Imagine a DF-like with virtually unlimited budget and dedication

[ULTRA]

While we wait for Steam release, what kind of features would you like to see in a high-end DF-like? This is a kinda rare genre so it's not totally apparent to me what a super professional version would look like. The closest things we have are stuff like Rimworld and Gnomoria. Here are some of my ideas:

- High camera and 3D graphics with cutaway geometry (sorta like Sims)
- Along with 3D graphics, an Adventure mode where you can assume control of a character in first person
- A genius to come along and figure out how to even represent ancient beasts in a 3D renderer in a unique fashion (not symbolically)
- Maybe a Spore-like creator for crafting artifacts?

Is there any stuff you guys have reeeeeally wanted to see in these games? Even if it's been done in mods (i.e. what are your favorite mods also)?

[Viss Valdyr]

I actually want to see dwarf fortress as a game more than a simulation. DF gets bland after a while for me.

[ULTRA]

Originally posted by Viss Valdyr:

I actually want to see dwarf fortress as a game more than a simulation. DF gets bland after a while for me.

Maybe like a narrative or campaign? Maybe some kind of impetus at the start defining a victory condition?

[Viss Valdyr]

I don't know, really. Goals, intruige, events (even scripted). But for me, my most forts just survive. I rarely loose a fort. And sure, I can set some handycaps here and there, but why can't the game "make it harder for me". Rimworld does it quite nicely with the storytelling. Also the game needs some balancing as well (food is too easy to come by, you can just burrow yourself from anything outside, etc.).
The UI needs work, too. There is a lot to do, to make it a proper game. Please don't hate me for that, that's just my opinion. And I respect yours if it is different.

[ULTRA]

Yea sure, the UI is pretty rudimentary and I think that's supposed to be partially addressed in the Steam release. I agree some scripted events would make things more interesting.

[Manveruthan]

Originally posted by Viss Valdyr:

I don't know, really. Goals, intruige, events (even scripted). But for me, my most forts just survive. I rarely loose a fort. And sure, I can set some handycaps here and there, but why can't the game "make it harder for me". Rimworld does it quite nicely with the storytelling. Also the game needs some balancing as well (food is too easy to come by, you can just burrow yourself from anything outside, etc.).
The UI needs work, too. There is a lot to do, to make it a proper game. Please don't hate me for that, that's just my opinion. And I respect yours if it is different.

Well, army updates to allow invaders to burrow or break down defenses is supposedly coming with the smaller updates after the steam release (before myth and magic), so hopefully that'll really break all the current easy defense strategies. Kinda wish some other base systems would be updated before magic as well like farming as you said, but it's nice to see the steam release put focus on polishing up some old stuff at least.

[Skinny Pete]

Originally posted by Manveru:

Originally posted by Viss Valdyr:

I don't know, really. Goals, intruige, events (even scripted). But for me, my most forts just survive. I rarely loose a fort. And sure, I can set some handycaps here and there, but why can't the game "make it harder for me". Rimworld does it quite nicely with the storytelling. Also the game needs some balancing as well (food is too easy to come by, you can just burrow yourself from anything outside, etc.).
The UI needs work, too. There is a lot to do, to make it a proper game. Please don't hate me for that, that's just my opinion. And I respect yours if it is different.

Well, army updates to allow invaders to burrow or break down defenses is supposedly coming with the smaller updates after the steam release (before myth and magic), so hopefully that'll really break all the current easy defense strategies. Kinda wish some other base systems would be updated before magic as well like farming as you said, but it's nice to see the steam release put focus on polishing up some old stuff at least.

You can already turn on enemy tunneling in dfhack (and almost certainly when they introduce this into vanilla there will be a dfhack script to turn it back off too).

[GoblinCookie]

Get rid of all the bugs!!!!

[V|RUS]

mouse control...........

[Retro]

Dwarf fortress mixed with Kenshi is the dream game if i ever randomly become a multi millionaire with stupid amount of money its a project i would do.

[Skinny Pete]

Unlimited budget means some corporate entity which means executive meddling which means whatever would result would not be Dwarf Fortress.

[Blitz4]

Originally posted by Mountain Man:

Imagine a DF-like with virtually unlimited budget and dedication

This sounds unobtainable. For any project.

I can't name one project where everyone working on it was just as passionate about the project as the originator.

[Retro]

damn people putting reality in a fantasy scenario it's nice to dream! even if it's not realistic who knows maybe there is some sort of dwarf fortress ultra fan that is super rich---There was that one baseball player who dump a bunch of money into making a RPG but we all know what happened with him....so its possible and i doubt the budget would be as high as a SKYRIM rpg.

[Blitz4]

Maybe the fact that there is a limited budget is the reason this game exists. What if the Wizard behind DF became mega rich and that changed who he was.

I don't know how I can help to make the game better other than reporting bugs. 0.47 in Linux needs more reporters right now.

[GoblinCookie]

Originally posted by Blitz4:

Originally posted by Mountain Man:

Imagine a DF-like with virtually unlimited budget and dedication

This sounds unobtainable. For any project.

I can't name one project where everyone working on it was just as passionate about the project as the originator.

You do understand this is a thought experiment.

[Sugar Show]

Mouse control, animated objects, animal noises, medieval music and workshop feature like "Build your own map with total control of objects and events"