's feature creeping without completing a through-line of the game. Alright.

The game's too ambitious for its own good, and with each passing year it's becoming more of a scam (than it already is). Eventually the devs will drop 50% (or more) of what they had planned for the game and call it complete.

Probably, wouldn't be the first time. Wouldn't call it a scam though.

First and last time I bought an EA game.

Yeah, I try not to do it much anymore, things like this didn't help. But whatever.

 

[NotSweeper]

Might not be a scam, the game might be complete with everything they had planned in 2 years and then I'll sit in the corner with a funny hat, but it just doesn't seem like that's gonna happen.
I've been wrong before thoughever.

 

[mediocrepoet]

There's a pretty significant difference between a scam and delivering a game that doesn't hit all expectations or is otherwise shit. I've seen a variety of actual scam games over the years, many of them are discussed on these boards. This isn't one of them, though it may end up being overscoped in many areas and incomplete, it's still released, playable and isn't so far as I know, some sort of shit asset flip.

That doesn't mean it's a great project or that I'd be likely to buy anything else the guy puts out if he abandons it in an incomplete state though. He should make some sort of "content complete" critical path throughline and then keep adding whatever shit he wants to or even complete parts of it and make DLCs for parts of it if he needs cash flow after all this time.

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

First and last time I bought an EA game.

EA is a gamble, that's for sure. However, I did get Kenshi before it was on Steam for fairly cheap compared to it's current price. I also got Factorio before it hit Steam. I think I got Mount & Blade prior to it's Steam EA launch. I got Starsector back when it was called Starfarer, and it's still not on Steam. I got Space Engineers back when it was in EA, and those developers had an EA botch up before Space Engineers.

But I also got Starforge before it was on Steam, it eventually went to Steam and it was never finished. That's probably one of the more infamous ones that jumped to a release without ever being finished. Oh, and Cube World. Apparently the Cube World developer has started working on it again, so that might just be a really, really slow burn but his Steam Beta was way worse than his non-Steam Alpha.

 

[NotSweeper]

There's a pretty significant difference between a scam and delivering a game that doesn't hit all expectations or is otherwise shit. I've seen a variety of actual scam games over the years, many of them are discussed on these boards. This isn't one of them, though it may end up being overscoped in many areas and incomplete, it's still released, playable and isn't so far as I know, some sort of shit asset flip.

Yeah that's fair I guess. But if the devs just got tired and dropped the thing, as is, it would be an alright game. I wouldn't even mid the 16 or so euros I dropped on it. But it wouldn't be a great one, and I think Stoneshard has the potential to be something truly extraordinary. It just needs more meat on the bones, a lot more meat.

EA is a gamble, that's for sure.

It's all the waiting that pisses me off. I forget about Stoneshard, then I remember it, then I play it and it's still not complete. This has happened twice now.

 

[Cologno]

First and last time I bought an EA game.

EA is a gamble, that's for sure. However, I did get Kenshi before it was on Steam for fairly cheap compared to it's current price. I also got Factorio before it hit Steam. I think I got Mount & Blade prior to it's Steam EA launch. I got Starsector back when it was called Starfarer, and it's still not on Steam. I got Space Engineers back when it was in EA, and those developers had an EA botch up before Space Engineers.

But I also got Starforge before it was on Steam, it eventually went to Steam and it was never finished. That's probably one of the more infamous ones that jumped to a release without ever being finished. Oh, and Cube World. Apparently the Cube World developer has started working on it again, so that might just be a really, really slow burn but his Steam Beta was way worse than his non-Steam Alpha.

I get ya, but Kenshi and Factorio were the only games on that list that were completed. Space Engineers and Warband were arbitrarily declared done and shoved to official release when the finished products clearly had major features cut.

Space Engineers in particular pissed me off because I the developer couldn't be assed to include a proper tutorial: might've changed since I played, I just remember the tutorial section being a bunch of links to YT videos showing how to do basic stuff.

 

[normie]

Devlog: Caravan Upgrades - Part IV

Hello everyone!

In today’s devlog, we’ll conclude the topic of Caravan Upgrades by revealing the final upgrade path - “Communication”.

Interesting fact: Caravan Upgrades are not Abilities and therefore DON’T require Ability Points. Instead, they are unlocked with items and materials.

