Empires of Eradia: The Cataclysm of Chaos

Empires of Eradia: The Cataclysm of Chaos
Beta Project
Developer	Jason Roberts
Theme	Fantasy
Influences	Too many to count
Released	Sept 12, 2018 (Alpha V13)
Updated	Feb 8, 2021 (Alpha V45H12)
Licensing	Currently Freeware
P. Language	Python 2.7 and Libtcod
Platforms	Windows
Interface	ASCII, Keyboard, Mouse
Game Length	countless hours, designed for multiple playthroughs
	[n/a Official site of Empires of Eradia: The Cataclysm of Chaos]

Important Links

EOE:COC Discord = https://discord.gg/Qthezuh

EOE:COC Subreddit = https://www.reddit.com/r/EmpiresOfEradiaCOC/

3 Month Update = https://www.reddit.com/r/roguelikes/comments/l8cv1k/empires_of_eradia_the_cataclysm_of_chaos_v45_3/

2020 Retrospective = https://www.reddit.com/r/roguelikedev/comments/l8zlvl/2021_in_roguelikedev_empires_of_eradia_the/

Changes to Development Cycle = https://www.reddit.com/r/EmpiresOfEradiaCOC/comments/ip96rt/development_cycle_changes_going_forward_with_v44/

Anonymous Feedback Questionnaire (new one) = https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1Lb6axmJA5asSog3ycqF5zF0Qu8sTGl1cy7Aur8EiBhE2sA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Major Changes in Most Recent Update (V45)

You can control the game exclusively with the mouse or the keyboard, if you so desire. I suggest using a bit of both though.

I've tried to give support for Azerty keyboards. Simply switch the keybinding layout in the Ingame Menu (hit Esc when ingame).

I've done a severe optimization pass on AI, Rendering, Turn Processing, Looting, and Combat Code. The game now more easily and more consistently maintains a solid framerate, even with hundreds of foes running around.

I've implemented a new Technique system, with redesigned Techniques. Each has two mastery unlocks, one at rank 5 and one at rank 10, with a max of rank 10. With the Mastery Unlocks and changes to combat code, each Technique is uniquely useful for handling different kinds of situations.

I overhauled the Root Menu (which has all the game's keybindings in one handy menu) and made sure that things worked consistently in it as out of it. In V44 sometimes things didn't work correctly.

I implemented a Round Reports menu, that keeps track of the 20 most recent game rounds. Each report gives detailed information on what occurred that round and it stores any messages, produced in the message log, for that round. That way if the message log overflows, you will never miss an important message again.

I completely rebuilt the AI pathfinding code, completely rebuilt the Rendering code, and completely rebuilt the Turn Processing.

I've added a new Enemy Scaling system, so that enemies scale a bit better and doesn't eat up a ton of processing time to do it. The system is now quite streamlined, taking very little time at all.

I've implemented a brand new system of Traps. Each spawns with three properties, and each of these has 3 options, resulting in 27 different combinations of traps. Some are pretty scary now, while others are more situationally scary. Also this release sees the implementation of the Explosive property and the Sentry property, mentioned way back in time (I think I first tried implementing them in V32 or something)

I've implemented Elemental Bombs; a way to hurt your foes when out of Energy and are specifically designed for weakening enemy defenses. So if you find a particularly tough foe, using an Elemental Bomb on them first, will significantly reduce the number of rounds needed to kill them.

I've Implemented Quickstrikes, which replace the old bump, quickshot, and quickzap, rolling them all into a single attack. The active quickstrike is based on the active barrier and thus which attribute is used to boost the stats of the Quickstrike.

Control scheme has changed, with a new set of keybindings. The mouse LMB allows you to either attack a location, move to that location (if adjacent), or if you click on yourself, wait a turn. The RMB now brings up the Root Menu.

You now have access to a Keyboard Cursor, and the Cursor remains always active. Can switch easily between Keyboard and Mouse Cursor. For Qwerty, you control the keyboard cursor with qweadzxc keys. The S key functions like LMB now. Numpad still is used for movement.

I created a new Satchel interface that only displays the items you currently possess.

I implemented a new and improved Threat System that is easier to understand and allows a lot more build freedom. You can thus cast spells with heavy armor now, if you want.

Do note: The tutorial has been disabled. I plan on implementing a better one in V47. The old one broke, when I did the overhaul of the current codebase, so its currently non-functional (which is why it got disabled).

Description

A great rift has appeared in the Solarii monarchy, spewing forth vile creatures. You enter the rift, where the laws of the material plane do not necessarily apply. You must close the rift, and escape, but is there really a way out? You'll just have to find out!

Primary Development Focus

As it has been heavily requested, I am working towards implementing a new Interactive Tutorial System into the game. There is a pair of Interactive Tutorials in the game and a bunch of external help text files, but the game seriously needs a better tutorial, so that is why it is my current Focus.

