The battle against the Infested in Remore is a perilous task, and the survivors will inevitably become tired and hurt. It is no small feat to fend off the relentless creatures and other foes and even more so with a weary or injured body. Taking time to rest and heal will be vital to your survival.
In this dev note we’re going to talk about the place the survivors call home as they return from battle, a place to prepare before heading back out into the infestation, the Hideout.
In order to increase the tactical elements of our game, we wanted the player to have a lot of concerns during battle that must be managed in order to survive. However, much like the survivors, we felt that to survive these demanding battles the player must have a moment's respite to take a moment to breathe and prepare for the next.
The Hideout is a safe place which the survivors of Remore have found. From here some head out into the world to search for supplies and return to rest. The other survivors who remain in camp will have their stories to tell and can help the player out in various ways.
Jorgn was a successful blacksmith before the infestation, and he can repair and modify the survivor’s weapons to help them in their battles. He may seem as tough as his anvil but if you trust his skills he will produce some of the finest weapons.
To increase the ‘apocalyptic’ feeling we wanted to give the player incentive to search every inch of the map in order to find supplies that will increase the odds of survival. Players can find iron bars, wood, glue and whetstones for example and use them to feel attachment and satisfaction in the weapon progression, the core of battle.
Aella ran an inn and uses her expert knowledge of cooking to prepare meals in the kitchen of the hideout using ingredients that the survivors find in their travels. A bowl of her warm porridge will sate anyones hunger and soothe their worries boosting their energy.
The plan for Aella, like Jorgn was again to increase the sense of ‘survival’. Survivors need to reach a level of ‘satisfaction’ in order to survive and to achieve this they must search places like the Grocer’s and the Tavern to find food. In addition if you find ingredients and cook certain meals survivors will enter battle with a heightened physical condition!
Survivors regain their strength by sleeping after filling their bellies with a satisfying meal. Those who survive the day’s struggles will grow in strength and the next day they will head out into Remore a little more ready for the challenges ahead.
Through the above flow you will be able to see the main structure of the game’s progression. After battle, the players get help from other survivors to eat and relax, maintain and strengthen weapons at the Blacksmith, and prepare to face more powerful enemies. You can also talk with the survivors to hear their thoughts about living through the infestation
After reading this dev note we hope you can get a good idea of the roles the survivors will have in the Hideout and how they are key to survival.
Next time we're going to go into a little more detail about the survivors role and look at exactly how they will aid the player.
Thank you