How about a campaign mode?
I would love a story telling campaign mode. The games seems fun, it reminds me of a game I played in primary school (Cesar 3). The endless building game mode is fun but my favorite part was the campaign where you were given various tasks of increasing difficulty. The campaign acted as a tutorial while also telling me a story of the Roman empire. Even now 20+ later I remember some of the missions. I would love to see something similar and the story could be for you to slowly discover what happened to the humans.
Comments: 60
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18 Sep, '21
Q MergedA more goal oriented "story" mode that gives the game more of a purpose rather than a never ending sandbox feeling.
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Examples: Winter is coming: prepare for winter season (goal: certain amount of water and food stored); Metropolis: reach a certain population size; Survival of the fittest: Expand territory before other factions do.
This can make the game more versatile and challenges the player to focus on different thing in order to achieve the goal. It will prolong the playing time and life of the game. -
18 Sep, '21
Brian MergedThis game reminds me a lot of one of my all-time favorites - Roller Coaster Tycoon 2! That game has a "campaign" where you have a series of levels or "scenarios" that are on predefined maps/zones and make the game a lot more interesting then simply free playing. I think this game could benefit from a similar system. Some examples of the types of challenges could be like:
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Build 3 separate districts with at least 50 beavers each.
Have a district that produces X number of Y resource.
Reach a level 8 happiness rating within Z days.
Build a temple for your beavers within 1 cycle.
I'm sure the devs can think of many creative and difficult ways to make us play the game. (:
I think these "Scenarios" or levels will add a level of challenge and excitement to the game. As well as letting friends compete!
Here's a link talking about RC2 "Scenarios" https://rct.fandom.com/wiki/Category:RollerCoaster_Tycoon_2_Scenario -
19 Sep, '21
Gin Fuyou Admin Merged"Story Mode" (suggested by Q on 2021-09-18), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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20 Sep, '21
Perrybirb MergedYes please, I'd love a campaign with map goals and such eventually. Stronghold 1 for instance (an oldie but a goldie) has a whole campaign just for building up settlements and economies and it's very fun. Something like that would work great for this game.
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23 Sep, '21
Awenya MergedYes I want something a la Rollercoaster Tycoon and Stronghold! Sandboxes don't hold my attention. This would be an excellent way to expand the tutorial into meaningful gameplay as well.
Other ideas:
Stockpile x amount of y and z resources by the end of the third cycle.
Have 100 beavers with a happiness of at least 8 by the end of cycle 5.
Survive 6 cycles (scales up difficulty and on a smaller map)
Place one of every type of building
All of these could be on different maps, or some could continue the last save with a new challenge/objective. -
23 Sep, '21
ChopStiR MergedYes Please, Would love some goal orianted objectives to beat the level. The tutorial could be built into the first few levels withs some small maps completeing simple objectives. Build up to some really difficult challenges. an example is a flood is coming and you need to build an ark and migrate all your beavers, plus timber and resources before a deadline.
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24 Sep, '21
Stuart MergedWould also love to "Migrate" some of your colony to a new map, where they can take science knowledge with them and you can build/plan out on a harder map with some of the better items already unlocked (like large water containers).
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Maybe each map you progress to, you need to last until a later cycle, and given the option to "commence pilgrimage" to new map, taking 10 adults to start anew. -
25 Sep, '21
Lion-Rye Mergedbevers arch enemy the platpus a rivle faction
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26 Sep, '21
Gin Fuyou Admin"Add a "Campaign" mode" (suggested by Brian on 2021-09-18), including upvotes (26) and comments (7), was merged into this suggestion.
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26 Sep, '21
Gin Fuyou Admin> Unlikely to happen
Merged and changed to "under consideration" but still not very likely, at least in near future. -
27 Sep, '21
Sharlequin MergedGame is neat af now compared to the first demo version ngl this is going straigt next to frostpunk
It does lack content tho not as in managing and gestion but ye story mode or some objectives
The sandbox is very good but ye more objectives as to keep the game alive.. I got a full map and then you're just.. watching them ^^ -
28 Sep, '21
Gin Fuyou Admin"Story mode?" (suggested by Sharlequin on 2021-09-27), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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30 Sep, '21
JacekKYeah, I think that Timberborn has huge potential over other endless city builders with its water behavior/mechanics. Sadly, I'm afraid, that there are too many endless city builders out there, and still there are made more and more. Story mode could be something that make this game "AAA oldschool retro style classic game" instead of "another indie city builder, but this time with beavers".
