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==== FORUM: [[Gossip - The rusty dagger tavern]] ====
'''This topic was started by MountainBard on 10/05/2019, 17:21:35'''

<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 10/05/2019, 17:21:35</div>

<B>'''Hey everyone, stop in for a pint on me. I'm really curious to hear from everyone who's still using this board. Even though it's far less active than in the past, I know there have to be peeps out there who are playing. If you are, and you've found this board, I'd love to hear from you. The tavern's business has fallen off, but we can change that. ;) '''</B>

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by icetear on 10/05/2019, 17:23:45</div>

*the barkeeper serves another pint of fine ale*

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 11/05/2019, 14:57:52</div>

<B>'''Thanks barkeep. It's mighty welcome. I've been farming the Inferno, and it gets warm in there. Some excellent swag drops though. '''</B>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 12/05/2019, 04:44:49</div>

Sing us a song, icetear — my bards could use a new song! :) <br/>
<br/>
If you're farming Inferno, I recommend a strong beer called Maudite — "The Damned"! A damned fine brew!

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by icetear on 12/05/2019, 10:19:52</div>

*clears his throat*<br/>
<br/>
errm... I'm no bard, really.<br/>
But this old air just came to my mind.<br/>
<br/>
deep down below<br/>
fiery darkness all around<br/>
that's where I go<br/>
my soul forever bound<br/>
<br/>
finally we meet<br/>
now of the same kind<br/>
we share the need<br/>
a dweller in my mind<br/>
<br/>
beware the trees<br/>
where shadows lure<br/>
soon on your knees<br/>
you won't endure<br/>
<br/>
fear the dark master<br/>
don't let him through<br/>
his power growing faster<br/>
even in you<br/>
<br/>
don't hold your ground<br/>
hide in the grass<br/>
make no sound<br/>
and he might pass<br/>
<br/>
how long must we withstand<br/>
oh brother tell me when<br/>
his reign will be at an end<br/>
and we're free again

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 13/05/2019, 18:54:41</div>

*applauds loudly* Barkeep, get this man another drink. You sound like a bard to me, good sir. That was tremendously fine. :D

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 13/05/2019, 18:57:42</div>

<B>'''Oh and Visstar, thank you for the beer recommendation. Maudite is indeed the perfect brew for the ol' inferno. Kinda reminds me of Mudders' Milk. *raises eyebrows* Now if I can just find how to move on from that first Inferno labyrinth other than getting booted out to Savage Crossing.'''</B>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 14/05/2019, 16:09:52</div>

<div class="quote"><b>Quote from Author: MountainBard</b><br>
*applauds loudly* Barkeep, get this man another drink. You sound like a bard to me, good sir. That was tremendously fine. :D
</div>

Hear hear! My bard played that song during an encounter and suddenly we were all hidden and attacking from the shadows. :) <br/>
<br/>
Very good song from someone who's supposedly not a bard! The best I could come up with was:<br/>
<br/>
Thunder making<br/>
Ground is shaking<br/>
Giants roaring,<br/>
Tree trunks soaring<br/>
<br/>
Bowstring twanging<br/>
Lightning striking<br/>
A rogue in the shadows<br/>
Can end the fighting

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 14/05/2019, 16:16:27</div>

<div class="quote"><b>Quote from Author: MountainBard</b><br>
<B>'''Oh and Visstar, thank you for the beer recommendation. Maudite is indeed the perfect brew for the ol' inferno. Kinda reminds me of Mudders' Milk. *raises eyebrows* Now if I can just find how to move on from that first Inferno labyrinth other than getting booted out to Savage Crossing.'''</B>
</div>

Never tried Mudders Milk. I'll try to find some. <br/>
<br/>
You'll need to kick every wall looking for a hidden door, and check the map each time you move to see if perhaps you missed a spot. <br/>

<div class="spoiler">There is one place along the southern corridor with a hidden door that you can only access from the east. If you approach from the west, you teleport past the square with the door to the next square. Unless you're checking the map to see where you are, you wouldn't even notice. </div>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 14/05/2019, 20:19:51</div>

