KickStarter Stoneshard - open world roguelike RPG - now available on Early Access

[Saint_Proverbius]

Space Engineers in particular pissed me off because I the developer couldn't be assed to include a proper tutorial: might've changed since I played, I just remember the tutorial section being a bunch of links to YT videos showing how to do basic stuff.

It hasn't. I figured it out watching videos by Splitsie and a few others, and trial and error.

 

[Fedora Master]

He also seems to be sick of his own game.

I'd be too if all I did was shuffle around the pixels on berry bushes.

 

[PlayerEmers]

Side note:
the list of planned settlements present in the current version of the game is no longer relevant and will be updated in Rags to Riches.

Occam's razor compels me to assume they're starting to cut planned content out.

I made a screenshot of the current list of settlements so we can compare in the next century when the game is actually done:

Denbrie was supposed to be a settlement of the (yet to actually exist) Council faction. So either they switch them around and Forholt is going to be theirs, or it's getting cut out.

im ok with them cutting planned content
this means the game has an actual chance of seeing 1.0 release

 

[Jacov]

Someone should teach their main dev to not have meltdowns in public Steam forums. Doesn't paint a good picture for them.

 

[Jacov]

Summary of semi-angry comments from devs under the latest Steam post:

1) Development is slow because 2018 build was made quickly in half a year for the Kickstarter and they had to reimplement a bunch of systems due to backer feedback;
2) 700k+ sold copies is «too high», they sold less (some dude was foaming at the mouth that they probably sold this much after glossing over SteamDB numbers);
3) The only country that will be in the game is Aldor (as it was planned from the very start);
4) Wayfinder compares Stoneshard's complexity to Zomboid, Kenshi and Starsector;
5) Forholt will be in the game but it will be owned by another faction (as Tygrende said);
6) No new stuff for those who bought the Supporter Pack. Only things they've already promised;

 

[mediocrepoet]

Summary of semi-angry comments from devs under the latest Steam post:

1) Development is slow because 2018 build was made quickly in half a year for the Kickstarter and they had to reimplement a bunch of systems due to backer feedback;
2) 700k+ sold copies is «too high», they sold less (some dude was foaming at the mouth that they probably sold this much after glossing over SteamDB numbers);
3) The only country that will be in the game is Aldor (as it was planned from the very start);
4) Wayfinder compares Stoneshard's complexity to Zomboid, Kenshi and Starsector;
5) Forholt will be in the game but it will be owned by another faction (as Tygrende said);
6) No new stuff for those who bought the Supporter Pack. Only things they've already promised;

I'm going to have to go look, this sounds fun.

 

[Harthwain]

3) The only country that will be in the game is Aldor (as it was planned from the very start);

Dwarves of Fjall, Elves of Jacinth and Orcs also play part in the setting. They even feature an image of these races on the main page:

 

[Jenkem]

When will this be finished?

 

[Jacov]

When will this be finished?

Thursday

 

[The Wall]

When will this be finished?

Dev speculated on Discord 2026. Maybe later

I'll compile list of recent updates about development, Devs regularly post on Steam forums and Discord. LeadDev argues too much with casual fags, balance fags and when's next update fags but does so in often amusing way

 

[mediocrepoet]

And this is why I am trying not to Kickstart/EA anymore. Nothing quite like seeing something interesting and then having it maybe delivered a decade later and then find that you're not even into that genre anymore, etc.

 

[The Wall]

And this is why I am trying not to Kickstart/EA anymore. Nothing quite like seeing something interesting and then having it maybe delivered a decade later and then find that you're not even into that genre anymore, etc.

Problem is: these Devs have zero management skills and my theory is that at some point with decent sales from Early Access they can kick back and relax, not overwork themselves, take sweeeeet time and enjoy comfort of little bit of coding, little bit of wifey shagging, little bit of arguing on Steam forums with critics, little bit of new sales from discount, little bit devdairy writing etc. Biggest issue is re-doing and re-designing same systems for 9 times. They fall into comfort hole, and comfort kills

 

[mediocrepoet]

And this is why I am trying not to Kickstart/EA anymore. Nothing quite like seeing something interesting and then having it maybe delivered a decade later and then find that you're not even into that genre anymore, etc.

Problem is: these Devs have zero management skills and my theory is that at some point with decent sales from Early Access they can kick back and relax, not overwork themselves, take sweeeeet time and enjoy comfort of little bit of coding, little bit of wifey shagging, little bit of arguing on Steam forums with critics, little bit of new sales from discount, little bit devdairy writing etc. Biggest issue is re-doing and re-designing same systems for 9 times. They fall into comfort hole, and comfort kills

Yes, you've nailed it, especially if it's a side business. And that's all fine, they can do what they like. It's just insane to support it before it's done, or at least done to a point where the value proposition is complete enough for you to want to play it and feel like you already got your money's worth.

 

[The Wall]

or at least done to a point where the value proposition is complete enough for you to want to play it and feel like you already got your money's worth.

