Mirthwood - An Enchanting RPG Life Sim

[cyborgboy95]

https://www.badridgegames.com

ABOUT THIS GAME​

an enchanting RPG life sim. Fleeing a continent swept with war your arrival in a new land provides a fresh start. Experience an immersive medieval fantasy world sandbox that allows you to choose who you want to be.

Manage your own homestead, build a farm, plant and harvest crops, rear animals, and upgrade your facilities to craft items and gear. Build a peaceful life for your family and trade your goods from town to town.

Mirthwood features a rich, fully realized world, with gorgeous hand-drawn graphics, immersive sound effects, and an original musical score. Explore an open world comprised of six diverse regions and three distinct towns, with much to discover - and uncover. Battle Storms, Winter, & Disease with survival-lite elements as you progress through a bewitching world.

Take up a sword or ready your bow in real-time combat, Mirthwood will pit you against a variety of enemies from Bandits to werewolves. Equip yourself with a collection of weapons, armor, and clothing. Level and specialize your character in your chosen combat class to improve your ability to survive the dangers of Bleakwood.

Mirthwood’s ecosystem makes organic stories possible. Face new situations and conditions generated by the living world. Embark on quests, encounter dynamic events across the world and investigate mysteries. Search for Rare & Epic Loot across the world and find new adventures along the way.

Meet and befriend (or insult) townsfolk and NPCs across Mirthwood with a new Sims-style interaction system. Establish & Grow a Relationship with any NPC, unlock new social Interactions as your relationships grow, and even uncover quests and tasks. The other denizens of the Free Lands each have their own lives to lead and will go about their days and nights in a fully simulated world.

 

[cyborgboy95]

Questing in Mirthwood - Unveiling the Adventure

Hey Everyone, Daron here from Bad Ridge Games.

Curious about your adventures in Mirthwood? Whether it’s meeting new people, building up your character, or unraveling rich storylines; there is much to do and experience beyond your farm. In this post, we’ll explore what questing looks like in Mirthwood.

Exploration
To start, it’s important to understand a bit about the game world. Mirthwood thrives on exploration. Our central thesis has been to merge the cozy comforts (and challenges) of home-building with the freedom and adventure of open world discovery. Hand-crafting a diverse, dangerous, and rewarding map has been a major point of focus for us.

Comprised of six main regions and many sub-biomes, the world of Mirthwood stretches from deep woods to desolate wasteland, from dark barrows to frigid mountain foothills. Unique locations dot the landscape, offering opportunities to uncover stories, find rare loot, and fight for survival.

Questing
Main Storyline
Mirthwood will feature a central storyline for you to unravel at your own pace. Having fled a war-torn homeland, you arrive on the shores of the Free Lands, ready to rebuild your life from the ground up. You will begin to uncover the secrets of this new land - and critically - understand the reality of its past…and your future.

Side Quests
You will also find many side quests to collect (or ignore). These range from emotional matters of heart, to quirky adventures, to the mundane medieval favor. Some quests are shaped by the tangible needs and desires of the game’s characters. Contracts play a big part here, allowing you to hunt down some of Mirthwood’s fabled foes.

A Dynamic World
No world stays the same forever. Key to Mirthwood’s design is the principle of change. Here, seasons will pass, the economy will shift, and NPCs you know,
your friends
, will die. While Mirthwood has its share of crafted stories, we also want you (and the world) to generate your own, with the hope that no two playthroughs are alike.

Here are some of the things we’re working on, and what you should expect as you quest and explore in Mirthwood:

• The Toils of Medieval Life
  NPCs are at the mercy of the world, just as you are. Disease, poverty, and other dangers are at the doorstep.
• Choice & Consequence
  Some scenarios will present you with choices of permanent significance. This can involve the life and death of characters, effects on the landscape, and more.
• Dynamic Events
  Events like dust storms, blizzards, or attacks on towns can be generated by the game’s storyteller. These present hardships to navigate as you play.
• Clues
  Occasionally, you will stumble across clues leading you to environmental stories, maps, or other encounters generated as a response to actions in the world.
• Morality and Renown
  The choices you make will affect how others perceive you. Your Morality and Renown will be weighed and measured. Who will you choose to be?

We want everything you do to be worth your time. For us, that means generating meaningful stories and encounters, finding fun and epic loot, and customizing and leveling your character as you see fit. And let’s not forget about the homestead altogether. We want to give you a chance to impact the world and the characters you meet, not as a savior - but on your terms.

