#dawnfolk

[linuxgamenews]

Dawnfolk Updated Demo: Experience the New Content and Giveaway

Dawnfolk updated Demo for the survival city-builder game for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC has a giveaway. All thanks to the creativity of developer Darenn Keller. Due to let you play now on Steam. Astra Logical is buzzing with excitement because this title has just been nominated for IndieCade 2024! To celebrate both this great nomination and the game’s spot in this week’s Steam Scream Fest. Solo developer Darenn Keller has rolled out a fresh Dawnfolk update for the demo. And it's also full of new content based on feedback from recent playtests. Let’s dive into what’s new! Here’s what you can expect in the Dawnfolk updated demo:

The first story level – You'll get a crash course in building a city and defending against the dark forces creeping in. Plus, there are three difficulty modes to keep things interesting.

The first challenge level – This one's procedurally generated, so every run is unique. Astra isn’t spilling the beans on the exact gameplay twist — you’ll have to jump in and experience it for yourself!

The first puzzle level – Get ready for a brand-new daily puzzle that changes every day. Perfect for those who love to flex their brainpower.

Experimental endless mode – Explore a massive, procedural map where your only mission is to survive and thrive. How long can you last?

Dawnfolk Announcement Trailer and now an updated demo

For Darenn Keller, this IndieCade nomination is very special. He shared, "IndieCade Europe was the first game dev event I went to as a student. Meeting so many amazing developers there made me realize this is what I wanted to do with my life. It’s surreal to have Dawnfolk nominated now.” Darenn, the sole mastermind behind the title, who deserves a big high-five for this milestone. But there’s more! Astra Logical is keeping things fun by hosting a Dawnfolk demo challenge giveaway with this update. All you need to do is download the demo, pay attention, and answer three questions. Do that, and you could win a $20 Steam gift card. Easy, right? One heads-up: if the winner’s from South Africa, Astra’s already apologizing. Last time, they hosted a giveaway and hit a snag with sending a prize to South Africa due to some weird restrictions. They’re still figuring it out, so bear with them — everyone’s learning here. Keep an eye out for the release on Steam in 2025. With these Dawnfolk demo updates and the IndieCade nomination, things are heating up for this indie gem. Don’t miss out!

[darennkeller]

Dawnfolk is a charmingly dark survival city-builder.🏘️ Collect resources, rebuild your realm and protect your settlers from the shadows.👻

Can you unveil the secrets of the monoliths to bring light back to the world?🕯️

Play the Demo ➡️ https://store.steampowered.com/app/2308630/Dawnfolk/

[harpgriffin]

Dawnfolk Preview

This is a survival city-builder game, with rogue-like elements and various mini-games. I didn't play the mini-games in the demo, because there's an accessibility option to turn them off completely. This is going to end up being one of those games that isn't my personal taste but that I will gleefully point at shouting that even solo devs can have robust accessibility and that it isn't exclusive to AAA budgets. It was crammed, legitimately, into almost every category of the summer Access Ability Showcase. I spent an hour completing the entire first level, and when I didn't continue to the rest of the demo content, it wasn't because I was frustrated or bored, which is what usually happens with anything with "survival" in the description. I think if I saw more story related material, I'd probably come back to it. Of course, I'm discovering I'm a bit of a sucker for anything with a talking flame spirit in it, so there is that, too.

[theorymin]

Minimalist survival city-builder Dawnfolk coming to Switch - Nintendo Everything

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWmh0dHBzOi8vbmludGVuZG9ldmVyeXRoaW5nLmNvbS9taW5pbWFsaXN0LXN1cnZpdmFsLWNpdHktYnVpbGRlci1kYXduZm9say1jb21pbmctdG8tc3dpdGNoL9IBAA?oc=5&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[cavemanrobot]

[riddledeep]

Witches

Disclaimer: I’ve probably taken more creative liberties with the Fomorians than with any other Irish and/or Celtic folklore. My ‘fics are not intended to be an accurate representation of them, and in fact I’ve considered  combing through my works and changing the term Fomorians to something else unless I’m referencing their lore specifically.

