Can you explain the climbing mechanics?

[Adam Beckett]

The trailer and visuals are very appealing and already is conveying that this is a game by talented professionals.

What is hard to understand is how the actual gameplay relates to the player input. It is difficult to showcase, without showing a player's hands, controlling/playing the game?

Is the locomotion somewhat comparable to games like QWOP? Where you control legs individually? The trailer is showing trembling legs. Are you having to control arms and legs at the same time? Left Trigger/Right Trigger + two more controls?

It would be really interesting to know how 'in-depth' the main game mechanic - climbing - is realized, in this game. Not that it matters, as a selling point that much. I will buy this either way.

[Balmung]

From how the movement in the trailer is and they suggest to playing it with a controller I would say you use your stick/mouse direction to move your hand into that direction and when there is a point to grab/put your feed on the characters grabs/moves onto it, by button press or automatically, what didn't mean that that point is safe, obviously.

I guess climbing this way could be intense and already the trailer looked very immersive, like a great adventure feeling game. Was my main reason why I wishlist it. There are not many games out that really give you the feel of an true adventure. And after I noticed it is from the Haven makers and have even more trust it is good in that point.

[Crash]

I'm guessing close to Jusant, though more complex...

[Outplayedx]

Just hoping for some Death Stranding vibes.

[lauranne]

Hi!

It's a large question, and you're pretty right that it's hard to explain without letting you try it for yourself (we're working on that, I promise). I also have to be a bit vague by times to avoid spoilers!

I wouldn't say it feels like QWOP, but you do have control of your arms and legs individually. You will only move one at a time (like any climber would to stay secure), with full range of movement

The climbing mechanic is the core gameplay, and we wanted it to be deep, you have the main mechanic of moving your limbs, but you also have resource management with stamina (the shaking legs are an indicator of low stamina!) and pitons, chalk... You also need to be strategic about your route because the mountain is completely open to you.

Thank you so much for wishlisting Cairn :)

[Martial.Lore]

Speaking from the perspective of a former climber, it is a bit strange to see someone climbing such steep rock faces with a fully-loaded backpack. Typically a climber will climb unburdened as much as possible and rope-haul most of their (heavier) equipment up behind them. You just don't want all of that unnecessary weight on your back pulling you away from the vertical rock face. On less steep terrain, obviously, this is not such an issue.

[iwem.xo]

Originally posted by lauranne:

Hi!

It's a large question, and you're pretty right that it's hard to explain without letting you try it for yourself (we're working on that, I promise). I also have to be a bit vague by times to avoid spoilers!

I wouldn't say it feels like QWOP, but you do have control of your arms and legs individually. You will only move one at a time (like any climber would to stay secure), with full range of movement

The climbing mechanic is the core gameplay, and we wanted it to be deep, you have the main mechanic of moving your limbs, but you also have resource management with stamina (the shaking legs are an indicator of low stamina!) and pitons, chalk... You also need to be strategic about your route because the mountain is completely open to you.

Thank you so much for wishlisting Cairn :)

Sounds quite similar to https://store.steampowered.com/app/2179440/New_Heights_Realistic_Climbing_and_Bouldering/
That's a good thing.

[Balmung]

Originally posted by Martial.Lore:

Speaking from the perspective of a former climber, it is a bit strange to see someone climbing such steep rock faces with a fully-loaded backpack. Typically a climber will climb unburdened as much as possible and rope-haul most of their (heavier) equipment up behind them. You just don't want all of that unnecessary weight on your back pulling you away from the vertical rock face. On less steep terrain, obviously, this is not such an issue.

True, but as long this game is not called a hard climbing simulator, it is always a compromise of realism and game "realism".

[Balmung]

Originally posted by lauranne:

Hi!

It's a large question, and you're pretty right that it's hard to explain without letting you try it for yourself (we're working on that, I promise). I also have to be a bit vague by times to avoid spoilers!

I wouldn't say it feels like QWOP, but you do have control of your arms and legs individually. You will only move one at a time (like any climber would to stay secure), with full range of movement

The climbing mechanic is the core gameplay, and we wanted it to be deep, you have the main mechanic of moving your limbs, but you also have resource management with stamina (the shaking legs are an indicator of low stamina!) and pitons, chalk... You also need to be strategic about your route because the mountain is completely open to you.

Thank you so much for wishlisting Cairn :)

Sounds good, but I hope you get the animation better as QWOP does. Your game is more of immersion and such a clunky movement can easily break it. That movement was also a little bit strange to look at in the trailer.

[meh]

I'm confused as to what is that very long horizontal pole/shaft especially.
No one would ever climb with that thing on the back, but I guess it has some gameplay purpose...

[lauranne]

oh that's a lamp! if you look at the trailer at 1:00 you can see it in use. Since you can climb at night, and in dark spots it does serve gameplay purpose