Drone Commander - Game Progress Updates (big post)

I wanted to take some time to share with you guys my what's been going on, my progress and plans for the game.

Whilst i've been posting content (and hopefully keeping you interested!)....

Not your normal RTS

i've actually been slowed down a bit by the hardest task i'll face (other than porting) which is RTS path finding and optimisation.

The good news is i'm closing in on finishing that - and once I have, features will start coming thick and fast again.

Then i'll also start moving the visual novel work forward again (so a couple of days I think)...but I want to share with you some exciting things about it.

The RTS will have 3 modes:

• I don't want to play it, just skip it entirely.

• I don't want to play, but I want to watch the battles and story lines that come with it.

• I want to experience the full thing.

There is even more: one of the core features that will make the RTS interesting will be that you can play the entire game in a visual novel manner if you choose to do so.

I.e. You don't need to play the game, rather you talk to the characters, give commands and make decisions that will impact the battle.

But, you don't have to - if you want to play full RTS style, then go ahead.

So how does it happen?

Time slows down - during a decision moment, the battle fades slightly as Tabby, Fel, Rhyzark come into focus, with their dialogue and your choices.

If you REALLY just want to concentrate on battle, you click the green notify widget, and now their dialogue becomes notifications - you can just ignore them like you do people on facebook.

Critical decision moments will pop up centre screen and not off to the right, so you won't miss out on core plot moments.

This way you get the best of both worlds.

But why the RTS anyway???

My friends who know me, all agree, if I didn't do the RTS - then this entire game would be done in a month; and it's true.

But I don't want to build junk, in fact I want to build an epic....bear with me a moment here.

When you dive into the world of drone commander, you meet sexy anthros true, you also delve into deep SciFi, cultural and historical backgrounds of all these characters - but most importantly, a dynamic and evolving universe.

It's often said in business and governance, "those who fail, don't have skin in the game."

By making you FIGHT FOR THE cause, gives you skin in the game.

During battle, things will happen to those you care about; important things.

Your relationships will change with people, enemies will become allies, people you care for may die others you didn't know will confess their love for you in the heat of the moment.

And after you're done, when you go back to your room, people will come visit you. Your love interest will comfort you, your friends will talk with you about the morality of what you did...lots of introspection.

I think this approach breathes life and adds a lot of dimensionality.

Most RTS's just give you a few cutscenes between battles and thats it. Most Visual novels never give you any form of activity other than chatting to people.

What i'm attempting here ...I hope is both original and enjoyable in a way that immerses you into the world.

I don't want to give you any screens on the RTS, because hopefully when you see it your socks will be blown off and you will go 'how the hell did you go from those scribbles you showed us last week to this!?'

That's the hope anyway!

Other stuff

Socials

Youtube is about to hit 1k, some of the comments are crazy! All massively positive from "this game looks perfect" to, "I don't usually comment, but this game looks amazing."

I think we are part of something big!

Patreon is about to double size within a week, discord is lagging but we'll grow it more.

Characters and Plot

In designing characters and RTS work I came to a realisation about the truth of the drone fleet (AKA darkworlders) , and it scares even me.

There are some major plot twists and shocks in store, if you are one who just wants the 'TELL ME NOW!' then DM me and i'll tell you the full outline!

Species:

So far we have :

Humans: You the player, and later captains and ship crew from Earth who catch up five years after. There will be at least 5 characters you can interact with.

Sekarri: Split into two distinct genus, Fel's people, and Kira's people. Rhyzark, Fel, Krita are all of one kind. Kira, Snep and Tabby another. They can cross breed, but they have history...lots of history. The Sekarri are mega advanced, but are touchy when it comes to talking about their homeworld Alara.

Deritonians: Cynthia's people, pacifist reptilian species that are advanced but focused on political concerns.

Drakhans: (The dragon Nurse and Fyrendra) again a pacifist species who share the planet with the Deritonians. They used to rule much of the galaxy under an iron fist, but that was a long time ago, why did things change? Drakhans are easily the most powerful and advanced race that are openly known to other races.

Mirelexians: Corporate spider like people, their focus is hugely on digital commerce from the point of view of everyone else. Though deep down, there is a divide between the anti-establishment types and the corporate ladder climbers.
These are a complex but friendly society, they still have a thing for royalty and decorum - take not when trying to romance the locals. Don't besmirch the Queen.

Foxes (not named yet): Once a nobel...no, they have always been a feral scrappy race. Once their home world got destroyed by the dronefleet, they expanded rapidly across the galaxy into rebel factions, underground societies and have huge mafia control in the most unexpected places. Unlike the Mirelexians, their split civil war is known to all, but it's highly unlikely to end, because the rebels often become the mafia once they gain enough coin.

Wolf people: A mysterious, reclusive species that may or may not even exist in this time period....no more to be said about them yet.

Who else should we add?