In between our full game releases, Caravel works closely with forum architects and play testers to bring you Smitemaster's Selections, one or more holds built at the same level of quality as our full game level sets.
Smitemaster for Hire is the name of our newest DROD expansion pack. It contains two puzzle-packed holds from master architects Jason Fedor and Rasmus Björling.
Suit Pursuit is of medium difficulty. It picks up where the story of
Devilishly Dangerous Dungeons of Doom left off last autumn. Beethro is making his way back to Rooted Hold to learn about the Grand Event, but someone in the Empire seems to not want him to know about it. This time, a border checkpoint requires him to start taking his Imperial "
profession"
seriously. Hilarity -- and a lot of smiting -- ensues. A cast of new and old faces make an appearance along the way.
Complex Complex is a difficult hold that harkens back to the days when Beethro is running his famed Roasted Roach Grill after clearing out
King Dugan's Dungeon. Beethro receives a call to infiltrate the secret base of a rogue architect. The price is right, but when Beethro finds himself pinned between two warring factions, will he find he has bitten off more roach meat than he can chew?
You can order this Smitemaster's Selection for immediate download through your Caravel Forum account here:
http://caravelgames.com/Articles/SmitemastersSelections/SmitemasterForHire.html
You may also
pre-order the limited-edition CD version of this Smitemaster's Selection. Ordering the CD version gives you a nice collectible item, allows you to download the holds immediately and also provides you with lots of bonus content on the CD. This issue features Chapter 3 from Alan Marshall's four-part audio drama
This Pointless Thing Called Life. There is also a full-sized wallpaper of the beautiful CD cover drawn by Erik Hermansen, a DROD TCB in-game avatar portrait of a Negotiator from
The City Beneath for use in your own holds, demo and full games, and more!
Mike Rimer has Taken Over the Caravel Basement
A while ago, Erik Hermansen, creator and 1st Builder of DROD, expanded his creative endeavours to building up
ethicalspender.org and recently sold his share in Caravel Games to Mike Rimer. However, Erik plans to stick around as an emeritus member of the Caravel development team and continue contributing story, art, and music to upcoming expansions and full game titles. You can see his art featured on the CD cover of the Spring 2009 Smitemaster's Selection on our web site.
DROD RPG Upgrades
We have CaravelNet scoring of RPG holds almost ready to go. When this feature comes on-line, we will make available general promotion of the many excellent user-made RPG Holds that have been in the works. Soon after, we will release DROD RPG version 1.2, with bug fixes and new level editor features.
Frogs and Mice -- Not Dead Yet
People have been asking about the status of
Frogs and Mice, a game planned for distribution through Garage Games last year and then cancelled. I promised some tidbit of news about this after the Smitemaster's Selection is released, so here goes. Caravel owns the rights to this game and the materials we've been acquiring for it, such as game levels, music, art, etc. At this point, the game is over halfway done but was on the back burner while DROD RPG and the latest SmS were developed and released. Now, the F&M project will move forward in our priority queue onto a medium or front burner. (Yes, the Caravel basement has a stove with some multiple of three burners on it. Vonnifa Budkin would love it.)
Since we no longer have a publishing deal with another company, Caravel has the freedom to produce and release this game how we want. The F&M theme is intriguing, but we have heard many fans express interest in receiving more DROD-world lore and fleshing out the canon and history of the Eighth, the world where Beethro lives. So, we are discussing retooling the story to take place in the Eighth, with a protagonist that is not-Beethro and not-Tendry. The game will still feature generally simpler puzzles with a lighter difficulty and easier learning curve than more recent DROD games. This is not all finalized, but we will share more information about this upcoming new full game as it becomes available. Look for updates in future issues of the Illumination.
Don't Ask Award
Robobob3000 has been nominated and selected as the recipient of a Don't Ask Award for his friendliness, responsibility, and wicked forum gaming. Forum member zwetschenwasser relates, "
I'll never forget those fond days killing and healing the other fourteen people participating in his amazing forum game, The Circle. Robobob3000 has participated in everything from controlling the outcome of 15 lives with 15 HP each to musing on NaNoWriMo and the future of crazy scripting in traditional DROD. He's made Developers worry about evil RPG build 48 conspiracy theories and parted squabbling factions with telegrams. Heck! He even got Intelligent Qube right on Forum Games! This guy kicks butt!"
Rob-o-bob, please select a prize from the forum prize list!
DROD Holds
And here are the latest DROD:TCB Holds, neglected by the Illumination since October, and now compiled by Robobob3000 for your smiting pleasure!
October:
Under the Mountains,
Advanced Concepts
November:
Dungeon of Broken Orbs,
RePuZla
December:
Beethro's Search for Home,
Christmas Tower,
Wolly Olly and the Adder,
Imperial Catacombs
January:
Lightning,
Reflections
March:
El Dorado,
Grud's dungeon,
The Old School,
Further Up and Further In
April:
Missing Pieces
Forum Topic Picks
So, what did you do today?
I made a sandwich. I turned my computer on. I read this topic. I came to the realization that people on the internet are actually real people actually doing real things. I dropped my sandwich on the floor.
Activity Questionnaire
The forum community turns an eye on itself - how can we make our little corner of the internet more active and vibrant? Newbies, lurkers and old-timers alike, share your thoughts in this thread!
Simplification
Community architect calamarain wonders: where have all the simple holds gone? Not every hold needs to be a 50-room dungeon, complete with flashy scripting, dozens of interacting elements and custom tilesets. Any architects out there want to scale their work back a bit?
The Game of Empathy
Word, association, forum, game, competitive, majority, points, quick, easy, inviting.
Till next month, and good smiting!
-- Mike
____________________________
Gandalf? Yes... That's what they used to call me.
Gandalf the Grey. That was my name.
I am Gandalf the White.
And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.
), if there is anyone who would like to contribute something else to it, be it content, an announcement or (coherent) ramblings about something, please do let me know.
/dy
Looks like I picked the right person... ;D
