davecatling

For 3+ years now I've been chipping away at putting together a free to play, fantasy themed, online roleplaying card game. It's just a hobby - I put in a couple of hours here and there - but gives me a chance to play with some technologies that I don't normally get to use in my public service programming job.

What I've come up with so far is Roun - it has a website and everything - www.roungame.com.

Here's a short trailer:

What I'm trying to make is essentially a card game version of the great old party based RPGs like Baldur's Gate or Pools of Radiance. You start out choosing a single party member then gradually hire more adventurers into your group as you explore and battle, working on your gear and abilities.

The cards represent everything:

• Party members
  
• NPCs
  
• Gear
  
• Abilities
  
• Loot!
  
• Consumables
  
  You get the idea. This is obviously a very small sample - there are literally hundreds of cards in game (but many share the same image).

Besides the coding practice I'm also enjoying having a stab at writing the fantasy world. Not just the locations but also descriptive text of all the monsters, items, abilities and quests.

Roun is the name of the game world and the first thing players do is choose a starting city (which determines the class of their first party member) from within the continent of Ceyador. There are six cities to choose from:

• Fairfield is a beautiful city shining off the north west Ceyadorian coast under a sea of fluttering banners. It is home to great painters, famous bards and revered poets and is indisputably the home of Ceyadorian art. The populace are immensely proud of the artistic heritage of their city and celebrate it at every opportunity. Visitors can be overwhelmed with the number of festivals and expositions which crowd Fairfield’s calendar, some overlapping on the same day. Despite an obsession with the arts Fairfieldians are far from shirking in their military duty to the king. On the contrary, tales of chivalry and heroism feature centrally in much Fairfieldian art and historical military campaigns are devotedly commemorated in verse, prose and painting. Many young citizens eagerly seek service to be a part of the next great military saga.
  
  
• Orton has the look of a fortified city, built to withstand the onslaught of a determined foe. Sitting in the foothills of the massive Brokenspine mountains which form an impenetrable wall along Ceyador’s northern coastline it is dominated by the sturdy stone walls of a massive keep. Although it has been many years since the city has withstood a besieging army its bloody martial history has shaped the place and the populace. The people of Orton are considered dour, though they might prefer to describe themselves as stoic. They are certainly loyal folk who greatly admire and honour their Duke and king. All families have a strong tradition of service but Ortoners will describe past military campaigns in somber terms of hardships endured and loved ones fallen rather than glorified feats of chivalry. They are strong, dependable people.
  
  
• High atop the northeastern cliffs of Ceyador stand the mighty towers of mystical Aragol. Winding cobbled streets meander through parks and plazas, lit by glowing orbs suspended upon nothing at all. All roads converge on massive Sorcerer’s Hall, ancient school of magical art, said to have risen out of the ground by the will of legendary historical Ceyadorian figure and seemingly immortal Duke of the city, Mysteriol the Enchanter. The city is ancient, having grown around the hall. Although not all residents of Aragol are magicians few would not be related to someone who has passed through the doors of Sorcerer’s Hall.
  
  
• Birchwood is the youngest and smallest of the great cities of Ceyador and some might argue that it is really a large walled town. Lying in a heavily forested area on the south western coast Birchwood is populated by hardy frontier men and women. Hunting and fishing form the basis of the local economy and many a child raised here has grown with a bow in their hand. Although these rough pioneers have a strong individualist streak, Birchwood people honour and respect their Duke and King.
  
  
• The great walled city of Mason’s Rest gleams on the outskirts of Ceyador’s marshy southern coast. The city is orderly and scrupulously maintained. The local populace are disciplined, almost regimental in their strict adherence to rigid moral codes and observant devotion at dozens of temples which rise upon pillars of marble and stone. Every religion practiced throughout the land is represented here and although many might be considered incompatible they all coexist peacefully under the watchful eye of the Duke and his personal police force of pious clerics. This city is a monument to religious freedom and, some might say, rigidly enforced conformity.
  
  
• Osseltoni is a city of contrasts on the lip of Ceyador’s southeastern Slaughter bay. Elegantly crafted towers and opulent mansions rise among dark twisted alleyways running between crowded hovels. The city is among the oldest in the land and has a long history of producing shrewd military leaders, unfortunately it also known as the home of corruption and political intrigue. It is often said of the Osseltoni nobility that they ‘hide daggers behind smiles’. The commoners are sometimes pitied by outsiders for their apparent exploitation by criminals and ruthless political opportunists. The people themselves take a more philosophical view of their lot and often earnestly proclaim a deep love of their complex home.

I've was very lucky in commissioning a talented artist for the backgrounds of the major cities (and several others for the card art). Here is the background for Birchwood:

And here is a map of the continent (your location is plotted on this map in game for reference when travelling between locations):

I'm glad to say that most of the actual features to be included in the game are in now. I'm just about the point where I only need to concentrate on generating content - although there's quite a bit in there already, there is still a lot more to be done.

Roun will always be free to play - this is my hobby, I have a day job. If you'd like to join in what I'm still calling the beta (and probably always will) you can get the Windows PC client here on IndieDb: Indiedb.com or direct from the website linked above.

If you do try it let me know what you think: info@roungame.com.