Goblin Camp Returns
March 24, 2025 12:59 PM Subscribe
The Goblin-based and previously ASCII-based base builder is back.
Base/colony/city builders are big genre on Steam right now, to the point of there being an entire currently ongoing Fest. Plus: Noclip is doing a multi-episode documentary on Dwarf Fortress AKA Slaves to Armok: God of Blood Chapter II: Dwarf Fortress.
Base/colony/city builders are big genre on Steam right now, to the point of there being an entire currently ongoing Fest. Plus: Noclip is doing a multi-episode documentary on Dwarf Fortress AKA Slaves to Armok: God of Blood Chapter II: Dwarf Fortress.
All these games are so colonial-mindset.
Are there any games where you have to resist and undermine the colonizers, make sure they fail at building their encampments?
posted by signal at 4:16 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
Are there any games where you have to resist and undermine the colonizers, make sure they fail at building their encampments?
posted by signal at 4:16 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
Yes, you want Dungeon Keeper games, signal. You create inviting habitable environments for natives, who then join of their own free will. You help resolve conflicts among the different natives and then help them organize to resist colonizers. It's not one dimensional either, in that you can convert some colonizers over to the natives' side.
In reality, an underground habitat would actually depend upon resources from the surface of course, which quickly becomes colonization. Yet, these Dungeon Keeper games have some fantasy "underdark" setting, where underground habitats exist without surface connections until surface colonizers dig their way down.
posted by jeffburdges at 5:03 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
In reality, an underground habitat would actually depend upon resources from the surface of course, which quickly becomes colonization. Yet, these Dungeon Keeper games have some fantasy "underdark" setting, where underground habitats exist without surface connections until surface colonizers dig their way down.
posted by jeffburdges at 5:03 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]
@SaltySalticid Oops, yes, I meant to link to the new version. I've asked staff to fix up the link. I did make Kobold Pit and want to rewrite it as a JavaScript-based web game at some point, along with a zillion other small Java games I've made.
I agree that these games are all very colonial. I've had some extensive conversations about this problem, and I don't know how you'd fix it. It's kind of how anti-war movies still end up being war movies. Your best bet would be Terra Nil.
posted by Zarkonnen at 11:44 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
I agree that these games are all very colonial. I've had some extensive conversations about this problem, and I don't know how you'd fix it. It's kind of how anti-war movies still end up being war movies. Your best bet would be Terra Nil.
posted by Zarkonnen at 11:44 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]
Kobold Pit look fun! I will give it a try later. I am generally in the "more fun to read about than play" camp for DF, but I appreciate various slimmed-down takes on the genre (with sane UI). Might try Goblin Camp with my kid at some point, but he's maybe a little young still.
If you are looking for a place to put some small games that would be appreciated, maybe consider porting to Picotron? You'd get a built-in way to play on the web via the BBS, and I think the audience there would welcome them. I don't know how hard it is to move between java and Lua, but Lua is pretty easy at least...
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:42 AM on March 25
If you are looking for a place to put some small games that would be appreciated, maybe consider porting to Picotron? You'd get a built-in way to play on the web via the BBS, and I think the audience there would welcome them. I don't know how hard it is to move between java and Lua, but Lua is pretty easy at least...
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:42 AM on March 25
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Also: I guess I know why they do it, but 14 years in "early access" is always going to feel weird.
And: What's the status of Kobold Pit?
posted by SaltySalticid at 1:13 PM on March 24 [3 favorites]