Hi! :) I have started the thread here to keep posting my updates. 

For those who don't know, my game is Caverns and Dryads:

"Caverns & Dryads" takes you to a world of fantasy, where you will guide Tamzyn, the dryad warrioress —deadly and beautiful— and Sioul, the wizard —tenacious and powerful. Together, they will explore forgotten cities of mysterious beauty and dungeons filled with dangerous monsters. Prepare for an adventure full of action, magic, and romance.

https://louis-dubois.itch.io/caverns-and-dryads

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I bring you great news! I have adapted my game for Windows, in order to be played in more devices. (I may do a Linux version in a future too.)

Making the Windows version required to adapt the UI, adding some decorations that make the game more beautiful. Those are things I like from this version, those decorations, and that you can see the illustrations in bigger size.

The Android version has the advantage of being able to play it anywhere, but it may not have so much reach between people that play on desktop or laptop computers. So now all of them are covered :)

As the only changes are in the interface, I am just keeping the same logic, so I can develop at the same time for both. Every time I add a new feature or screen, I will simply make the interface for mobile, and for desktop, sharing the same logic most of the time.

There were a series of updates, that bring these changes for both Android and Windows:

- A number of bug fixes.

- Added sounds to the bar and the blacksmith.

- Sound of parry added.

- Sound of armor added.

- Added a sound preferences button in the Windows version.

- raised the probability of event in cities so more things happen.

- activated cancel button on spell book for grimoire view

- Added exit button to Windows version on menu.

- Added return to menu button in Exploration screen, under the sound/prefs screen that you can access from there.

Keep an eye and visit and subscribe/follow so you know when the Windows version is released, if you are interested.

Also, this new version means that most of the bugs are fixed, and the game has the basic functions to be played, but now I start a more exciting phase: add more features! 

Most of this is already pre-implemented in basic structure.

• House building: the couple may build a house in some places, customizable.
• Stories: in the bar, hotels, in the middle of dungeons...
• Relationship effects on combat and story.
• Boss monsters! They are ready, just need to add implementation.
• Keys to locked places.
• Forge your own weapons.
• Create your own spells.
• Inventory of equipment.
• Quests and missions.
• Special enemies, like the Archmage.

Again, follow to participate in the exciting journey to add all this and more with your feedback!

I will post about it in all my networks, and specially on my blog, where you can also find other contents.

See you there! :)

Here's some screens from the Windows version:

That was the exploration screen. Here's a story screen:

When you find a monster, the introduction:

When you find a dryad, they gift you with higher stats:

You can repair your armor and weapons. Be wise and smart so you don't break them before you find a city in which you can repair a good armor.

Remember to follow me at the game page or on any of the links.

Hi! :) 

I've added trailers for my game Caverns and Dryads in English, French and Spanish, the three languages in which it is translated.

I also prepared the forum, for questions and suggestions, and even game art based on the game. You can also reach the forum and my Discord channel from the menu inside the game.

On them you can see the screenshots and some part of the gameplay. It's taken from the upcoming Windows version, but the Android one is very similar (attached below).

I think it shows how the game is quite right. The music is by Solas Composer, links in-game and in video.

This is the one in English. 

I've published a post about my way of making the graphics of my game. Here it is:
http://www.beautifulfantasy.art/2025/04/the-art-of-intuition-my-workflow-using.h...

The Windows version of "Caverns And Dryads" is live at Steam! Go there and download it to play at desktop and laptop!

Here at itch.io you can also download the same version for Android, tablet or smartphone!

The new version includes new stuff like inventory, tutorials as stories for several aspects, and bugfixes, and the base of exciting features that I will add soon as keys, more stories, quests, and a lot more!

Download at Steam or itchio for free, and join the community to suggest features and everything! :)

Hi adventurers!

In this new 1.0.17 version, I added loot after combat!

You can find loot or not, and be more or less, depending on monster's level and strength, place, and wizard's power (a kind of luck), and the kind of items depend on monster's fauna.

For that I created 24 objects that may appear. Some restore an amount of mana, others amounts of life, and most of them have more or less selling value in gold.

For selling them you will have to wait till next update. Next thing I'll do is to change the shops at the cities so you can sell your stuff and buy other things :)

But for now, you can go, combat monsters and get loot! :)

1.2 Update: quest of the Purple King!

EXCITING NEWS! 

