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Bark stuff, birch-bark stuff
Many updates to peeling bark from trees, and utilizing birch-bark as well, are on their way. Most fundamental addition of all the bark related stuff is to allow harvesting birch-bark and feature it as raw material which can be used in many different crafts. Takes a while before we get into adding crafts, but bark harvesting changes and additions have been made already, and they can be summarized roughly as follows: Birch-bark is peeled in long strips, which are wound to a ball for storage. (These kind of balls of birch-bark are called Sommelo in finnish.) Harvesting birch-bark in strips is slower compared to (already existing) ways of removing bark in sheets, but as a strip it's ready for weaving. Moreover, time of the year now matters in harvesting any bark. It's best to be done in early summer, and gets more difficult (and eventually impossible) out of the proper period. The bark yield (from a single tree) is also not constant but depends on the season and character's timbercraft skill. And the biggest catch of this all that with adding birch-bark strips we'll be also adding unit of lenght to appropriate game items - that will eventually cover all the cords and ropes as well. So the requirements for birch-bark crafts are going to be eg. "16 feet of birch-bark strip" rather than some weight measure of bark. Many new possibilities open. But it's a hassle at first now to make conversions and routines understand the lenght. But that's my hassle, you just stay tuned... These are future additions, not yet functional in current version 3.52. May 29, 2019, 12:21:31 PM |
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Craftable birch-bark items and associated ponderings
Craftable birch-bark items are a thing now. You can make boxes, and baskets, and shoes and caps - and also birch-bark ropes. Character's CARPENTRY skill determines the success of birch-bark crafting. And while I was at it, leather/fur cloth crafting times and material requirements were also touched a bit. All the material requirements have been increased to slightly exceed the finished cloth weights, and crafting times of smaller clothes have been reasoned by increasing or decreasing the required time. And while I was studying the nature and construction of birch-bark shoes, I found a remark that if birch-bark shoes were used in a field work they lasted in usable condition for maybe two weeks. So in real life birch-bark shoes should wear out pretty quickly if used extensively. And as our characters usually tend to walk ridiculously excessive distances on almost daily basis it got me thinking of adding wearing out mechanism for shoes and boots so that you would need to replace them every once in a while. So...something like that is also very likely to be added now. June 14, 2019, 12:09:23 PM |
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Messing with measures
So, the length property has been added for tying equipment, and I've been working on to update item conversions and crafting requirements to accept this brand new addition. Adding measure of length is a perfect example of seemingly simple, yet fundamental addition which extends all around the code and has brought up numerous related features. Here's where we are at now with tying equipment additions, and now I hope to be able to catch up with more NPC stuff - where I was before getting entwined by ropes and cords. - added: measure of length for tying equipment Appropriate items, such as ropes, now have a length property. The unit of length we use is foot (ft), and should an item have a length property it is displayed both in inventory menu and when looking at items on the ground. This addition foremostly affects to crafting material requirements which can now be length based. - added: new crafting category under [M]ake menu: "Tying quipment" This category contains the usual ropes and cords, which are now removed from their previous location in "Utility articles". - added: Join and shorten options to manipulate tying equipment lengths Under "Tying equipment" category within [M]ake menu there are options for joining and shorterning ropes and cords as sometimes specific length is desired. You may not want to spend full length rope on something that requires only a short piece, or you may need to join cords together to come up with long enough string for a specific craft. - changed: tying equipment requirements in crafting are now length based Instead of requiring certain number of cords and ropes all the tying equipment requirements are now length based. - reasoned: required tying equipment types in some crafting recipes For example: When making arrows, previously you could use any "tying equipment" in the process - including ropes. Now arrow making requires "cord", a little finer and more specific tying equipment. - added: tying equipment used in cookery do not disappear in the process anymore You can pick your ropes and cords back after the smoking and drying processes are done. These are future additions, not yet functional in current version 3.52. July 10, 2019, 01:40:01 PM |
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Summery summary in the midst of upcoming version hype
