u/WickedMaiwyn

Hey r/RPGdesign ,

So long story short i'm solo dev of incremental RPG, currently ~3 weeks after release.

I do it in early access way from beginning so the scope won't creep me out or to do it with players' feedback and early community.

So the first MVP version was very small. Just a few boons. Easy ones like +% dmg, +%HP.

For incrementals that was fine at that stage, incrementals like buffs up to crazy numbers.

But let's be real. Incrementals are all about dynamic of play vs permanent buffs + reset, so this is like the core of that gaming experience.

Now I've got small, but steady playerbase active so I wanted to give them cool things for some mid, long progression.

Recently I've done total redesign.

100 Boons, 10 unique regions, some boons with inner progression.

A central design path-of-exiles-like where you can start at any region and explore it further, start another one or go from one line forward as connections works both ways.

Warrior's Path,

Blood Sanctrum.

Fortress of Steel,

Temple of Presion,

Wild Frontier,

Golden Market,

Prestige Nexus,

Region Mastery,

Arcane Archives,

Conquest.

Each has it's own unique fantasy, theme, ability/system/resource.
I won't go into details cause it's a discussion not a show off, I just want to describe my struggle and question at this point.

Just as an example:
Warrior's Path introduces Rage and bonus damage,
Temple of Precision unlocks Weak Points that changes auto-battler to skill-based things.

All is great, as a concept. I want to give players ability to find what they like. Or to give players a choice to focus one season on automation, another on passive income or unlock different spells & skills.

But..

Guys i'm solo dev ;D 10x10 boons it's kinda a limit to what I can do myself.
Probably 1000 boons would be just too much, an design overkill.

My goal is not to go the biggest tree ever, I want it to be special, avoid passive upgrades of stats or at least mix it with something more interesting.
Even 100 boons I've devided to comming soon as a promise to unlock it over time.

So how do you approach grand designs? By grand I mean big systems.
Do you plan a general plan then go details section by section?
Or just do a lot of plays, QA, and just hope for the best until it feels right to release?

With 100 boons (+ some has inner progression) it's like 57298572954807425 combinations.
One thing is to deliver a region of 10 cool boons.
Another is that for example Warrior's Path can be fine but in mix with Arcane Archives overpowered?

It's still a solo game at core so broken builds are sometimes great. Worse are dull, useless perks just to upgrade further. But I run live ops for it so there is Weekly Boss Hunt as a global event etc.

I find it good that now I have a framework.
A structure to focus on regions, or specific boons.
Looks big but not yet overwhelming.

Another great thing is that I've got my custom data-driven backend.
So I know EVERYTHING. who unlocks what, when, can do some funnels or compare results.
Compare different patches to each other like 1.1.1 vs 1.1.2.

But so far the best thing is my early community. Friends at first, then first players joined. Data-driven is great but some info from Bug Report fixed some problems for everyone.
Or the general feeling.
I avoid releasing untested things, but there is always something I can miss.

I'm happy that yesterday community said that current resource gathering progression feels right, that's promising as it's like totally much better game each week.

So what are your tricks&tricks to do big talent trees or prestige systems?
What to avoid, what to do?
Or just release all and test on PROD, right? ;p
Let's talk!

Hey r/gameideas ,

So long story short i'm solo dev of incremental RPG, currently ~3 weeks after release.

I do it in early access way from beginning so the scope won't creep me out or to do it with players' feedback and early community.

So the first MVP version was very small. Just a few boons. Easy ones like +% dmg, +%HP.

For incrementals that was fine at that stage, incrementals like buffs up to crazy numbers.

But let's be real. Incrementals are all about dynamic of play vs permanent buffs + reset, so this is like the core of that gaming experience.

Now I've got small, but steady playerbase active so I wanted to give them cool things for some mid, long progression.

Recently I've done total redesign.

100 Boons, 10 unique regions, some boons with inner progression.

A central design path-of-exiles-like where you can start at any region and explore it further, start another one or go from one line forward as connections works both ways.

Warrior's Path,

Blood Sanctrum.