I have drawn inspiration and used the name, but in order to include them in backstory ‘fics, I shifted their stories back a few million years and associated their supernatural powers with the elements of the Fae zodiac. Thus, the stories about Fomorians exist, but they happened long, long ago and happened to members of the seven elemental species under the Fomorian umbrella.

I’ve described the Fomorians as an ancient supernatural race divided into seven tribes, each one based off an element on the Fae zodiac. Those who hold Zodii beliefs believe each of the zodiac spirits handmade one of the Fomorian tribes, while other fae believe any parallels to be simple coincidence and wishful thinking.

The Fomorians are neither Aliens nor Fae. They are simply another class of powerful beings altogether, categorized as Dawnfolk alongside other notable races such as the Tuatha Dé Danann and the nature spirits.

Most witches are born from Fomorian x Alien unions, or from Fomorian x Angel unions. The only witches we see in Cloudlands AU have Fomorian heritage, so this post will focus on that.

If you’re curious, the Creature Directory (AKA, the list of possible witch parentage combinations) can be found HERE.

WHAT IS A WITCH?

Officially, a witch is a being with one magical parent and one non-magical one (This excludes nature spirit x mortal combinations since they are known as demigods). Witches themselves are magical beings, and thus can produce more witches. Magic abilities vary between witches according to the race of their magical parent.

As stated above, we will only discuss witches with Fomorian heritage in this post, as we will only see witches with Fomorian heritage in story. 

Fomorian magic is sentient. It thinks, sleeps, has desires, and tries to obtain those desires if given the opportunity. Some people make little distinction between a Fomorian or witch and their magic, believing both to have the same mind- For example, that the user is greedy and constantly takes what it wants, or that the user is essentially a husk, and the magic has taken full control of the former owner’s body.

Magic is most powerful in the Fomorians themselves and is watered down with each successive witch generation. Fomorians vary despite sharing the title Fomorians.

For example, genies obviously wield magic, and always seem to have full control over their powers. However, merfolk don’t seem to have any control over their powers at all; they are simply magical beings who can’t utilize magic, only reap its silent benefits.

CHARACTERISTICS

A magical parent will pass a third sex chromosome onto children they have with a non-magical individual. In humans, this results in magical variations of syndromes very similar to Triple X syndrome for girls (resulting in XXZ sex chromosomes) and Klinefelter syndrome for boys (XYZ sex chromosomes). 

Because of this, witch heritage can only be passed down by the mother, as male witches are always sterile.

While exceptions can occur, these traits tend to be associated with witches:

MALES

- Taller than average for their age

- Reduced testosterone production leading to less facial and body hair, and the development of more feminine physical traits (Breast enlargement, wider hips, etc.)

- Highly youthful and energetic even as they age

- Sterility

- “Witch’s hips” (Pelvic bones similar to snake vertebrae)

- Increased risk of health problems

- Much more likely to have black or blond hair than female witches (Sex-linked coloration, like male orange cats)

- Frequently stereotyped as being overactive, annoying, and not too smart

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FEMALES

- Shorter than average for their age

- Hands may appear more crooked / gnarled (Think stereotypical witch)

- More reserved and less energetic than male witches

- Early signs of wrinkles and graying hair

- “Witch’s hips” (Pelvic bones similar to snake vertebrae)

- Reduced risk of health problems

- Much more likely to have brown or red hair than male witches (Sex-linked - coloration, like female calico cats)

- Frequently stereotyped as being clever, creative, and not too social

Witchhood is a separate concept from the actual Triple X and Klinefelter syndromes; many of the characteristics overlap, but those syndromes are real and witchhood is entirely a fanmade concept.

THE COLOR ORANGE

Except where merfolk are concerned, orange coloration is rare in the magical world. Finding a naturally orange magic user is like finding a shiny Pokémon. They don’t have any extra special powers. They just look a bit different, and those who are in the know might stop and stare. 

If two orange Fairies or genies had a kid, and you would more likely than not get a baby who would be classified as either yellow or red. It’s not much more likely to breed an orange than it would be to breed two shiny Pokémon and expect another shiny.

As rare as natural orange coloration is in the Fairy and Fomorian populations, it’s even rarer among witches.

