{"author_link":"\/users\/joe-cowman","author_name":"Joe Cowman","author_uid":1001483,"comments":[{"id":935313,"author_name":"Firespike33","author_uid":"firespike33","epoch":1682921116,"text":"Hilarious idea for a game. Not bad.","format":"md","likes":2,"spam":"N"},{"id":935320,"author_name":"Rustywolf","author_uid":"rustywolf","epoch":1682921482,"text":"Thematically, the idea of a bunch of wizards sprinting out to be the first to collect some flowers is great. I like the magicka-esque casting of having to type as well, I wish that system was used more. Nice work!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":935321,"author_name":"candlesan","author_uid":"candlesan","epoch":1682921547,"text":"Very tricky game. Delivering before the other merchant opponents was very challenging. Trying to use arrow keys while also casting spells was very hard but I managed a few. The burst of speed was very useful.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":935338,"author_name":"khaotom","author_uid":"khaotom","epoch":1682922172,"text":"Great concept! I think the spellcasting control work great on keyboard and feels good. I didn't read the instructions but got the hang of it after a few minutes of experimenting. It's a really fun little contest.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":935366,"author_name":"chlu","author_uid":"chlu","epoch":1682922923,"text":"After the first (failed) round I got the hang of it. Nice concept with the skill usage. ","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":935514,"author_name":"josemwarrior","author_uid":"josemwarrior","epoch":1682926668,"text":"Very very good idea. I would have preferred the choice of casting the spell to be less complicated, as well as not to bump into the rocks while I'm trying to decide how to manage the resources, but very clever use of the theme.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":935766,"author_name":"LDJam user 299352","author_uid":"299352","epoch":1682933013,"text":"Looks like fun and plays like fun. It's fun.\n","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":935782,"author_name":"Kreshi","author_uid":"kreshi","epoch":1682933264,"text":"The controls were a bit weird to get used to but all in all the game was nice.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":940338,"author_name":"dprings7","author_uid":"dprings7","epoch":1682989785,"text":"Great idea for a game. Enjoyed when one of the other wizards almost immediately shot me, which left me out for blood. Rest assured I beat them all and made that delivery :smile: \n\nAwesome work! ","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":946931,"author_name":"Jaxah","author_uid":"jaxah","epoch":1683038204,"text":"A neat game with some unique spell methods in a sprint race. Nice!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":951467,"author_name":"acarc","author_uid":"acarc","epoch":1683061384,"text":"I've never wanted to be a wizard courier before - but now I do. Great game :)!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":954252,"author_name":"LDJam user 277876","author_uid":"277876","epoch":1683084639,"text":"Really great job incorporating risk-reward in terms of the resource management affecting the scoring!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":954993,"author_name":"GinLuy","author_uid":"ginluy","epoch":1683096484,"text":"I like this game. Really cool!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":955000,"author_name":"LDJam user 43351","author_uid":"43351","epoch":1683096601,"text":"Really cool idea! I got very into it!!! The AI was suprisingly good too. The controls were easy to understand, and what each spell does. Great game! Well done! [7265641cd7a1d6f64899cba25db3045a.png](\/\/\/raw\/759\/a\/z\/5af44.png)","format":"md","likes":2,"spam":"N"},{"id":955035,"author_name":"dougggggg","author_uid":"dougggggg","epoch":1683097131,"text":"Fun game! The mechanics were really interesting--I liked the tradeoff between delivered ingredients and spell-casting, and casting spells by entering combos was fun (reminded me of Magicka). It was pretty hard--when I did win, I felt like it was because the AI just decided to turn around :). If you want to work on it more, I think the tradeoff would be interesting to explore further--are there disadvantages other than score to using resources the villagers want? Nice game overall, and a good interpretation of the theme!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":956458,"author_name":"clemall","author_uid":"clemall","epoch":1683117507,"text":"I like the idea and the risk of casting a spell with your left hand while moving with your right hand is genius.