Barking Backwards

This week in the From Rust world was all about the tutorial experience. Why? Isn't that something you do at the end? Yes! But on October 28 it'll be your first chance to play the game at Playcrafting's Halloween Expo and so, uh, we'd better have some way to teach the rules to you.

For this at-the-con build, we're currently working on a short session involving 2 of the game's core characters. This session will be scripted - meaning we're not shuffling the deck or randomizing loot drops - so that we can walk you through using the zone deck, combat, consumables, crafting, and all of that as you play. Way better than having me hover over you and teach you the rules.

The nice thing about this tutorial is that we've actually made a tutorial manager that plays the events in sequence - displaying text, having characters chat, manipulating the screen, etc. If you're thinking "hey, that sounds not only like a tutorial, but also a cutscene," please apply for a job working on the team (we pay in encouragement). But also, you're right! This system we're building right now can be used to do cutscenes in-session as we explore From Rust's questing and narrative sides.

This system also integrates with our "barks," small one-off lines or conversations that your characters have in response to things happening in the game. So far, we've already got 20 of them hooked up to events as frequent as ending the day, and as uncommon as crafting one specific piece of gear. This is a "whenever I can't focus on real development" kind of project, so expect hundreds more of these ;)

If you happen to be in New York at the end of October, don't miss your chance to play our insanely early build and let us know what you think of the tutorials!

- Dean