TRIBES

In Cloudlands AU, there are seven snake-like magical races, each one tied to one of the seven elements. Because of this, the Fomorians are sometimes called the eelementals.

A true Fomorian appears humanoid from the waist up and snake-like from the waist down in their natural state. Powerful magic allows them to alter their forms temporarily, so they can mimic the reproductive system of another creature (such as an alien or human), and successfully reproduce. 

The seven tribes are as follows:

Succubi - The Love Tribe. Considered very beautiful, although their hands are birds’ claws and their lower halves flow as though made of silky cloth. Basically temptresses akin to sirens. Males are usually known as incubi, but are still considered part of the same race.

Witches of Succubus descent are highly empathetic and in tune with others, and can even read the thoughts of those they bond with, even from far away.

They have an affinity with snowy weather.

The stereotype is that they’re all flirty and highly promiscuous.

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Genies - The Fire Tribe. The only wish-granters of the lot, and famous for being imprisoned in lamps that only non-magical creatures can release them from. Their lower halves are made of smoke.

Witches of Genie descent have the ability to rapidly create, alter, and destroy matter even on a large scale.

They have an affinity with clear, bright, sunny weather.

The stereotype is that they’re all cunning and claustrophobic.

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Merfolk - The Water Tribe. This goes without saying. They dwell in oceans across many planets and their lower halves mimic those of fish. People in the magical world debate on whether Marrow are classified as Merfolk.

Witches of Merfolk descent have far-reaching senses that grant them extra awareness of their surroundings from a distance.

They have an affinity with rainy weather.

The stereotype is that they’re all narcissistic and grudge-holding.

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Pressyne - The Sky Tribe. Technically, “Pressyne” is the name for the wife of King Elynas and the mother of Melusine, a woman of myth whose legs became a snake-like tail every Saturday. In my works, Pressyne are a whole species for worldbuilding purposes. Their tails resemble various types of clouds.

Witches of Pressyne descent have the ability to float.

They have an affinity with stormy weather, particularly when lightning is involved.

The stereotype is that they’re all flighty and ungrounded in reality.

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Milesians - The Soil Tribe. Their lower halves are made of dirt, rock, sand, and/or clay. Material can vary depending on the planet they reside on.

Witches of Milesian descent have the ability to melt into the background, often becoming entirely invisible.

They have an affinity with hot, dry weather.

The stereotype is that they’re all stubborn and not very sociable.

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Djanggawul - The Breath Tribe. Life-giving spirits of Australian folklore. Their lower halves appear to be rainbow ribbons.

Witches of Djanggawul descent have powerful dreams, and can even tune into the dreams of others nearby.

They have an affinity with cool, cloudy, fresh weather.

The stereotype is that they’re all overly polite and charitable.

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Cnemida - The Leaves Tribe. There isn’t an “actual” mythological creature known as a Cnemid. Cnemidophorus is the genus with several asexually-reproducing lizards in it. The Cnemida have lizard-like arms, though the scales can vary from being shoulder-down, elbow-down, or wrist-down depending on the individual. They tend to have grassy, flowery lower halves.

Witches of Cnemid descent tend to be highly spiritual, connecting strongly with nature and animals.

They have an affinity with warm, humid weather.

The stereotype is that they’re all judgmental and ultra-vegan.

CLASSIFICATIONS

Along with being descended from a certain Fomorian tribe, witches differ in the way they express their powers, bringing us to three classifications:

Commensalistic-Class (C-Class) - Witches with magic that can be actively manipulated by its host without much struggle. Most prominent in early-generation witches, since this is how raw Fomorian magic works. The host benefits in this relationship; the magic does not.

Mutualistic-Class (M-Class) - Witches with magic that activates of its own will to manipulate its surroundings, usually to benefit its host (Ex: Host is falling to their death, magic kicks in and helps them survive in one way or another). Most prominent after a few generations. Fomorian magic is so powerful that it seems to have a mind of its own. Both host and magic benefit in this relationship.

