An Unexpectedly Green Journey (orc life-simulator) [1.5+ Million Words] POST-RELEASE DISCUSSION- NEW! Speculative poll for focus of new DLC

Hosted Games
1200

@LiliArch

Haha! Yes, very true. But, our orc might be an exception… In the very least, they could create a distraction!

However, with a possible thieves guild DLC, you may well work as part of a team. Or, if you become a Guild Master, hire others with expertise in areas you are lacking- or bully a bunch of sneaky goblins into working for you. Just speculation right now. A brutish warrior orc would not last long on the thieves route without the help of others. I hope this gives cunning and agile orcs more sense of purpose. Although, in the world of underground crimes, you always need some muscle.

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1201

One more thing to throw out there, a lot of the DLC ideas, to me, seem like great concepts for entirely new stories in their right. Gives you more room, figuratively speaking, to expand and go your own way. Any big expansion to this one is gonna be hobbled by design and not quite as satisfying. Just my two cents

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1202

@Sujan_Dhakal

This is very true. A DLC is an experiment for me, writing a smaller work which I can bolt on to something with pre-existing lore. I plan for the DLC to separate from the rest of the game, if the player goes down this path, which will give me a bit more freedom as I don’t have to check every existing variable and, instead, create new ones. If it goes well, and is successful, I plan more. But if it doesn’t quite hit the mark, then I will have learned my lesson.

It might be a nice palate cleanser to write a shorter DLC after working on 2 very large games back to back.

As for large stories, I already have my hands full with my Krog Pile Arc plans. This may include a shorter game, as an optional prologue to the third main game after A Shriek of Ash and Fire 2.

If/when I start on the DLC I will need to find out a few things from Hosted Games and, if they are willing, get some advice from other authors. I also have no idea how to promote a DLC here as I can’t really open a thread for it- that would mean including the whole base game for testers!

One way around this is to find a group of trusted folks, who already know the first game well, and have a closed WIP Beta-thread, although I prefer an open thread. However, I think I can get a DLC, focusing on one path, out much more quickly than a whole game- perhaps 300k. I must discipline myself and not allow for ‘feature-creep.’

I am excited about the prospect of a DLC and have many ideas but it is still not a certainty. It may be something I work on after A Shriek of Ash and Fire Book 1, or after Book 2. Maybe even after that- or it might not happen at all. Right now, I am keeping my options open.

Here, at least, quite a few people seem to like the idea. This does make me want to do it sooner rather than later…

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1203

Not seeing the tattoo thing right now, must have been fixed already but I’m pretty sure it was there during my last run.

The arena fighter thing was during the spying job in Grandardgard, never reached the scene were I thought they they should recognized me.

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1204

Hi mate. It won’t have been fixed- have to update everything for that and it would reset all progress. Perhaps it is something that shows up for a time and is removed by a future variable? In this case it will be something worth fixing, though I am glad it isn’t game breaking :slight_smile:

Ah- with the spy job, they won’t recognise you. By the time you get famous enough to have continental recognition as an arena fighter you are locked into the arena path. At least this is how I remember my reasoning- been a little while. There are lots of fighters spread all over the continent so it would be unlikely to be recognised, unless you are a star.

Nonetheless, I will check through both of these issues to make double0sure nothing is wrong before I update in the future.

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1205

Did you pay for the game?

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1206

What about using the Scorned Elves to working for you in the possible Thieves Guild DLC?

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1207

Could well be, particularly for information gathering, blackmail and assassination. Though the Scorned would always have their own agenda. If this happened, it would require the player having met, and tried to save, Merchadi.

EDIT: The criminal world is a diverse place, a place for the outcasts, and illegally-inclined, from other nations and areas.

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1208

Yeah, only raid boss ending left for me I think.

