{"assets":[{"original":"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/screenshot_1_small-300x201.jpg","local":"\/data\/posts\/2013\/01\/4a83236c62bafa1f6b0948ecedb6fcdf.jpg"},{"original":"http:\/\/www.ludumdare.com\/compo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/screenshot_2_small-300x201.jpg","local":"\/data\/posts\/2013\/01\/882934a3e6591b6603119a52cf6a2fd1.jpg"}],"author_link":"author\/jeremias\/","author_name":"Steven Colling","cat":"LD #25","categories":["LD #25"],"comments":[],"epoch":1357209060,"event":"LD25","likes":1,"metadata":{"p_key":"78773","p_author":"Steven Colling","p_authorkey":"0","p_urlkey":"287782","p_title":"Path to Death (Post-Mortem)","p_cat":"LD #25","p_event":"LD25","p_time":"1357209060","p_likes":"1","p_comments":"0","p_status":"WAYBACK","us_key":null,"us_name":null,"us_username":null,"event_start":"1355443200","event_key":"14","event_name":"LD25"},"source_url":"2013\/01\/03\/path-to-death-post-mortem\/","text":"

The game<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Path<\/a><\/p>\n

Path to Death<\/a> is a turn-based strategy game where you upgrade different locations you hold to defend your last location (the throne) from the enemy forces.<\/p>\n

Every location has an attacking value (sword), a defending value (shield) and lives (hearths) for you (pictured at the top of a location) and for the attackers (pictured at the bottom of a location).<\/p>\n

The attacking value is the probability to hit, whereas the defending value gives the chance to cancel the attacker\u2019s hit.<\/p>\n

The enemies move to the first location, fight against your forces in this place and then move forward to the next location and so on.<\/p>\n

\"Path<\/a><\/p>\n

Every location has a skilltree where you can invest the skillpoints you get after each round. They increase the attack values, enable special abilities and more.<\/p>\n

My intention was to check out the \u201cskilltree as a game mechanic\u201d, providing a complex or deep game while balancing the mathematics of such systems with a narrative. Now then to my personal evaluation of the game:<\/p>\n

What went right<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m happy that people understand my attempt to propose a dynamic narration given with the skills in the skilltree. I got positive feedback about that, so this went right.\nI\u2019m also happy with the visual style of my game. Surely there is a lot of improvable things, but drawing the little icons was fun and satisfying.<\/p>\n

What went wrong<\/strong><\/p>\n

I missed (again) to have enough time to test, bugfix and balance the game. There are so many bugs in Path to Death and it\u2019s way too easy. Perhaps it\u2019s a harder challenge to lose\u2026\nDuring the jam I hung around with friends who participated too. This was really fun. But not eating much and not sleeping was (again!) not that good at all. After the weeks passed, I think it was not jamming, but rather physical destruction\u00a0 : D<\/p>\n

My resolution for the next time<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sleep more and make a more accessible game which you can start and just play without getting into abstract background systems.<\/p>\n

You can play the game here!<\/a><\/p>\n

Tags: post-mortem<\/a><\/p>","time":"January 3rd, 2013 10:31 am","title":"Path to Death (Post-Mortem)","title_was_empty":false}