We hope this gives you a little more insight into what questing in Mirthwood will look like. Let us know your thoughts and feedback fellow adventurers!

 

[cyborgboy95]

Items, Leveling, Progression

Today we're taking a look at how items, leveling, and progression are handled in Mirthwood. We're tossing items into the discussion because they exist in a shared context with these other systems; they can often play off of one another, sometimes to great effect.

Let's start with leveling. In Mirthwood, you'll level up individual skills simply by performing them. The more time you spend working the fields, the more adept a farmer your character will become. Perhaps you will specialize in crops, orchards, or animal husbandry. You might even craft a wine so delicious that your brand becomes famous across the world.

But, what if you'd rather role-play a ranger or Robin Hood type? Maybe a charismatic charmer? Your time spent performing actions in those categories will play a part in how skilled your character is there. We want you to feel that your character is a reflection of your actions, and so those actions contribute to relevant skills rather than a generic XP pool.

There are currently six skill areas you can progress in; Melee, Archery, Farming, Trades, Social, and Survival. So then, what does progression in these categories look like?

Once you've leveled up a skill a few times, you'll be rewarded with skill cards. These cards serve as perks or boosts for your character. The further you progress in a particular skill, the more fun and powerful cards you'll receive.

Cards will need to be added to your hand to take effect, but thoughtfully so, as your hand has a limited number of slots. This is where you'll need to think about the composition of your hand as it relates to your character or playstyle. Do you want to stack your hand with Charisma cards, or remain balanced and mix skills?

You'll never be completely locked into a particular hand, we want you to experiment and have fun. Opportunities to swap cards and expand your hand will be present during the game. But if you want to completely recompose your hand, it'll take some time and effort.

Lastly, let's touch on items and how they impact the world of Mirthwood.

Continuing in theme, items are presented in card format in your inventory and when trading or crafting. Mirthwood will employ a rarity system, with card colors informing you what rare or legendary gear you might have on hand. Stats will be displayed on item cards, and in some cases, an item might have a Trait attached to it.

Traits are a way for items to have impact beyond base stats. A Jester's Hat might have a Silly trait, persuading townsfolk that you might actually be funny (even though, let's face it, you're not). Wearing the complete Jester's outfit will render the Silly trait even more potent. Further still, try pairing the Jester's outfit with the Comedian skill card sitting in your hand. Even the grumpiest of grumps will find your jokes funny.

Many different traits can be found on items throughout the world. Some impact social behavior, while others might offer unique combat abilities. It's up to you to see what else you might find out there.

By combining the systems we've covered here, our hope is that players will have the tools to experiment and build fun characters, or dive into role-playing by stacking their hand. Either way, we'll put the power in your hands.

 

[notpl]

So fable + survival crafting bullshit?

 

[Aemar]

So basically it's a game set in medieval England.

 

[cyborgboy95]

Character Customization
Foundations
During the opening chapter of Mirthwood, you'll create your own character. Here, you will get a chance to create a unique backstory and customize your appearance, choosing between different body types, skin tones, eye, brow, hair and beard styles.

Dress for Success
The manner in which you dress can affect the way different social classes or individuals view you. Posh clothing will attract members of the Nobility, while unassuming, workman-like gear will fit in with the Peasant class. As a supplement to your character's leveled skills, apparel can serve a purpose beyond mere looks.

Equipping Your Character
Your character will have 5 slots for gear: Head, Torso, Legs, Weapon, and Trinket. You can mix and match gear in these slots to your preference. Most are self-explanatory, but trinkets represent a type of wild card slot, allowing you to equip a variety of items with diverse affects. From a Rabbit's Foot to a rare Ruby Ring, this slot will give you some flexibility on top of your standard gear. Let's take a look at the anatomy of an item:

Item Preview
Each item in Mirthwood features its own card. Cards are color coded according to rarity, featuring flavor text and hand-painted art that matches the in game item.

Stats
All equipable items will have gold value and an armor or damage value. Crops, food, and other items will have different stats related to hunger, energy, and/or health.

Affiliations & Traits
This is where gear gets a bit more fun. Affiliations will attract different factions or groups to you - whether it be Royalty, Nobility, Peasanty, Criminals and more. Traits often provide a stat buff, but can also help you perform actions more effectively, like playing an instrument.

