hmmm... I dunno why but after playing the game for quite a while now I feel like I did not progress really at all.
Yes I did lotsa quests, but there doesn't seem to be any meaningful progress made. I feel kind of stuck, using blink and the plant, cause they to me at least feel like really good binding while others feel kind of... I guess they are more of a multiplayer helpful, but single player?... eeeeh... especially given I play weaver which might be the reason.
All bindings are unlocked at the start, all tiers of the trinkets are available, which means you just pick two favorite you feel good using and never others except if your rolls are bad, and that when you unlock a new trinket, you do not feel more powerful- quite opposite actually, Cause now you get a trinket which might be totally opposite of how you play and more so decreases chances of getting the trinket you want. Which in turn makes completing some of the quests... feel more like a burden- sure lemme help you so you may give me a trinket that basically does nothing for me... yaaaay...
progressing the story does not feel like you progress, cause so far nothing changes, sure new dialouge is there- but characters barely move, they just stand in one place and nothing new is happening.
It's especially obvious when choosing the book to choose cause... there is not really a reson to choose anything except the books you feel are more safe or ones with the quests. There is nothing to explore. choosing gardens edge over proving grounds is a guarantee cause there is always only one boss that you will face in each one, and I will always choose Nim over mr. "You better do lotsa damage with ONE ATTACK or imma FRICK YOU UP" over there in proving grounds.
And the problem is I do not lose anything by choosing this one over that one. there is no "locations" or "remnants" to explore, it's just different looking ground and enemies but other than that nothing changes.
#Bindings, locations and gameplay loop with lack of progression.
weak vapor
autumn mango
You do get more powerful. This is a more classic roguelike where the power increase is your skill and experience.
And yeah, you can pick the most powerful thing every time, that's a-ok, but the others are there if you want to challenge yourself - maybe you'll find a different op combo.
weak vapor
If I may continue- again- There is no progression- You beat all three bosses, and nothing changes, and that's okay in terms of lore, but it is kind of disappointing that now like you are like: What now? And the answer is: Do it again, and again, and again. But now with more trinkets to choose from... and harder difficulty.
Yes yes, you are more powerful with knowledge, but what if I got the game figured out, and I know how to beat every boss without breaking a sweat. What if the only time I lose the game is when I CHOOSE TO DO SO. or when the game is really unfair and gives me the worst relics imaginable.
Then you are kind of stuck. Cause you know what works, you know what doesn't, and you kinda do not get surprised anymore.
Another thing is- I prolly am not really into the lore yet- cause the lore is broken, characters talk of things I did not do, and when I do em they say nothing. So I guess that's one of bugs to fix.
weak vapor
And yeah, you can pick the most powerful thing every time, that's a-ok, but the ...
and- again, the game already says: "now do it again, but harder" so adding another difficulty spike feels kind of.. pointless.
autumn mango
I think this is the gameplay loop of a more traditional roguelike, it's not to everyone's liking. (this is just my personal observation) - I really like it because I grew up playing games like nethack etc.
I agree the storytelling could be more coherent
weak vapor
If I may continue- again- There is no progression- You beat all three bosses, an...
but also, not really into lore, cause the locations often feel... bland honestly. Here is for example: The market. And.... it's just that. The market. Wood, some blue tents- quite pretty lights. But... not much else really. There is no banks to see, nor any other locations of this book- There is just the market. And that's it. The Chronicler doesn't seem to have even a house there or any real place of study. He just is there jumping on his cane.
The only exception to this rule feels like is the Spaceship- but not by much either. But oh well, it might be just me, afterall I am only one voice. Sooo take me opinions with whole mine of salt
autumn mango
It's a step up from monster train 🙂 (which a lot of people love to this day, self-included)
weak vapor
I mean- ngl, I feel like Monster train has bit better lore writing in my opinion? Sure it's lore is shorter and smaller, not so expansive, and that's actually a good thing. Everything feels connected, and in it's own way weirdly self explanatory, the lore doesn't feel like having too many threads hanging, it's a lil mess, but it's small coherent mess.
It's a nice lil "hey, Demons Good, Angels bad" story.
autumn mango
I suspect when they fill in the lore on all the items that will help there a lot
weak vapor
At least in my opinion, again, don't take my opinion for things set in stone. I am just one person.
weak vapor
I suspect when they fill in the lore on all the items that will help there a lot
Yeah, I think that's the biggest thing to fix, cause like, lotsa items also feel more like... they are just there. Like, the bloodletting ring- like- where is it from, who it belonged to, why is it so powerful? And there are no answers to that.
hmmm...
open rock
bloodletting ring was Wolo's says so in the name. Though yes some of the lore and story aren't spelled out for you, there is a lot there if you dig. check out #1111399429686165504 couple of different conversations there shed some more light on the events in and around the Athenium
compact tulip
Think about Slay the Spire
Once you climb to ascension 20 nothing to do but to streak
weak vapor
Think about Slay the Spire
Once you climb to ascension 20 nothing to do but to s...
yeah, but in slay the spire you defeat the final boss and thus story ends. In Inkbound the story continues and even requires you beating those 3 bosses.