In my opinion it would be awesome to make some "missions" about building dams to water specific parts of a map - maybe change the flow of the river, to deliver water to other Districts to allow them start farming (I'm thinking about other disctrics controller by AI).
AND - if someday, there would appear some even simple cinematics, like in old Warcraft 3 (I mean, short mission introduction on game engine), then this game would significantly stand out on the market. (and, of course, with map editor and simple campaing editor, game would have a chance to become immortal 😀) -
08 Oct, '21
Agustin MergedPlease add a campaign with an interesting story, which also allows you to unlock access to different products, in addition to making the game more attractive.
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09 Oct, '21
Gin Fuyou Admin"Please add a campaign with an interesting story." (suggested by Agustin on 2021-10-08), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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26 Oct, '21
mikeJust chiming in here to +1 this. It seems strange to me that this issue isnt higher on the prio list. The game is essentially just a sandbox currently. It was awesome fun, but for me at least the longevity is seriously impacted by not having any kind of goals or focus. I have stopped playing after about 20 hours in game and would love to come back and play more if something like this were implemented.
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06 Nov, '21
Ian K MergedIts a great, well balanced, fun game.....I would either add a challenges mode or a campaign where you can unlock maps or more buildings. Lots of people love "career mode" or "campaigns"
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08 Nov, '21
Gin Fuyou Admin"campaign" (suggested by Ian K on 2021-11-06), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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30 Nov, '21
JaykayMaking a campaign for each faction (even a short one) would put this game in the AAA shelf like those of anno series, which mean, in a marketing pov, i would switch the "under consideration" stance for a "defenitly looking into it!!" - my 2 cents....
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(i know the cutscenes are very time and money consuming, so, in alternative, a few cutscenes like a simple wallpaper and a narrator - heck - i would gladly play the narrator for free and write the monologue - would in my opinion make a tremendous difference.)
I have already bought the game, and if the problem is short staff and funding, i would gladly pour some more money into it in some form of dlc, either just cosmetic stuff like housing and buildings theme - (*Christms is here btw... just droping it here ;) ), or even paying for new factions.
Anyway, thanks for the great work and for the gust of fresh air into the genre. i realy enjoy your sublime creation! -
27 Dec, '21
VollfedYes, that will be great!
So, maybe something like campaign-turtorial maps wich are rather small.
In each you start with some resources,buildings and fixed tech-level
1) Water the village plants
You should build a dam to water dying nearby trees/berries
2) Prepare food for beaver fest
3) build beaver monument faster than Ai
4) flood ancient crater to get human artifact from its bottom
5) revert river stream from rival fraction (they are doing the same, so you have time restrictions)
6) beaver migration. Help beavers cross the map (supply water/food/build road)
7) fighting global warming. Plant 1000 trees in X turns
8) use dynamite to supply nearby village with water
Other missions can be water redirect/flood/dry puzzles which you should solve with available tech -
23 Jan, '22
Mo MergedThis game could really use a more in depth campaign. With missions that work up to building a fully functional city.
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23 Jan, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"More in depth campaign" (suggested by Mo on 2022-01-23), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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23 Jan, '22
CyberV MergedHI EVeryone, I didn't read the numerous feedbacks that you already received, but I think the primary need would be a campagne with defined goals to progress.
then I would recommend a tutorial on the differents districts, creation, interactions.., how it works.
Finaly I would like to have a function to "move" objects, that would be really useful. I might be also nice if you would recover in total or at least partially goods when you are destroying a building.
Thanks it is anyway nice !!
