BYOND Strategy Tech Tree: 137

It's been suggested that I should start posting a version of Tech Tree on ScrewAttack.  I'm having visions of time wasted on my IGN blog.

There's a certain mindset that cares more about mainstream tidbits than learning anything new unless you spend eons in other aspects of a community.  Even then it's a crap shoot.  I read content, but I only have the resources to get in, blog, and get out.  Advertising a copy of a blog doesn't seem worth it.

...Of course, people probably don't read this on Gamasutra either, but it lets me pretend to have credibility. ;)

Tech Tree is a list of links about developer activity in BYOND Strategy, a guild run by unpaid volunteers on a game/development portal and software engine called BYOND.  Those curious about notes or YouTube videos I've cut out can view the original version.

Devourer Of Soul's hybrid, Witches Chess, is now featured!  Give it a try even if you have a mental block regarding normal Chess!  The spells give it quite a different feel.  =)

Witches Chess was incredibly close to meeting the featured checklist and a quick reply to my post in the Suggestions forum sealed the deal.  Other developers might want to note that I now regard Wikipedia links to common game rules to be acceptable.  This is because the site is likely to be accessible for quite a long time.  Granted, those seeking true immortality might still want to compile their rules with their project no matter how common they are.

Kylemark's empire-building conquest, World at War, has been added to the guild.  I'm wary of the outside helpfile, but the YouTube tutorial is a nice touch.  There's a download available and a server up as I type this.

Taking a break from developing the scenario editor for Wargames2, Acebloke released an update for his aptly named path defense game, Micro Defense.  The helpfile has been updated, enemies now give hints as to how much damage they've taken, a scoreboard was added, and 2 new medals are being tracked by AceMedalTable.

Acebloke also updated his GIAD 2007 entry, Two Towers, but I'm not clear on it's genre yet.

Oasiscircle updated his defense game, Turtle Towers.  Unfortunately, he has not made his usual notes in the forum so I'm not sure about all of the changes.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say that he used the latest version of BYOND because the old version I'm using won't run it.  That's what I get for not updating.

Rushnut released an update of his version of Abra's base defense game, Castle.  He fixed bugs, changed the interface a bit, and dared to trifle with wizards.

Keeping track would be a lot easier if Rushnut simply created a new hub entry.  The audience is already divided.  Let people use BYOND's automatic updates!

DarkCampainger has been busy.  Of particular note to the guild is the announcement of a turn-based, tactical boardgame called Breach.  In it, players try to break through the enemy line with a small formation of units whose stats are based on their equipment.  DarkCampainger is currently trying to decide how much of the game state he wants to display.  Hopefully, a version will be playable soon.

Darkjohn66's Tactical Spellcasters team appears to be in flux.  They're currently looking for someone to create the icons.  (I'd settle for a banner to label them in Tech Tree.)

I was a little nervous when the art requirements were described as "the stuff any good RPG needs", but Darkjohn66 revealed the inspiration is an RPG/RTS hybrid for the Nintendo DS called LostMagic.  Good news, mom!  We can stop pretending I'm a pervert who only mentioned Tactical Spellcasters for its sexy title screen request.

I've been distracted with a new game design, but I'm still working on the next version of my card-battling boardgame, PathWrath 2.  I have yet to test the individual phase interfaces.  Fortunately, I did manage to reformat card events and modifiers so there are no longer issues with automatic scrolling.