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1209

Now I want to acknowledge the “Scourge of the Plains” Title for the MC, this is achieved if the MC has completed at least 20 Orc Raid Battles. The only acknowledgement for that title is the Old Age Path, I think that there should be more mentions of that title, like the Arena Path,where it plays a big factor into getting enlisted into the Green Battlers, maybe a +10 arenaexam Variable, the Freelancer Job, especially with the Bard Side Job where the Orc tells the stories of his experiences to the bard, maybe a +10 storyrank Variable, and the path with the most use of that title is the Adventurer Path, not only where Combat-Hardened Adventurers like Grimm, Catriona, and Urbimona might have more respect for the MC, a Huge Relationship Increase, but it can play a big role in some Guild Quests, more specificaly, the New Shires Defense Quests, with the Bandit Orcs involved, led by Blood Spiller (Who names an Orc Brute like that?), maybe the title of “Scourge of the Plains” would have an effect on him if he sees the MC with that title, either on the Negotiations or during the Final Battle. I want to know what happens if Blood Spiller the Brute faces the MC with that title? Maybe it opens up a potental option to challenge or negotiate with him (If some of the orcs from Greenburg are still civilized enough despite their discontent)

The title of “Scourge of the Plains” shows and sends a message that the MC is not one to be messed with, not just in raids, but all of the Orcs all over Arbit, even against the most savage and brutal orcs

Speaking of that quest, does Ser Snroc know about Blood Spiller and the Discontented Orcs, I want to utilize the alliance with him in that quest, nobody likes traitors, even if they are orcs.

Note: I did the research, with or without the cheat menu from the Crone of Fate, if the MC is strong enough and has an raid army powerful enough, he can achieve the title of “Scourge of the Plains” and still take on another Life Path.

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1210

The thing with scourge of the planes is I’m pretty sure by the time you get it, you’re pretty close to cracking the old age deadline anyway

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1211

Still, it is an potential idea to utilize that title in certain paths like the Arena and Adventuring Paths, the Freelancer Path with that title is just for variable increases and extra flavor dialogue. The Chieftain Path is out of the options because Slappa already took over as Chieftain.

Also, there are certain variables that allow the MC fight off Old Age through Arena, Adventurer, and Raider Paths. So yes… If you are lucky or know the math, you can still take on one more path after finishing the Raider Path

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1212

@Sujan_Dhakal @Patrick_Cody02

Hi mates,

Yes it was designed to make Scourge of the Plains basically impossible to get before becoming old, leaving you no chance to delve deeply into another life path. But, I must bow to players who have mastered the fates and possibilities. A Scourge of the Plains, if on another life path, should, ideally, get some recognition.

I thought it would be nearly impossible for this to happen though!

When I get back to thinking about a DLC I might add a few bits of flavour to account for this. I think @Patrick is determined to break the world of Krog Pile :smiley:

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1213

You can already do it in theory, once you have it, you have maybe two or three years left, which is just enough to jump into the arena and/or the guild so you could bring that up but it’ll obviously never go anywhere

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1214

Yes, as a storymaker, I have to explore all possibilites, and think of many ways to account for the varaibles to use in other stories. In other terms, I want to explore storymaking potential paths and routes. Now that I think about it, Alongside the Final Boss for Full Exploration and Completion DLC idea I proposed, I should also be a Boss Battle in An Unexpectedly Green Journey before the Final Boss. It looks like too much for you, but it is still an idea, and you can give an honest opinion of my ideas.

My Self-Boss Name would be Chronius, the Temporal-Reality Breaker, a True-Neutral Powerful God and Knight of Time in Arbit/Bethatland, I only appear in the end of Story Paths like the Chieftain/King Path after the conclusion of the War Against the Cyclopses with either Krog’s Axe or Powers of Krog, the Dark Lord Path after the conclusion of Battle under Red Skies and the MC becomes the most powerful Dark Lord of the Beyond and Bellow alongside the Dark Pantheon or Alone, the Arena Path where the MC defeats Bhaltair and becomes Grand Champion then demonic terrorism in the arena begins, the Adventurer Path where the MC and the Royal Adventuring Guild is bestowed the title “Light of the Empire”, the Raider Path after the MC earns the title of “Scoruge of the Plains”, and the Shaman Path after defeating the Imperial Empire or their Pantheon.

The only ending for the Old Age Path that the boss will take interest in is the Maker of Emperors Ending.