Yes, yes. Yet another version is cooking up. That's not news. That's how it goes with UnReal World. But what it will be about, and when to expect a release? That would be more like news. And that's what this post is about. Summer is always a busy season. There's so much happening that it's hard to even summarize what's happening. Many of the warm days and nightless nights get spent on recreational activities, but working hours in the development chambers have been also been busy and sweaty. Now lets take a look at what has happened, and to where all this is taking us. Some of this stuff may have been announced already, but it doesn't hurt to drool once again. The main focus of upcoming version is laid on NPCs. This applies to both companions you can hire for yourself, and wandering woodsmen you may meet in the wild. But that's not all. I'll cover some of the upcoming new features in the chunks of text below. I won't add screenshots this time, but a few selected historical image sources from Finnish museums and archives. Some of these may not be era-accurate, but mood and theme suitable nevertheless. Wandering NPCs will actively hunt animals, based on their cultural preferences, and also utilize the kills the best they can. This opens up possibilities for numerous exciting incidents to take place as the woods with hunters and their game now becomes far more alive and complex than before. The very act of NPCs hunting is propably rarely witnessed by the player character but traces and remains found in the woods can tell a story of another human hunter at the area. Wandering woodsmen and adventurers may now also occasionally have dog companions with them. And just like the dogs owned by player characters these will also protect their masters.  "Hunter with his gear" Photographer: Sirelius U.T. 1898 National Board of Antiquities / Suomalais-ugrilainen kuvakokoelma / SUK36:263 License: CC BY 4.0 Companion usefulness gets boosted with several new tasks they can do on demand New companion commands are: * butcher and skin carcasses * roast meat or fish * make logs and boards Companions skills naturally affect to outcome of the tasks so their expertise can be sometimes used to obtain higher quality goods than what the player characters could produce by themselves. That's cool, you might think. And you also might think of few other tasks companions could do. Indeed. Same here. We actually do have a few more things regarding companions still under construction. Currently we're working on mechanisms to allow unoccupied companions automatically to help you with laborous tasks (eg. building) thus shortening the working time. Well, we haven't concentrated solely on living things. Here's a few of probably the most interesting additions and features regarding item galore; Harvesting and utilizing birch-bark It will be possible to harvest and utitilize birch-bark in crafting. Birch-bark is peeled and removed from a tree in long strips which are then wound to a ball for storage. (As a trivia, this kind of balls are called 'Sommelo' in Finnish.) It will be possible for player character now to craft birch-bark shoes, caps, boxes, baskets - and also birch-bark ropes.  Ball of birch-bark, 'Sommelo'. The National Museum of Finland / Yleisetnografiset kokoelmat / VK5354:11 License: CC BY 4.0 Measure of length for tying equipment Tying equipment such as ropes and cords now have a length property, and tying equipment requirements in crafting are now length based. There will be also options for joining and shorterning ropes and cords as sometimes specific length is desired. Armour and cloth quality having impact on their protective values High quality armours and clothes now provide more protection, and the low quality ones provide less. In most cases this covers more than one coverage aspect, but always at least the most important aspect for the item in question. Footwear wearing out in use Shoes and boots now wear out in use ie. when walking or otherwise moving around by foot. Footwear material determines their durability.  Reindeer fur boots, 'Nutukkaat'. The National Museum of Finland / Suomalais-ugrilaiset kokoelmat / SU4724:35 License: CC BY 4.0 Let this be enough for summery summary about what to expect. Now then there's that other question... When we're done with those "few more things" still pending to be added it is time to start wrapping things up for a beta release. I'm quite reluctant to set or mention any deadlines as they usually don't keep, but if we think it out loud then... It shouldn't take more than few weeks to finish the most urgent pending to-do's. Then a week of extensive testing and adjusting the latest additions, and then if everything goes fine it's time to start final packaging. So... ...we could be seeing first beta of the brave new version in early september. And from there on, what has been laid in there will still be evolving and growing, stabilizing and multiplying. It should be noted that the beta version will be released on Steam, and for lifetimers, and standalone (donation-based, free-of-charge) installers will follow after significantly longer time than what we have used to in the past. This is because the donation-based distribution has been receiving very marginal and insufficient support for years already, and I have to reason things out how to balance with the current distribution models. I'll be happy to answer possibly puzzled questions of relatively recent of near-future intending donors but that will have to await until next week - but don't hesitate to even e-mail if you feel like it. August 05, 2019, 11:53:54 AM |
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With a little help from companions. And the approaching release.
