Gaslamp explains how combat will function in Clockwork Empires

Clockwork Empires

Gaslamp Games continues to enlighten us about how its steampunk city-builder will work. This week, the Vancouver-based indie is shedding light how it plans to integrate combat into its Dwarf Fortress-style game. The martial matters divulged in the today's dev diary include details on how the personalities of soldiers and officers will affect combat and the consequences we will endure in defeat.

Gaslamp is also designing combat in way that de-emphasizes micromanagement. "Outcome is determined by supply and setup... [it's] a game of strategy over tactics, and tactics over twitch," the blog explains. "Rather than a reflex AWP shot, think of it more like gardening, albeit bristling with barbed wire and Redcoats."

Finally, the devs have expressed their desire for combat not to be a "meat-grinder." Victories will be harder-won, but defeat will be an interesting experience that doesn't leave your entire military dead or crippled just because one battle didn't go their way. In Gaslamp's words: "A player who keeps a stiff upper lip and endures defeat should be rewarded with narrative richness."

There are more details to find in the official post . If you've missed the boat on Clockwork Empires thus far, have a look back at our previous coverage or watch our video interview with Gaslamp embedded above.

Contributor

Len Hafer is a freelancer and lifelong PC gamer with a specialty in strategy, RPGs, horror, and survival games. A chance encounter with Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness changed her life forever. Today, her favorites include the grand strategy games from Paradox Interactive like Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis, and thought-provoking, story-rich RPGs like Persona 5 and Disco Elysium. She also loves history, hiking in the mountains of Colorado, and heavy metal music.