Joris Dormans
@jorisdormans.bsky.social
Game designer. Lead dev for Bane, Unexplored 2, and Unexplored. Also dabbles with board game design.
Teaches game studies, generative narratology, and game design at Leiden University.
Teaches game studies, generative narratology, and game design at Leiden University.
Sometimes bugs are hilarious. I added 'slug meat', and edible item to the inventory of a big slug so they would drop it when you defeat them. This one decided to have a nibble during the fight and it "Tasted much better then you expected." lol
September 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Sometimes bugs are hilarious. I added 'slug meat', and edible item to the inventory of a big slug so they would drop it when you defeat them. This one decided to have a nibble during the fight and it "Tasted much better then you expected." lol
Today I fell into the rabbit hole of making the rumor system. More control over enemies gives you better opportunities to provide rumors even before the levels are generated. Here's me doing a bit of adventure crafting and learning finding out about those levels. #gamedev #procgen #indiedev
September 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
When the actual floor is generated the generator looks for opportunities to place groups that haven't been assigned to a specific room yet. The further they are away from their factions camp, lair, or point of entry, the greater the chance they might have gotten themselves in trouble... 6/8
September 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
When the actual floor is generated the generator looks for opportunities to place groups that haven't been assigned to a specific room yet. The further they are away from their factions camp, lair, or point of entry, the greater the chance they might have gotten themselves in trouble... 6/8
The reason I can now do this, is because Bane, in contrast to UE2, actually generates level plans from scratch, and the all level plan data is available to stage that generates each each individual floor. Groups can be assigned to floors or specific rooms in floors during the planning stage. 5/8
September 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The reason I can now do this, is because Bane, in contrast to UE2, actually generates level plans from scratch, and the all level plan data is available to stage that generates each each individual floor. Groups can be assigned to floors or specific rooms in floors during the planning stage. 5/8
So I started building a roster system, as is commonly advised for ttrpgs, where an active faction is allotted a number of enemy groups beforehand and these are distributed over the levels starting from their camp, lair, or point of entry, what ever is appropriate for the faction in question. 3/8
September 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
So I started building a roster system, as is commonly advised for ttrpgs, where an active faction is allotted a number of enemy groups beforehand and these are distributed over the levels starting from their camp, lair, or point of entry, what ever is appropriate for the faction in question. 3/8
I am always looking for ways to improve my #procgen. Bane is no exception. Today I found myself rethinking enemy placement. Previously I using enemies mostly as hazards: a room needs content, a specific type of enemy is present so the generator is allowed to place them there. #gamedev #indiedev 1/8
September 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
September 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Well look at that! I did manage to finish the whole thing. Now I'm itching to find a moment to run it. Might be doable as a one-shot in a lean #ttrpg system. A few details still only exist in my head, though. Such as the chasm is filled with ice cold water that somehow always reflects the nightsky.
August 24, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Well look at that! I did manage to finish the whole thing. Now I'm itching to find a moment to run it. Might be doable as a one-shot in a lean #ttrpg system. A few details still only exist in my head, though. Such as the chasm is filled with ice cold water that somehow always reflects the nightsky.
Not completely finished yet. But made good progress in creating this adventure I called 'The Hall of Midnight'. The cards really helped fleshing things out and generating ideas. So I am pretty happy with that! But now I have to rest my poor hand. Not used to draw this much. #ttrpg #gamedev
August 24, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Printed myself a set of adventure idea cards based on videos by The Red Quills. Gonna use them to flesh out an idea for a #ttrpg adventure set in the Hall of Midnight that I rolled up earlier using my offline generator 'Places of Adventure' If it looks like something I'll share some pics tomorrow!
August 23, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Printed myself a set of adventure idea cards based on videos by The Red Quills. Gonna use them to flesh out an idea for a #ttrpg adventure set in the Hall of Midnight that I rolled up earlier using my offline generator 'Places of Adventure' If it looks like something I'll share some pics tomorrow!
