Underworld Ascendant Updates #12-14, $469,697 and Counting

We have rounded up three more updates, update 12, update 13 and update 14, for the Underworld Ascendant campaign, and luckily they are all fairly meaty and contain a bevy of announcements. Thanks to these updates we learn that Terri Brosius, writer, designer and voice actress who provided the voice of the rogue AI Shodan, will be providing voice acting for the game, that the theme of utopia is going to feature heavily into the story, and we also discover more details on how the “Improvisation Engine” works and how it influences gameplay.

A snippet:

Many Solutions to Choose

In Underworld Ascendant, instead of the designers scripting a set solution path for players, the Improvisation Engine puts the problem solving in the player’s hands. Our designers lay out an encounter; setting up the monsters, traps, the physical layout, and the like. Then the world simulation is turned on. A set of fairly complex interactions and dynamics take place of their own accord. The player comes into this dynamic mix, and can permeate this situation in a whole range of ways, some of which the designers may have never imagined.

As an example, let’s look at the game vignette we affectionately call, (Spiders on a Bridge) that Chris showed us in the video. We saw Chris disturbing a nest of spiders. Chris chooses to run, which, all things considered, is probably wise. There are a lot of spiders!

Chris has lots choices. For instance, he could:

• Turn and fight.
• Try to run away from the spiders long enough to lose them in the tunnels.
• Try to block the passage behind him, with a Fungal Growth spell for instance.

Instead, Chris chose to cross a wooden bridge, then destroy it behind him, cutting him off from the spiders. A clever player could come up with other ways to survive.

Let’s take our example another step forward. Chris has destroyed the bridge, saving himself from the spiders. What now? That bridge was the only way across the lava chasm and now it’s gone. What if there is treasure on the other side that Chris wants?

He now has a new problem to solve. Chris might:

• Find the right reagents to make the mushrooms of his Fungal Growth spell fireproof, and then create a spongy walkway across the lava stream.
• Use the plentiful spider webs that are around and construct rope and grapple. Throw and secure it across the chasm and then hope his acrobatic skills are up to par.
• Build a boat from lava bat skins to cross the lava flow. They’re fireproof, right?

How you develop your Avatar will open up new possible solutions. For instance, if you develop skills in clambering and acrobatics, you’ll have more ways to maneuver around, or up and over, a foe. Refine your marksmanship with a bow and you’ll be more effective at sniping creatures before they can close with you.

Being able to develop specialized skills will mean your experience playing through the game may be quite difference from other player’s. This also makes it more fun to replay the game with different character.

If you are pressed for time, I highly recommend you at least check update 14’s video, as it gives a very good idea of the designers’ intention for the game. The kind of systemic gameplay outlined in there is very alluring though, of course, it’s only been shown on paper so far.