Back at it with some more answers to your questions for FAQ Friday #9!
Here we go...
Can you say anything about "tiers of resources"? Yeah, that's an in-game term we use, but to explain it… the player has complete freedom of the world, so if you can fight, sneak, glide, fly, jump or however you want to get past the various dangers, you can. So you can get into areas that you are not prepared for.
Some of these Creatures roaming in certain areas are bigger and deadlier because of their size, others carry venoms that can kill you quickly if you are not prepared. The more deadly the area though, the better the resources, so you could do a lot of grinding in a relatively safe area and have the freedom to build and craft what you like. Or, you could be a little more adventurous as the rewards match the dangers, you find a better quality of resources in these more dangerous/higher tier areas which saves you a lot of time. Entirely up to you, as you have the freedom and your progression is non-linear, it's your choice (and how brave you are feeling).
Will there be multiple different types of weapons such as spears, daggers and maces like Conan or will it just be swords and bows
We have a range of different weapons that have different classes, and each class has a particular style. For instance, we have Swords which are good all-rounders and Hammers are not ideal against multiple enemies and swarms but are great at delivering a big hit on a creature that outweighs the Smallfolk.
Then there are different types of Bow that suit different purposes, or should I say Creature attacks.
Is every creature faction going to have its own armour or are only some going to have armour and others have weapons and other items?
No, not every creature has its own armour, but also there are Pathfinders that give you valuable knowledge, if you can find them, that also provide Quests and armours. Some Pathfinders allow you to form an alliance with a Creature and then you can learn about its behaviour and how it survives, and how that can benefit the Smallfolk. Some give you armour or armours, some give weapons, some give both.
As always, we love the questions and look forward to reading more of them!
We are incredibly excited to share that there will be a Smalland demo available in October!
It's been such an amazing journey bringing the game towards the early access launch and we'll share more on when you can expect that soon.
Whether you strike out on your own, or with other tiny allies there's an enormous world out there waiting to be explored. Will you head out into the wilds hunting various creepy crawlies, introduce yourself to the various factions making a living out in the world, or stake a claim and build your own little corner of Smalland? The choice is yours and we can't wait to see what you do out there!
Here's the latest teaser trailer for Smalland, to give you an idea of what challenges lies in wait... [previewyoutube="bdLoKD1t-Uk;full"]
We have another entry from the Pathfinders' journals to share some more information about a creature you may have seen pop up in some of of the materials we've shared so far, the humble Ladybug
Today I was approached by a Ladybug; a small creature often preyed upon by others, but this does nothing to dampen its plucky demeanour. Watching it I noticed that it will inquisitively seek out anything it finds interesting with mischievous glee. It seems that all Ladybugs are armoured and can withstand certain types of damage due to their armoured shell, the markings on the shell can also ward off potential roaming attackers.
As I broke camp it watched in earnest and then my new faithful companion followed me as we entered the grasslands. But it was here that we heard footsteps approaching, giving away the movements of a large predator manoeuvring through the tall grass. As we ran for our lives my new friend fell behind, and as I made it into the open, weapon drawn to defend myself, my companion was nowhere to be seen, yet the movement of the grass rustling in the opposite direction showed something lumbering slowly away, obviously content with a small meal.
We'll be back next time to take a look at another of the fascinating creatures of Smalland.
We've been pouring over your questions and have got some answers ready for FAQ Friday #8!
Without further ado...
Since there's going to be quests, are there going to be bosses? Yes, there are Bosses, one of which you can see in our last trailer; a very large battle-scarred Spider that has a history with one of the Pathfinders in the game...
Will we be able to use items from the house, just like in the movie Arrietty? Like needles for swords, sugar cubes for sweetening tea, etc. There are crafted items as the Smallfolk are skilled but have limited resources, and it's your job as their Vanguard to find more resources. But yes there will also be special items to find too. We rely on things growing within the world that you can use efficiently to craft, but then there are very special and unique items used to craft very special and unique rewards, and these are found via working with Factions.
This way we don't create an infinite number of say needles, or just one which would make it a race to get there as only one player can get it. This way we can make it feel special and rewarding.
How many variants of armour will there be? Will it be more than what we have seen or is that it? No, definitely more. Armour is very powerful in the game, so it takes time to earn and has lore attached, making it more meaningful
We're back to uncover another of the first pathfinders' journals and read their findings on the creatures inhabiting Smalland.
Although they have a distinctive look and sound, the Bees are very much like the Ants in terms of their goals and approach to survival. They work alone to collect pollen for the good of their species, but when attacked they rally in unison like Ants. Unlike Ants, Bees in one area are indifferent to Bees in another area. While faction allegiance does not cross over, certain totems have shown them that I mean no harm and could be a potential ally.
Bees do not eat in the wild, they take pollen back to their hive which surely must contain more secrets that we could benefit from. They are passive but will retaliate if attacked, using their powerful sting in combat creates the ultimate sacrifice, which they are willing to do for the greater cause of their species. Is this a noble act, or blind obedience? I believe the answer lies inside of their hives.
Check back next time to uncover more of the wildlife of Smalland.
We've dived into our 'ask your questions' channel on the Smalland Discord and pulled out some great questions to answer!
How many players can play at the same time in one world, is the game lobby-oriented, or server-oriented? Will I be able to build a common town with my entire group of friends?
Currently, we are looking at both options and weighing them up. The aim is approximately ten players in a game at once for now. We’re making it as flexible as possible for everyone to play solo, with friends or strangers, to play as a group, or just be in the same world occupied by other people that you can bump into occasionally. Everything has been designed around these principles and we’re aiming for as many players as possible per game.