\nIt is a bit hard to keep track of what is coming toward you, the spell you have to cast and your amount of ressources but after couple of run you get used to it :laughing:   \nReally cool concept, good job :thumbsup: ","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":958049,"author_name":"LDJam user 178793","author_uid":"178793","epoch":1683133879,"text":"Really neat spellcasting mechanic! Impressive AI and a fun submission. Nice!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":963458,"author_name":"hmrpf","author_uid":"hmrpf","epoch":1683212858,"text":"Pretty fun to play. Casting spells is hard, but I'm sure this is intended. Finished first but that was challeging, some audio could really add to the scene. Good job !","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":963635,"author_name":"arya-s","author_uid":"arya-s","epoch":1683215678,"text":"Neat little game! The casting system was interesting. I liked thta you could decide not to waste materials and wate for others to blow through rocks and then overtake them with a sprint.\n\nGood job, congrats on submitting!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":963683,"author_name":"ToC","author_uid":"toc","epoch":1683216583,"text":"I liked the concept, it reminded me a bit of Magicka. I wish I could cast the spell from memory, without having to press 1, 2 or 3 first. Beating it felt pretty satisfying, so good job on the difficulty!","format":"md","likes":2,"spam":"N"},{"id":964020,"author_name":"StrangerYann","author_uid":"strangeryann","epoch":1683220878,"text":"that's pretty original --- I finished 1st and got a score of 1300 on my 4th attempt I think it was --- clearly you gotta juggle between powers 1 & 2 to finish 1st and to break boulders --- it's challenging but fresh --- I'd maybe try to start using keys on a keyboard that are in a cluster, to try to polish the UX --- might be the most original mechanic I've played so far --- good job :-) :sparkles:","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":967246,"author_name":"Hakro","author_uid":"hakro","epoch":1683286402,"text":"I really liked the spells idea. It's quite hard to get it right in the first few tries because you're focusing on many things; But the concept is solid.\nGraphics are simple and nice as well\nGreat entry !","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":968418,"author_name":"PurpledArtFrog","author_uid":"purpledartfrog","epoch":1683310341,"text":"Nice and simple concept - good choice for something like a short game jam :smile: took me little while to figure out that you could blow up stones with a fireball.... :wink: .... but I got a level with 4 right next to each other... well .... fire away ...\n\nGood job :thumbsup_tone1: ","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":969020,"author_name":"MAT4DOR","author_uid":"mat4dor","epoch":1683323128,"text":"I use a split keyboard without dedicated arrows so this was a nightmare for me with casting the spells, still managed to sneak in one win. Really cool idea.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":970393,"author_name":"StudioZyyt","author_uid":"studiozyyt","epoch":1683372567,"text":"Pretty fun game, the controls were a bit clunky, but I assume that was by design.","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":970535,"author_name":"Martta","author_uid":"martta","epoch":1683375961,"text":"Very innovative spell casting mechanic! With little bit more polish this could be a great game!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":971827,"author_name":"Cinterre","author_uid":"cinterre","epoch":1683412124,"text":"Cool concept. Would be interesting to see how it could be further developed, with more spells, different courses etc. Nice job!","format":"md","likes":1,"spam":"N"},{"id":974710,"author_name":"LDJam user 280624","author_uid":"280624","epoch":1683556557,"text":"I like the idea. Great job!","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"},{"id":974914,"author_name":"ThomasLebel","author_uid":"thomaslebel","epoch":1683566683,"text":"I loved the mix between magicka's spell casting and speedrunner !\nI read in an other comments about casting from memory, and that would be a really cool feature !