Parasitic-Class (P-Class) - Witches with magic that is parasitic and will eventually take control of the body of its host. Most prominent in witches far removed from the original Fomorian ancestor. If you can’t handle all that Fomorian magic, then all that Fomorian magic will handle you. The magic benefits in this relationship; the host does not.

These classifications are not described in my works in detail as they are not particularly relevant to what I write, but a few characters who are in the know occasionally toss around this vocabulary.

KNOWN WITCHES

Alden Bitterroot and the Crocker Family - The Crockers are Pressyne-descended and belong to the Sky tribe. Denzel is an M-Class witch whose powers result in his flailing and floating tics; he can’t control himself there. Kevin is a C-Class witch; his powers are polite and don’t like to bother him... but they don’t really help him, either. 

These powers, being sentient, have their own sleeping schedule. When both Kevin and his powers are awake, he can see “living memories” of people, objects, and animals in places where stinky magic has built up. If his powers are awake while he’s asleep, he might dream about past events he’s never witnessed.

Denzel doesn’t have this ability, as he got the floating. Kevin can jump, but not float; he gets the memory-viewing power instead. Mrs. Crocker can sense the emotions of her loved ones even from afar. Kevin’s mom can move at incredible speeds.

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Happy Peppy Gary - Gary is Genie-descended and belongs to the Fire Tribe. He is an M-Class witch; he has moderate control over his powers. His powers can get restless at times, but normally he’s able to keep them in line. However, they become very excited around music and tend to cause trouble while in that state- during the song “Get Flappy” from the Musical, he created multiple clones of himself. That’s one of his witch powers.

Gary is the only orange witch documented in fae history, which makes him a (small) celebrity in the cloudlands. He is six generations removed from his genie ancestor, which means his magic is more powerful than Elmer’s and most of the Crockers’. More difficult to control, too. Because of his Genie heritage, Gary also has the ability to temporarily transfer his powers to someone he exchanges body fluids with. In Pink and Gray, H.P. and Sanderson are constantly pushing him to kiss Betty for this reason.

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Elmer - Elmer is Genie-descended and belongs to the Fire Tribe too. He is a P-Class witch; his magic is parasitic and has taken the form of Bob the boil. The older he gets, the more Elmer wrestles for control of his body with the sentient magic he’s suppressing. All the magic in Elmer’s family is rather primal by nature with little on their minds except overtaking their hosts and living however they please.

Side note - the boils appear due to magical build-up and stress. Elmer’s mom is the witch and she spread magic - i.e. the boil - to her husband by being regularly intimate with him. If she stopped for a long time, his boil would fade because he’s not a magical being and can’t sustain it.

Elmer’s boil appeared at a young age due to stress as he tried and failed to catch Timmy’s attention. That’s my explanation for why he didn’t have it in “It’s a Wishful Life” when Timmy wished he’d never been born (even though I don’t consider that episode canon anyway).

Elmer’s powers are fairly dangerous since Bob actively plots world domination. Elmer has a plot arc in the ‘fic Along the Cherry Lane that focuses on his struggle with Bob as the years go by.

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Some relatives of the above characters are also witches, but these are our only notable witch characters.

Click HERE for my Fairly OddParents worldbuilding masterpost

[dawnfolk-blog]

[linuxgamenews]

Join the IndieCade 2024 Nominee: Dawnfolk Demo

Dawnfolk minimalist survival city-builder game Demo has an update out now on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to Darenn Keller for always bringing fresh creativity to the table. Available for all to play now on Steam. The title has been nominated for IndieCade 2024, one of the best indie game events out there. To celebrate, Dawnfolk has an updated the Linux demo to the same version that the jury will be playing until November 16th. Here’s what’s new:

First Story Level – Get into the heart of this title with three difficulty settings. You’ll learn how to build your city and defend it against the encroaching darkness. Whether you're a newbie or a pro, there’s a mode that’ll suit your playstyle.

First Challenge Level – Dive into a procedurally generated map with a unique gameplay twist each time. Dawnfolk is fresh, volatile, and keeps you on your toes in this Demo!

First Puzzle Level – Love problem-solving? This level’s all about city optimization and tricky challenges. Plus, we’ve added a daily puzzle that changes every day, so there’s always something new to solve.

