Difference between revisions of "Neohack"

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{{game-pre-alpha| name = NeoHack
{{game-alpha| name = Neohack
|developer = Ray Dillinger
|developer = Ray Dillinger
|influences = [[NetHack]], [[Crawl]],[[Moria]]
|influences = [[NetHack]], [[UnNetHack]], [[SLASH'EM]], [[Crawl]], [[Moria]]
|theme = fantasy
|theme = fantasy
|To be released = alpha in Jan 2012
|released = not yet
|updated = 15 Oct 2012
|language = [[C]]
|language = [[C]]
|platforms = [[Linux]]
|platforms = [[Linux]]
|licensing = freeware
|licensing = freeware
|features = [[Persistent levels]], Resizable, Scrolling Helpline ...
|features = [[Persistent levels]], Resizable, Scrolling Helpline ...
|interface = [[Unicode]], [[Keyboard]]
|interface = [[ncurses]], [[Unicode]], [[Keyboard]]
|length = 12-30 hours<br />
|length = 12-30 hours
|site = http://www.nethack.org/
|site = http://dillingers.com/neohack/
}}[[Category:Hacklikes]]
}}
 
Neohack is not in Alpha yet; many (most) of the features
described below are not yet implemented.  But I'm now aiming toward
something playable (UI complete at least and with a starting set
of 26 monster types) by the end of 2011.


==Overview==
Neohack is implemented in C using a Linux development platform,  
Neohack is implemented in C using a Linux development platform,  
because I like the old-fashioned hardcore-ness of C. I'm trying  
because I like the old-fashioned hardcore-ness of C. I'm trying  
Line 23: Line 20:
elsewhere.
elsewhere.


Neohack is my contribution to the "next generation" of roguelike
Neohack has what some will see as a distinctly "retro" style.
games, and has what some will see as a distinctly "retro" ethos.
Because I wanted to make a game that makes network play easy
It runs in a shell session using characters for graphics, for
to offer, its primary interface is a plain shell window. A tile
example. It will be unapologetically hard, and it will support
interface should be fairly easy to add because I've kept the
a large number of flexible keystroke commands that allow your  
UI separated from the rest of the game, but it won't be in
character to use things in many different ways and modify them  
the first version.
in at least a few different ways.  It is designed to appeal to  
 
people who think nethack has gotten too tame, predictable, and  
It is unapologetically hard, and it supports a large number of  
simple.
keystroke commands that allow your character to use things in  
many different ways and modify them in at least a few different  
ways, because I am deliberately invoking emergent complexity.
 
Despite deliberately invoking emergent complexity, I seek to
limit the advantages of reading spoiler files.  It is designed  
to appeal to people who think other roguelikes have gotten too  
tame, predictable, and simple.


That said, I want it to be the game that's hard, not the interface.
==Status==
I'm trying to build the best console interface that I can, and I
Neohack is not in Alpha yet; The current version as of this writing
guess it's up to the players to tell me whether it works.   
is not a full playable game.  Development has been on haitus since
January 2012 because, bluntly, after setting myself an unrealistic
goal date or deadline, I pushed a bit too hard and got burnt out
on it.   


One new feature is a scrolling help line that goes like a ticker
==Features==
across the bottom of the console window.  If you're ever stuck you
can just watch the scroll line until the command you need comes into
view.


Another is that the game works at any console window size above a  
As of now it's a fairly complete "engine" in the sense of
certain minimum, and handles changes in console window size
a means of scheduling and executing highly general events and handling
gracefully.
any possible interaction based on those events, handling a map and
movement, adaptively handling a curses display including reconfiguring
itself when the window resizes, getting user input, handling menus of
choices, providing help/display of the menus, etc.


A third new feature is that since consoles handle Unicode characters
But it still needs "meta-content" (ie, implementing most game
now, I've decided I don't need to limit myself to ASCII.  
mechanics, specific event types and interactions between them, and
status effects) and "content" (ie, specific items/creatures/locations
described in terms of capabilities, events, and status effects).  


A fourth new feature is that since modern monitors and shells allow
===UI===
huge console windows, I've decided to use two character cells to  
The Neohack UI, as has already been mentioned, is distinctly retro
represent one map squareThis allows you to see one character for
in that it's an ncurses shell interface.  That said, I want it to  
the monster and a different character for its main wielded weapon,
be the game that's hard, not the interfaceI'm trying to build
so you could have a reasonable chance to notice when a gnome is
the best console interface that I can, and I guess it's up to the
carrying a wand of death instead of the usual shortsword.  
players to tell me whether it works.


I'm planning to provide Autoexplore and similar game-automation
====Discoverability====
features to make the medium-large levels manageable, as well as
One problem with interfaces that use a large number of keystroke
Autotarget, Autofire, and Autocast features to reduce most ranged
commands is that the user has to somehow learn and remember them.
attacks to a single keystroke.
I'm trying to make discoverability easy by adding a help line.
The help line moves slowly, like a ticker across the bottom of
the console window, whenever the game is waiting for input.  If
you're ever stuck you can just watch the scroll line until the  
command you need comes into view - or hurry it along by using the
spacebar.  