It's september. It's release month. We're making final touches, tests and preparations to allow first beta of upcoming version 3.60 to go live in few weeks - on Steam and for lifetimers, that is. It is also likely that the first beta will be released for Windows only, and other platforms will follow later on. This is because our OSX and Linux maintainer is super busy this month, and aiming for synchronized release would delay things far onto October. When the rumble starts we'll be seeing several beta versions on our way towards stable tag as there's still stuff on 3.60 to-do list. As mentioned, the main focus of upcoming version is laid on NPCs and companions. Several new NPC/companion features have been mentioned in previous posts, and we'll hereby highlight one more big addition. - added: companions can help you with laborous tasks thus shortening the working time Unoccupied companions now spontaneously help you with many different tasks. Their labor input helps to finish the physical work in shorter time, but doesn't otherwise affect to result or quality of the task outcome. The help companions provide is imagined to be something they can do without specific tools, but the kind which makes it easier and faster to finish the work together. For example: When building a log wall it helps to have extra hands around for moving and setting the logs in place even if the player character would be the one who does the necessary carving. When softening the skin with beater as a final stage of tanning process it helps to have somebody around to check, adjust or tighten the skin if necessary. When setting and retrieving nets it helps to have somebody to row the watercraft. The tasks where companions can currently help you are as follows: * all the building tasks * building trap constructions * setting and retrieving nets * harvestring bark * tanning stages of cleaning, applying tanning material and final softening * crafting rafts * crafting leather ropes * crafting birch-bark containers and ropes The tasks are 10-20% faster to perform with a companion and in many cases having multiple helping pairs of hands shortens the time 5-10% more per companion. However, the benefits of helpers is gapped at three (3) companions, so having more than three helpers doesn't shorten the the working time any further. It depends on the task how many helpers is the optimal number, and this varies from one to three companions. Companions do help you with these tasks completely spontaneously, without any commands, if they are free from other chores and can reach the player character. You will be notified about companions helping you with specific messages displayed right after starting the task. These messages also tell if you are being assisted with the optimal maximum number of companions for the task in question. If you receive help from some companion(s), but the task would be even easier with more helping hands the message is, for example, as follows: "You get some help with this task from Ahti." And if you have the optimal maximum number of helpers the message is, for example, as follows: "Tapio, Korjus and Visa help you with this task."  Screenshot of upcoming version 3.60. Companion helps the character with setting the net. It should be noted that the beta version will be released on Steam, and for lifetimers, and standalone (donation-based, free-of-charge) installers will follow after significantly longer time than what we have used to in the past. This is because the donation-based distribution has been receiving very marginal and insufficient support for years already, and I have to reason things out how to balance with the current distribution models. I'll be happy to answer possibly puzzled questions of relatively recent of near-future intending donors but that will have to await until next week - but don't hesitate to even e-mail if you feel like it. September 04, 2019, 12:51:53 PM |
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Version 3.60 beta [for Windows] released on Steam, and for Lifetime members
Version 3.60 beta [for Windows] is now available on Steam as beta-branch you can opt-into at will. Lifetime members can find the beta version at the designated forum section. This first beta is available only for Windows at this point. Other platforms will follow in-time. We're sorry for the prolonged waiting time, but couldn't help it, and really needed to start 3.60 betas rolling. And they get rolling from now on. Things are fairly stable already, but our to-do list is still not completed. So bear in mind that many of the features now available will be polished even further in patches to follow as we stride towards the stable tag. Key features of version 3.60 The key features of version 3.60 version deal with NPCs, companions, domestic animals, village properties, and crafting additions. The list of additions and fixes is long and you can find the changelog here. One of the most awaited additions is wandering NPCs now actively hunting animals on detailed map level. This opens up possibilities for numerous exciting incidents to take place as the woods with hunters and their game now becomes far more alive and complex than before.  