Your Character Card
You'll be able to see changes to your character on your character card. View your equipped gear, current stats, and your character's "title", which directly reflects your standing in the world. Your Morality and Renown will shift based on your actions throughout the game. Completing quests and other activities will raise your Renown, while making difficult choices, stealing, or killing can impact your Morality.

We're currently adding a wealth of new gear to the game, including outfits, weapons, trinkets, and more. What medieval stylings would you like to see? Share your suggestions in the comments!

And thanks for reading, you've gained 10 Renown!

 

[HappyDaddyWow!]

Neat idea but I think the art-style is ugly as sin. Reminds me of GoAnimate, if anyone remembers what that is.

 

[The Wall]

So basically it's a game set in medieval England.

Medieval England with London 2024 demographics. This dystopic shit of normalising lie how past, fantasy is subconsciously seen as past, was always diverse and there are fantasy medieval niggers in every village, it's fucking depressing how in <10 years everyone accepted this shit. Greek Gods are black, fantasy medieval villages are refugee centers (funny how fantasy arab villages don't have english gingers), it's fucking bonkers. And it's always niggers. Niggers niggers niggers. Anglo's (read: Jewish) obsession with them threatens everything

Fuck this game. Every game released prior to 2015 is WHITE SUPREMACIST according to current day standards. Fuck Pillars of Eternity and Josh Sawyer for leading the charge in this enemy propaganda. Oh, and fuck this game

 

[The Wall]

I simply CAN'T BELIEVE in fantasy medieval setting with demographics of McDonalds 2024 commercial. Maybe you can Broes, maybe your country has fallen already, but I can't. Fuck this shit

It's not even racist FFS. There are never white characters inserted into settings inspired by different cultures. NEVER. Propaganda is clear as day, if you have brain you gotta take your eyes out not to see it. Effeminate, weak willed, trend chasing, librul Devs like these are unthinking spreaders of this ideology

 

[jf8350143]

The artstyle remind me of wildermyth.

Personally not a big fan of it but it's tolerable.

 

[cyborgboy95]

A Simulated World
Hi Folks, Daron here from Bad Ridge Games. Today, we’re taking a look at how the world around you functions in Mirthwood.

Seasons of Change
In Mirthwood, you will experience the distinct beauty and challenges of the seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter - with each bringing its own crops, colors, and events. With Mirthwood being an open-world, this has been no small task. The game features seven large main regions, each with unique aesthetics and sub-biomes. This means each change of season offers a myriad of new visuals depending on where you travel.

Transitioning into Winter will have the most impact on gameplay. With no crops to be grown, you’ll need to shift your focus to other tasks like mining, upgrades, or other adventures. For the inhabitants of the world, potential shortages of food can be deadly.

Raising the Stakes
Most NPCs in Mirthwood are mortal and can pass away, whether from starvation, illness, or if they find themselves the victim of a bandit or animal attack.

This gives NPCs real and tangible goals to work towards. Mortality also paves the way for organic stories to develop. Characters that die will be known to you, possibly even close friends. While there may be opportunities for you to intervene, not every life can be saved. Those who die are buried, and in time, replaced by a new immigrant from the Continent.

The Storyteller
Mirthwood’s storyteller will generate Events of varying intensity to keep things interesting. Some Events are seasonal - you might encounter a Heatwave in Summer or a Blizzard in Winter. Other Events can happen year round, like a Full Moon (...enjoy). Not all Events present challenges. You’ll be notified if a Traveling Merchant is nearby, or if the Trade Ship has arrived and docked at the coast, bringing rare items from the Continent.

Survival & Crafting
Mirthwood will feature survival-lite gameplay. You’ll need to pay attention to your core vitals - Health, Stamina, and Hunger. If you decide to set out and travel across the map, be sure to have a plan for food. Many herbs and berries can be foraged, but cooked meals offer the most benefit. Herbs will also help you craft elixirs and medicines vital to curing illnesses.

You’ll discover campsites and settlements across the map that serve as respites, places to cook, sleep, and save your progress. Some of these campsites can be upgraded and turned into strategic homes-away-from-home for your character. Here you'll be able to access your stash, cook, and craft gear provided you have the materials.

Hopefully that gives you some insight into world experience in Mirthwood. Let us know what questions you have!

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

The artstyle remind me of wildermyth.