The thing is, my Self-Boss Character would only appear once per story path since some path endings will lead to the Old Age path, I can’t have the boss appear more than once like achieving both the “Scoruge of the Plains” and “Light of the Empire” at the same time in both paths, and the boss would only appear in the most exciting and intense story paths, so Chronius would just ignore both Freelancer and Big Belly Paths, but the latter would have some flavor text, otherwise, no boss battle for those paths.

These are the dialouges for certain paths. Note that you don’t need an epithet to know that you achieved something, Chronius will know all of the achievements and accomplishments the MC did.

Chieftain Path
"So you call yourself the Chieftain and King of the Orcs, and by other titles, in peace, you were Elfkin, Peace-Forger, The Enlightened, Hieroarch, and in war, you were the Green Emperor, the Scourge, King of Kings, Emperor of Arbit, you claim so many titles for an Orc of Earthly Beginnings, and you either untied or counquered all of Arbit for the War against the Cyclposes… "

Branching Endings:
Leaving the World
"…And yet, you choose to leave this world with your god in favor of creating another one… such cowardace, a disgrace to all of orc-kind, how disappointing. I shall dispose of this disgrace. "

Earned Krog’s Favor or Powers
“…And you, you earned the favor of a powerful god who created the Cyclopes and the Orcs, be it the Black Axe or the Powers of a God, you prevailed against the evil threat. Very impressive. Lets see how long your godly boon can last against me.”

Dark Lord Path
"So you call yourself the [powername] of the Powers Beyond and Below, the World’s Doom, became the darkness and bent the entire world to your will… "

Branching Endings:
Ruling alongside the Dark Pantheon
"…And you rule alongside the Dark Powers of the Beyond and Below, a joint-rulership with an iron fist, very impressive, but your gods won’t help you on this one. "

Ruling alone
“…And you rule alone by usurping the Dark Powers of the Beyond and Below, a lone rulership with an iron fist, very impressive, let’s see how long your dark power will last against me.”

Taking over Krog’s Rock
“…And yet, you abandoned your dark gods in favor of one lone world, still, very impressive, but I shall dispose of you before your dark gods have a chance.”

Arena Path
"So you call yourself the Great Green Git, the Last Champion of the Arena, you slew a demon named Bloddy Bhaltair and lived to tell about it. Very impressive… "

Branching Endings:
With the Dark Powers of the Beyond and Below
"…And Yet, you sold your soul for power, and paid the price, now bound eternally as the Demon of the Sands. You prove to be a tool from forces you never understood. "(Skip Boss Battle)

Normal Ending
“…But your arena prowess won’t be enough against me. Let’s see if you live up to the title.”

Adventurer Ending
"So you and your guild call yourselves the Light of the Empire, the legendary group of heroes that slew and banished evil and forged bonds with those by your side. Very Impressive… "

Normal Ending
"…But your so-called friends of your won’t help you against me. Lets see if you live up to your name and title. "

Raider Path
"So you call yourself Scrouge of the Plains, the Legendary Orc Raider who bent all of the Plains to your knees… Very impressive, you really do live up to the Raid Bosses of Old… But your raid army won’t help you against me. Lets see if you live up to your name and title. "

Shaman Path
“So you call yourself the Diviner and Supreme Deity of the Holy City of Krogkirk, forged a powerful breed of norcs, and raised the city above the clouds…”

Branching Endings:
Facing the Imperial Crusade
“…And yet, you took on a powerful crusade against the Untied Forces of Arbit and the Empire itself, bringing the crusade to your knees. Very impressive, your Krog Magic really knows no bounds… But your forces won’t help against me, lets see how your divine magic lasts against me.”

Facing the Imperial Pantheon
“… And yet, you took on the powerful deities of the Empire, the Thief (Nook), the Priestess (Mother), the Warrior (Ardgudo), the Demon (Nagacraeft), and the Emperor (Calistus). Very impressive, your Krog Magic really knows no bounds… But your forces won’t help against me, lets see how your divine magic lasts against me.”