Screenshot from version 3.60beta. The player character has followed an elk, freezing and starving. He bumps into a scene never witnessed before. There's a pile of elk bones, raw elk meat and few arrows. And an adventurer, who has apparently downed that elk, now carrying it's winter fur and some cuts he had already roasted. This is just one example of scenes which could have been witnessed by player character, turn by turn, from the start of the hunt to very act of utilizing the carcass. Who can have it? You can have it, but you gotta get it from Steam. Standalone versions of 3.60 will follow after significantly longer time than what we have gotten used to in the past. This is because during past years donations have dried out disallowing solely donation-based development to thrive. Donations are still an option, people do it for a reason or another, but your generosity isn't any longer linked to the great perk of most up-to-date version being freely available for everyone. I'll be happy to answer possibly puzzled questions of relatively recent of near-future intending donors, so don't hesitate to eg. e-mail me if you feel like it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cheers, have fun, and let's keep our fingers crossed for the possible beta bugs being minor and scarce. But whatever their size and annoyance level may be, we've got our bows prepared for shooting them down. September 15, 2019, 06:46:48 PM |
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3.60 (stable) released on Steam, with Halloween sale & Kekri celebration
Halloween sale is on at Steam, and our own festivities also include the release of UnReal World version 3.60 (stable) there. You can grab the game for decent discount at UnReal World store page, and Lifetimers will find the release at the designated forum section. Now if you've been itching to start playing 3.60, maybe counting your coins, we're having the biggest discount so far to make it a little more affordable for You. Those who feel reluctant about playing connected Steam we remind that it's not a thing in case of UnReal World. You can be and play as offline as you want. It's Kekri, not halloween, in the Far North. Kekri is an ancient Finnish harvest festival celebrated in the fall when the annual agricultural activities were all accomplished and the harvest collected. Kekri meant the end of the crop year, which was a big turning point. It was the time when the souls and spirits of the dead wandered around and visited the living. The ancestors were respected and welcomed. Sauna was heated up for them, and meal prepared too. The living celebrated accordingly, and so do we. We have harvested and processed the bugs and to-dos since the last beta and now together with Kekri celebrations 3.60 stable is out. Kekri Goat Kekri time included tradition of Kekripukki (Kekri goat) figure. People would dress up as horned creatures, wearing furs or coats upside down, and went around in their disguises and were offered food and drink. So, what does a decent developer of tradition rich game do to follow the tradition?  Well, hello there, any foods or drinks to offer? Some purchases will do as well. You can find full 3.60 changelog here and this is what's been added since 3.60beta-hotfix3: UnReal World version 3.60 (stable) changelog: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - added: tree saplings There are now small saplings of spruce and birch trees appearing on zoomed-in maps. Saplings are not obstacles for movement like the bigger trees but you can walk right through them. Saplings can be cut down like any trees, and they have use in making of withes. MIGRATION NOTICE: Saplings can be found only on newly generated maps. If your character has explored the world extensively you may want to run map maintenance (key command [7]) which removes unimportant previously generated zoomed-in maps. - added: withe - a new type of tying equipment Withes are tying and binding equipment made from flexible, slender saplings of spruce or birch trees. Your character can make withes from [M]ake-menu under Tying equipment category. - added: WITHE game encyclopedia entry [F1] - added: fence building now requires two bands of tying equipment Fences have been traditionally tied with spruce withes, which are the preferred and convenient choice, but any other tying equipment will work as well. - added: villagers now cook their raw meat and fish Villagers will now cook raw meat and fish in their possession. This doesn't necessarily happen instantly upon obtaining the meat or fish, but at convenient moment for the villager in question. - added: inventory auto-filtered to show timber when birch-bark raw material requirement selection is being made - changed: upon planting something the sprouts are not immediately visible Only after some days you will be able to see the sprouts of what you had planted. Before the sprouts, planted tiles appear in thicker prepared soil graphics so you will be able to recognize them. - adjusted: village dogs don't bark at sleeping characters Watchdogs barking at restfully sleeping characters made it impossible to have good nights sleep in a village. - fixed: using length based items