EFUPW Forums

Main Forums => Off-topic Discussion => Topic started by: Jubek on November 29, 2020, 10:14:46 PM

Title: Alternative sources of inspiration
Post by: Jubek on November 29, 2020, 10:14:46 PM
My intent with this is clearly not compete with EFU. Sometimes we're in situations when we can't afford to spend time to play on the server, and in other situations, we find the creativity well has dried out and either need a break or find another one to inspire ourselves.  What I offer here is\are single-player game(s) that need very little playtime to achieve something, and at the same time offer alternative sources of inspiration for concepts. Or just satisfy your imagination.

You are welcome to post your little gems for fellow players.


Sunless Sea

From Failbetter games, which created similar games like Fallen London (web-browser game) and Sunless Skies, Sunless Sea is a rogue-like game that puts you in the shoes of a « zee captain ». It happens in the victorian era, and London has mysteriously been transported to an underground sea, (the Zee) where a Terra Incognita awaits there to be explored. It is an incredibly rich game world based on years of lore development from Fallen London, features a permadeath system (optional) with an emphasis on trials and errors, audacity and exploration in a victorian horror setting. Each time you die, (and it'll happen) part of your ressources and stats will be transferred to the next captain, depending on what you've chosen\unlocked during last game.

You have to manage supplies, fuels and morale on your ship. You'll recruit officers that gives stat boosts, offer personal storylines and possibly quests to follow. The main focus, however, is the stories that are delivered through time. This is a slow-paced game, and should be enjoyed for its atmosphere, not for performance. You gain experience (fragments) by discovering new things, and get stat points (secrets) by amassing enough of them. You have five stats; Iron, Mirrors, Veils, Pages, Hearts.

Irons : Represents your tactical abilities and knowledge, both on sea and in-land.
Mirrors : Your capacity of observation, and discernment. Allows your ship to shoots faster.
Veils : Discretion and smuggling. Makes your ship go faster, and remain undetected on sea.
Pages : How knowledgeable you are. Amass more fragments with each new discovery.
Hearts : Passion, charisma and your capacity to reason others. Helpful for mutiny.

Each stat is very useful, depending on what you're aiming for, and used regularly.

Personal experience

[hide]
Captain Jamieson

My actual character was a street-urchin. Doing thefts here and there in a gang, he became a zee-captain instead of delving deeper into crime. Exploring the different islands of he uncharted territories, he drew the attention of London's fleet admiral, to whom he sells reports of the places he visits. One day, during a conversation, a snippet of information was said, didn't fell on a deaf ear, and cpt. Jamieson found a secret collaborator, to whom he now sells a part of his informations, making more money, but working with dangerous allies, like the Dawn Machine, that frightens people with an artificial sun. Smuggling boxes of sunlight and red honey wine (made of people's memories), gathering tales of terror and of moves in the Great Game (forms of currency), he is also developing a spy network in a distant port, and whether he does so for Her Majesty or his own interests is up to him alone. Some of his companions on his ship are a tireless engineer who never sleeps, a mushroom-man that serves as a mascot, and a nearly faceless, bandaged cook. Each has their own tale to tell.
Apart from this, and the personal stories of his comrades, the ultimate goal of Captain Jamieson is to find what happened to his father, lost at the zee.

Everything I've told in my personal experience is something that happened in-game. As you can see, it can be easy to be inspired from the wild creativity that galores from the game. I probably mentionned the most light stuff, not to spoil too much.[/hide]

There is also an add-on zubmarine, that offers similar quality stories, like exploring, among others, a sunken cathedral, a city built inside a sea monster, and hunting monsters of the abyss.

The game graphics are to be considered light by today standards, but they are pretty nonetheless, and accompany nicely a vivid imagination that will give birth to whatever wild narrative you're to find in-game. The soundtrack is also great, and really puts you in the mood when you're far from London, low on fuel, morale, and never knows when a sea creature is going to spot you...but the worst (or best?) is if the next discovery is going to save you or end you.

Here are a few screenshots :

[hide](https://www.bonusstage.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Sunless-Sea-Zubmariner-Edition-Review-Screenshot-3.jpg)

(https://s2.content.video.llnw.net/images-prod/81d5fd2a308b4f5c981628b17e9fcadd/media/fe4fee63673544928345be686f8143fc/preview-v_6.1024x576.jpeg)

(https://news-cdn.softpedia.com/images/news2/Sunless-Sea-Diary-Beautiful-Writing-Still-Hard-to-Read-it-All-473915-4.jpg)

(https://game-wisdom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Sunless-Sea-2.jpg)[/hide]


Can be bought there (Christmas soon. Expect a sale!)
https://www.gog.com/game/sunless_sea
https://store.steampowered.com/app/304650/SUNLESS_SEA/
Title: Re: Alternative sources of inspiration
Post by: Mushroom Mushroom on November 29, 2020, 10:18:30 PM
THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN
Title: Re: Alternative sources of inspiration
Post by: Dredi on November 30, 2020, 09:48:40 AM
Damn it Mushroom, you beat me to it!