Old Age Path - Maker of Emperors Ending
"So your Protege calls you the Maker of Emperors, forged your Orcling into a Glorious Chief, and usurped the Disgraceful Chieftain you call Slappa, you left a legacy that will ignite the Second Rise of Orcs. Very Impressive, I admire you, maybe in your next life, I would’ve granted you my boon, but your time in this world is over. "(Skip Boss Fight)

These are flavor dialouges for more mundane paths

Freelancer Path
"So you call yourself the orc who changed the world with your actions. Be it mundane or impressive, you left your mark on the world. Although impressive, it is not enough to face me. "(Skip Boss Battle)

Big Belly Path
“So you call yourself the Big Belly of the Plains, the Abyss Belly, the Mighty Guts, the Belly of Ages, Hellfire Guts, and the World Devouer, you left a mark for devouerers all over Arbit, very impressive, but not enough to face me.” (Skip Boss Battle)

When the MC faces this boss, he will wipe away the Cheat Menu to ensure that people won’t abuse the Constitution Cheat for the boss battle, but he will let the MC keep any powerups he used during his prime days.

Dialouge goes like this before boss fight begins
"To enure a fair battle, your Crone of Fate won’t help you against me. " (Then proceeds to erase the Boon given by the Crone of Fate)

The dialouge for after the boss fight for victory or defeat is up to you.

I want the Boss to reward the MC for defeating him, maybe he could force the Crone of Fate to maintain the MC’s Boon in Old Age, maybe he can be a useful ally to him in any path in the next playthrough. What reward/boon will the boss give him will be up to you as well, oh, and an achievement to go with that reward.

I think I went too far with that idea.

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1215

@Sujan_Dhakal

Yes, good idea. When I get back to it, I might have a little fiddle with a few things- just tiny things. I don’t want to accidently press the self-destruct.

@Patrick_Cody02

Haha- if only my time wasn’t finite, my friend.

It is good work as a storymaker, but also a game tester, to find these things. In an ideal world, it is best to catch before release, but it is impossible to find everything in a big game with only me and a handful of testers. And bless those brave testers.

If you were a boss Patrick what would your name be? It cant be an exact copy of something from trademarked sources- although can be loosely inspired.

Haha- Just saw you expanded your post!

I’ll have a look through those and let you know what I think a bit later, mate, maybe tomorrow. I need to get back to Ash and Fire right now. Sure there is some gold in them there hills.

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I am not just a simple Lore Master of Arbit, I am the Creator of the Storyverse.

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1218

Hi mate,

I love the thought you put into this. And that title ‘Chronius, the Temporal-Reality Breaker’ is magnificent! Although Chronius does intrude into Cruth’s domain- they’ll have to have a chat. Also, great dialogue. Mate, you really should try your hand at making a project in Choice Script, even a small one at first- you have a universe of ideas to bring to the table.

As for the practicality of introducing such a powerful god, this might upset the balance, Moist of the gods and goddesses of Arbit are only as powerful as the number and faith of their followers, though not all- like the Crone, who operates more on whimsy. We would need to have a large cult of fanatics to empower your boss-name! Although, these are excellent ideas.

I will be taking a second look at things when I get around to pondering the DLC. As I said before, I am apprehensive about fiddling too much with the base game. Although the balance is not perfect, on the whole the paths operate well allowing an orc to achieve much but not everything in one or two playthroughs. And, tinkering might break stuff!!!

A DLC path would be the best candidate to introduce new lore as it will take our orc away from the base game- if an orc takes the DLC path they will be committing to it, though things will have to fit the theme of the path.

Did you read the post about the proposed third game, in the Shriek of Ash and Fire forum? I will slowly be building up ideas before I start writing it.

A SHRIEK OF ASH AND FIRE 1(WIP) [approx 110K UPDATE, 995K+ TOTAL-29th May 2025] (1.14 Million on Patreon) - Hosted Games / Works In Progress - Choice of Games Forum

Thank mate- this is wonderful.

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1219

Saga of Void Armadas, hmm? Sounds like a Sci-Fi Theme of that title, but it could be interesting.

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1220

I am applying for programmer jobs, they don’t really use ChoiceScript Programming Language like Choice of Games. Also, I did try something like that, based on my story “The Multiverse Battle” (I really need a better title for that), turns out, Choicescript looks harder than I thought, even if I manage to compile a small game, I have to account for the variables, and turn a txt file into a choicescript file

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