iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I wanted the special abilities to be both combat options and puzzle solving keys... But I could do that in a zeldalike format. And it would be much simpler to make.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I think I've made a mistake. In drawing up the ideas for the tactics game, I've realized the main protagonist would have abilities more suited for an action/platformer type game. Oops.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

And lastly, a name. Astral Lights Not a final name, but it's a good project title for now. Hopefully, see you guys a bit more.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

My love of kitchen sinks is no secret, so I'll let that slip: This story will be an inter-dimensional/temporal mess, and how people from a wide range of different settings deal with such sudden shifts.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Golden Sun did that alright. Using spells to interact with the world. Baldur's Gate gives you the ability to position your allies and cast spells outside of battle, and I do like that. As for story, I'll keep those cards held in hand for now. But I am liking the characters I've been making.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

While you're out of combat and exploring, your other party members should also meander around the general area, wander off a little bit, and you can chat them up. Sometimes they may accidentally find something interesting and/or enemies. Make some abilities usable outside battle for puzzles...

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I'm leaning towards taking queues from DnD. I mean, some mechanics, sure, but I want a little bit of the feel of playing with other people.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Will I do daily posts again? I want to, but I'm not sure I'm able to right now. I've got a pretty busy couple of months ahead of me. I think once I've got an engine sorted out I'll get back to those daily posts. I don't want to code from scratch again.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

But I've always considered character writing my strong suit, not coding. And it's been far too long since I've stretched that creative muscle. I want to tell a story.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"But Dag, what about House Rules?" I hear nobody say. Eh. If someone asks, I'll post the source code to a public github repository. But it's slop-gen coding. You'll probably be better suited looking elsewhere if you want to learn. Hell, I think there's been a few chess roguelikes released since...

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This naturally means each party member will be handcrafted. No recruiting generics... Not for this one anyway, come back to that if I do another game with the same engine... Focus on a tactics game that's all generic units the player can customize to their heart's content.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

So yeah, I'm leaning towards making a tactics RPG. I've got a general outline, some plot points, some mechanics... nothing in stone yet. But I think the biggest point will be that you'll use ALL of your available party members.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This has always annoyed me in RPGs. Final Fantasy is also lousy with this: FF6 gives you like 14 unique party members but only 4 slots? And don't get me started on tactics... How you gonna give me the ability to create generic units and then immediately obsolete them with story characters?

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The biggest issue being the Party Cap vs. Available Members. You're given... what, 10 unique party members, plus 1 if you do a custom character, plus the generic hirelings, plus a potential 1-3 more other players? And only 4 can be in your active party at any one time?

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I have been playing a bunch of tactics RPGs. Ogre Tactics, Fire Emblem Sacred Stones, Baldur's Gate 3... I've also been very deep into Cyberpunk 2077. Damn good game, but that's not here nor there. I wanna look closer at Baldur's Gate 3 for a moment, something about it that's bothered me...

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

So, what have I been doing for the past 5 months? Not much, honestly. I've been pretty low for a while. Nothing new, just good old fashioned depression. I have been getting better. I started doing Uber Eats deliveries on an ebike, so I've been working out more and actually making a little cash.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Day ??? Damn, 5 months. I wasn't expecting to just die for that long. Hi guys. I'm thinking pretty seriously about starting a new project. #gamedev #indiedev

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

So now what? Well, if I've lost faith in this project, the simple solution is to start a new one and try again. I think my next project will be a little more entertaining, at least. And ideally much quicker in developing.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

When I messed up, I recollected and kept going. That much, at least, I can claim is true. And no amount of self loathing can take it away.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

365 days of posting about the game I was making. I did that. Did the game itself succeed? No. Was the project finished? No. Was I perfect in posting EVERY day? No. But... Those weren't my ultimate goals, were they? As far as stated goals, I worked on the game for a year and kept posting.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

But where does that leave me, and where does that leave this account? I've been going through massive burnout and depression brought on by a number of different reasons, but I actually need to face the truth: I succeeded.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