Its main focus is staying in touch with civilization. Let’s take a closer look at what this entails:

COMMUNICATION

Caravan Banner

“A symbol of fellowship and hope.”

Requirements: Foldable Flagpole (acquired during the Caravan introduction quest)
Effect: adds a flagpole to the Caravan Camp that can be used to raise Banners found in dungeons or while exploring the world

All raised Banners will slightly increase your Reputation Gain and also provide some additional benefits: for example, the Wolf Banner will grant you a bit of Pain Resistance, and the Owl Banner - a bonus to Experience Gain.

Messenger Pigeons

“Messenger pigeons are trained to return home regardless of the distance, even if said home never stays in one place for too long.”

Requirements: Cage with Pigeons (x1), Sack of Grain (х1), Bucket (х1)
Effect: allows to take a Carrier Pigeon with you
While not in immediate danger, the Pigeon can be released to send a message to Verren, which will open the Caravan’s Travel Menu, allowing to move it to a selected location

Old Favors

“Verren has lots of acquaintances. Many of them still remember their old friend and won't mind vouching for him to the right people.”

Requirements: Pile of Letters (х1), Inkpot
Effect: killing enemies near settlements improves your Reputation there by 20% of the received Experience
Increases the time limit for contracts by 1 day

Web of Contacts

“The war made people's allegiances crystal clear - good fame is much more valuable right now than gold.”

Requirements: Signed Permit (х1)
Effect: grants 50% more Reputation when completing contracts in settlements affected by negative Situations
Grants +5% Reputation Gain for each settlement you’ve achieved “Respect” with
The “Common Cause” Reputation perk now works all the way up to “Amity” instead of “Benevolence”

Local Informants

“Rumors and hearsay are not to be brushed aside. What at first may appear as empty talk can eventually pave a path to riches.”

Requirements: Directives (х1), empty Coin Purse (х5)
Effect: decreases the chance of being Ambushed by 25%
Setting up the Caravan Camp reveals the location of all Points of Interest within 5 tiles
Reveals some of the ongoing Settlement Situations and Dungeon Modifiers, showing them in Global Map hovers

Trade Preferences

“In these uncertain times, most folks aren't brave enough to continue trading - their loss might as well become someone's gain.”

Requirements: Letter of Trading Authority (х1), achieving “Respect” with any settlement
Effect: +10% Trade Favorability when buying or selling Commodity Goods
Selling Commodity Goods in settlements improves your Reputation there by 5% of the received sum (15% if a settlement is affected by a negative Situation)

==============================================

That’s all for now. The next devlog will be dedicated to Global Map changes, including a new settlement of the Grand Magistrate:

Until next time!

 

[lukaszek]

what do I do to keep this on my wishlist but not get email every month about mediocre discount?

 

[Modron]

what do I do to keep this on my wishlist but not get email every month about mediocre discount?

Click your account name up in the top right, select account details, manage email preferrences and you can select what emails (if any) steam sends you.

 

[The Wall]

Devlog: Denbrie and Global Map Changes

Hello everyone!

Today’s devlog is dedicated to changes to the global map and a new settlement of the Grand Magistrate - Denbrie! Let’s tackle it one thing at a time.

Denbrie

“By the time the truce was settled, Denbrie had already been turned into ruins. The Council’s army razed this quiet fishing village twice: first during their initial advance, and then - while retreating from their defeat under the walls of Brynn.

Right now the only thing keeping this settlement afloat is the garrison sent here by the Magistrate to oversee its western border.”

Side note: the list of planned settlements present in the current version of the game is no longer relevant and will be updated in Rags to Riches.

Denbrie is situated in the south-western region of the Brynn March and will be the third and final village of the Grand Magistrate. Its few remaining inhabitants - a couple fishermen and a merchant, who was driven insane by the horrors of war, eke out a miserable, poverty-stricken existence. The only reason why Denbrie still exists is its salt-producing infrastructure, which is being slowly rebuilt by workers from Brynn.

The close vicinity to the Magistrate’s borders makes Denbrie an important strategic spot, vital for controlling large swaths of the borderlands - this duty is performed by a squad of soldiers stationed in the village’s crumbling chapel. At the same time, the garrison is woefully understaffed and is struggling to maintain order, so the local captain will eagerly accept any help.