It requires 5 key components before I can begin to assemble it:

Data Unload/Reload [Done]
Map Rulesets [Done]
Map Storage Changes [Done]
Map Specific Task Lists
Event Handling System [Done]

The game has a pair of existing Interactive Tutorials, but they don't cover enough of the mechanics to be super useful.

Once the Interactive Tutorial System has been built fully, then I'll choose a new Development Focus.

Top Ten Features

You have a ton of character build freedom and can play as you like, even being a complete pacifist, and can win the game. Specializing however is still the most optimal way to survive and excel.
The gameplay is a sandbox experience; pursue your own goals, work towards a victory condition you like, and explore as much or as little as you want.
Unique permadeath, resulting from achieving too much stress. This allows players to learn from their mistakes, correct them, and eventually succeed. As you get more stressed, it activates stress mechanics.
Profile system, that allows you to achieve progression between playthroughs. This ensures that even if you go insane in a playthrough, you'll still have acquired some progression that will help the next run.
Utilizes a more unique map generation, opting more for large battlefields, rather than tight corridors of most dungeon crawlers. Walls block vision, but not movement, allowing for tactical opportunities.
You must serve as entertainment for the Chaos God; if you don't they will make things harder for you. This effectively works like a food clock, but without the annoyances of instant death if it runs out.
Chaos is accrued by various actions. It cannot be reduced, and only gets worse as you progress farther, building tension, and unlocking challenging mechanics. It will clear on death however.
The game offers many valuable and useful interactable objects. The most valuable are Secret Areas, which can be found by getting close enough to the Secret or by following directions in the Collectibles Report.
The game has Map Hazards, which are usually optional. These make the specific map you are more challenging, and some work in synergy with other mechanics or other hazards, making them even more challenging.
The game has Self-Imposed Restrictions, which are optional. Completing one grants great rewards, but breaking your Restriction, punishes you severely.

All Other Features

You can perform four forms of crafting; Alchemy (includes Light equipment), Smithing (Medium and Heavy Equipment), Enchanting (of Equipment and Profile), and Fabrication (of Epics and Artifacts).
I've gone for a "more is less" approach to techniques (my "spells"). So there is 4 melee, 4 ranged, and 4 spell techniques, that are each powerful and situationally useful.
You encounter four types of foes; Horde, Primal Chaos, Treasure Fiends and Bosses. Each with their strengths and weaknesses and role in overall gameplay.
You can change the Element of your Techniques and each Element applies a different debuff to enemies.
Root Menu; used to access most of the other menus, from one handy location. Hit Enter key to access it.
Game has auto-pickup; you immediately grab anything within range.
Game has salvaging; you can convert any item you do not need anymore into useful crafting resources.
Can craft a single item for extra bonuses, or batch craft multiple of the same item, in a single turn.
Has periods of heavy intensity and other periods of extreme calm.
Large battles against potentially hundreds of foes.

Features That Need Reworking

These are functional, but haven't been touched in at least a year, and could use a serious overhaul.

Journal menu; that contains all of the game's current lore and story.
Antiquated Tutorials that teach basic mechanics, but not much else.
Objectives menu; gives you optional tasks to do for XP, Runics, and Greater Completionists.
Trial Victories; gives you 6 ways to complete the game.
Traps; only concentrated damage ones at the moment.
XP Overhaul; currently the game gives too much character XP.
Itemization; items are fairly lackluster, but will improve them at some point.
Improved Stress Systems; as stress is the determinant in many effects and eventual permadeath, this system needs to be better.
More Map Hazards and More Self Imposed Restrictions.

Features That I Intend to Add

Monster Abilities
Elite Modifiers
Vulnerable Bosses
Greater Combat Depth
Elemental Allies
Barriers
The Warped; Mini-Bosses
Challenge Portals
More Legendary Runes
More Standard Portal Types
More Rare Portal Types
Milestones (rewards for Trial Victories)
Much More Story and Lore
Deeper Pacifist Experience

Current Known Issues

Most of these will get addressed once I reach Beta status (well my impression of Beta, not roguebasin's; I consider the game to be Late Alpha). Once I reach Beta, I'll be more focusing on balancing, story implementation, and implementing feedback from players, so I'll have more time/energy to focus on other game issues, such as these issues below:

BUGGED SCREEN = If you launch the game and the window doesn't look right, try using fullscreen mode (ALT+ENTER) and then exiting fullscreen mode with the same keybind, should fix the issue. The issue has been reported by some users, while others haven't encountered it. I am looking into providing resolution scaling, which should in theory solve this issue, but haven't currently had the time to research how to implement resolution scaling, except that I know that libtcodpy does offer resolution scaling.

CROSS COMPILING = I am looking into determining how to cross-compile binary builds for Linux / MacOS, and am hoping to have it ready before I reach Beta status. If I figure it out in a day or two, then I'll upload the builds immediately. Thus far I've not figured out how to do so yet.

I have a more comprehensive listing of all Known Issues, viewable ingame, from the Main Menu. I also keep comprehensive lists of Changelogs and Credits, viewable from the Main Menu.