Personally not a big fan of it but it's tolerable.

Wildermyth's artwork consists of charming storybook-style illustrations; Mirthwood's art is simply crudely done.

 

[*-*/\--/\~]

Those are some of the most off-putting characters I have ever seen. It's even worse than those uncanny valley Solasta faces.

 

[ADL]

Demo available

 

[Tyranicon]

Why are the graphics so fuzzy? There's like a thick sheen over everything.

 

[cyborgboy95]

Post Launch + Multiplayer + Localization Updates
Hello everyone! Daron from Bad Ridge Games here. As we near the launch of the game, we are excited to share some of our plans for it in the months ahead. As always, we welcome your feedback!

Co-op Multiplayer

Mirthwood was always designed as a single-player experience. That said, we have heard you. Many of you have requested co-op, and so that is something that we will be working on after the launch. We are aiming for two-player co-op functionality, both local and online. We don’t have a timeline yet. As a two-man team, we need to focus on the launch and, of course, fix any bugs that crop up in your adventures first.

Modding Support For PC

After launch, we will add PC modding support and aim to work with modders to provide them with the tools and support needed to create fun new experiences for us all.

The Family Update

A free content update will be available after the launch. It will introduce heartwarming family dynamics, enabling players to nurture and grow their in-game families, including having children. We’ll share more with you as we get closer to this update's release.

Festivities And Seasonal Content

Those who have played the demo may have seen that we teased the jousting festival. After the launch, we plan on adding an array of festivals to the game over time, which will be limited-time events in the game world that appear occasionally. We will also be doing seasonal content from time to time for things like Halloween, which may contain additional items or quests.

DLC And More Free Content

We plan to support Mirthwood post-launch with additional free content updates and paid DLC expansions. We will share more about these sometime in 2025, but we are incredibly excited to support the game over the long haul.

Localization for multiple languages is being worked on, and we are trying to complete it as soon as possible. However, as we are a two-man team, we are currently unsure if it will be fully implemented for the launch day. If we cannot finish it by the launch day, we will roll out localization in the days after the launch. Our priority is ensuring the game is finished and fixing as many bugs and performance issues as possible for the launch. Please be patient with our small team as we try to get everything done

Many of you have been asking about the game price and Steamdeck support. We are working on getting the Steam deck verified and can now confirm that the game price will be $24.99 or your regional equivalent.

We are both incredibly excited and nervous to have you all enter the world of Mirthwood. We are incredibly thankful for all the support and love you have given us and hope you enjoy your adventures.

 

[Turisas]

This one's finally being released tomorrow, full release and not the usual EA bullshit (granted you could always argue that it's in name only). Roadmap should still apply but bump all the original dates a couple of months to account for the delayed release.

 

[cyborgboy95]

 

[Turisas]

Right, some initial thoughts since I can play this popamole via family share:

-Graphics are actually quite nice, other than the characters which are pretty damn ugly. Not much in the ways of character customization either, at character creation at least.
-Intro sequence is dead simple and done within minutes, dunno why they even bothered.
-Combat is... not great. Admitedly I've only fought some bum bandits and thieves in the wood so far, but it manages to be both really simple (light attack, unblockable heavy attack and dodge/roll) and messy at the same time. Your attacks are sort of delayed and if the enemy - like the thief - happens to hit fast, you'll just get cockblocked altogether.
The first bow you get is also a piece of shit so no idea how viable ranged is.
-No combat stamina meter so you can just use heavy unblockable attacks. There is stamina but it just drains from running around and tool use.
-You can steal all you want and no one cares even if they see you. My morality meter is already in the dumpster but that doesn't seem to have much of an effect so far.
-Dialogue system is very convoluted and annoying, I already want to murder all the friendly NPCs but haven't found a way yet.
-Lots of crafting obviously, but at least the actual crafts are all instant and the UI's decent enough. Workbenches and decoration shit can be placed straight from inventory and freely placed where you like and picked up again.
-Limited inventory space, but spread into categories so you could be full of foodstuffs but still be able to pick up more building materials.
-Skills unlock generic bonuses and more powerful perk cards, which you can only have 5 total enabled at a time.

 

[ADL]

Played a little bit of this today. It's fine and I'll play it with my wife when co-op comes out but singleplayer only? I'd rather just play Elin which came out a couple days ago.

 

[udm]

Don't forget you can romance almost everyone in this game