Gnomoria

[Calleja]

I know some of you liked Dwarf Fortress and similar games, so I'm surprised a search for this indie still-in-development jewel brought up nothing.

www.gnomoria.com

It's basically Dwarf Fortress Light , with a much user friendlier GUI and concept, but that doesn't mean it's simple. It actually also reminds in certain concepts of Terraria and Minecraft.

You order around Gnomes (no direct control, just priority/job assignment) and build and mine vast lairs, gathering resources and fighting off baddies. It' fucking awesome and addicting as fuck and the updates keep coming. It's technically still in alpha but I swear it's not only playable but stupidly addicting and fun.

For a bit more info you can do as I and watch a funny dude play it:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=ELmqx-deNiLQI&feature=plcp


The first eps are from some updates ago, but it's a fun little let's play that also explains the game.

 

[Dave]

Interesting. I could never get into DF because the interface....ugh.

 

[Calleja]

Yeah, me too, I thought the concept was awesome but I couldn't get over that steep learning cliff.

Gnomoria looks way more simpler, but it's covering something not quite simple at all. You still don't really see no indication of it when it happens in the alpha, but every combat has an INCREDIBLY detailed log that shows just how complicated the system is, you can read it via menus now. Every blow goes against armor, skin, and bone, and it's different if it's something sharp or something blunt or something ranged. Enemies (and Gnomes ) lose limbs and bleed out if they don't get bandaged and/or treated fast enough. They can be temporarily incapacitated or even permanently lose an arm and work slower o a leg and move way slower, for the rest of their gnomey lifes.

 

[strawman]

So a little age of empires, a little sims, and a little minecraft?

 

[Calleja]

Eh, kinda, dunno how much AoE, but there's a teeny bit of RPG in there with the stats for every gnome. They all have stats like strength, dexterity and so on, but also skills like mining, axes, sword, ranged, leatherworking, husbandry, felling trees, etc. And by doing those activities the skills of every gnome rise accordingly. Miners in particular obviously tend to have insane mining skills before too long.

there's also crafting and seasons and orcs and underground meanies and lots of fun stuff. I'm pretty sure you can share maps so we could do a Halforums thing by naming gnomes after forumites. Someone will eventually lose an eye. Literally, they lose eyes in combat.

 

[bhamv3]

Hmm, is it free? *checks link*

D'oh, it's not. Dwarf Fortress is free.

Also, can I capture live mermaids in Gnomoria and keep them in captivity until they produce offspring, then air-drown their babies, because mermaid bones are very valuable materials and can be used to make high-value trade goods? Cause I can do that in Dwarf Fortress.

 

[GasBandit]

Hmm, is it free? *checks link*

D'oh, it's not. Dwarf Fortress is free.

Also, can I capture live mermaids in Gnomoria and keep them in captivity until they produce offspring, then air-drown their babies, because mermaid bones are very valuable materials and can be used to make high-value trade goods? Cause I can do that in Dwarf Fortress.

That sounds awesome and everything, but then, when you're playing it it looks like this:

;.;;;.;;;.;..;;.;.;.;;.;~~~~~~=======
...;;..;...;;..;.;.;.;.;;~~~~~~=======
.;..;.;;.;.;;.;.;.;..;.;.~~~~~~==+++==
;.;.;.;.;.;.;.;....;;;...~~~~~~==+++==
;.;..;.;.C;.;.;M;.;.;~~~~~~==+++++
;.;.;..;.;;;...;.;.;.;;..~~~~~~=======

 

[Calleja]

Plus Gnomoria is still very very early on its process, mermaids and shit could very well be in its future.

Buying it now helps the developer who's always around answering questions and pushing updates.... but he's also said he's not against people trying it out via other means first. So with that in mind, I won't hesitate to mention that there's a wonderful uploader over at Piratebay that's uploading every single Gnomoria update. Every version installs "over" the previous one with no issues and saves have always been compatible so far. So there's that.

 

[Gared]

So, is the full alpha version any different from the demo, because I tried the demo a couple times last night, and it was pretty annoying. Like the fact that I have to keep Gnomoria as the active window while it loads a new map, or it'll crash; meaning I get a good solid 5 minutes or so of starting at a mostly blank screen watching a progress bar fill in, among other things.

 

[LordRendar]

Try it on fullscreen without borders.you can alt+tab without it crashing.

 

[Calleja]

Huh, I never got that problem, but I do have on fullscreen noborders.

My big ass mountain fortress got devastated today by a swarm of mants. Limbs and blood everywhere.

 

[LordRendar]

I really do like the game,but the stockpile bug is killing it for me.I got a bigass storeroom for my wine but the gnomes wont transfer it into the barrels.I did designate that the room only will accept drinks but it does nothing.
Same for my seed/cuttings room.

 

[Calleja]

Have you built the barrels? That you see them there doesn't necessarily mean they're in functional form and not "being-stored" form. To store liquids in barrels you need to select Build Barrel AFTER actually crafting it in the workshop and make sure it's placed in a square designated as a liquid stockpile.

I've had no bugs with seeds or cuttings, but I do tend to leave them outside and just get them on those seldom occasions I run out. To be honest once you have a grove going you don't even think about those.

 

[LordRendar]

Goddarn it.Where did my last 4 hours go to?

 

[Far]

Cheap enough that I'm willing to give it a shot. I've had the same issues with Dwarf Fortress that some of you seem to have had, mainly that it seems super interesting but that learning curve is shaped like a scythe and kills any attempts I tried to enjoy it.
I'm enjoying it so far and following along with the video series that you posted Calleja and it is helping me get the hang of things.

 

[Calleja]

Fucking awesome, if we get enough people interested we could make a whole HF underground fortress thing.

 

[Dubyamn]

Is the alpha more stable and responsive than the demo?

Often times the game just wasn't responsive which kind of kills the fun of the game and setting up my gnome home.

 

[Far]

I haven't had a single issue with crashes or performance for the full version but didn't try the demo so can't say if there was any improvements.

 

[LordRendar]

I really have to start building smaller.I have such a high Kingdom score at Summer Day 1 that I get overrun by groups of 4 goblins armed with copper swords,while I have equipped barely 2 Gnomes.

 

[LordRendar]

Just created a legendary yak sausage xD it is called Face of Carnage.

Small tip, dig for ores as soon as possible and try to equip atleast 2-3 gnomes in helm and breastplate. place a trainingground near the entrance to your fortress and let the 3 gnomes train there.The fighting skills will go up while there are no enemies and once the goblins arrive they are toast.

 

[Azurephoenix]

How involved is this compared to dwarf fortress? I love dwarf fortress but something with actual graphics looks mighty interesting.

 

[LordRendar]

Once you got the hang of it,it is VERY addicting.Wish there were more features but one cant expect more in such early stages of the game.

 

[Azurephoenix]

Once you got the hang of it,it is VERY addicting.Wish there were more features but one cant expect more in such early stages of the game.

Being a dwarf fortress veteran would I be able to dive right in and build a totally dysfunctional fortress right away?

 

[LordRendar]

Probably.If you can play dwarf fortress,then Gnomoria wont be that big of a learning curve for you.Remember that your Gnomes are dangerously stupid and will more often then not get themselves killed if you dont manage them right.