Fortress of Steel,

Temple of Presion,

Wild Frontier,

Golden Market,

Prestige Nexus,

Region Mastery,

Arcane Archives,

Conquest.

Each has it's own unique fantasy, theme, ability/system/resource.
I won't go into details cause it's a discussion not a show off, I just want to describe my struggle and question at this point.

Just as an example:
Warrior's Path introduces Rage and bonus damage,
Temple of Precision unlocks Weak Points that changes auto-battler to skill-based things.

All is great, as a concept. I want to give players ability to find what they like. Or to give players a choice to focus one season on automation, another on passive income or unlock different spells & skills.

But..

Guys i'm solo dev ;D 10x10 boons it's kinda a limit to what I can do myself.
Probably 1000 boons would be just too much, an design overkill.

My goal is not to go the biggest tree ever, I want it to be special, avoid passive upgrades of stats or at least mix it with something more interesting.
Even 100 boons I've devided to comming soon as a promise to unlock it over time.

So how do you approach grand designs? By grand I mean big systems.
Do you plan a general plan then go details section by section?
Or just do a lot of plays, QA, and just hope for the best until it feels right to release?

With 100 boons (+ some has inner progression) it's like 57298572954807425 combinations.
One thing is to deliver a region of 10 cool boons.
Another is that for example Warrior's Path can be fine but in mix with Arcane Archives overpowered?

It's still a solo game at core so broken builds are sometimes great. Worse are dull, useless perks just to upgrade further. But I run live ops for it so there is Weekly Boss Hunt as a global event etc.

I find it good that now I have a framework.
A structure to focus on regions, or specific boons.
Looks big but not yet overwhelming.

Another great thing is that I've got my custom data-driven backend.
So I know EVERYTHING. who unlocks what, when, can do some funnels or compare results.
Compare different patches to each other like 1.1.1 vs 1.1.2.

But so far the best thing is my early community. Friends at first, then first players joined. Data-driven is great but some info from Bug Report fixed some problems for everyone.
Or the general feeling.
I avoid releasing untested things, but there is always something I can miss.

I'm happy that yesterday community said that current resource gathering progression feels right, that's promising as it's like totally much better game each week.

So what are your tricks&tricks to do big talent trees or prestige systems?
What to avoid, what to do?
Or just release all and test on PROD, right? ;p
Let's talk!

Hey r/gamedev ,
So long story short i'm solo dev of incremental RPG, currently ~3 weeks after release.
I do it in early access way from beginning so the scope won't creep me out or to do it with players' feedback and early community.

So the first MVP version was very small. Just a few boons. Easy ones like +% dmg.
For incrementals that was fine at that stage, incrementals like buffs up to crazy numbers.
But let's be real. Incrementals are all about dynamic of play vs presting permanent buffs so this is like the core of that gaming experience.

Now I've got small, but steady playerbase active so I wanted to give them cool things for some mid, long progression.

Recently I've done total redesign.
100 Boons, 10 unique regions, some boons with inner progression.
A central design path-of-exiles-like where you can start at any region and explore it further, start another one or go from one line forward as connections works both ways.

Warrior's Path,
Blood Sanctrum.
Fortress of Steel,
Temple of Presion,
Wild Frontier,
Golden Market,
Prestige Nexus,
Region Mastery,
Arcane Archives,
Conquest.

Each has it's own unique fantasy, theme, ability/system/resource.
I won't go into details cause it's a discussion not a show off, I just want to describe my struggle and question at this point.

Just as an example
Warrior's Path introduces Rage and bonus damage,
Temple of Precision unlocks Weak Points that changes auto-battler to skill-based things.

All is great, as a concept. I want to give players ability to find what they like.
Or to give players a choice to focus one season on automation, another on passive income or unlock different spells & skills.

But..

Guys i'm solo dev ;D 10x10 boons it's kinda a limit to what I can do myself.
Probably 1000 boons would be just too much.
My goal is not to go the biggest tree ever, I want it to be special, avoid passive upgrades of stats or at least mix it with something more interesting.

Even 100 boons I've devided to comming soon as a promise to unlock it over time.