\nGreat job :)","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"},{"id":977044,"author_name":"neonlare","author_uid":"neonlare","epoch":1683754324,"text":"Took a little time to get used to, but the game eventually got underway and I basically became a speed-fiend with the speedup spell to clear the race. Dig the concept, definitely looks like something that'd be a good spring-board for a more developed concept later down the line. Love the work!","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"},{"id":979027,"author_name":"SleepyStudios","author_uid":"sleepystudios","epoch":1684007059,"text":"Really difficult game but it works. The AI is actually pretty interesting to watch haha.","format":"md","likes":2,"spam":"N"},{"id":982410,"author_name":"Pizzasgood","author_uid":"pizzasgood","epoch":1684445987,"text":"This was hard but fun.  I like the typing based spells, but I'd have enjoyed it more if all the letters were on the left side of the keyboard.","format":"md","likes":0,"spam":"N"}],"format":"md","images":["ld53\/wayback-placeholder.png"],"links":[{"url":"https:\/\/jcowman2.github.io\/play-arcana-express-ld53\/","text":"Link"},{"url":"https:\/\/github.com\/jcowman2\/ld53-release","text":"Link"}],"metadata":{"g_key":"90234","g_author":"1001483","g_event":"LD53","g_eventkey":"118","g_subevent":"COMPO","g_urlkey":"431583","g_title":"Arcana Express","g_status":"WAYBACK","g_place":"296","g_commentcount":"32","g_site2_node_id":"365689","g_hide":"N","g_has_icon":"Y","g_rqueue":"0","g_random":"0"},"nds":{"n_key":"365689","n_urlkey":"431583","n_parent":"332127","n_path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/53\/arcana-express","n_slug":"arcana-express","n_type":"item","n_subtype":"game","n_subsubtype":"compo","n_author":"1483","n_created":"1682879160","n_modified":"1779199719","n_version":"1118497","n_status":"WAYBACK"},"node":{"_collation":{"body_sanitizer":"TextUtils::SanitizeHTML via existing importer","event":"LD53","removed_author":false},"_superparent":9,"_trust":6,"author":1483,"body":"![ld53_cover.png](\/\/\/raw\/bc5\/z\/5891a.png)\n\nYou are a magical supplies merchant and have an urgent delivery in the nearby town. But you're not the only one who received the call--you'll have to race against other wizards who have their own ambitions.\n\nLuckily, you know a variety of spells to help you get ahead of the competition. Just don't burn through all your supplies!\n\n# [Play it Here!](https:\/\/jcowman2.github.io\/play-arcana-express-ld53\/)\n\n# How to Play\n\nUse the **Arrow Keys** to run.\n\nSelect a Spell by pressing its corresponding **Number Key**.\n\nTo cast a spell, add the required materials by pressing the keys on display and then press **Space**.\n\n![ld53_demo1.png](\/\/\/raw\/bc5\/z\/588d2.png)\n\n# Tips\n\nUsing a spell costs certain materials. If you run out of a material, you can't use it in other spells or sell it at the market!\n\nYour final score is based on how many of the materials that were ordered you deliver to the market. And if you don't get there first, you don't get any points!\n\n---\n\nFind the [patch changelog](https:\/\/github.com\/jcowman2\/ld53-release#changelog) on Github.","comments":32,"comments-timestamp":"2023-05-18T21:39:47Z","created":"2023-04-30T18:26:00Z","files":[],"files-timestamp":0,"grade":{"grade-01":41,"grade-02":41,"grade-03":41,"grade-04":41,"grade-05":41,"grade-07":40,"grade-08":41},"id":365689,"love":0,"magic":{"cool":98.001615021195,"feedback":64,"given":33.375,"grade":40.857142857143,"grade-01-average":3.192,"grade-01-result":296,"grade-02-average":3.09,"grade-02-result":279,"grade-03-average":3.692,"grade-03-result":99,"grade-04-average":3.397,"grade-04-result":317,"grade-05-average":2.551,"grade-05-result":377,"grade-07-average":3.145,"grade-07-result":148,"grade-08-average":2.769,"grade-08-result":326,"smart":4.1162700713724},"meta":{"author":[1483],"cover":"\/\/\/content\/bc5\/z\/58917.png","grade-06-out":"1","link-01":"https:\/\/jcowman2.github.io\/play-arcana-express-ld53\/","link-01-tag":[42336],"link-02":"https:\/\/github.com\/jcowman2\/ld53-release","link-02-tag":[42332]},"meta-timestamp":"2026-05-19T14:08:39Z","modified":"2026-05-19T14:08:39Z","name":"Arcana Express","node-timestamp":"2023-05-01T05:22:25Z","parent":332127,"parents":[1,5,9,332127],"path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/53\/arcana-express","published":"2023-05-01T01:54:11Z","scope":"public","slug":"arcana-express","subsubtype":"compo","subtype":"game","type":"item","version":1118497},"text":"![ld53_cover.png](\/\/\/raw\/bc5\/z\/5891a.png)\n\nYou are a magical supplies merchant and have an urgent delivery in the nearby town. But you're not the only one who received the call--you'll have to race against other wizards who have their own ambitions.\n\nLuckily, you know a variety of spells to help you get ahead of the competition. Just don't burn through all your supplies!\n\n# [Play it Here!](https:\/\/jcowman2.github.io\/play-arcana-express-ld53\/)\n\n# How to Play\n\nUse the **Arrow Keys** to run.