You can now update the game to version 1.2. This version brings life to the Caverns and Dryads:

• First quest: The Purple King! Heralds of the Purple King will look for you as soon as you finish the place you are now, and will require you to visit his court for a quest!
• You will face a mission to save the city of Subterranea and the whole Chasm!
• Defeat a very big boss monster! Be careful, keep your potions, prepare to use blade and spells against a monster that can smash an entire army!
• We will dive deep into Tamzyn's mind: how she feels, what thoughts put her in a dilemma between her heart and the distance that eternal youth puts to her feelings.
• Decide in the story parts: what you decide will mean bigger or lesser rewards. Make the best decisions, and the relationship between the heroes will grow. By the end of this, they may progress from partners to friends.
• Get two amazing weapons and a great armor to face the big boss monster, once you visit Urvhal the Purple King.
• Get a lot of money if you succeed in the quest. Maybe you can buy a house in the near future with it! ;)
• We now have a working story engine with all of this inside story parts: music, sound effects, loot, combat...

From now on, I will be able to add lots of stories: in bars, between places, at the inn... I plan to add a lot for background, for diversity in cities and sanctuaries, conversations between our heroes... And there's also now a quest engine, so I can expand the game with more secondary and main stories and quests for our heroes! 

IF YOU ARE CURIOUS, HERE'S THE COMPLETE CHANGELOG:

Change on quest display: you can have a main quest and a secondary quest. You can abandon some secondary ones at any moment (except core stories that need to be done). The main one is tied to the story of the game.

Internal changes on Quests and Chapters to add more features.

Engine for dealing with different kinds of chapters and quests.

Added mechanism for multiple reward/punishment depending on actions chosen in a chapter.

Added mechanism for checking stats, relationship and status from the player to influence the chapters.

Modified the combat mechanism in story chapters to introduce the monster as usual.

Added mechanism to allow for different endings based on combat or other actions being a victory or failure.

Now weapons and armors can be found (and equipped) on loot screens.

Fixed: giving money for guards’ fines in cities didn’t work.

Several bug fixes.

Added possibility of having sound effects inside chapters, in addition to music.

Different combat music for chapters, besides the usual for normal fights, and another track for boss monsters.

Added sound for titan-type boss monsters.

Rebuilt many parts of the chapter engine to add new features and robustness.

Shake effect on boss monster images, fade from red to color on other monsters.

Map now has visual hints that connect some places. Part of the image of a location may resemble another, indicating a possible passage between them. Also look for paths drawn in the picture!

Now if you die and lose money, you won’t always lose all of it, but a random quantity. This way, you can't be so unlucky to lose everything in one mistake.

Fade-in effect on monster screens. Bosses have additional effects too.

There are currently 3 types of chapters: main plot (ordered, main quest), core (secondary plot, ordered, secondary quest), and random (unordered, secondary quests). I still have to implement the third type and how and where it appears so it doesn’t conflict with core ones. Maybe I’ll add ternary quests.

Sioul has become hairy because of plot requirements.

Some dryads have had their images changed or retouched to avoid misunderstandings.

Music added to loot screen.

Some monster descriptions fixed.

Exits from Stone Hell to Stairs of Despair were broken. Fixed those and other nearby blocked exits.

Hi adventurers!

In this update, 1.3, I've added the engine for procedural quests. They are called "jobs" inside the game.

Basically a NPC approaches you and asks you to do something. They will pay you gold if you accomplish the mission.

If you change your mind and for some reason you don't want to complete the mission, you can quit it. For that, click on the text of the quests briefings, and choose to quit.

Now you will find <b class="_3cln317VYhwhE1fSeMCG48" <delivery="" missions<="" b="">, but I will add more types next. Like >b class="_3cln317VYhwhE1fSeMCG48">defeating special monsters</b>, bosses or sub-bosses, battling witches, rescuing someone, and more.

With these missions you will always have something to do.

In the meantime I will make more deep and hand made chapters and quests, including the main quests and some core secondary ones. But now you don't have to wait to have missions to do!

If you would like some kind of mission to be included, please tell!

So start updating and playing! You will have to save for buying a house and other things. Have fun!

COMPLETE CHANGELOG: Version 1.3, August, 2025

MOST IMPORTANT UPDATES:

• Procedural quests, called jobs (trabajos in Spanish, missions in French).
• In cities, you may be hired for jobs. Now, the jobs are about <b class="_3cln317VYhwhE1fSeMCG48" <delivering="" documents<="" b=""> to some other city, but I will add more job types which will include >b class="_3cln317VYhwhE1fSeMCG48">defeating menacing monsters</b>, witches, rescuing someone or finding someone, and more.
• If you finished the Purple King quest to save the river of Drozz, Urvhal V may also hire you, and he will pay 3 times more than other people.
• Added chapter to quit a job. You can quit a job just clicking the quests text and choosing to quit or not.

OTHER:

• Fixed some bugs and texts.
• There's a passage between Verdant Grotto and Arcanopolis now.
• Fixed buttons and text delay in Fine and Beggars screens.
• Button for spells on map for Android is now active.
• Fixed display of spell name when you learn it, for Acid Balll.