Introducing Bane's version of snap root trees. A staple from Unexplored 2. The challenge was to translate UE2's real-time mechanics to fit the turn-based systems. This could work? Especially when the trees are combined with with other hazards you don't want to stumble into. #gamedev #indiedev
August 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Today I started on cave levels for Bane. I quickly discovered that a minimalist approach works best. The walls are mostly suggested by the few details that light up from you torch.
#gamedev #indiedev #procgen
You can wishlist Bane on Steam or discuss its development on our discord server!
#gamedev #indiedev #procgen
You can wishlist Bane on Steam or discuss its development on our discord server!
August 19, 2025 at 2:27 PM
So I updated the whole menu flow to accommodate for the new Dungeon Crafting mechanics. Turns out that I only needed to disable 2 buttons and prevent 1 refresh to support multiplayer as well! You cannot imagine how rare it is for the required multiplayer changes to be this easy! #gamedev #indiedev
August 15, 2025 at 3:14 PM
In our game Bane you'll be able 'craft dungeons' using maps and leads you found during previous adventures. Combine them to generate new quests. Behind the scenes the game spices things up with 'grudges' which you were also secretly 'awarded'. #procgen #indiedev #gamedev
Wishlist Bane on Steam now!
Wishlist Bane on Steam now!
August 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Enemies might even cut off your line of retreat, forcing you to either win, secure a new line of retreat before times runs out and you are forced into a disorderly retreat that will drop you into a random direction will leave you vulnerable and exposed. 3/4
August 2, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Enemies might even cut off your line of retreat, forcing you to either win, secure a new line of retreat before times runs out and you are forced into a disorderly retreat that will drop you into a random direction will leave you vulnerable and exposed. 3/4
Combat objectives can be as simple as defeat X enemies in 4 rounds, or defeat a specific enemy. But they can be different. Better, the objectives might change during the combat. Or maybe you cannot win and all you wanna do is open a new line of retreat so you can get past these enemies. 2/4
August 2, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Combat objectives can be as simple as defeat X enemies in 4 rounds, or defeat a specific enemy. But they can be different. Better, the objectives might change during the combat. Or maybe you cannot win and all you wanna do is open a new line of retreat so you can get past these enemies. 2/4
For our upcoming game Bane (wishlist on Steam now!) we want to keep combat brief and we are doing so by limiting the number of rounds. After 3 or 4 rounds the combat ends. If you haven't achieved the combat objectives by then you are forced to retreat. #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiedev 1/4
August 2, 2025 at 8:36 AM
For our upcoming game Bane (wishlist on Steam now!) we want to keep combat brief and we are doing so by limiting the number of rounds. After 3 or 4 rounds the combat ends. If you haven't achieved the combat objectives by then you are forced to retreat. #screenshotsaturday #gamedev #indiedev 1/4
I am very proud to finally be officially announcing our new game Bane:
- Turn-based, generative, sandbox RPG
- Brief quest you can easily finish in an hour or so
- Single player, or online multiplayer
The Steam page is up. So wishlist now!
#gamedev #indiedev
store.steampowered.com/app/3194460/...
- Turn-based, generative, sandbox RPG
- Brief quest you can easily finish in an hour or so
- Single player, or online multiplayer
The Steam page is up. So wishlist now!
#gamedev #indiedev
store.steampowered.com/app/3194460/...
August 1, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I am very proud to finally be officially announcing our new game Bane:
- Turn-based, generative, sandbox RPG
- Brief quest you can easily finish in an hour or so
- Single player, or online multiplayer
The Steam page is up. So wishlist now!
#gamedev #indiedev
store.steampowered.com/app/3194460/...
- Turn-based, generative, sandbox RPG
- Brief quest you can easily finish in an hour or so
- Single player, or online multiplayer
The Steam page is up. So wishlist now!
#gamedev #indiedev
store.steampowered.com/app/3194460/...
July 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM