Dragon of Steelthorne: War Sky (182k words, first full draft)

[ChanceOfFire]

Alright, I’m done. The standalone sequel to the game which I released two years ago. Playing the first game is not necessary to play this one.

itch link to game

Tentative Steam cover:

Cover art by DollDivine

The Alenian Empire has built steam-powered planes, allowing people to take to the skies. Meanwhile, a succession crisis brews in the Empire’s leadership as three members of the Royal Family fight for the throne.

But where do you stand in all this? As a young noble from the legendary Steelthorne House, you are given control of a large Skyport near Lake Steelthorne, placing you at the forefront of the Alenian technological revolution. Adventure awaits as you take to the skies in your own state-of-the-art biplane.

Dragon of Steelthorne: War Sky is a 180,000 word interactive story in a steampunk-fantasy world. The 3rd place winner of Introcomp 2025, now complete, and a standalone sequel to Hosted Games’s original Dragon of Steelthorne, playable on Hosted Games or for free on the Spring Thing. Of course, I’d be happy to expand this even further if there is interest.

Work together with a new cast of companions. A confident and sassy noblewoman, an Alenian Prince learning the ropes, a diplomat and princess from Jhou lands and a flight engineer from the city of Freehold. Find love and excitement as you take them on new misadventures.

Support one of the three candidates, gain the blessing of the Dragon Gem, possibly gain the throne, and decide the course of the Empire’s future.

Feedback

I’m quite flexible on this. Small things like typos, inconsistencies, bugs and glitches would be useful to report, as I tend to miss a lot of things during self-playtesting. Screenshots or text snippets would be useful for typos.

If you would like to point out high-level things like continuity errors, places where you would have liked to have more choices, feedback on plot and characters and so on, that will be welcome too.

If you don’t have any feedback but would like to leave general opinions on the game or characters, that’s fine too. I’d definitely like to hear opinions.

Romances

There are five romance options. All your companions are ROs. To complete their romance, you will need to hang out with them as long as you can until the romance unlocks. The game is very specific about it when it happens.

• Pretessa Charity Maxwell
• Prince Oscar Alenia
• Princess Zhou Mingzhu
• Afton

Crown Princess Zoe Alenia has been added as a romance option, bringing our total to 5. As for how to romance her… hopefully it’s pretty easy to figure out.

Is this going on Hosted Games?

This will depend on the response here. The first game did get a very harsh reception on the published authors board (over likes, engagement and sales figures), so it’s probably in my best interest to be prudent with submission decisions for this one. I will likely add a good bit of extra content first if I do go the submission route, but TBD.

What happens to Scarlet Sorceress?

I’m still weighing if I want to write additional chapters. Unfortunately, engagement and interest in the game on the CoG forums has not been high, so I am unable to justify submitting it to HG at this point. I apologize if anyone was hoping to see the game on HG.

AI Disclosure:

No — This project does not contain the output of Generative AI
Yes — This project contains the output of Generative AI

If you require the back button or code access, the CoGdemos link is here.

[ChanceOfFire]

Maybe releasing a standalone sequel to a two year old game wasn’t the best idea.

Granted, I didn’t want to leave an Introcomp winner unfinished, so there is that.

[Zahmed]

Peak game, I for some reason can easily imagine flying a WW1 warplane in the game with the right sound and atmosphere. Still playing it tho the battle simulations are a bit tedious, the atmosphere hits just right.
Def keeping an eye on this

[ChanceOfFire]

@Zahmed

Still playing it tho the battle simulations are a bit tedious, the atmosphere hits just right.

Thanks. I’m likely planning to increase damage for both sides on my next update, so the battles will resolve more quickly. Hope to have more out soon.

[rbert2001]

Would it be possible that in the future you will add a system at the beginning of this game to transfered some of our choice in the first game to War Sky like: The choice we did in regard of the Dragon Gem, How the actions of our character in the first game impact the sequel. Idk if this sequel is like very far in the future or not really. Anyway, I just finished the previous game love it

[ChanceOfFire]

@rbert2001

Would it be possible that in the future you will add a system at the beginning of this game to transfered some of our choice in the first game to War Sky like: The choice we did in regard of the Dragon Gem, How the actions of our character in the first game impact the sequel.