So how do you approach grand designs? By grand I mean big systems.
Do you plan a general plan then go details section by section?
Or just do a lot of plays, QA, and just hope for the best until it feels right to release?

With 100 boons (if some has inner progression) it's like 57298572954807425 combinations.
One thing is to deliver a region of 10 cool boons.
Another is that for example Warrior's Path can be fine but in mix with Arcane Archives overpowered?

It's still a solo game at core so broken builds are somethings great. Worse are dull, useless perks just to upgrade further.
But I run live ops for it so there is Weekly Boss Hunt as a global event etc.

I find it good that now I have a framework.
A structure to focus on regions, or specific boons.
Looks big but not yet overwhelming.

Another great thing is that I've got my custom data-driven backend.
So I know EVERYTHING. who unlocks what, when, can do some funnels or compare results.
Compare different patches to each other like 1.1.1 vs 1.1.2.

But so far the best thing was my early community.
Friends at first, then first players joined.
Data-driven is great but some info from Bug Report fixed some problems for everyone.
Or the general feeling.
I avoid releasing untested things, but there is always something I could miss.

I'm happy that yesterday community said that current resource gathering progression feels right, that's promising as it's like totally much better game each week.

So what are your tricks&tricks to do big talent trees or prestige systems?
What to avoid, what to do?
Or just release all and test on PROD, right? ;p

Hey r/gamedesign ,
I'm looking for fun skills, spells, consumables to enhance fun factor of combat so it keeps getting more interesting longterm until the end.

I'm solo indie dev fetching for your cool experience and brainstorm ideas here.
In my freshly released incremental game I've got the core features, now it's time for a fun part.

So the question from a title stands:
What are the most fun skills in incremental RPGs? Passive, active or automation growth?

At this point I've got Prestige Ascention permaments buffs to:

- increase stats

- unlock new skills

- automate

- power up combat power

- increase resource gathering operations

We all know that simple stat increase +% dmg it's useful but it's boring, right?
Game is released early so I can develop it according to early players feedback.

Combat starts as idle auto-battler 1 vs 1 pve.

Very quickly there are skills to unlock:

A) Weak Spots

Randomly appears a Target to tap it for extra hit.
It changes gameplay from idle to idle + tapper.

B) Laughing Skull

A spell that speed up everything 200% for a period of time.
The main goal to finish my game is to beat 1000 Floors of 10 enemies with elites and mini-bosses, some random events on the way. Speed up seems fun as all goes puff away much faster.

C) Shortcut

Each 5 floors you get a checkpoint. You can start your next fights from that point instead of 1st level. It was a feature requested by a player and for incrementals it's kinda classic. Over time player gets really powerful so it's good to just skip the easy first levels unless you're into farming gold resource.

I won't go into gathering resources, crafting and eq upgrades in this post.

Do you remember from other idle, auto-battler or incremental games something that clicked for you?

So far I've got 30 unique Prestige Ascentions (with it's own upgrades too) for permanent buffs.

But this is a part that I think can get much better, so I'm fetching ideas before going into my cave to dev all new cool stuff.

I've got prepared for combat backpack inventory, spellbook, active/toggle skills slots.

So there are many ways I can go further.

My point is to start as auto-battler but then give players a way to evolve into gamestyle they prefer, find broken or overpowered. And ofc fun decks to make crazy things.

Sooo:

What would be cool new skills, abilities or consumables that you find attractive and fun?
What to avoid, don't do, was a bummer in your opinion?

Let's brainstorm it out!

Hey r/gameideas ,

I'm looking for fun skills, spells, consumables to enhance fun factor of combat so it keeps getting more interesting longterm until the end.

I'm solo dev and my recent project is an incremental rpg.
'Start with One Shot, Hit for Millions!' a crazy daschund knight zero to hero story.

I've got the core features, now it's time for a fun part.

So the question from a title stands:

What are your favourite skills in incremental RPGs? Skills, spells or consumables? Active, passive? Or whatever it takes to make those DMG numbers go insane?

At this point I've got Prestige Ascention permaments buffs to:

- increase stats

- unlock new skills

- automate

- power up combat power

- increase resource gathering operations

We all know that simple stat increase +% dmg it's useful but it's boring, right?
Game is released early so I can develop it according to early players feedback.