<B>'''Thank you Visstar. I had been kicking walls, but I kept getting interrupted before I got all the way around. *looks at the cats* So I will make sure I go through and get every one. (The cats, by the way, are a pair of tortoise shell rescue kitties, sisters who we named Holly and Ivy since we got them for Christmas. We've had a lot of cats but never torties before. These two are amazing, but they're so often doing something humorous or adorable (or in the case of Holly, getting into trouble) that they are a constant distraction.) '''</B>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 14/05/2019, 23:09:55</div>

<B>'''And btw Visstar your bard song is awesome as well. My bard, Estrella, is busy learning both of them, and we look forward to hearing her sing them during our travels.'''</B>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 15/05/2019, 19:24:45</div>

Totally understand about the cats. I've spent hours trying to type with a cat draped across my arms. :roll: <br/>
<br/>
P.S. Love your sig quote!

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<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 18/05/2019, 14:57:37</div>

<B>'''I'm an old history teacher so Plutarch is right in my wheelhouse. Ironically though I came across the quote in a class called Psycholinguistics and Reading many years ago. It was a great course, largely because the instructor was superb.<br/>
<br/>
As for cats.... my wife and I have had cats in our lives since before we were married-- over 42 years. We'd been without for over two years, which was unheard of for us, when Holly and Ivy came into our lives. They're sisters, rescue kitties. They're also torties (tortoiseshells.) We'd never had torties before. These are the two best cats we've ever had, and that's saying a lot. They came to us just before Christmas-- hence the names. '''</B>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 20/05/2019, 19:31:22</div>

I love those names. We adopted three kittens years ago when their mom died, and my young niece, who was reading Narnia at the time, named them Caspian, Tumnus, and Jadis (because she was so mischievous). When we adopted a sheltie a year later, we named him Aslan because of his mane. :) <br/>
<br/>
Actually, I have a hard time coming up with names for my characters when I start a new game. Maybe next time I'll use Holly, Ivy, Caspian, Tumnus, and Jadis. :D

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<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 23/05/2019, 15:15:17</div>

You've definitely got the character-naming taken care of for your next game. I use Alathea a lot, as well as Leo Silvertip and Corwin (from the Amber series.) <br/>
<br/>
Here are the girls after a successful morning hunt. Holly (foreground) made the kill and dragged the quarry out into the middle of the bedroom floor, where Ivy joined her to hang out, guard the shoe, and swap hunting stories.<br/>
<br/>
[[File:https://mindkindle.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/img_0982.jpg?w=599&h=799]]<URL url="https://mindkindle.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/img_0982.jpg?w=599&h=799"><LINK_TEXT text="https://mindkindle.files.wordpress.com/ ... =599&h=799">https://mindkindle.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/img_0982.jpg?w=599&h=799</LINK_TEXT></URL></IMG>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 23/05/2019, 18:51:44</div>

LOL! How many experience points for killing a shoe? :D <br/>
<br/>
They are gorgeous cats. It's nice that they get along. Our three didn't get along so well, probably because the brother was so rambunctious, and one of the sisters left and moved in with a neighbor!

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<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 28/05/2019, 19:48:00</div>

<B>'''I've been doing some research but I can't find much info on how many xp a shoe can be worth. I'm sure it must vary a lot, though. '''</B>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by chrlpolk on 10/05/2020, 07:37:45</div>

<div class="quote"><b>Quote from Author: MountainBard</b><br>
<B>'''I've been doing some research but I can't find much info on how many xp a shoe can be worth. I'm sure it must vary a lot, though. '''</B>
</div>

