Grimrock

I just recently read the announcement about LoG II and like everybody else, I can hardly contain myself.
So, in order to relieve so of my pent-up excitement, I'm going to start posting some ideas that come to mind that I think would go well with a sequel.

I can only hope that an official topic gets posted to handle this in a more organized manner.
So, without further ado, let's get started!

1. This first thing that comes to mind is the word "outside". Really, the first thing I would expect from a sequel is to see what the world outside of the mountain would look like. Immediately, this opens up a ton of new avenues for design, but I'll keep them in check for later items.
-Now, first, the outside doesn't have to actually be navigated as a dungeon. The huge map that accompanied the game in the "extras" section showed that there is plenty of room for story and exploration. The actual dungeon exploration could be limited to inside exploration, but I think that some over-world navigation would be well received.

2. To go along with the idea of outside exploration is the concept of multiple biomes. Not long after finishing the game, I came up with some sketches of what a particular scene might look like if it were set in a deep, dark forest; a blizzard-ridden mountain pass; and an underwater palace. I wish I still had them, but sadly they were tossed out with last year's paperwork.

3. 4. Going back to the idea of multiple biomes, one of the neat obstacles that could be added is environmental effects, such as extreme cold, heat, oxygen-deprivation, and aura. Some could be beneficial or harmful, depending on what the environment is, and probably some gear to combat that. My only worry is that it might get a little too cliche, even for Grimrock. Probably not, though.

5. My last idea for now involves the concept of multiplayer within Grimrock. This is probably something that has come up many times at design meetings and has probably already been nixed a completely hopeless. I would like to propose a sort of "Race against the Overseer" game-mode, where 1-4 players take control of some/all of the adventurers, and another player takes control of the overseer, who has to try and stop the adventurers from reaching the end (being a hard-set goal or maybe a moving enitity) by placing traps and monsters in their way. It's a rough concept, but maybe it could work with some extra insight.

Well, this has gone on long enough, and I'm sure you're sick of reading, so I'll be quiet for a while and listen to what you have to say about this.

Farewell, for now.

Before anyone comes in to say that all suggestions should be put in one thread, I'd just like to say that these multiple threads will help the community discuss ideas for Grimrock 2.
Then when the community has a more concise list of features, with pros and cons, and in depth discussion leading to why it should be included, they should be added to a sort of "Master Thread"
And before that happens, we'll need someone with enough time to lead and update the thread.

1. As for your suggestions:
Outdoors are widely suggested. They are also a focus of the Legends of the Northern Realms project.
Chances are Juho has a couple of drafts of some outside areas even if just as concept.

2. Oh this isn't really a suggestion, but an extension of point 1.
However I would like to inform you that the Northern Realms (Where Grimrock takes place) has quite the varied biome.
Far to the north of the map is tundra, as you go south, you have some temperate lands. Below that, around Nothampton and east of it is jungle. Below that is a desert.
Not to mention the various hills and mountains and forests. Lots of great places for the AH guys to develop scenic places.

3. 4. I've played a mod that featured a hot-zone that could only be traversed while wearing a cold item. I don't know if this is better suited for a mod or not.

5. If multiplayer comes to Grimrock, or any dungeon crawler, I'd much prefer each player controlling their own party rather than a character of a party.

Thanks for the input!

6. In a sort of competitive spirit, it might be possible to add a pseudo-multiplayer feature: a leaderboard. Although we have achievements to sort of fill in for this now, it might be an interesting idea to track times and levels, maybe even encouraging modders to create race-like dungeons or hold-out encounters. Personally, it's a really rough idea, and wouldn't make it if it were just a leaderboard for times.

I think Steam can have statistics for that.

7. Can't believe I've never thought of this before, but normal, hinge-based doors would make an interesting addition to the game. Not only would the look be refreshing, but it could also double as a puzzle feature, involving the door opening one way, while discreetly blocking a passage to the side, just beyond it. I remember seeing one in the old sequel to myst, Riven.
This http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... cF0#t=470s is what I'm refering to.

Very good suggestion, I think.
That happens to be something we've been working on in the LotNR Project as well.

8. Small detail this time, and somthing I thought would have been in the first game: left and right handedness. It's such a trivial detail and would have been so easy to incorporate into the first that I was confused when I found out that all my party members were ambidextrous. Really, it would have been so easy.

I have mixed feelings of ambidexterity.
Without dual wielding being an option, I think it's pretty unnecessary.

Another note on the subect: I usually place my party's weapons in the slot facing the middle
(o=open x=close)
ox xo
ox xo

I like the idea of a overworld or even towns.

It could be realised like Mazes of Fate(a Gameboy Advance FirstPersonCrawler see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE-4xib9p50)
Or like an overworld map and you can see your progress on the map and click on towns/dungeons/directions.

Also a Story in Lands of Lore style would be nice. You know with character interactions and such.

Also i would really like controller support for his game. I would feel more immersed in the game when i just can use a controller and use the buttons blindly to do stuff instead of clicking and looking on an interface todo things.

Edith: i just read the update on the blog...ok so no overworld which is also fine

I'm interested in your suggestions for controller support in a four character game in real time.

The game you showed looks pretty interesting. The in dungeon graphics look skewed and stretched for some reason.