\n\nSelect a Spell by pressing its corresponding **Number Key**.\n\nTo cast a spell, add the required materials by pressing the keys on display and then press **Space**.\n\n![ld53_demo1.png](\/\/\/raw\/bc5\/z\/588d2.png)\n\n# Tips\n\nUsing a spell costs certain materials. If you run out of a material, you can't use it in other spells or sell it at the market!\n\nYour final score is based on how many of the materials that were ordered you deliver to the market. And if you don't get there first, you don't get any points!\n\n---\n\nFind the [patch changelog](https:\/\/github.com\/jcowman2\/ld53-release#changelog) on Github.","title":"Arcana Express","wayback_recovered":true,"wayback_source":{"capture":{"original":"https:\/\/api-jam.ludumdare.com\/vx\/node2\/get\/365501+365502+365503+365504+365505+365506+365507+365508+365509+365510+365511+365512+365513+365514+365515+365516+365517+365518+365519+365520+365521+365522+365523+365524+365525+365526+365527+365528+365529+365530+365531+365532+365533+365534+365535+365536+365537+365538+365539+365540+365541+365542+365543+365544+365545+365546+365547+365548+365549+365550+365551+365552+365553+365554+365555+365556+365557+365558+365559+365560+365561+365562+365563+365564+365565+365566+365567+365568+365569+365570+365571+365572+365573+365574+365575+365576+365577+365578+365579+365580+365581+365582+365583+365584+365585+365586+365587+365588+365589+365590+365591+365592+365593+365594+365595+365596+365597+365598+365599+365600+365601+365602+365603+365604+365605+365606+365607+365608+365609+365610+365611+365612+365613+365614+365615+365616+365617+365618+365619+365620+365621+365622+365623+365624+365625+365626+365627+365628+365629+365630+365631+365632+365633+365634+365635+365636+365637+365638+365639+365640+365641+365642+365643+365644+365645+365646+365647+365648+365649+365650+365651+365652+365653+365654+365655+365656+365657+365658+365659+365660+365661+365662+365663+365664+365665+365666+365667+365668+365669+365670+365671+365672+365673+365674+365675+365676+365677+365678+365679+365680+365681+365682+365683+365684+365685+365686+365687+365688+365689+365690+365691+365692+365693+365694+365695+365696+365697+365698+365699+365700+365701+365702+365703+365704+365705+365706+365707+365708+365709+365710+365711+365712+365713+365714+365715+365716+365717+365718+365719+365720+365721+365722+365723+365724+365725+365726+365727+365728+365729+365730+365731+365732+365733+365734+365735+365736+365737+365738+365739+365740+365741+365742+365743+365744+365745+365746+365747+365748+365749+365750+365751+365752+365753+365754+365755+365756+365757+365758+365759+365760+365761+365762+365763+365764+365765+365766+365767+365768+365769+365770+365771+365772+365773+365774+365775+365776+365777+365778+365779+365780+365781+365782+365783+365784+365785+365786+365787+365788+365789+365790+365791+365792+365793+365794+365795+365796+365797+365798+365799+365800+365801+365802+365803+365804+365805+365806+365807+365808+365809+365810+365811+365812+365813+365814+365815+365816+365817+365818+365819+365820+365821+365822+365823+365824+365825+365826+365827+365828+365829+365830+365831+365832+365833+365834+365835+365836+365837+365838+365839+365840+365841+365842+365843+365844+365845+365846+365847+365848+365849+365850+365851+365852+365853+365854+365855+365856+365857+365858+365859+365860+365861+365862+365863+365864+365865+365866+365867+365868+365869+365870+365871+365872+365873+365874+365875+365876+365877+365878+365879+365880+365881+365882+365883+365884+365885+365886+365887+365888+365889+365890+365891+365892+365893+365894+365895+365896+365897+365898+365899+365900+365901+365902+365903+365904+365905+365906+365907+365908+365909+365910+365911+365912+365913+365914+365915+365916+365917+365918+365919+365920+365921+365922+365923+365924+365925+365926+365927+365928+365929+365930+365931+365932+365933+365934+365935+365936+365937+365938+365939+365940+365941+365942+365943+365944+365945+365946+365947+365948+365949+365950+365951+365952+365953+365954+365955+365956+365957+365958+365959+365960+365961+365962+365963+365964+365965+365966+365967+365968+365969+365970+365971+365972+365973+365974+365975+365976+365977+365978+365979+365980+365981+365982+365983+365984+365985+365986+365987+365988+365989+365990+365991+365992+365993+365994+365995+365996+365997+365998+365999+366000?authors&parents&superparent"},"object":"objects\/sha256\/c4\/c41572bdf2697b8155912ac1104ca5d895940bd376fe36d2d32c8df3577b2115","record":"shard-0\/json-live-urgent-v3\/records\/acddafa871b89ba440e62680155d5f7fcde27d6b19603a315c63b7f1c1eeefcd.json","sha256":"c41572bdf2697b8155912ac1104ca5d895940bd376fe36d2d32c8df3577b2115","source":"https","stored_at":1784022485}}