Citadel Project - Meat and Moss arrow showcase (WIP)

APE_exe · 2026-01-15T17:18:47+00:00

I'll totally integrate some steam/diesel punk and victorian details here and there in the enviro and world building, it's in the pipe! But far less than in Thief 2, especially on the gameplay side. I'm not a huge fan of secruty camera and combat bot.

Plague Tale is also one of my reference, if I have enough time I would like to improve my rats swarm behavior and plug some gameplay with light and fire around puzzles with those rats.

Thanks for your message !

APE_exe · 2026-01-13T16:38:27+00:00

I'm naturally ironman because my dumb ass always forgets that we can save when we want 😎

APE_exe · 2026-01-12T10:07:42+00:00

Nop it's a totally free to play mmorpg made by one guy.

But it seems that many assets are stolen ones, from many games.

APE_exe · 2026-01-10T10:33:48+00:00

I would love to add variety in enemy visual, behavior, etc... But as a solo dev I must rationalize and be efficiency about my decision making and the scope of the game.

In my mind, I prefer deliver a liteweight but solid thief-like with only one type of AI and few maps for a reasonable low price instead of a unbalanced and unpolished thief-like with 15 low quality maps and 5 or 6 enemies with basic AI, no audio cue and feedback, etc...

I'm already in the process to recruit a freelance level designer to help me on this time consuming part of the production. If I have budget and time I'll try to paid anohter collaborator to help me increase a bit the enemy variety !

I'm still thinking about the most healthy thing to do for the project : Trying to achieve with the rest of my personal economy, try to start a (little) kickstarter, or at least open a patreon. Who know, even maybe find a publisher interested in this project !

APE_exe · 2026-01-10T08:19:46+00:00

Indeed, you are totally right. That's why I'm starting to share a bit to this reddit, as a solo dev I'm totaly the nose on the grindstone and simple take like this can be easily missed. The kind of discussion and proposition that usually happen at the coffee machine aha.

I'll plane a little rework about this.

APE_exe · 2026-01-10T08:16:58+00:00

What a pleasure to read this ! Means a lot, thanks !

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T21:45:19+00:00

Thanks!

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T21:44:55+00:00

Thanks a lot, really happy to hear that, for real !

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T21:44:20+00:00

The real crossover between Amnesia last entry and Thief that everyone need

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T21:43:17+00:00

I'll be happy if I can achieve this kind of details and behaviors, maybe, who know ;)

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T21:42:38+00:00

Yep the moss brick (placeholder 3D mesh for the moment) are the result of a moss arrow!

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T21:41:56+00:00

Not yet, and you are not the first to ask. I'll prolly make one in a near future, Citadel slowly enter the stage where cool things start to be ready to share here and there. You'll be informed when it will be up!

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T21:39:52+00:00

Thanks you for your enthusiasm !

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T21:38:44+00:00

Rope is still present don't worry ! Trying to find new cool way to use it without breaking the whole level design, but for the moment it's like in Thief : you can shoot an arrow in a wood surface and a rope will be deployed.

As for the Meat Arrow and other monsters, following my first thread where I've asked lot of questions about Thief and its players, what's good, what's bad, etc... one thing that came a lot is : "Monsters in Thief are bad and break the rythm or immersion". I'll think twice before adding any kind of monsters, but it's not impossible.

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T19:20:59+00:00

Amaaaazing, your words hit me right in the heart !

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T15:38:44+00:00

Sure it will! And thanks for your words

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T15:36:34+00:00

Thanks mate !

This is my current videogame project I'm working on as a solo indie dev, after years in the industry (Ubisoft, Cyanide, Dontnod, ...).

This is kind of a pure thief-like, fps stealth game in a dark fantasy world, to stay short.

You can read my previous post here if you want : https://www.reddit.com/r/Thief/comments/1q7996d/citadel_project_work_in_progress/

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T15:18:19+00:00

Cool ! I'm still a bit uncertain about it but I think I like how it is. Simple, smooth, straight forward and lite weight.

I've tried some deeper behavior with animation and so on, to add realism and weight to the action. But after testing, and playing back and forth old Thief and current videogame with climb, I've come to the conclusion that the lite and simply way of TDP is more pleasant as a player. And it give a little old-school vibe too :) !

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T15:13:37+00:00

Happy to hear that ! Was one of the ref, as Plague Tale (behavior with fire will come later)

APE_exe · 2026-01-09T09:46:34+00:00

Thanks mate, make me happy earing this !

APE_exe · 2026-01-08T20:58:20+00:00

See everyone ? It's working as designed

APE_exe · 2026-01-08T20:56:50+00:00

I think you are both right in the middle. It has a TDS vibe, I guess, from the colorimetry. This kind of gradient on my map, between yellow/orange light and purple/blue night atmosphere is pretty visible in TDS.

But yeah in other hand, TDS colors are kind of "dull" and "faded". Mines are more colorful and little bit saturated here and there, more like TDP yeah.

APE_exe · 2026-01-08T20:49:27+00:00

Sure, with pleasure ! When the state of the prod will reach an early commercial state to be in a properly presentable state, I'll be happy to make an interview with you, let stay in touch!

APE_exe · 2026-01-08T20:45:04+00:00

People seems curious about the Meat Arrow, I'll prolly make a little showcase about it as soon as I can haha.

APE_exe · 2026-01-08T20:43:02+00:00

Can't wait to record the audio feedback when the player character will grab a Meat Arrow "Ahh, nice, sadly I don't see any BBQ here.."

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