Those battles usually have strings attached. :D <br/>
<br/>
Anyone revisiting Silversword through the pandemic?<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Ballad of the Sealed Promise<br/>
By: Ban'd Member<br/>
<br/>
The barkeep gathered us all 'round<br/>
And filled each cup with cheer;<br/>
As much for belly as for ear<br/>
Were we so enwound<br/>
And edge-of-barstool bound!<br/>
<br/>
"You've heard my tale and sung my praise,<br/>
But yet, there is still more,<br/>
In a cab'net, past that door,<br/>
From which to amaze!"<br/>
Our eyes a glassy'd gaze.<br/>
<br/>
"Had I made truth from my breath,<br/>
Did I tug your leg,<br/>
To declare of the egg<br/>
From which new tales shall hatch?<br/>
Hast thou forgotten that?"<br/>
<br/>
Handed another glass to pour,<br/>
Summar'ing his tale's mesh,<br/>
"'Tis truly anybody's Geas,<br/>
What lies beyond that door,<br/>
In my cab'net drawer."<br/>
<br/>
When? When?? We want to hear!<br/>
"Patience, patience, now to<br/>
Sort the details, think it through,<br/>
Flooded isles on a square<br/>
Are not going anywhere!"<br/>
<br/>
When? When?? We cannot wait!<br/>
"I shall soon be back,"<br/>
The door rhymed with a "clack!"<br/>
And though he'd return to pour,<br/>
We did not hear much more<br/>
<br/>
Of that beyond the door,<br/>
In his cabinet drawer.

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 11/05/2020, 18:05:55</div>

Ah, a sad song about quests unfinished! Well done, sir. :) <br/>
<br/>
I'm considering a replay with a new challenge. Maybe a magic light party, like yours, or maybe a small party relying on summoned beings. Hmmm....

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<div class="postinfo">Post by chrlpolk on 12/05/2020, 01:53:56</div>

My magic-lite party is currently trying to figure out how to farm Bandit's Cave! It was difficult at first with 3 casters, now I've just the one. If only I had <I>''wizardz's''</I> willpower for grinding! But I am enjoying the slappy carnage which is the monk and look forward to putting the Silversword on him!<br/>
<br/>
The summoned party sounds interesting! I actually haven't used summons, not one time, always kept a full party. Could one get through the game with one caster and summons? I'm sure I've seen a thread like that on here before...<br/>
<br/>
Edit: And, I'm wondering if 1 Archmage would have enough SP to carry the party through Inferno? (I may have a workaround in the "Magic Light Party" thread!)

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 12/05/2020, 17:22:14</div>

I think someone here played with a D.C. and multiple astral dragons! Not something you can do for a while. :) <br/>
<br/>
I did play a little while with six characters and a summoned creature, just so I could have Gwyddon join the party. (As I recall, he was mostly useless.) Figurines are handy for this. The problem is, you won't have camaraderie for a while, and many summoned creatures are tougher than you are! My strategy was to use a summmoned creature for a while and dismiss it before it could get angry. Not very efficient, wasting a lot of figurines and spell points, but it got me through some tough battles.

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<div class="postinfo">Post by MountainBard on 23/06/2020, 04:29:37</div>

<B>''' Like a bad penny, I am back. I got so stuck in the inferno that I actually gave up, but I came back to the game a couple weeks ago, solved the Inferno, and am now deep into the expansion.<br/>
<br/>
It’s nice to see a friendly face still here, *waves at Visstar* It’s so sad that message boards have died out. We have Facebook largely to thank for that.<br/>
<br/>
Anyway, hello to anyone out there. I’ll soon post a new pic of Holly and Ivy, who are now the producer and engineer, respectively, of my podcast, The Discworld Portal.</B>

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<div class="postinfo">Post by icetear on 23/06/2020, 06:52:30</div>

*wave* :-)

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 23/06/2020, 15:50:24</div>

Greetings MountainBard! Glad to see you got through Inferno. There were some wicked mazes in Silversword, but Inferno might have been the best. I believe I once referred to it as a masterpiece. Not just the maze, which was pretty tricky, but the whole ambience, Very eerie.<br/>
<br/>
I agree about the board (and boards in general). I wish more people would discover Silversword. It's a much better game than so many others on the App Store. (E.g. Gaillardia.)