Items and item types can be named; individual items can be inscribed.   
====Resizing====
Eventually Inscriptions should work with command macros, but that
Shell games used to be limited to a particular size (usually 80x25
won't happen until version 2.  
or something like that).  But modern UNIX shells can be run at any
size within the boundaries of your displayI figured there was
no good reason not to take advantage of that, so if you resize the
shell window, Neohack will resize its interface elements to take
advantage of the new size.


Persistent Levels.  Once a level is generated, when you come back to
====Unicode====
it it will always be the same. This means you can make "stashes"
Modern UNIX shells handle Unicode characters now. So I've decided
where you store equipment, etc, that you're not usingOf course that
It's time for roguelike games to make the transitionAccordingly,
also means intelligent monsters will sometimes loot your stashes, so
Neohack uses Unicode characters in its interface, rather than making
keep that in mind when you're making them.  
assumptions about what code page people have loaded.  


Inventory size is limited by weight and volume, not by number of
====Double Cell Tiles====
different item types.
Since modern monitors and shells allow huge shell windows, and most
console fonts are just about twice as high as they are wide, I've
decided to use two character cells to represent one map tile. 
This allows you to see one character for the monster and a different
character for its main wielded weapon, so you could have a reasonable
chance to notice when a gnome is carrying a wand of death instead of  
the usual shortsword.  


====Interface Automation====
I'm providing Autoexplore and other game-automation features to
make the medium-large levels manageable, as well as Autotarget,
Autofire, and Autocast features to reduce most ranged attacks
to a single keystroke.
====Naming====
Items and item types can be named, as in Nethack; individual items
can be inscribed with messages.  Eventually Inscriptions should
work with command macros as in Angband, but that won't happen until
a later version.
===Game===
====Persistent Levels====
Neohack has persistent levels, which means that there is only a
finite supply of items and monsters.  You can make "stashes"
where you store equipment, etc, that you're not using, leave the level
where you made the stash, come back, and the stash will still be there
(unless it's been looted by another creature since you made it).
====Continuous Time====
Dungeon time in Neohack is continuous, not discrete. Moving diagonally
Dungeon time in Neohack is continuous, not discrete. Moving diagonally
for example takes a bit longer than moving orthogonally.  Individual  
for example takes an odd fraction longer than moving orthogonally.   
actions can have the amount of time they take modified by items like  
Individual actions can have the amount of time they take modified by  
speed boots (which make walking faster but not attacking) or a swift  
items like speed boots (which make walking faster but not attacking)  
sword (which makes attacking faster but not walking).  There are few  
or a swift sword (which makes attacking faster but not walking).   
if any integer ratios of movement that you can count.  
There are few if any integer ratios of movement that you can count.
 
====Variability====
Most items in Neohack are variable. Different items, even of the
same type, will have different maximum ranges, different areas of
effect, do different amounts of damage, have different side effects
or timing characteristics, etc. Ideally, every item you find in a
game will be different from every other item.  This is to limit the
advantage of spoiler files, and also to enhance replayability and
allow occasional rare, interesting, remarkable, or memorable items
to be generated. 
 
====Rarities====
Certain items and monster types in Neohack are designated as Rarities,
with small chances per game of appearing.  If a given Rarity type
exists in a particular game, it may be common, with high odds of
being generated many times in that game - but will not appear at all
in most games.  This is to provide an incentive for replay as opposed
to savescumming - a new game will have different Rarities, hopefully
including several you haven't seen or played with before.  But it
is also to limit the value of spoiler files -- you do not start any
game knowing exactly how many different types of magical ring there
are, for example, so "process of elimination with spoiler assistance"
shouldn't be a viable way to identify things.


Rarities. Certain items and monster types in Neohack are designated
== Screenshot ==
as Rarities, with very small chances per game of appearing.  That
[[File:Neohack_0.0.0.17.png|600px|thumb|left|Screenshot of Neohack's double cell width tiles representation.]]
means that even when you've won, or played a hundred games and know
perfectly everything you've ever encountered, you'll still
occasionally encounter new things you haven't seen before.


In many roguelike games, there are "artifacts" - items of such great
[[Category:Hacklikes]]
power that the game limits their appearance to preserve game balance.
Rarities is a related idea, but not the same idea.  Rarities may
appear at any point in the game, and may or may not be particularly
powerful.  The appearance of rarities is limited to add flavor and
uniqueness to each game, not to limit the potential of ultra-powerful
items to break game balance.

