Encased Kickstarter Update #30: White Swan Station
Posted by Dark Crystal Games (Creator)
CRONUS Foundation was actively exploring, and exploiting, the Dome right up until the Incident. Thanks to Blue Wing’s efforts, roads traversed the sands, settlements blossomed, and research complexes arose alongside the mysterious edifices of the Forefathers. Some of these facilities subsided deep underground, a strange predilection of the ancient race.
Some even survived the Incident, and a few survived more or less intact.
Bunkers. Who among us fans of the post-apocalyptic genre doesn’t like a bunker? Preferably ancient, dilapidated, and abandoned. Or on the contrary, well maintained and populated. Encased provides plenty of options - for every taste.
In such locations one may stumble upon rich rewards. Or perhaps run into trouble. Or reveal a secret of the ruined world. Or all of the above!
White Swan Research Station is just such a place.
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Soon after the Incident, local scientists decided they had the brains and the resources to go it alone. The head of the base, Vera Dammerung, overrode the complex’s security systems, drove out the Blacks and the Silvers, and imposed severe restrictions on access.
However, it is still possible to penetrate the station. If the guy manning the intercom buys your story, or you are a genius at persuasion, or convince them you make a better ally than enemy - the main gates will swiftly open. The point is not to overdo it. Scientists typically avoid physical conflict, and the guards here are all automated, robotic - which means they are ever vigilant and have no concept of mercy.
But you can also rely on cunning and ingenuity. There is a second, hidden entrance within a labyrinth of nearby caves. If you successfully navigate those narrow stone passages, bypassing the traps and defeating your opponents, in the deepest recess of the caverns you will find a back door to the bunker. However you will likely have to do some talking there as well.
But it's worth it. A handful of former White Wing employees have something else to offer: crazy theories, stories of academic squabbles, violent struggle, and a massive cover-up... In other words, a run-of-the-mill scientific community, multiplied by a high-tech sci-fi future, flavored with the grim spirit of the post-apocalypse.
For example, you might try to solve a dilemma for two former colleagues. They each accuse the other of villainy, deceit, sabotage and -more seriously- coffee theft. But dig deeper and you’ll find out there’s more, and not much of it related to science (yes, a woman is involved, one with a good old-fashioned dark past).
Having earned the favor of the bunker’s inhabitants, the hero will gain access to rare, experimental equipment, as well as upgrades made possible with the assistance of certain specialists. The station scientists will also buy advanced relics at a good price. Speaking the language of RPGs, White Swan is a hub for high-level weapons and armor, and interesting quests.
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The leaders of White Swan wish above all to maintain their neutrality. Nevertheless, if you belong to certain factions you can always try to play diplomat. For example, Carmine Heights and the New Committee would love to collaborate with the Dome’s preeminent scientists. Always remember that the consequences of your choices, and the actions taken to implement them, rest entirely on your conscience.
Therefore, all experienced wasteland explorers -as well as the greenest of rookies- are strongly advised to pay the “eggheads” a visit at some point.
But don’t forget: those turrets flanking the entrance are no joke.
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And while you sit back and imagine the battle with turrets and the epic relic armour upgrade, we’d like to talk about how Ecased is doing.
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In one word — well. Dark Crystal Games is working hard to put Encased in
early access.
Lately, we set up a new terrain system and now we turn the whole desert upside down. We put rocks here and there, plant sickly bushes, hide anomalies. That’s why we’ve expanded the team by hiring a talented level designer.
There are new people in other departments as well — considering the amount of 3D content we need, we’ve got a couple of 3D modellers. By the way, they made a cool game recently. We won’t name it, but if you love RPGs you almost certainly heard of it.
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A lot of assets were modified and improved: uniforms, environment items, character models… All for the sake of the game looking as good as possible when it’s out.
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The modification job is not all though. We have numerous ideas for various content, from a random encounter with predatory fireflies we came up with in the first month of development to a separate infrastructure for the Orange Wing employees. From a bunker that was a teleporter testing ground to raiders’ den hidden inside a dried up well… The team is at last on the google docs our game designers and writers filled with their wildest ideas. So by the moment the game is in the early access the desert will be thick with quests, random events and stashed arms, as well as many other things we all love the classic RPGs for.
Thanks for being with us!
One more small thing. Our colleges from Black Tower have released and indie game
Hazardous Space. Hazardous Space is a Roguelike 2D turn-based action game with RPG elements. There is no room for friendly NPCs or safe locations. Using tactics, various kinds of weapons, and your character's skills, fight your way through hordes of enemies and try to get off the station.