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<div class="postinfo">Post by chrlpolk on 01/07/2020, 07:20:58</div>

(The bard tunes his lute as he notices Estrella's company has returned to the bar.)<br/>
<br/>
"Ah hem... The Maiden's Notice<br/>
<br/>
A song for the Maiden Estrella<br/>
For whom I'd share my umbrella<br/>
May the rain never come again<br/>
But for this chance to compel'ah<br/>
<br/>
(looks to Estrella, who is talking to her companions)<br/>
<br/>
An accident, I tell ya!<br/>
My hand took a crabby chela<br/>
Oh my fate, what a mistake!<br/>
As her face blushed like rubella!<br/>
<br/>
(Peeks over and notices a sharp glance from Estrella.)<br/>
<br/>
I once noticed Estrella<br/>
In a gown trimmed in yella'<br/>
Twas what I seen through a hole in the latrine<br/>
As her bottom sang a'capella!<br/>
<br/>
(Bard smiles with satisfaction, having gotten Estrella's attention.)<br/>
<br/>
To tell of this maiden Estrella,<br/>
Who looked suspiciously like a fella!<br/>
Under the dress-<br/>
(bang! smack! sounds of lute strings snapping)<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Two dwarves sitting at a table. One sings,<br/>
"There was a spoony fella,"<br/>
The other finishes,<br/>
"Who got his arse whooped by Estrella!"<br/>
<br/>
The tavern fills with laughter. Someone shouts out, "Drinks on the house!"<br/>
<br/>
The barkeep hollers, "Alright, calm down, you can't just declare 'drinks on the house' if you're not the bloody owner!"<br/>
<br/>
Estrella slams the spoony bard's tip jar on the counter and says, "Drinks on the house bard."<br/>
<br/>
Slumping up into a sitting position, the battered bard mutters, "Worth it..."

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Jemni on 07/07/2020, 00:04:21</div>

Hello wayward travelers. I just stumbled on this game about a month ago, give or take and just finished the Inferno myself. Many thanks to all the intrepid players who came before me to get me unstuck from many a jam. This forum has been a godsend and I so wish I had been here 8 years earlier. :lol:

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<div class="postinfo">Post by icetear on 08/07/2020, 11:18:09</div>

Hey, we're still alive ;-)

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Jemni on 09/07/2020, 00:55:19</div>

Still alive or merely undead? LOL ;) <br/>
<br/>
To expand on my lament, I had been looking for a game like this for years. And when I finally found it, it appears that it's past it's heyday of activity. But at least it's still working and I haven't found any bugs. Which is more than I can say for a lot of 8 year old games. <br/>
<br/>
Any chance on another expansion or a spinoff of any kind? Wizardry went up to 8. Just sayin'. ;)

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<div class="postinfo">Post by chrlpolk on 09/07/2020, 03:21:16</div>

Jemni,<br/>
<br/>
I'm going to give you some good news before I break your heart.<br/>
<br/>
The good news is, you got to the game at a great time! I discovered this game about 2 years ago, and I had the exact same feelings. The forum was sparse, and I couldn't believe that I missed the heyday.<br/>
<br/>
But the truth is - what you and I know as Silversword was the end result of many revisions. A deep dive in this forum reveals that many of the features I love most were not even in the original version! Suggestions were made on this forum and Icetear (a.k.a. Mario, the game creator) made his best implementations, and some things worked and others didn't. What you refer to as the "heyday of activity" was also the age of sour gaming mechanics experimentation. We have the luxury of skipping all those "tesing new things" updates, and we get to enjoy the best version as our sole experience!<br/>
<br/>
Now the heartbreak. Earlier in this thread is a bard song about a sealed promise. That is not a work of fiction. In his cabinet drawer, Icetear has ideas, story components, and partial maps for another major expansion. What he does not have is the will/desire to plunge thousands of hours into coding. While it's reasonable for you and I to think that should he make the expansion, he will be a rich man, what with everyone having Silversword immediately purchasing it. Alas, I will forever be astounded by the lack of widespread recognition.

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<div class="postinfo">Post by icetear on 09/07/2020, 09:13:07</div>

<QUOTE>[quote]he will be a rich man</div>

if anyone of you happens to visit germany some day, we might meet for a cup of tea or a glass of beer and I will tell you how rich Silversword has made me ;-)<br/>
<br/>
Advice: don't do game developing for a living :-p

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<div class="postinfo">Post by Jemni on 09/07/2020, 16:30:13</div>

