Why Early Access?

“The heart of this game is two things: the feel of reading an enemy's attack and answering it, and the fun of going into a dungeon with a monster at your side. Neither can be settled on paper. Is the telegraph readable enough? Is the parry window fair? How much should a companion act on its own? Only people actually playing can tell me.

I'm developing this alone. Rather than polishing it in private for years, I'd rather put it in players' hands as soon as it's playable and work it out together. I think that gets to a better game faster.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“I'm expecting around a year, though I may extend it depending on how players respond. I won't call it finished just because a deadline arrived.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“Here's what I'm planning. This may change based on what players tell me.

- Many more monsters (aiming for several times the number at Early Access launch)
- Breeding and evolution: combine the monsters you've collected to create new ones
- More weapons and armor, including weapon types beyond the sword and greatsword
- More biomes: new terrains added over time on top of the current meadow, volcano and snowfield, each with its own hazards
- More boss floors, and ways past them other than fighting (such as stealing the key without dealing damage)
- More behavior-driven skills, including ones that grow from ways of living other than fighting, and a screen that shows the life you've been living
- Finishing the arena
- Balance tuning, UI improvements, and more polish on effects and presentation”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The following already works:

- Co-op for up to four players through your Steam friends list, and solo play
- Procedurally generated dungeons across three terrains (meadow, volcano, snowfield), each with its own hazards
- Combat built on guarding, parrying and dodging in response to enemy telegraphs (sword and greatsword)
- Catching monsters, taking them along as companions, and a ranch in town
- An arena where you build a team from the companions you've raised and send them into battle
- The master of the 10th floor, and a way past it for players it has beaten
- Behavior-driven skills (more than 40), leveling up and assigning stat points
- Equipment drops with randomized stats, and crafting and upgrading at the blacksmith
- A town (item shop, blacksmith, storage, ranch, guild) and character creation (at the inn's mirror)
- Recovering what you picked up after a defeat or a disconnect, on the floor where you fell

What isn't there yet, honestly: the number of monsters, terrains, weapon types and bosses, polish on effects, and balance tuning. That's what I'd like to build together with the people playing.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“I'm planning to raise the price for the full version. People who join during Early Access will get it at the lowest price.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“- I'll take requests and bug reports directly through the Steam community hub and discussions
- I'll post development updates regularly
- I'll stream myself playing so people can tell me what they think as it happens
- When I take a suggestion or decide against one, I'll say which and why. I won't ignore feedback silently”