Denbrie also has Outskirts, a couple locations where you’ll be able to rest on your way to a dungeon, turn in a contract, or purchase necessary supplies:

St Wald's Bridge

“This is where St Wald, a much revered Aldorian saint, crossed the river on his quest to bring the Truth to Sentian heathens.

Decades later, one of the Order's brotherhoods built a stone bridge in his honor - and if it hadn't been for the spitefulness of the routed Council soldiers, it could have continued standing here for centuries.”

Kenrick's Homestead

“The place's owner, Old Kenrick, couldn't care less about politics or the rest of the world. Unfortunately, politics don't need an invitation to introduce themselves into a person's life - after almost losing everything when the war was in full swing, he now has to constantly interact with the Magistrate's troops, who are stationed at his homestead for strategic reasons.”

Map Changes

One of the most important changes to the global map is that many locations were moved to a different spot, allowing for a smoother and more organic progression through the game’s world. Additionally, the updated map will do a better job at highlighting the content that players right now have to either stumble upon randomly or learn about from external sources.

Osbrook, for example, will be located in the eastern part of the map, a more suitable place for a settlement that was affected by the war the least. Finishing the village’s introductory quest will instantly let you travel to Brynn, granting earlier access to the Caravan. And once you complete “Gwynnel's Answers”, Verren will begin giving you hints that’ll steer your journey towards Mannshire, the Rotten Willow, and Denbrie.

Mannshire will remain almost the same. The only notable difference is a set of additional rules for the nearby locations’ placement - the Herbalist’s Hut, for instance, will actually spawn close to the village.

In contrast, the Rotten Willow Tavern
will be affected the most: it’ll be moved from its current spot (north of Mannshire) to the western region of the map, not far from Osbrook’s old location. Furthermore, the tavern will have its own contracts, a few nearby dungeons, some extra functionality, and two Outskirts:

Oaken Glade

“By the Magistrate trade outposts' standards, this woodcutting camp enjoys an uncharacteristically large amount of freedom. The reason - the lack of a permanent bailiff, a mistake that likely occurred due to simple neglect and forgetfulness.”

Charcoal Burners' Camp

“The burden of producing the charcoal that feeds the New Guild's forges was placed on the shoulders of convicts and prisoners of war.

The close vicinity of the Rotten Willow Tavern isn't a coincidence - the local captain is on much better terms with One-Eyed Wigmar than with his direct superiors in Brynn.”


Reputation System Changes

The Reputation system received many tweaks as well. In the current version of the game, each settlement uses the same Reputation perks - in Rags to Riches, they will differ depending on each city or village’s specific features, allowing for more flexibility when balancing the economy and gear progression. And, if the need arises, it’ll let us add even more unique perks in the future.

For example, even though there are almost no merchants in the dilapidated remains of Denbrie, the settlement’s unique perk, “Magistrate’s Frontier”, will reward you with additional Brynn reputation upon completing its contracts, which in turn will grant you access to better gear, even if indirectly.

Special Boss-related quests, which right now are tied to the character’s level, will too be a part of the Reputation system and will become available once you unlock their corresponding perk.

Brynn

Originally, Brynn’s Reputation was meant to be acquired through alternative means, and city contracts were introduced only as a placeholder. In Rags to Riches, we want to return to the original vision of Brynn as a center of commerce, which you’ll need to visit from time to time to buy new gear and sell off loot. Obviously, the list of big city activities will eventually feature sidequests as well: over the last year, we’ve put a lot of effort into adapting our dialogue-creating tools for the game’s engine, so the addition of new dialogues will require much less time than before.

This leads us to the next big change, the complete removal of Brynn dungeons and all contracts tied to them: high danger contracts will be split between the Rotten Willow and Denbrie, which should flatten the difficulty spike reported by many players.

Brynn Reputation will depend on your standing with other settlements of the faction, giving a lot of weight to Osbrook, Mannshire, and Denbrie contracts. On top of that, the option to bribe Bailiffs won’t be available by default, instead requiring a Commendation Letter, which will also be connected to a Reputation perk.

Distant Dungeons

Another thing that we want to do with Rags to Riches is to implement a complete progression system that provides content throughout all 30 character levels, which, subsequently, will allow us to stress test every mechanic before expanding the global map.