as weight based crafting material got their properties modified confusingly For example tanning with birch-bark strips. - fixed: hunting NPCs might choose to hunt player character's domestic reindeers - fixed: villagers rejecting traps in trading, claiming that they have enough even though they had none - fixed: raft weight reasoned They've been super light earlier, but now weigh around proper 1200 pounds. This makes hauling the only option for moving rafts around on dry land. - fixed: young leaves could be picked immediately when plants sprouted Now the plant needs to be few weeks old before picking of leaves is possible. - fixed: double animal skin when skinning the same carcass as your NPC companions - fixed: young animals meat yield occasionally being as high as that of the adult animals - fixed: NPC butchering/skinning processes in the background might cause player spend times to jump or reset - fixed: NPC owned dogs not leaving tracks in the wilderness - fixed: tying equipment return issues after drying/smoking If several stacks of food was dried/smoked at the same location using same kind of tying equipment all the tying equipment got returned when the first batch of food was ready. - fixed: player crafted items occasionally appearing as roasted foods (if there was NPCs cooking nearby) - fixed: when looking at tree harvested of its bark the tree info mistakenly said "partially felled" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celebrate & Participate We wish you happy Kekri time - or happy Halloween if that suits you better. All in all, now just celebrate and participate in the festivities at this special time of the year. October 28, 2019, 06:43:34 PM |
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Configurable system of measurement with more precision
The game currently uses imperial units - pound, feet etc. Or more precisely mostly imperial units as there are few confusing metric system units (meters, kilometers) in the mix. We'll be sorting it all up now and will allow system of measurement to be chosen from two configuration options - metric or imperial. In addition you can also configure the precision of units displayed eg. how many decimals fractions to use. Two decimal fractions will probably be the maximum, for the sake of sanity and readability. We'll probably also add some smaller units eg. grams and ounces, which aren't currently seen at all. So all in all it's gonna be less rounding with numbers and more precise measurements displayed - if you prefer precision. I'd also like to add option for quite vague unit display which emphasize more on common sense, roleplaying and old finnish units - but might be that it's gonna be a future addition somewhere along the way. After the global unit display in the game is reworked it will be quite easy to add new systems of measurements anyway. These are future additions - not yet functional in current version 3.63. December 05, 2020, 12:57:26 PM |
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Season's Greetings and Iron-Age feastings
The midwinter and holiday season is at hand so let us send you our very best and most delicious Season's Greetings - as it's time to celebrate the period with Iron-Age feastings. Over the years we have practiced and experimented with many different survival, bushcraft and traditional skills and techniques to gain firsthand knowledge of the ways of the ancients, and to add a special touch of realism to the game mechanics. Practise what you code, so to speak. This midwinter we tried out quite ambitious Iron-Age cooking as well. We tried cooking some of the recipes of also doable in UnReal World, and they surely tasted good in our time too.  Roasting turnips on embers.  Flatbreads and cooked turnips.  Tasty bits of broadbean-turnip-mushroom stew.  Let the Iron-Age feasting start. This is not our first go with traditional food for traditional devs, but the first time it's been carried out and documented this precisely. The reason for this delicious study is an exciting upcoming exhibition. In 2021 Suomen Pelimuseo (The Finnish Museum of Games) is arranging an exhibition about the food in videogames. In addition to insight about the subject in various videogames there shall be a publication presenting different menus from different games with recipies you can try out yourself. UnReal World is one of the titles included. We'll let you know when the exhibition starts. But now let's survive the midwinter, feast as everyone prefers, and see you again in 2021. Cheers! December 22, 2020, 07:07:13 PM |
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Taking a look at the suggestions
I've buried myself into replying to the suggestions. As you may have noticed. At first I though I might be able to give my insight to all the suggestions from the last six months by the end of the year, but there's such a big pile of them that now I don't know how long it will take. Anyway, the intention is (once again) to run a sweaty suggestion reply marathon and compile the result into single post when I'm all done. You'll be announced when I'm done with it. December 26, 2020, 06:06:50 PM |
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