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Devlog #3 – Community Space for Collaboration

The Discord server for the project is nearly complete and will serve as the main hub for discussion and coordination. It is being set up to support collaboration across writing, art, design, programming, and other areas needed to bring the game to life.

The server will include spaces for faction and lore development, gameplay systems, concept art, and prototyping discussions. The goal is to make it easier for contributors to stay organized, share ideas, and build together.

If you are interested in joining the project or following development more closely, feel free to comment or reach out. I will share the invite with those who want to participate.

Project Title: Forged Frontier Author: Dreaded0 Date: 09/25/2025

The world of the game is centered around four major factions, each with distinct identities and approaches to survival, combat, and expansion. The Frontier faction is focused on adaptability and self-sufficiency. Its forces rely on utility mechs and mid-sized bipeds armed with ballistic weapons. Frontier forces are versatile, able to handle a range of environments and situations, from exploring uncharted planets to defending settlements against hostile encounters. The Corporations prioritize industrial and military dominance. Their chemical-fueled mechs carry heavy weapons such as railguns, artillery, and cruise missiles, making them a formidable presence in both planetary and orbital operations. Corporate strategies often revolve around controlling resources and projecting power through sheer firepower and infrastructure. The Terran Hegemony takes a high-tech approach, deploying ionic and enhanced mechs with advanced energy weapons. Terran units excel in aerial combat and precision strikes but are particularly vulnerable to the Confederation’s bio-electric interference, which introduces strategic tension in engagements. The Confederation represents an overarching alien threat. Initially hinted at in the narrative, it becomes a fully interactive force through post-launch events. Players will encounter its administrative Originals, coerced Client Species serving as laborers, warriors, diplomats, scientists and sentient Bio-Ships used in orbital and planetary operations. The Confederation’s presence introduces moral and tactical challenges, shaping player decision-making across the galaxy.

Gameplay centers on sandbox exploration, mech combat, and emergent events within a persistent multiplayer universe. Players move between star systems using discoverable hyper-lanes, requiring them to exit systems and lock onto lanes through an as of yet undetermined detection method. The game emphasizes distinct mech types, weapons, and tactics tied to each faction, encouraging players to experiment and adapt their approach depending on who they encounter. Emergent events in the sandbox can shift the balance of power or open new narrative opportunities, meaning choices made by players may have long-term consequences for themselves and the wider universe. The narrative is arc-driven, but player decisions can alter the course of events, influence faction relations, and create unpredictable outcomes. The Confederation itself evolves from a hinted presence into an active participant in the galaxy, ensuring that player actions influence the timing, scale, and nature of the encounters with this alien force.

Themes play a key role in both the narrative and gameplay design. Industrial expansion drives conflict and resource competition, highlighting the ethical dilemmas faced by human factions. Survival is constantly tested by environmental hazards, rival factions, and the ever-present alien threat. Inter-species ideological clashes, particularly between humans and the Confederation, create tension and challenge players to weigh moral consequences alongside strategic decisions. Player agency is central; choices directly shape the unfolding story, affect faction relationships, and influence the trajectory of the emergent multiplayer universe. By exploring these themes through sandbox gameplay, mech combat, and faction interactions, the game aims to combine narrative depth with meaningful player-driven outcomes.

Early development focuses on solidifying faction roles, establishing emergent sandbox systems, and testing how player decisions influence narrative and mechanical outcomes. Contributors are encouraged to help expand the universe, refine faction identities, and explore the interplay between story, combat, and exploration. The project is designed to remain flexible, allowing narrative arcs and gameplay mechanics to evolve as development progresses, with player experience guiding the growth of the universe.

Project Title: Forged Frontier(WIP)
Author: Dreaded0
Date: 9/25/2025

Project Overview

This project is an indie game in the very early stages. It focuses on story, exploration, and the choices the player makes. The game takes place in a semi-futuristic frontier world where what the player does changes both the story and the world around them.

The goal is to experiment with how story and gameplay can influence each other. For example, the player’s decisions can change how characters behave, how groups or factions in the world react, and how the environment responds. The world is meant to feel alive and responsive to the player’s actions.

Studio Concept

The project is being built as a worker-owned studio, meaning everyone who contributes has a voice in decisions and a share in any money the game makes. My own personal financial stake will be small — I don’t want to be tied down by money or stress about finances. The goal is to create a sustainable way to survive while making games and to give everyone on the team a fair creative role.

We are looking for people with all kinds of skills to join the project, including:

• Writers and people who like worldbuilding or making story content

• People who enjoy creating game ideas, rules, or ways to play

• Artists and animators

• People who make music or sound effects

• Anyone who can help organize the project, test ideas, or provide feedback

Even if you have a different skill that could help the game, you are welcome to join.

Story and World

The story is designed to change depending on what the players do. Different groups, characters, and locations react to player choices. Themes include survival, relationships between people and communities, and how decisions affect the world.

Early narrative ideas include:

• Different factions or groups that respond differently to the player

• Characters who react naturally to events and player choices

• Environmental storytelling, where places and objects tell their own story depending on player actions

The story is flexible and will grow as we explore how players interact with the world.

Gameplay Ideas

At this stage, the focus is on exploring and experimenting. Some ideas we are testing include:

• Player decisions that influence how the world reacts

• Characters and groups that respond to the player’s actions in ways that feel natural

• Exploring the environment and interacting with it in ways that affect the story

The goal is not a polished game yet, but a space to try ideas, see what works, and shape the world together.

Collaboration

This is a collaborative project. Contributors will:

• Share creative control over the game

• Help shape the story, world, and gameplay

• Be part of a team that experiments and iterates together

If you are interested, you can reach out via Discord. Please include:

• What you enjoy doing or your skills

• Any experience you want to share

• How much time you can contribute

Current Stage and Next Steps

The game is still in its early prototype phase. Current goals include:

• Expanding the story and world ideas

• Testing how player choices can affect characters and the environment

• Starting to bring in collaborators to help grow the project

Future updates will share more story ideas, early visual concepts, and how the world reacts to the player. Contributors will also be able to see prototypes and help guide the development.