As mentioned in previous devlogs, this will be achieved by splitting the existing dungeons, items, and settlements into 5 tiers. This change will also affect distant dungeons, which will stay the main source of late game content - they’ll be present in tier 4 and tier 5 variants, offering more lucrative rewards and nastier opponents.

=================

That’s all for now. Until next time!

 

[Takamori]

Jesus fuck I was joking about overhauling the foreskin mechanic.

 

[Tygrende]

Side note:
the list of planned settlements present in the current version of the game is no longer relevant and will be updated in Rags to Riches.

Occam's razor compels me to assume they're starting to cut planned content out.

I made a screenshot of the current list of settlements so we can compare in the next century when the game is actually done:

Denbrie was supposed to be a settlement of the (yet to actually exist) Council faction. So either they switch them around and Forholt is going to be theirs, or it's getting cut out.

 

[The Wall]

Yup! Lead Dev is Mad Russian RPG Genius

[+10 intelligence] [+10 humor] [+10 autism]

He also seems to be sick of his own game. All his previous enthusiasm is 90% gone. He repeats how being in Early Access for 4 years and each year delivering less then the last one is perfectly normal. He seems like great guy but something CLEARLY went wrong with game's development speed. It's funny how he fights critics online who demand further casualisation of game with fire and stubborness of dwarf berserker attacked by Discord goblins. I'm learning Russian through daily reading of his posts on Steam and Discord where he mocks casuals and insults them in most high IQ possible

He has account here. He is OP for this thread. Somewhere along the way, he got upset with us. Wayfinder if you can hear us, we still love you Brov!

 

[Saint_Proverbius]

Space Engineers in particular pissed me off because I the developer couldn't be assed to include a proper tutorial: might've changed since I played, I just remember the tutorial section being a bunch of links to YT videos showing how to do basic stuff.

It hasn't. I figured it out watching videos by Splitsie and a few others, and trial and error.

 

[Fedora Master]

He also seems to be sick of his own game.

I'd be too if all I did was shuffle around the pixels on berry bushes.

 

[PlayerEmers]

Side note:
the list of planned settlements present in the current version of the game is no longer relevant and will be updated in Rags to Riches.

Occam's razor compels me to assume they're starting to cut planned content out.

I made a screenshot of the current list of settlements so we can compare in the next century when the game is actually done:

Denbrie was supposed to be a settlement of the (yet to actually exist) Council faction. So either they switch them around and Forholt is going to be theirs, or it's getting cut out.

im ok with them cutting planned content
this means the game has an actual chance of seeing 1.0 release

 

[Jacov]

Someone should teach their main dev to not have meltdowns in public Steam forums. Doesn't paint a good picture for them.

 

[Jacov]

Summary of semi-angry comments from devs under the latest Steam post:

1) Development is slow because 2018 build was made quickly in half a year for the Kickstarter and they had to reimplement a bunch of systems due to backer feedback;
2) 700k+ sold copies is «too high», they sold less (some dude was foaming at the mouth that they probably sold this much after glossing over SteamDB numbers);
3) The only country that will be in the game is Aldor (as it was planned from the very start);
4) Wayfinder compares Stoneshard's complexity to Zomboid, Kenshi and Starsector;
5) Forholt will be in the game but it will be owned by another faction (as Tygrende said);
6) No new stuff for those who bought the Supporter Pack. Only things they've already promised;

 

[mediocrepoet]

Summary of semi-angry comments from devs under the latest Steam post:

1) Development is slow because 2018 build was made quickly in half a year for the Kickstarter and they had to reimplement a bunch of systems due to backer feedback;
2) 700k+ sold copies is «too high», they sold less (some dude was foaming at the mouth that they probably sold this much after glossing over SteamDB numbers);
3) The only country that will be in the game is Aldor (as it was planned from the very start);
4) Wayfinder compares Stoneshard's complexity to Zomboid, Kenshi and Starsector;
5) Forholt will be in the game but it will be owned by another faction (as Tygrende said);
6) No new stuff for those who bought the Supporter Pack. Only things they've already promised;

I'm going to have to go look, this sounds fun.

 

[Harthwain]

3) The only country that will be in the game is Aldor (as it was planned from the very start);

Dwarves of Fjall, Elves of Jacinth and Orcs also play part in the setting. They even feature an image of these races on the main page:

 

[Jenkem]

When will this be finished?

 

[Jacov]

When will this be finished?

Thursday