Combat starts as idle auto-battler 1 vs 1 pve.
Very quickly there are skills to unlock:

A) Weak Spots

Randomly appears a Target to tap it for extra hit. changes gameplay from idle to idle + active.

B) Laughing Skull

A spell that speed up everything 200% for a period of time.
The main goal to finish my game is to beat 1000 Floors of 10 enemies with elites and mini-bosses, some random events on the way. Speed up seems fun as all goes puff away much faster.

C) Shortcut

Each 5 floors you get a checkpoint. You can start your next fights from that point instead of 1st level. It was a feature requested by a player and for incrementals it's kinda classic. Over time player gets really powerful so it's good to just skip the easy first levels unless you're into farming gold resource.

I won't go into gathering resources, crafting and eq upgrades in this post.
They also has buffs and things to increase or automate but for now I explore ideas around combat to make it cooler.

Do you remember from other roguelites, roguelikes, rpgs, idlers, auto-battlers or incremental games something that clicked for you?

It's a mobile game so keep in mind it's scope that Path of Exiles style is kinda not within my range ;p but for sure I can do much more to give my game a best shot to be fun.

So far I've got 30 unique Prestige Ascentions (with it's own upgrades too) for permanent buffs. Some of them unlock things, some enhance, some are passive. Some unlock skills and abilities. It's a way to grow and to specialize you gameplay.

This is a part that I think can get much better, so I'm fetching ideas before going into my cave to dev all new cool stuff.

I've got prepared flow for combat:

- backpack inventory,

- spellbook,

- active/toggle skills slots.

So there are many ways I can go further.

My point is to start as auto-battler but then give players a way to evolve into gamestyle they prefer, find broken or overpowered. And ofc fun decks to make crazy things.

Sooo:

What would be cool new skills, abilities or consumables that you find attractive and fun?What to avoid, don't do, was a bummer in your opinion?

Let's brainstorm it out!

Hey u/gamedev,
I'm solo indie dev fetching for your cool experience and brainstorm ideas here.
In my freshly released incremental game I've got the core features, now it's time for a fun part.

So the question from a title stands:
What are the most fun skills in incremental RPGs? Passive, active or automation growth?

At this point I've got Prestige Ascention permaments buffs to:
- increase stats
- unlock new skills
- automate
- power up combat power
- increase resource gathering operations

We all know that simple stat increase +% dmg it's useful but it's boring, right?
Game is released early so I can develop it according to early players feedback.

Combat starts as idle auto-battler 1 vs 1 pve.
Very quickly there are skills to unlock:

A) Weak Spots
Randomly appears a Target to tap it for extra hit.
It changes gameplay from idle to idle + tapper.

B) Laughing Skull
A spell that speed up everything 200% for a period of time.
The main goal to finish my game is to beat 1000 Floors of 10 enemies with elites and mini-bosses, some random events on the way.
Speed up seems fun as all goes puff away much faster.

C) Shortcut
Each 5 floors you get a checkpoint. You can start your next fights from that point instead of 1st level. It was a feature requested by a player and for incrementals it's kinda classic. Over time player gets really powerful so it's good to just skip the easy first levels unless you're into farming gold resource.

I won't go into gathering resources, crafting and eq upgrades in this post.
I'm looking for fun skills, spells, consumables to enhance fun factor of combat so it keeps getting more interesting longterm until the end.

Do you remember from other idle, auto-battler or incremental games something that clicked for you?
So far I've got 30 unique Prestige Ascentions (with it's own upgrades too) for permanent buffs.
But this is a part that I think can get much better, so I'm fetching ideas before going into my cave to dev all new cool stuff.

I've got prepared for combat backpack inventory, spellbook, active/toggle skills slots.
So there are many ways I can go further.

My point is to start as auto-battler but then give players a way to evolve into gamestyle they prefer, find broken or overpowered. And ofc fun decks to make crazy things.

Sooo:
What would be cool new skills, abilities or consumables that you find attractive and fun?
What to avoid, don't do, was a bummer in your opinion?
Let's brainstorm it out!