AnnaBlackwell

DELVE: The Dark Sea

Added 2021-03-04 15:06:22 +0000 UTC

The next expansion I'm working on is a rather sizeable expansion for DELVE which introduces a new layer: The Dark Sea.

A great cavernous ocean filled with creatures not meant to be seen, the Dark Sea is a place of nightmares and death for all but the most prepared of dwarves. With new Liquid physics that simulates actual flooding, underwater construction, ocean exploration, and of course, new monstrosities, the Dark Sea awaits with open maw those brave enough to delve its depths.

Personally I find this expansion to be really exciting. The reworking of Liquid as a resource and a threat has been really interesting and has revealed some interesting tactics and concepts that I'll go into more once I've properly nailed them down.

For now though, the core Pump from DELVE has been expanded to require pipes and storage tanks. Want to drain a lake for your own use? Connect an intake pipe to it and count how many grids of water you remove and make sure you can store it somewhere.

As you start to build under the sea, you'll face the dangers of flooding and will have to tactically place bulkheads to protect yourself. But, much like the airlocks in UMBRA: Stations, these can slow your units, preventing you from reinforcing important zones during combat.

But, while this is the first proper DELVE expansion I'm working on, it does require a couple of small mechanics to be introduced to really round it out, namely Food. So before The Dark Sea is finished, I'll put together a free expansion that introduces farming and all the idiosyncracies of the dwarvish diet before expanding on that with more in-depth fishing for The Dark Sea.

Once I've got some finished pages, I'll put them up as an early access peek ;)