Latest revision as of 16:43, 23 September 2018

Neohack
Alpha Project
Developer Ray Dillinger
Theme fantasy
Influences NetHack, UnNetHack, SLASH'EM, Crawl, Moria
Released not yet
Updated 15 Oct 2012
Licensing freeware
P. Language C
Platforms Linux
Interface ncurses, Unicode, Keyboard
Game Length 12-30 hours
Official site of Neohack


Overview

Neohack is implemented in C using a Linux development platform, because I like the old-fashioned hardcore-ness of C. I'm trying to keep the code portable enough that it will compile easily elsewhere.

Neohack has what some will see as a distinctly "retro" style. Because I wanted to make a game that makes network play easy to offer, its primary interface is a plain shell window. A tile interface should be fairly easy to add because I've kept the UI separated from the rest of the game, but it won't be in the first version.

It is unapologetically hard, and it supports a large number of keystroke commands that allow your character to use things in many different ways and modify them in at least a few different ways, because I am deliberately invoking emergent complexity.

Despite deliberately invoking emergent complexity, I seek to limit the advantages of reading spoiler files. It is designed to appeal to people who think other roguelikes have gotten too tame, predictable, and simple.

Status

Neohack is not in Alpha yet; The current version as of this writing is not a full playable game. Development has been on haitus since January 2012 because, bluntly, after setting myself an unrealistic goal date or deadline, I pushed a bit too hard and got burnt out on it.

Features

As of now it's a fairly complete "engine" in the sense of a means of scheduling and executing highly general events and handling any possible interaction based on those events, handling a map and movement, adaptively handling a curses display including reconfiguring itself when the window resizes, getting user input, handling menus of choices, providing help/display of the menus, etc.

But it still needs "meta-content" (ie, implementing most game mechanics, specific event types and interactions between them, and status effects) and "content" (ie, specific items/creatures/locations described in terms of capabilities, events, and status effects).

UI

The Neohack UI, as has already been mentioned, is distinctly retro in that it's an ncurses shell interface. That said, I want it to be the game that's hard, not the interface. I'm trying to build the best console interface that I can, and I guess it's up to the players to tell me whether it works.

Discoverability

One problem with interfaces that use a large number of keystroke commands is that the user has to somehow learn and remember them. I'm trying to make discoverability easy by adding a help line. The help line moves slowly, like a ticker across the bottom of the console window, whenever the game is waiting for input. If you're ever stuck you can just watch the scroll line until the command you need comes into view - or hurry it along by using the spacebar.

Resizing

Shell games used to be limited to a particular size (usually 80x25 or something like that). But modern UNIX shells can be run at any size within the boundaries of your display. I figured there was no good reason not to take advantage of that, so if you resize the shell window, Neohack will resize its interface elements to take advantage of the new size.

Unicode

Modern UNIX shells handle Unicode characters now. So I've decided It's time for roguelike games to make the transition. Accordingly, Neohack uses Unicode characters in its interface, rather than making assumptions about what code page people have loaded.

Double Cell Tiles

Since modern monitors and shells allow huge shell windows, and most console fonts are just about twice as high as they are wide, I've decided to use two character cells to represent one map tile. This allows you to see one character for the monster and a different character for its main wielded weapon, so you could have a reasonable chance to notice when a gnome is carrying a wand of death instead of the usual shortsword.

Interface Automation

I'm providing Autoexplore and other game-automation features to make the medium-large levels manageable, as well as Autotarget, Autofire, and Autocast features to reduce most ranged attacks to a single keystroke.

Naming

Items and item types can be named, as in Nethack; individual items can be inscribed with messages. Eventually Inscriptions should work with command macros as in Angband, but that won't happen until a later version.

Game

Persistent Levels

Neohack has persistent levels, which means that there is only a finite supply of items and monsters. You can make "stashes" where you store equipment, etc, that you're not using, leave the level where you made the stash, come back, and the stash will still be there (unless it's been looted by another creature since you made it).

Continuous Time

Dungeon time in Neohack is continuous, not discrete. Moving diagonally for example takes an odd fraction longer than moving orthogonally. Individual actions can have the amount of time they take modified by items like speed boots (which make walking faster but not attacking) or a swift sword (which makes attacking faster but not walking). There are few if any integer ratios of movement that you can count.

Variability

Most items in Neohack are variable. Different items, even of the same type, will have different maximum ranges, different areas of effect, do different amounts of damage, have different side effects or timing characteristics, etc. Ideally, every item you find in a game will be different from every other item. This is to limit the advantage of spoiler files, and also to enhance replayability and allow occasional rare, interesting, remarkable, or memorable items to be generated.

Rarities

Certain items and monster types in Neohack are designated as Rarities, with small chances per game of appearing. If a given Rarity type exists in a particular game, it may be common, with high odds of being generated many times in that game - but will not appear at all in most games. This is to provide an incentive for replay as opposed to savescumming - a new game will have different Rarities, hopefully including several you haven't seen or played with before. But it is also to limit the value of spoiler files -- you do not start any game knowing exactly how many different types of magical ring there are, for example, so "process of elimination with spoiler assistance" shouldn't be a viable way to identify things.

Screenshot

Screenshot of Neohack's double cell width tiles representation.