I may release the code. Much of it was AI generated and it's a massive mess that any competent programmer will dry heave at, but who knows? Maybe someone can rip out the useful bits and do something more interesting.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

The entire point was to make a game quickly, and that had since spiraled out of control. Did I learn a lot? Yeah. Do I regret the time wasted? ...no, actually. I WAS enjoying it. I DID make some pretty good progress.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Why? Quite simply, I lost faith in the project. The end result seemed more and more out of my reach. I was never going to be all that happy with it, and I don't think it would have really attracted all that much attention.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Day -1 And so, after a long break, I have finally come to a final decision. House Rules is to be delayed indefinitely. Development is halted and the project shelved. #GameDev #IndieDev #HouseRulesGame

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

It might still take me time before I'm ready ready. I've got the urge to restart the project with fresh code for more modular pieces, and that's probably not helpful. Take what I have and get it to the finish line. That is what I need to do.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Burnout is rough and I still have that that overwhelming feeling of doubt But I do want to finish it, if for no other reason than to prove I can.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Day ???+? I think I'm ready to get back into things soon. I've committed a year and change into this project. I'd like to see it released.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

I'm not deleting it, it'll still exist and be ready for me to dive back in. But I may try a different project. Much simpler. Leaning towards an old school RPG.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

I've intentionally been trying to avoid posting but it's actually been making me feel more guilty. These posts have been really good for me. But the project is no longer sparking joy.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Also yeah sorry, feel free to mute or block. I'm still debating over putting my own game on a shelf and trying something else.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Day ??? Dear @yahtzeecroshaw.bsky.social I'll start by saying your latest video was well done and etc. etc. But your biggest sin is that it's bothered me on a personal level for personal reasons because of a personal conundrum. Tl;dr YOU'RE NOT HELPING Signed, Dag

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

I've been watching my partner play Pokopia. It's hella cute. The minecrafty aspect is addicting. Going "ooh, what's in that cave" and finding a whole new section of map is really fun.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Do I force myself to continue or do I stop. That's been the question eating at me. Am I quitting for the right reasons? Is forcing myself to finish a project I've lost faith in going to do more harm?

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Day 432? It...felt weird not posting. Which like, cool. That was the entire point. But now what?

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Day ??? I'm officially taking a break so I'll stop the counter. I just wanted to say I'm doing my part to fund Nintendo's legal battle vs the US by buying Pokopia

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

I've just lost a lot of faith in "chess but more" as a valid product people would be interested in. I'm feeling really low.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

I'll say... I'll take a month off. Clean break. Worst case, I come back and cancel the game to try a different project, releasing what I've got as open source. Best case, I come back strong and keep working.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Day 430 I think... I need to take a break. 430 days and the project's been stalling out all this year. I'm burnt out. I may even take a break from posting for a bit. #GameDev #IndieDev

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Day 429 Sorry, I'm really not feeling it right now.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Day 428 Er, no progress Damn John XCOM. Why is that a base defense in the first month I've lost several files that were just too crippled to continue without the decency of a game over.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

I've tried to smooth out that...dickhead-line a bit better... I'm still not fully thrilled... but it may just have to do. Look, blame the Middle East and Wikipedia for this one, okay

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Day 427 Yes progress! ...er, maybe. ...I'll be honest, the Shatranj Jamal...the camel piece... this isn't TOO phallic, is it?

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

I think I need to pull my head in and focus. I WANT to finish this game.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Why? I need to prove to myself I can see these projects through to their end. And to everyone who sees my messages. But I'm not enjoying this.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Or do I simply nut up and do it I need to finish this project.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Day 425 I'm trying to force myself to keep going, but I need to face facts: I'm bored of the project. ...I think I'm doing this wrong. An Idea is forming in my head, but it would mean trashing a lot of work. There ought to be more of an emphasis on customizing pieces.

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Dag - Counter Duck Games @counterdag.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Day 424 I wound up playing XCOM. The original one. Not much done today

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