First and foremost, thank you for both trying the game and taking the time to write such a detailed review. It is genuinely appreciated!
This is extremely helpful, and you’ve highlighted some very valid points. One of the biggest challenges with making a game like this is introducing the depth and complexity without overwhelming players before they have the chance to discover what makes the systems interesting. There are a lot of moving parts behind Dungeons & Dynasties, and finding the right way to introduce them is something I’m continuing to work on.
You are absolutely right that I have effectively thrown players into a sandbox experience from the start. This has made me think more about providing different ways to experience the game, keeping the open-ended management experience for players who want to dive straight in, while also creating a more guided introduction/onboarding experience that teaches the core loop and systems at a better pace.
The foundations are there, and I think the idea of creating a founding guild experience could be a great way to introduce players to the world, systems, and the feeling of building something from the ground up.
The point you made about more direct interaction with heroes is also something I’m interested in expanding over time. The challenge is making sure those additions enhance the feeling of running a guild rather than moving away from the management style that is at the heart of Dungeons & Dynasties, but feedback like this helps highlight areas where the game can continue to grow.
Lastly, I really enjoyed your style of writing and appreciate how constructive and positive your critique was. Even though the game wasn’t quite the experience you were looking for, comments like this are incredibly valuable in helping me improve it.
Thank you again for playing and for taking the time to share your thoughts.
I'll add this response to the substack page aswell!