Good game to all. -
23 Jan, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"Necessary features to be added" (suggested by CyberV on 2022-01-23), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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31 Jan, '22
Joonas JoensuuJust bought the game a couple of days ago and whilst I do love it, after a certain point there's not that much to do anymore.
I would currently class the stages approximately thus:
1) Tutorial stage, learn the works, prepare and survive the first drought
2) Build a new district for a dam
3) Work out how to balance your production and beaver numbers to survive further droughts without problems
.... and that's about it.
Currently there's no real goal for the building, such as certain level of beaver happiness, as it doesn't affect much - same with decorations, awe etc.
The basic campaign would need:
a) several campaign specific maps
b) specific scenario requirements
c) unlocking techs only after scenario completion
d) some cutscenes - this can be done rather simply in comic book style (see Hard West for example) that is effective and can be in many ways even preferable - voiceover can be added later
e) more tech to research (the current number doesn't just suffice for a campaign) -
20 Mar, '22
Pierre MergedThe game is a bit overwhelming and introducing new buildings in a, stepwise, scenario by scenario, campaign would allow getting into the game much more effectively and also allow the game producers to create "game" environment tutorial without ever really needing a tutorial. As it is the mechanics of the game is quite obscure and the above would make it easy to get into it all.
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20 Mar, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"Campaign Mode to learn all the features" (suggested by Pierre on 2022-03-20), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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19 Jun, '22
Jack DorrI know this has been mentioned, but I'm throwing in my vote/voice for a campaign mode. I'd love the aspect of introducing main characters, play different factions, and hear the main storyline. Endless mode is fun, but at some point, or oftentimes, I would also like to play in campaign mode so I can feel more involved with the game. I say "main characters" because I'm a sucker for heroes or protagonists in a story.
There's a lot of great edits/suggestions online, and I can't wait to see what you folks at Mechanistry develop next. -
10 Jul, '22
Ryan MergedThrowing in my two cents on the campaign and story ideas here.
Timberborn is a world where humans are extinct, and beavers have taken their place. Lots of potential in this. What happened to the humans? What affect did they have on the world/climate? How does this affect the beavers now?
This could be explored through maps and missions. Completing a map/mission opens up more maps/missions that reveal more about the world or unlock features.
For example,
- We find a barren wasteland that we need to dam off to restore the land and move forward.
- A new faction of beavers live on the map and we need to build a tribute to ingenuity to impress and recruit them.
- There's something at the bottom of a mine, and we need to contribute X wood to get to the bottom and progress the story.
- There are ruins at the bottom of a lake, and we need to drain it so we can explore what the ruins. -
10 Jul, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"Campaign & Story" (suggested by Ryan on 2022-07-10), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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23 Jul, '22
MitchellLove the city building aspect, but the game did get to a point where I was like 'Ok, now what?'
Would love to see an in game challenge/goal to accomplish. -
14 Aug, '22
gtmonicaI agree with other comments, for those of us (me) that are not as creative with building but still enjoy it a "story mode" would be helpful. I remember playing Zoo Tycoon and playing all the different campaigns offered to build zoos around the world. Each had an end goal to reach in order to be successful. Right now the game is very open, like a sandbox, do what you will type of game. I'm a task/goal oriented player and having things to do to get to an end is a good starting point. Right now I often find myself watching others via Twitch or Youtube to see how to use the items and the mechanics as I'm not overly creative. Love the game and can't wait to see what comes in the future.
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15 Aug, '22
BestmanStudio MergedAnd that might be the sole reason I loved this. But lack of story, no levels and increasing difficulty it goes really seen and really fast.
Gameplay and atmosphere is really good, this needs storymode to make it great. -
17 Aug, '22
Marcos MergedI miss campaign
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18 Aug, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"Remainds me of the good old Settlers II" (suggested by BestmanStudio on 2022-08-15), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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18 Aug, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"CAMPAIGNS" (suggested by Marcos on 2022-08-17), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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31 Aug, '22
Shabbeer HassanA large sprawling campaign with multiple factions, competition between them for resource management, and population expansion, in large areas would be great to have. All along if there are major bosses (chieftains of beaver towns) to defeat in terms of resource hoarding and outcompeting them will be so good to have.
