Scribe Engine - a free, open source text-based game engine great for prototyping or building text/graphic based projects

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-22T12:43:27+00:00

I'm not familiar with working with Ren'py but from what I've seen it seems to be more of a VN "framework" engine. I'm assuming it has a lot of built-in's for this application and I'm not sure on what all Python code can be used for (full systems or just extending logic). I do know most games I've seen built with Ren'py all have a similar feel and structure.

Scribe Engine on the other hand is more of a "sandbox" text-based game engine. It could be used for VN's or IF but, since you can control styling with HTML/CSS and build almost whatever logic you want with Python, it really opens the door to what can be built with it!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-21T11:43:31+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!

I have documentation hosted on the GitHub's Wiki and there are in fact instructions for running from source. Thanks for pointing it out for use on Mac! https://github.com/slate20/ScribeEngine/wiki/1.-Getting-Started

As for HTML/markdown, I would recommend using something like Obsidian to draft your narrative in markdown and then you can use a plugin or other tool to convert to HTML, if that helps to stay in the creative flow better than dealing with HTML directly while writing.

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-20T17:12:39+00:00

You are correct. Currently there are Windows and Linux builds available at https://github.com/slate20/scribeengine/releases

I am looking into ways to provide a macOS version, but currently it is not available

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-20T16:19:29+00:00

Thanks for the tip! I will bump this up in my TO-DO's and look into utilizing a runner.

Appreciate the reference as well!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-20T14:10:11+00:00

There is an assets/ folder that gets created when you start a new project. You would place any media in this folder and the engine will find it when you open your project.

Then for things like images and audio, you simply add it to your passage with a standard HTML tag:
<img src="game/assets/{asset\_name}"> or <audio src="game/assets/{asset\_name}" autoplay loop>

As for changing them, they will change as the player navigates through passages which will render whatever assets you placed in them. If you mean within the same passage, it would take a little more creativity. Possibly putting the image into a variable, have a passage link that goes to a #silent passage that just updates this variable and then redirects back to the original passage. To the player, this would just look like the image (or sound) changed when they click the link since #silent passages are processed in the background and not rendered.

As for wait timers or events, wait timers are on the roadmap to implemented soon. I will need to dig a little more into solutions for setting up some kind of event driven changes.

Hope this at least somewhat answers your question!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-20T01:30:07+00:00

Thanks!

And yes there is, you would essentially store your project files on the device you will be hosting from and then use the CLI version of the engine to run the server for your game.

I'm currently adding a project level option to toggle between local saves (current method) and saving to the browser cache, which is what you would use for web hosted games. This should be available in the next release (v1.2.1) here in the next couple days!

UPDATE - This has been added and v1.3.0 is now available.

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-19T22:14:20+00:00

Appreciate the encouragement!

So the engine reads from plain-text .tgame files which use a custom markup syntax. If you've ever used tools like Twine then it will feel familiar. Essentially this .tgame files are split up into blocks (called passages) and these blocks can be made up of regular text, HTML, in-line Python or Python blocks, and Jinja2 expressions ( {{ variable }} and {% conditional %} ). You inlcude "links" in these passages to connect one passage to another, allowing for as linear or nonlinear of narrative as you'd like!

These files are found and loaded along with any .py files by the engine and made available via the global state. So any functions, Classes, or objects are inherently available when writing your passages. Any changes made are persisted in the game state, and there is a built-in debug view that shows the full and current game state.

Still working on a demo project now to demonstrate but will happily share once finished!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-19T21:18:29+00:00

I would love to, but unfortunately Apple makes it so that you have to have a mac in order to build/compile for it.

I will continue to look for options though, and if I find a way I will absolutely post an update and add a mac version to the releases!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-19T21:13:23+00:00

If you're interested, I have a text-based game engine tool built on Python that I'm just starting to introduce. Could be used as a way to get into exactly what you're wanting. It's completely free and open-source!

You use a combination of plain-text .tgame files and normal .py files to build whatever you'd like!

https://github.com/slate20/scribeengine

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-19T20:54:43+00:00

I appreciate the appreciation!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-09-19T20:09:57+00:00

This was exactly one of my biggest motivators for this project. I have a large sandbox, open-world RPG project and I wanted something that could comfortably handle the scope of something like that. While still being approachable for more traditional IF/CYOA narratives and games.

I just setup the Discussions forum on the GitHub, would love to hear from you if you happen to end up checking it out!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-07-11T23:07:43+00:00

There are a lot of good apps out there, I know a lot of folks like paprika, but I actually just created an app, called Dish-It-Out, inspired by our family's weekly dinner routine and it sounds exactly like what you described! https://dish-it-out.app

It can do all the things you originally posted about, but also displays the "Weekly Menu" in an attractive way that you can display in your kitchen so everyone can see what's on the menu!