Thanks for that summary @chrlpolk. I'm no stranger to early issues of game development and maturity. I've been a beta tester for a few games over the years. <br/>
<br/>
I'm sorry that you didn't get rich Mario. I think you had a good monetization plan overall, with some purchasable consumables as well as enriching content for sale. I get annoyed by certain other games who want to charge $20 for the *chance* to get a powerful hero, item, etc. <br/>
<br/>
I believe Silversword might have been too niche to really catch on. Kids today want fast action, full graphics and often multiplayer. First person shooter stuff comes to mind. Silversword is a throwback to a simpler time with mainly text based storytelling and often cerebral puzzle solving. As a dad, I'm pretty sure my kids haven't and won't pick up the game and play, but I have loved it. It's hard to compete with companies with big pockets and big dev teams like Fire Emblem.<br/>
<br/>
I have been a developer, but not a game developer. However, I took a stab at a text based Discord bot RPG so I know the massive amount of work you must have put in to this Mario and I applaud you. Job well done! I would LOVE to buy you some beers if we could ever meet up in Germany.

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by icetear on 09/07/2020, 16:39:51</div>

Thanks for your kind words :-)<br/>
<br/>
I will force my son to play Silversword once he is old enough ;-)<br/>
<br/>
Anyway - no need to get sad, it was never my aim to earn lots of money with the game.<br/>
As I have stated before, the whole story in short is:<br/>
<br/>
One day, Mario decided that he wanted to play The Bard's Tale on his iPhone. But he soon discovered that there was no game like The Bard's Tale available on the App Store. One year later, he though: well, the game plays nice. Why not publish it so others can play it, too? :-)<br/>
<br/>
I will not deny that the In-App-Purchases are meant to give me some money - of course! But I think they are tolerable. (1) They are NOT needed to finish the game and (2) because I would pay a regular price of 40-60 € / USD for a 1:1 adaption of any of the old classics (Pool of Radiance, Champions of Krynn, Might & Magic 3+, Wizardry 6+, Dragon Wars etc.), I think that the overall Cost-Of-Ownership for Silversword is quite fair.<br/>
<br/>
kind regards<br/>
Mario

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by chrlpolk on 11/07/2020, 19:09:18</div>

What was the story behind Lootbox? What made you decide to do that kind of roguelike?

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by icetear on 14/07/2020, 11:40:18</div>

I stumbled upon this tutorial:<br/>
<br/>
<URL url="https://learn.unity.com/project/2d-roguelike-tutorial?language=en"><LINK_TEXT text="https://learn.unity.com/project/2d-rogu ... anguage=en">https://learn.unity.com/project/2d-roguelike-tutorial?language=en</LINK_TEXT></URL><br/>
<br/>
And I wanted to take it further...<br/>
<br/>
I needed a game that meets the following criteria:<br/>
<br/>
- grinding for gold, exp, items<br/>
- quick startup, quick shutdown, ideal for playing just a few minutes (when waiting for bus etc.)<br/>
- random levels for replayability<br/>
<br/>
The first version was soon ready and from that point I continued with the many features it now has.<br/>
And I am really satisfied with the result - it plays well during waiting times :-p <br/>
<br/>
That's a long story made short. I don't know how many hours I've spent programming Lootbox... 700-1000 maybe - including Testing.<br/>
Silversword took way longer ;-)<br/>
<br/>
kind regards<br/>
Mario<br/>
<br/>
P.S. There just isn't a game like Lootbox on the App Store(s) where you can load/save and slowly grind your way along a main story. That's probably the main reason for me creating such a thing myself.

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by Jemni on 15/07/2020, 17:37:58</div>

Kudos for filling a niche that you noticed. I know of several remaining empty niches that I wish someone would fill. <br/>
<br/>
Creating niche games is a risk I guess, requiring someone with a passion to just do it regardless, because the market usually isn't large enough to ever get rich off of it.<br/>
<br/>
And yet candy/gem matching games are overwhelming the app stores.

<hr>

<div class="postinfo">Post by Visstar on 15/07/2020, 19:30:55</div>

Those gem smashing games are so annoying! I play a couple of games that are ad supported, and three times now I have been tricked into downloading a game that looked like a mystery or a puzzle solving game, but turned out to be a simple story that requires gem smashing or matching or whatever to proceed! False advertising! Fortunately they were free and easy to delete. :|

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