Glyphscape

Introduction

Glyphscape is a semi-procedural Rogue-like RPG presented faithfully with ASCII sprites. The world is procedural, and contains nearly infinite random dungeons beneath the surface. Additionally, the main questline takes the player through a series of hand-crafted dungeons, full of secrets and carefully hidden areas.

World

Glyphscape is set on an isolated continent, composed of discrete areas. Each area has its own climate, features, and structures. Routes from area to area are configured in a dense labyrinth, and two adjacent areas may be several days' travel apart due to world features such as mountains, forests, and rivers.

Gameplay

Players begin by choosing a hero from four classes: Champion, Conjurer, Wanderer, and Cutpurse. Each class favors a specific play style, and is granted with a unique, permanent passive ability to encourage specialized builds.

Melee combat is resolved through a brief mini-game, and the type of challenge is determined by the type of weapon being used. All melee combat encounters begin with a PONG-like game, followed by a weapon-specific finisher.

Magic spells may have a variety of offensive, defensive, restorative, or utility effects. The effects are determined procedurally from Glyphs that can be learned from traveling mages. Crafted spells are added to the player's Grimoire, and may be swapped out as the need arises.

A wide variety of consumable items are available which allow conventional combat to be side-stepped entirely. Bombs, traps, and throwable items can dispatch many threats, or at least waylay them to allow for an escape.

Attacks, spells, items, and other world interactions may cause chain reactions with unforeseen (or perhaps foreseen ;) ) consequences. Barrels may spill oil, acid, or water on the floor which may be ignited or thrown into an obscuring cloud. Ice spells may freeze water surfaces and provide a walkable surface.

Platforms

Glyphscape was originally designed for mobile platforms, but has since been adapted to be playable on PC, where development is now focused. The game is still presented in its original motif, in the form of a simulated touchscreen device encapsulating the game.

I am currently in the process of polishing the Android version.

Project Status

Glyphscape development is mostly on hold, aside from a near constant optimization effort. I have learned many best (or at least better) practices in the years since I started work on Glyphscape, and before I can add a full game's worth of content I need to get it into a more maintainable state.

My current main project is TerraForma, and that receives most, but not all of my attention.

This build represents a vertical slice of the game, and all of the major systems are in place. The story and quests are incomplete, but the overall experience is there.

More Information

Read the full game description on my website at geouug.com