One of the major additions to this game thats new to my process is the idea of a wandering agent who roams around an arealike the classic Immersive Sim guard out of Thief or Dishonored.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/45503562/6dc65a0c6f8d07c548786f48f1ebdbd996ef6650.gif"][/img]

As ever, I wanted to approach the wandering agent concept from a distinct angle. Sure, you could sneak up behind them and try to pick their pocketsall in the spirit of mischief. And my game leaves room for that. The agent has sight cones, patrol routes, and a sense that they can catch you. But there are aspects to this sort of encounter Ive chosen which separate what Im doing from my inspirations.

Agents on the prowl

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/45503562/e0203ea9c80b3d8c94b2c0506be9d3f7d1b99459.gif"][/img]

For starters, more confrontational physical aspects are already being handled by my dice system. If a guard catches you, you can try to wrestle, cajole, charm, or bribewhatever makes thematic and situational sense. However, if youre unable to convince the guard, youve effectively surrendered. Then what?

For one thing, an unsuccessful encounter like this doesnt lead to a one-on-one fight to the last person standing. Basically, when you surrender, the guard ejects you from the area you're trying to roam in. Its a start back at the edge of the arena situation. It still creates tension because when you get ejected, both you and the guard gain condition dice representing the outcome. It could be something obvious like Injured or Embarrassedlike if a bouncer tossed you out of a club. As before, youll need to roll dice to fully remove this condition.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/45503562/37cb11f1200edf50275dea63bd304077d7f17c9b.gif"][/img]

So the risk remains, but you still get to choose whether to step back into the area where the wandering agent might find you again. Failure is never game overbut it can be if you have an appetite for more risk.

Hiding, with a cost

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/45503562/221539d4493d5cf2a58f31e9e69376c60e408617.gif"][/img]

Another thing Ive added is the opportunity to hide. Hiding is simply finding an area in the game where you can be sure the agent wont see you. Even if theyre chasing you, hiding gives you cover to wait out their search. However, once you step into a hiding zone, a timer starts. If you hide for too long, youll gain another conditionanother die youll have to roll away later. To me, this is another way to keep the tension high so you never get too comfortable while engaging with this system.

Zones of Hindrance and Assistance

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/45503562/e62d7367cf43ca3cc05a5ff38c50566d8f790ba1.gif"][/img]

Finally, Ive included certain traversal areas that give you passive environmental conditions. Examples include sticky surfaces or cloudy hazes that apply temporary conditions while youre in them. You cant roll these away as long as you remain in that environment. Guards can pass through these areas too, and the conditions affect them as well. Maybe you follow an agent into a hazy zone, but time your move so that theyre in it and youre not. Yet more flexibility and reactivity in the system.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/45503562/8a170de6876290b7cda2aec32eb3f26232e6f1bd.png"][/img][img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/45503562/b8037458feca53dd0f928063d5334f45d4707682.png"][/img]

I want all of this to be dynamic, dramatic, and interestinggetting players to think about spatial traversal. But I also want to make sure players arent forced to engage with stealth if its not their style. They might move through a space thats a little dangerous, or pursue an alternate path. The game is still a dice-based RPG at its core, so all of these systems serve role-playing, dice strategy, and the drama that comes with it.

[img src="https://clan.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/images/45503562/59f59a0648621b85d8e346265fb993f6fd4acd96.gif"][/img]

To wit, Im not grafting a stealth game into my current oneIm incorporating stealth elements to serve dice-driven gameplay. Its a genre hybrid approach. Its a way for me to push what I feel is possible in this sort of space.

Part of why Im excited about Early Access is that I get to workshop and refine this idea with you all. If you see opportunities for balance, for elevating the experienceor if it gets in the way of your funI want to know. Im excited about the idea, but its still a work-in-progress, and I welcome your feedback when the time is right!

I look forward to sharing more of my new ideas with you from Moves of The Diamond Hand.