LeadDev for Stoneshard repeatedly argues that such value treshold is something current version of Stoneshard has achieved. You might agree/disagree with him, but what are solutions? One is yours: simply don't buy Early Access games which you estimate are not finished enough so much so any additional updates would be cherries on top of cake. Fair enough. That's one solution

Problem with Stoneshard is that it has critical gameplay and role-playing systems missing 4 years after rolling into Early Access. You wanna bite that banana cake, it tastes nice but there ain't no bananas yet

 

[The Wall]

Perhaps Early Access should be seen as Patronship first and foremost. I remember when it was first introduced by Steam that it was sold as such idea. Fact is: 9/10 cult indies made in last 10 years wouldn't have been made without Early Access, that money is substitute for Publisher's $$$. BIG game changer in game development

Maybe only buy Early Access from Devs with good Early Access experience? I had zero problems donating 20€ to ATOM Team's Swordhaven (ATOM and Trudograd were both in Early Access), but I would have issues doing that for Stoneshard 2. Similar team size, from similar area affected by War, one Team produced 2 games and makes 3ed one, while the other Team still writes dev diaries for their 1st game

I love Stoneshard and Russian RPG autism but c'mon. 9+ months have passed since last update that changed 0.X in game version

 

[The Wall]

Ahh... Ok, here we go. Just checked:

>last hotfix in October 2023
>last small content update in September 2023
>last major update (the one that raised the version to current 0.8) was in AUGUST 2022

 

[Jacov]

For me, the problem with Stoneshard is that it's a shallow game. It's not as engaging as some other roguelikes because it doesn't have variety and story generation. And it's not as interesting as some other CRPGs due to not having a deep enough chargen and good exploration.
Every time I launch Stoneshard, I walk around for a few hours, hit bad guys with a paddle, then ask myself: Why am I playing this and not some other, better RL or CRPG.
Of course it's unreasonable to ask them to deliver a game that I expect, and not the game that they want to make. But it simply doesn't hold up against other similar games. And after years I'm starting to think that the game that they want to make is just this: walking around, clicking on enemies, clearing samey dungeons and watching numbers go up. They can add the caravan, custom characters, whatever. But all of it will just make the game grow wide and not deep.

 

[The Wall]

They gave up on much of World simulation and procedural generation, kingdom Aldor is in truce amidst raging civil war, that was initially planned to be simulated Stalker like. Thus procedural storytelling is not there and scripted storytelling is also not there because quests will be added with 1.0 release. So what they are left with is adding bunch of systems, bunch of locations and bunch of pretty pixal art. The last part made them 90% of profit

It's pretty game to look at. Used to be hard, they took out all the teeth so that casuals won't be beaten in the ass. It's good for what it is

 

[mediocrepoet]

Gross. Wish I could go back in time and refund it.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Actually because I was curious, I looked the refund policy up and apparently I can refund it. Think I'm going to make sure I got it from steam and for how much and see if they'll process it.

I've never launched the fucking thing, just thought because the transaction was so old I couldn't, but they never actually fully released the game.

REFUNDS ON TITLES PURCHASED PRIOR TO RELEASE DATE​

When you purchase a title on Steam prior to the release date, the two-hour playtime limit for refunds will apply (except for beta testing), but the 14-day period for refunds will not start until the release date. For example, if you purchase a game that is in Early Access or Advanced Access, any playtime will count against the two-hour refund limit. If you pre-purchase a title which is not playable prior to the release date, you can request a refund at any time prior to release of that title, and the standard 14-day/two-hour refund period will apply starting on the game’s release date.

 

[The Wall]

Ahh... Ok, here we go. Just checked:

>last hotfix in October 2023
>last small content update in September 2023
>last major update (the one that raised the version to current 0.8) was in AUGUST 2022

This is the most damning part of whole story. Current update called Rags to Ritches has started development around August 2022. We are in May 2024. That's 20 months. We're still waiting

Big, devastating War happened and they had to relocate. Ok. 6 months for that. Am I heartless when I say that? Or are they abusing the tragedy after so many months passed? They did tone down using War as explanation

So: for 14 months current update Rags to Ritches has been in development. In meantime they released 3 small content updates adding new enemies, new items, few new locations and 1-2 new skill trees

There's PROBLEM. I love Stoneshard, love idea, love pixel art, love LeadDev, but it's mighty frustrating to see them gaslight players that everything is perfectly fine with development

 

[The Wall]

ATOM Team is so similar or almost exactly the same group. From Russia, Ukraine and Latvia. Almost exactly same team size. Less sales, less successful Kickstarter, lesser price of game sold. ATOM + Trudograd finished cost as much as Stoneshard in Early Access. Completely different output with their 3ed game's Kickstarter just being finished and them releasing Early Access this year

Things should always be put in perspective and compared. Only then you have true view of situation

 

[The Wall]

And this is why I am trying not to Kickstart/EA anymore

I think it's not so much concept and system of Early Access. That's what I'm trying to say all along, but neither I realized what was I trying to say until this moment. Truth is simple, lies are complex

It's Devs. Always has been

 

[Fedora Master]

Indefinite Early Access was a mistake.

 

[Jacov]

Or are they abusing the tragedy after so many months passed?

I don't think I've seen them using war as an excuse. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't read every post.