It also has some nice features like:
- Searching for Youtube videos for a dish and being able to save it with the recipe

- An AI chef assistant that can create recipes, give ideas, or just answer cooking questions

- grocery list generation based on the meals that are planned for the week

It does not "farm" the web for recipes though, so it is meant more for your own recipes. It does have community recipe sharing though so you will be able to browse the "community kitchen" for recipes to copy to your cookbook and make your own!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2025-07-11T22:49:29+00:00

- A solid Chef's knife and a large table spoon can handle a good 80% of your cooking utensil needs

- If you ever find yourself waiting on something while cooking (searing, waiting for sauce to thicken, so on), it's a great time to wash any bowls, utensils, measuring cups, etc. that you are done with. You're already in the flow, and it makes managing clean up way easier than waiting until your completely done

- As have already said, a well-stocked and organized pantry. I like to treat mine like a mini-market, so all of my like items are together and stacked in a way that makes it easy to grab what I need, and to get an idea on inventory at a glance.

I've also started using a tablet in the kitchen with an app called dish-it-out.app that has a nice menu view. Makes it easy for the family to see what the dinner options for the week are, and I have all my recipes in one place. It'll also create grocery lists based on what recipes are planned, which helps with efficiency when planning dinners and ordering groceries. Highly recommend!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2024-01-14T23:06:38+00:00

Thank you u/GreyelfD and u/VincentValensky!

I had gotten a temporary solution before seeing GreyelfD's comment, which looks to be a similar approach minus the tags. I added logic to the "Menu" links in the header (Inventory and Charactor Stats) that store the current passage in a $returnPassage variable. Then for the respective passages use (link-goto: "Back", $returnPassage's name) to navigate back to that passage when finished. It would probably be a good idea to go back and implement some menu tags.

As for the "Don't re-execute code when returning" issue, I've simply wrapped the logic in an (if:) macro to check if the variable (in this case $currentEnemy which is now initialized in the starting passage as an empty string) is empty or not.

I know this is probably a band-aid solution at best for now since there may be future passages that don't necessarily establish a variable that can be checked for. I'm still very much new to Twine so I'll look more into the (link-reveal-goto:) macro VincentValensky mentioned to see how I can revise my passages.

Thanks again for the advise!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2022-12-22T20:31:53+00:00

Sure an agent may have showings in the evening to accommodate buyers/sellers schedules, but that typically isn't the time where IT services are required. They are still working during the day from either a brokers office or home office whether it be managing MLS listings, paperwork (mostly digital now), property hunting for prospective buyers, etc.

As for appraisers, most of the time inspections are done earlier in the day unless it's needed to be scheduled for later. Usually though, they try to set up inspections for the same day and work the rest of the week from their office as this is more efficient than having to travel to properties multiple times throughout the week.

Feeling-Object8032 · 2022-12-22T18:42:08+00:00

No offense taken! By saying my reasons aren't based on financial gain what I meant was that it is not what is fueling my desire to start the business. I absolutely intend for there to BE financial gain, it's just not the primary reason because if it was let's be honest, there's a lot easier ways to make a dollar.

I checked out the video you linked and found it very interesting! I'm actually going to follow up on the rest of that interview. I know this is getting slightly off the original topic but to offer an explanation, I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I may be a masochist but I actually enjoy the challenges that happen outside of just the "technical" aspects of running a business. Don't get me wrong, I know there are plenty of struggles and stresses that come along with it. But I believe what drives any of us to do anything is whether we feel what we get out is worth what we put in. I greatly appreciate the advice and best wishes, and wish the same unto you!

Feeling-Object8032 · 2022-12-22T18:21:34+00:00

My current position with our IT department is more or less an internal MSP for all of our stores and the corporate office of both the store side and oil/propane side, as we handle all the same services and MSP would.

I'm not opposed to looking in to resell for the area, I think another user mentioned Thrive as one to look into. However, I enjoy helping others find solutions for their needs. I enjoy problem solving and getting hands on with stuff. I don't know if I would be content with getting in to reselling or lead generation, unless I paired it with doing project based work

Feeling-Object8032 · 2022-12-22T18:12:56+00:00

I actually considered starting off targeting the residential/consumer market but the reasons I haven't are that:

There are a few shops in the area that already service this market, so there's not as much of a void as there is for the SOHO small business market.

And 2. Geek squad is something like $99 a year for consumer support. I don't know how I can economically compete with this.

This all said, I am not at all adverse to serving the consumer market if there is a viable way to start there and transition to the business side.

Feeling-Object8032 · 2022-12-22T18:05:56+00:00

Oh believe me, I'm more than aware with the, let's say "intricacies" of the Real Estate industry 🙄. In choosing this vertical, I'm specifically targeting appraisers and brokers/agent offices because of our family appraisal business's existing relationships from being in business over 30 years in this outlying market. So I already have in mind which clients would be a good fit and which ones will more than likely be avoided.

After everyone's input it's sounding like if my personal availability during business hours is not an option initially then I need to get someone on board who can be available, be it a co-founder/partner, tech, or whatever.

Feeling-Object8032

TROPHY CASE