no berlin
A downloadable roguelike
i want to make a roguelike that excludes every Berlin Factor: not a jab at the berlin interpretation, but a fun exercise in game design & an exploration of strange roguelike space.
NO Random environment generation
Thank goodness this specifies random environment generation. Other random elements are fine, but the environment (map and layout?) is predetermined & designed.
NO Permadeath
When you die, you don't lose everything. So: you keep something major.
NOT Turn-based
The game is real-time.
NOT Grid-based
The world is not represented by a uniform grid of tiles.
NOT Non-modal Modal
Certain actions are only available during certain modes of the game. (Many well-known Roguelikes already violate this high value factor, so this one's not too important. It won't be hard to contradict anyway.)
NO Complexity
Eesh. Let's go with LOW complexity.
NO Resource management
This one'll be rough. Time and HP are extremely common resources to be managed, even outside roguelikes.
NOT Hack'n'slash
Despite low complexity, the game isn't allowed to just be about "killing lots of monsters". Hmm.
NO Exploration and discovery
What??? How...
NOT Single player character
The player controls multiple characters -- or no characters at all.
Monsters are NOT similar to players
Rules that apply to the player don't necessarily apply to monsters. This is actually one of the more interesting rules to break severely. How different from the player can I make monsters?
Also: I guess this means the player has to control characters (rather than no characters) to really properly contradict this.
NO Tactical challenge
The Berlin Interpretation actually gives some examples of opposing challenges: strategically working on the big picture, or solving puzzles.
NO ASCII display
Anything but ASCII.
NO Dungeons
Dungeons may be "levels composed of rooms and corridors", so let's just avoid: stonework, rooms, corridors.
NO Numbers
The interpretation website clarifies: "The numbers ... are delibarately shown," so all we need to do is deliberately hide the numbers.