Release 1.4 is here! This update introduces new backstory and worldbuilding chapters that appear in dungeons, cities, and when you rent a room at the inn. As requested by some players, these additions offer deeper insight into the characters of Tamzyn and Sioul, as well as the game world itself.

🧭 What are they and what are they for?

These are short narrative chapters without choices, where you simply witness conversations between the characters. They reveal important details for later in the game and help you understand the world and its inhabitants more deeply.

💞 Relationship Points

Some chapters in dungeons and cities will grant relationship points, while all chapters at the inn will give trust points. These stats will play a role in future story developments and may influence how certain events unfold.

🧠 The Key Concept

The most important part of this update is the new engine that allows me to add these chapters using images with facial expressions, paired with the writing. This gives the game more emotional depth, while keeping it fun and immersive. As you can see, the game can now grow in depth (like this update) or in size (by adding new places, monsters, or features).

🛠️ What I'm working on now

I’ve been writing chapters for the main quest, which I plan to implement next. I might add some jobs first—or somewhere along the way. Still deciding. With these new chapters, I believe the main story will feel richer and more meaningful.

Stay tuned, and thank you so much for playing in my universe. Enjoy! 😊

P.S. I’d love to hear your feedback on the new chapters—especially if you liked them (just being honest, lol).

Thank you dear adventurers for playing my game. You are making the dream of my life true, by living it with me. I can't thank you enough and I hope you enjoy as much playing as I do creating. - Louis.

📝 Full Changelog

Version 1.4 – September 7, 2025

MOST IMPORTANT UPDATES:

• Added engine to support backstory / character depth chapters, with character images and expressions.
• Introduced new chapters in cities, wilderness, and inns.
  • Inn chapters increase trust.
  • Some other chapters increase relationship stats, but not always.
  • These are designed to enhance character immersion.

OTHER UPDATES:

• Added ability to change music mid-chapter.
• Fixed bug where money couldn’t be picked up if inventory was full (Loot system).

New features, new maps in DLC, novel project, bestirary

🗞️ NEWS – WHAT’S COMING NEXT?

This week I’ve been writing a lot for the main storyline. I’ve shared it with a few people, and they loved it. So I hope it will entertain, move, and inspire you just as much.

Here are a few things I can already reveal:

• The story continues from the Purple King’s mission, so you’ll need to work to obtain it. If you already have, destiny will find you.
• The heroes will feel the pressure of the world around them. As they grow closer, they’ll have to choose.
• I’m going to make you suffer, and I hope also laugh and dream.

Many more adventures are coming, because when this one ends, new paths will open. Remember: this game never truly ends. At least not while I live! It’s the project of my life, and I’m narrating a world where eternal beings dwell. And I’ll take you by the hand into that world—if you wish.

📅 So stay tuned for the next update! I’m working hard on it.

🛠️ OTHER THINGS

• The next update will also introduce the foundation of houses, which I’ll refine later. You’ll be able to store your money and belongings at home.
• I’ll also add weapons and armor with special powers, like fire resistance and more.
• You’ll have to defeat up to 3 bosses, and they’ll be tougher than the Aberration. Watch out!
• Many features are in development—both in combat and beyond. Too many to list now. The goal is to expand both depth (features) and breadth (size and locations).

🗺️Maps

The Maps DLC isn’t required to play. It’s meant as a way to . But now I’ve added a new perk: maps that show exits between areas, and places that require keys or are blocked.

With these new maps, you’ll be able to plan your missions better, and choose your paths more comfortably to reach your goals.

📚 Bestiary

I’ve decided to design it in a style similar to the game, since you’re already familiar with it. It will be an illustrated PDF, with matching background and decorations. It will be a digital DLC.

It will contain a catalog of species, cultures, and peoples of the Rift. Each creature will be described with its traits, strengths, weaknesses, and lore and testimonies.

This DLC will be optional and supportive of the development. I haven’t set the price yet, but it will be moderate and fair.

📄 On my blog, you can view and download a draft page about the dryads and the Gnomurk. 💬 Share your thoughts: Is this the kind of bestiary you want? What’s missing? Dark or light background? Would it be useful in .epub format?

Comment here, on the blog, or in the Community!

✍️ NOVEL

A medium-term project is the novel. Both you, my dear adventurers, and beta readers have told me I must turn it into a book.

So I’m gradually gathering the story, which I’ll expand and unify. I may publish the novel. Most likely, I’ll release it here  and on Steam, as a support DLC.

But this is a side project. The top priority is the game, then the bestiary. The novel is forming in parallel, since it’s the game’s stories in book format.

📣 Are you excited about the novel? Tell me in the comments! You’ll make me very happy.

🙏 Thanks

Thanks for playing Caverns and Dryads, adventurer. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Stay tuned while I work on this update. I can’t wait to share it with you!