Are there going to be different animals and insects during the day and the night in the game? Yes, Day and Night will affect things, as well as the weather and the seasons, some of these effects will be very minor, others more important to strategy
How will the weather system work in smalland?
The weather changes per season as does the temperature which also fluctuates. So the chances of rain, snow are all more likely to be heavier and lower or raise the temperature making it too cold or hot. This is set up to be organic and less scripted, so we create the feeling of a living breathing world, rather than being a repeating and totally reliable process.
It's time for another dev diary! Lead Designer Kev is back and this time he's here to introduce you to one of our NPC's.
The NPC's of Smalland have a range of different perspectives on the world above and its creature inhabitants. The Engineer comes from a place of science and approaches her work with a sense of discovery and love for nature.
Please like the video & share with your friends!
Without further ado, here's more from Kev... Enjoy!
We have uncovered another of the pathfinders' journals detailing their findings of the various creatures that inhabit the land above.
Here is a journal entry for the industrious brown ant.
Watching from afar, the Brown Ants are fantastically efficient workers which ensure their survival within the Land of the Small.
There are a few types of ants and each type works together in unison, attack one and they will all retaliate, or befriend one and others will also help.
There is much to be learned from studying these patient, unified creatures, working together as one to survive.
We'll continue to explore the pathfinders' journals for their findings on what you may encounter when you traverse the Land of the Small.
Back at it with some more answers to community questions! There are lots of new people finding the community so we love the questions and the opportunity to provide some new or expanded information for you!
What other sorts of travel options are you guys working on? I saw this and in the other channel some talk about the wings on the armour. I mean, I may be late to the party and missed it, but I'd think the game looks like it should lend itself to some sort of grapple hook or stamina based climbing. Although I figure both of those have likely been answered already.
Each mount for travel behaves differently and feels different to control with positives and negatives based on its size and its hierarchy within the food chain. These are very powerful and provide a huge amount of freedom in-game, allowing you to venture and explore areas that you may not be prepared for yet.
Armour also comes with various abilities, mimicking the traits of the Creature or faction it is based on. Some of these are traversal based so there is more planned than just insect wings for gliding. It's up to you to select the right combination of armour and mount which complement one another for the task at hand.
There are also some other elements that can be used for Travel, so watch this space.
How complex will the crafting/building system be? Is it a big part of the game or is it more like a side thing?
It’s a big part of the game, building makes your chances of survival stronger. Not only do you need shelter from the elements, but putting time into construction will provide various benefits. It is also your main goal, your role as a Vanguard is to secure a safe place for your people so they can begin to leave the undercity and settle in the Land of the Small where they truly belong.
Will all materials in the world be collectable/useable? (i.e. will grass be collectable and actually have a use? or rocks or even, say, metals from the items found around the big world)?
Yes and no, there is a wide range of natural resources as you’d expect in a survival game. But the trees are huge and you can't just start cutting down trees, they are too thick. Instead, you harvest bark and twigs rather than the main bulk of the tree. Various plants have properties that can be put to good use such as bindings and oils. There are also special items that can be discovered via Quests too which make more unique crafting opportunities.
Will you have to pay to get multiplayer?
Nope, Smalland is designed to be a PVE game, you can play solo or with friends, or just bump into strangers, joining them or ignoring them in your shared world, its entirely up to you. There is a better chance of survival in larger numbers, and more opportunities for rewards, but how you play is up to you; solo, team, looking for a team, and there is no additional cost.
Keep those questions coming, we're around on the Steam forum and of course in our official Discord server!
We've been so humbled by the response to our first official gameplay trailer, and it's been wonderful to welcome many new people to the Smalland community who discovered us through E3.
For new members, we have an FAQ of some common questions that may help you get acquainted.
Here are some great community questions and answers!
Will the player character be voiced acted or silent?
Currently silent. We’ve decided on this course because of a couple of things; Budget is one of them, and the other is flexibility as with v/o you need to have everything locked down and ready very early. Now, this could definitely be an option during Early Access, so we’ll see what happens as there are NPCs and they are important to the game as they help explain the lore as well as your goals. They all have very distinct personalities and backstory too, which will be revealed as you ally yourself with a faction over time and trust.
Will there be an arachnophobia mode?
This has definitely come up previously on the Smalland Discord Channel. Since Smalland is jam-packed with creepy crawly creatures, it's kind of pointless to have an arachnophobia mode when there are so many other potentially scary things in the game. You would have to turn off a lot of content and it would be a very different experience. So while it's great in theory, we have decided against it since it’s such a Creature focused game.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I remember an old Smalland trailer with a train...What happened to it?
You're not wrong, there was a train in the original trailer. This is not something that's been ignored, and we have a train ready to be implemented, the thing that's stopping it is why is there a train on a branch in the middle of a forest?
We’ve spent a lot of time trying to justify this, and it doesn't make sense. We’ve worked very hard to create a sense of fantasy but also plausible belief, and getting a working train on a branch doesn't make sense. What is powering it? What is its purpose?
Every idea we have is better when we use a creature instead, it's more fun and suits the game so much better. Also riding on a toy train is kind of just like riding on a train since you’re small. So elements, where you take advantage of the environment because of the height and perspective, work really well. Such as sneaking through gaps feels far better than it should, seeing something we as humans class as normal but experiencing it as Smallfolk is fun and memorable. But a tiny train to a tiny person is just a train.
So the train is there, rebuilt so it’s ready to work properly in-game and not a cutscene. But how to effectively use it so it makes sense or in a way that’s more fun than riding a Lizard, Hornet, or Grasshopper…. Feel free to jump into Discord and make some suggestions.