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02 Dec, '22
Shweta NarayanIn case the issue with doing a campaign is getting writers -- I'm a pro writer on hiatus (not for games though, just fiction) and would be delighted to help out with something like this as a volunteer.
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19 Dec, '22
Pavel MergedAfter playing game a few times, and mastering it, there is no motivation to play it again. New campaign or missions will help.
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23 Dec, '22
Gin Fuyou Admin"Campaign or missions" (suggested by Pavel on 2022-12-19), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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27 Dec, '22
emenaAs a long time this kind of game player, some kind of campain/clear goals would be a great addition. after the initial building it very much feels like the game goes nowhere. i only started playing today but once I drought proofed my current beaver town, it was very much set and forget and wait for the science points to build up. not much to keep engaged.
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26 Feb, '23
Samuel MergedMake somme campagne with objectif and mission, the game will be awesome !
Maybe somme uograde possible with a somme level up possible,
add fishing ! -
12 Mar, '23
Gin Fuyou Admin"Mission" (suggested by Samuel on 2023-02-26), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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17 Mar, '23
moscI think this is a really important component of the game. Several smaller maps in sequence with restricted tech trees and objective based gameplay would create all manor of fun.
1) "less is more". There's a lot of fun to be had finding the largest population possible with significantly more restrictions in the early tech tree (one district, no explosives, no golems, no metal?)
2) Better tutorial. Things can be overwhelming dropping everything down. Introducing new features against objectives makes them more easily understood
3) Cool one-offs like maybe starting with a warehouse full of metal or some unique building/feature
4) tech tree makes more sense. Science is cool as a resource and all but progression based on points alone rather than a sequential improvement (like making double and triple platforms require unlocking more costly bridges and other things first)
5) plot/story/theme. You can deliver story and setting through mission intros and conclusions -
18 Mar, '23
sam MergedJust like the great trailer...
https://youtu.be/VKYr4wSzUGs
Can we have that same voice-over on the trailer in the game?
Up to you all really.. could probably come up with something great but off the top of my brain;
The campaign could consist of an introductory map to complete with goals to reach certain populations, cycles or well-beings to unlock the next map or new maps and factions,
As progressing, completing the goals (objectives) through each map, could also add stats to an overall rpg like rating in a zoomed out world of all the different maps in the campaign. -
19 Mar, '23
Gin Fuyou Admin"Campaign mode." (suggested by sam on 2023-03-18), including upvotes (1) and comments (0), was merged into this suggestion.
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16 Jun, '23
TouyakunCaesar 3 was the reason I love playing city building games. The campaign was important to engage the players and have a good story line
Maybe the campaign story is a world that is ridden by climate change, and the water level keeps rising, and droughts become longer as time goes. And our little beavers need to acclimate in this post climate change world -
08 Jul, '23
songI agree with having a story mode. Right now, the games still feels too little content-wise, with a lack of engagement.
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While a sandbox mode is great for replayability and building huge creative cities, to add on to the single player experience, you should really provide a story mode to explore timberborn's strong potential for roleplay and humour.
I mean, the early access trailer gave such an amazing feel... A story mode that can capture and flesh-out the essence fully will go a long way into giving the game it's own flavour.
I think that providing exposition and character to these beavers and factions will help players feel connected to them, and give players the motivation to create the perfect home for these beavers in sandbox mode.
I hope the story will be light-hearted and humorous to fit in with the casual theme for players to relax and just have fun. -
06 Aug, '23
Tweek Del TawI am 100% for it! It really lacks a "Story" mode!
with several maps, specific objectives to achieve... such as: 3,000 iron in stock, or 5 districts, all linked together, with a total of at least 1,000 beavers! .. the examples are limitless in genre!
--> it gives specific objectives, other than reaching all the technological lvl and colonizing the whole map with aesthetics..
freedom is good, but without a frame, without a story.. being is destined to wander aimlessly! (and I know what I'm talking about here.. ^^)