game systems exploration (Patreon)

so i've been busy behind the scenes since my big "i started working on the demo because my script is in a good place" post, and i immediately paused to do a big mockup of what would serve as the game loop that fills in the gaps between each of the script checkmarks.

so my first thought was that i had already decided on a pseudo turn-based interaction system (select actions to try and bring a counter down to zero while suffering reactions) and hey adding a bit of deckbuilding to that wouldn't be too crazy, i've already prototyped something like that before. so i jimmied together a set of cards and effects and such based on the in-game mechanics and some years old ideas i had laying around on the shelf and put together a kind of mix-tape collecting system where you set the mood for your actions.

MEANWHILE i have begun more seriously working towards setting up a future collaboration to make sure i can keep some momentum and have been rolling this idea for a escape room system to make some lighter work out of a short erotic horror visual novel thing. part whodunnit, part scooby doo, part survival horror-- thinking of the horror-puzzle beats of the Chinese drama series "The Spirealm" the whole time. This task has been bothing me since 2022 when i discovered the 1-player MtG Innistrad (horror realm) minigame cards, and wanted to find a nice way to use them as the basis for a standalone tabletop game.

anyways this week i made a huge breakthrough by putting a day/night cycle in the 'dungeon' to generate dynamism when moving from room to room. then i tested it by prototyping a "Shaggy solves a mystery solo" case with collecting clues, talking to witnesses and needing to find evidence tied to the suspect's motive and opportunity before the Black Knight takes you out.

well this system has all the suspense and interactivity that i'm looking for in Vinegar, unlike the other card battle one (which was just kind of neat and silly), and it's proving to be extremely adaptable to any horror scenario you might need it for. I tested it with scooby doo but it could work for a slasher movie, a noir theme, a creature feature.

my next post will be about how i'm adapting this system to work for what i've already designed for Vinegar, how just 5 or so iterations will be enough to complete the game in between the script and then i can get on to making the final art and music :D