Endless Level – Ready for a real test? Try out the massive procedural map where your only goal is to survive and thrive. This mode is still in the experimental phase, but it's shaping up to be something epic!

On top of all that, Darenn Keller has packed in tons of fixes and upgrades. All based on the feedback from recent open playtest for the minimalist survival city-builder. Thanks to everyone who helped out.

Dawnfolk - Announcement (now with an updated Demo)

IndieCade holds a special place for. It was the first game development event he attended as a student. Meeting all those amazing developers back then really inspired him to go full-on into development. So receiving a nomination this year is a huge honor. Rightly so. What Makes Dawnfolk Special?

Portable Play – Dawnfolk demo is still designed for quick gaming sessions. Whether you’ve got 10 minutes on your commute or an hour to chill at home, you can easily jump in and out without feeling lost.

Easy to Learn – No long, boring tutorials here! You can start building your city right away, and the simple interface means no confusing menus to deal with.

Encourages Exploration – Remember the good old days when games didn’t hold your hand and exploration was the real fun? That’s what this title is all about. Discovering new things through trial and error makes the gameplay experience rewarding and keeps you coming back for more.

If you haven't tried Dawnfolk yet, now’s the perfect time to check out the updated demo. It’s a minimalist survival city-builder mix with puzzles. And it's all about giving players the freedom to explore and experiment. Whether you’re defending your city, solving daily puzzles, or just seeing how long you can survive in the endless mode, there’s something here for everyone on Steam. Available to play on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC.

[linuxgamenews]

Unleash Your Creativity in Dawnfolk: A Uniquely Dark City-Builder Demo

Dawnfolk minimalist survival city-builder game has a new updated Demo on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the creativity of developer Darenn Keller. Available to play now on Steam. Astra Logical is teaming up with solo developer Darenn Keller to bring you Dawnfolk — a uniquely dark, minimalist survival city-builder for Linux. One that’s due to keep you hooked. In this title, you’ll gather resources and build your realm one tile at a time. All while guarding your settlers from the lurking shadows that threaten your progress. Just in time for the upcoming Wholesome Steam event. This updated Dawnfolk demo now includes two exciting new modes: Puzzle and Challenge. Puzzle mode offers a fresh experience for those who enjoy solving complex problems. While giving you something to chew on beyond the core strategy. Meanwhile, Challenge mode sticks to the survival strategy vibe. But also spices things up with specific objectives and unique twists that’ll keep you on your toes. Darenn Keller, the mind behind Dawnfolk, is eager to have signed with Astra Logical. “I was really excited to sign with Astra Logical and their approach of being developer - first with indie - friendly terms,” said Keller. “They’re a new publisher, but with their support, I can take my time to finish my title without the dreaded crunch. Their help with marketing, dialect, and QA means I get to focus on what I love — making the title itself.”

Dawnfolk - | Survival City-Builder Updated Demo

Heather Jackson, Managing Director of Astra Logical, is equally eager about the partnership. “We started playing the updated demo for Dawnfolk and could not stop,” she said. “We’re thrilled to publish titles that offer unexpected, novel discoveries through deep and interesting systems. Darenn’s title is a perfect example of peak discovery in short gaming sessions.” Jackson’s favorite find in the title so far? Pirates! And let’s not forget the fishing mini game. Since, as she put it, “every good title has a fishing mini game.” Dawnfolk design is due to feel familiar yet very different from any building strategy you’ve played before. Whether you’re at home or on the go, you can unwind and play with ease using your gamepad, keyboard, or hand held console. This title takes you back to the roots of gaming. Where exploring and trying new ideas are the keys to having fun. Step into the eerie darkness and build your way to survival, success. Or just a chill time — it’s up to you. Take on this title on both macro and micro levels as you manage your buildings and resources. While diving into mini arcade games to gather what you need. As you explore, you’ll also reshape the world and uncover its hidden story. When the survival city-builder launches in 2025, Dawnfolk will release on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC via Steam. Along with full support in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese. So get ready for an adventure like no other. Try it now!!

[darennkeller]

[cavemanrobot]