compact tulip
Yes but you can beat it at ascension 4
Or you can continue onto climbing the ascensions
And then continue streaking
Like I dont care about the story in sts
And inkbound story its there im not that intrested in it tbh
Main point of roguelikes is go for another run
There are exceptions with stuff like Isaac where you continue onto getting platinum god but most are
You beaten it? Good now do it again
Think RoR2 sure that is story but you can very easly omit it and continue on going for bosses and see if you make this build work even after you get all masteries
Roguelikes are much more about replaying runs and trying to make it work
weak vapor
Roguelikes are much more about replaying runs and trying to make it work
I feel like this is oversimplification of rougelike genre, and... Maybe I care about the lore?... that's why I want it improved?...
compact tulip
I mean looking st most roguelikes gameplay is always first
Lore is usually 2nd or 3rd fiddle
weak vapor
Lore is usually 2nd or 3rd fiddle
Well, I take gameplay lore and overall thematic as one complete package, cause of right now, there is not much of a reason to play on higher difficulties. Except for xp for the battle pass.
Sure, lore is 2nd or 3rd but the gameplay right now is good, the problem is lack of reason to play except for lore or the battlepass, and the monetization is going to be deleted soon soooo...
autumn mango
Play for the fun of playing 
weak vapor
Okay I gotta ask- what's the point of feedback forum if all my suggestions are met with: "Just play for the fun of it" I am having fun, I am just trying to share what I think would be good for the game... Or is there some hidden subtext ya all trying to tell me that my autistic butt does not get?
compact tulip
Its on the forum so its up to discussion
Like yes your point is valid
But that issue might he resolved with full release of the game cuz I wouldnt be surprised if we got more bosses and something like final act boss
weak vapor
but as of right now it is not-
and you do not have access to it I presume.
so- why are you even suggesting the fact "maybe it is already fixed" if you do not know if it is.
compact tulip
Im not suggesting anything Im saying that can be the fact of it
Sts didnt get act 4boss till the release
weak vapor
Well, that's the point of feedback forum tho then right? to give feedback- what we think could be good for the game.
so it may be added in future
autumn mango
Sorry if my responses sound negative, they aren't intended to! I am just a bubble who plays the game too, my responses have zero meaning. I'm just trying to provide a different perspective
weak vapor
Oh yeah, your responses feel really on point and understandable don't worry
compact tulip
Sorry if my responses sound negative, they aren't intended to! I am just a bubbl...
Pretty much this
Also Im not sure about the story since its not fully out yet
weak vapor
You literally said you don't care about the story also soooo
compact tulip
I said im not intrested in it, not that I didnt care, there is little point in it since right now it feels like a first book came out of trilogy, its incomplete cuz game is not completely out
weak vapor
There is so many levels to unravel here, And I am sorry but I do not have energy today for that...
So imma just says this: That's why I want it improved- cause as of right now it does not work- NYEH-
compact tulip
Thats why I said that analogy "its first book out of trilogy "
Right now they are making foundations
Whats the story of the books, setting up characters
It cannot win
You wouldnt read Fellowship of the ring back when it first came out and say its not good cuz the story doesnt have ending point cuz you know book 2 Return of the king is coming
strong sapphire
@weak vapor - seems like other people aren't having the same feeling you are. I'm in that list, too: it's doing what I want it to already. None of this is objective in any sense (eg - people are comparing it to other games you've played and felt differently about). Unfortunate, and I hope a lot of the issues you're feeling get resolved through the various updates! I'll definitely note that one small thing you've highlighted is really big in my opinion: single player is cool, but multiplayer is really a different ballgame in terms of my enjoyment. All the extra vestiges that you might not want get more useful when you can hand them off to your teammates to help them specialize.
weak vapor
<@465438861103988737> - seems like other people aren't having the same feeling y...
Would be prolly better if I had any friends with the game X3
But yeee- I guess as singleplayer I kinda just focus more on the details around than ingame since I can do the ingame stuff relatively easy without thought. Which makes outside of it seem more highllighted.
strong sapphire
I'd advocate playing with randos. It's a good group of players in my experience! Sometimes you get people who are really new, which gives you an opportunity to offer advice, haha.
compact tulip
Or go into #lfg find people you enjoy playing with and well play with them
weak vapor
Might check it out one day
compact tulip
You can see people seem to be friendly enough
strong sapphire
Worst I've ever dealt with were a few people who were silent. I mean we're all on discord here, which indicates we're cool with text-based chat, so...
autumn mango
I was once silent on a dev stream cos my mic died 
weak vapor
Hmmm... I must say there is still something that bothers me greatly in the terms of design of Inkbound ngl.
why does the book machine has only one book open always?
It never changes it. The other books just kinda spin around it a bit. X3
strong sapphire
Hmmm... I must say there is still something that bothers me greatly in the terms...
Yeah - I think it's just a truth in the genre. These games all have different 'flavors,' and I'll hold out hope that Inkbound gets closer to yours over time.
The devs seem to be pretty focused on making it a full and rich game.
weak vapor
I can see that and I think they are doing great job! ^^
I am just ya know, voicing me dum dum thoughts here.