I have thought about it. However, it would be difficult to implement if you chose to become an independent ruler in the first game, since this game establishes a setting where Lake Steelthorne is part of the Empire. I have thought a lot about it, and it was something I wanted to add at first, but I am not sure if I can make it work as written.

But you do get a chance to have superpowers again at the end of this game… depending on your choices.

@rbert2001

Idk if this sequel is like very far in the future or not really. Anyway, I just finished the previous game love it

Thanks. This game takes place about a hundred years later, although one character from the previous game makes an appearance.

[Cyber0090]

@ChanceOfFire

Afton

AFTON?!?!?!?

MICHAEL! MICHAEL! DON’T LEAVE ME HERE! MICHAEL!! ARGHH!

Was that the bite of 87!?

William Appleton touched those kids

“Don’t keep the devil waiting, old friend”

Bro, Toy Chica is crackable, trust me.

You’re a furry, William!1!

(on a more serious note, are our choices in the past game gonna impact the story significantly?

[ChanceOfFire]

@Cyber0090

AFTON?!?!?!?

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence…

@Cyber0090

(on a more serious note, are our choices in the past game gonna impact the story significantly?

Sorry, no. Unfortunately, it would be hard to create the events of this story if you were a superpowered ruler of your own petty kingdom. It was something I really wanted to do, but couldn’t figure it out.

[Cyber0090]

I know Afton is a child-killer, I just can’t prove it…

[Random_Person]

Anyone got any advice on beating Qiongqi

[ChanceOfFire]

@Random_Person

advice on beating Qiongqi

Did you buy the steelwing upgrades already? It is one of the buildings you can construct, and should help to increase your damage and defense.

[Random_Person]

I’m guessing week 29 is the last week of the demo, because I keep getting this error

[ChanceOfFire]

@Random_Person

I’m guessing week 29 is the last week of the demo, because I keep getting this error

Hmm… I have gotten similar errors before when playtesting the game on itch, mostly when I play the game on mobile. I think this usually happens when the wifi network changes during a playthrough.

Ok, I realized that I compiled this game using a very old version of choicescript (back when I first started this project.) I’m going to recompile the game over lunch with the latest version and update it. Hopefully, this fixes the issue. Saves should hopefully be compatible since I won’t change any variables, but we’ll have to see how this goes. (Give me one hour)

EDIT AND UPDATE:

Ok, I’ve uploaded a new version of the game compiled with a later version of choicescript. Save files should be preserved (at least as tested on my phone). I don’t know if the latest version fixes this issue, but if anyone is still encountering it, please let me know.

[ChanceOfFire]

Almost forgot… the art.

Icon:

Splashscreens:

Title:

Steam:

[LiliArch]

I’m a bit confused about the cover image… I’d expect it to have a plane at least, not just a character. It doesn’t make me feel I’m going to fly a plane.

But anyway, I’m going to buy it if it gets a HG release. I just don’t have any useful feedback to give.

[ChanceOfFire]

@LiliArch

I’m a bit confused about the cover image… I’d expect it to have a plane at least, not just a character. It doesn’t make me feel I’m going to fly a plane.

Good point. Alternatively…

Don’t want to clutter the art with too many elements, but I think this might fit.

Edit:

Or this one.

[Cecilia_Rosewood]

The second is nice. More subtle than the first.

[ChanceOfFire]

@Cecilia_Rosewood

More subtle than the first.

Good point, thanks. I might rework them. I’m thinking of creating a new set. Just have to figure out where to position the plane.

[LiliArch]

You could also try to put a couple of them in diffrent sizes, maybe? Potentially partially behind the character?

[ChanceOfFire]

@LiliArch

You could also try to put a couple of them in diffrent sizes, maybe?

Most likely I’ll add the plane to the background template, then resize it for each picture. (It’s easier and makes the set more consistent as a whole.")

@LiliArch

Potentially partially behind the character?

Maybe. But I kinda want people to see the plane too.