Welcome to the official repository for Avarice, a medieval 2D adventure game where players take on the role of a wandering adventurer drawn to a town besieged by monsters. This README will guide you through the setup, gameplay, and contributing guidelines for Avarice.

• Description
• Gameplay
• Story and Narrative
• Game World
• Characters
• Levels
• Interface
• Installation
• Contributing
• License

Avarice is a captivating medieval 2D adventure game where players embark on a thrilling journey as a wandering adventurer who stumbles upon a town plagued by monstrous threats. Inspired by the American gold rush era, Avarice delves into themes of ambition, consequence, and the bittersweet pursuit of wealth. The game reflects the historical boom-and-bust cycle, drawing parallels between the gold rush's fleeting prosperity and the rise and fall of the game's central town.

The concept of Avarice was born from a fascination with the American gold rush of the 1800s. The developers, Nathan Nguyen and Jacob Junker, aimed to capture the essence of this historical period, highlighting both the allure of untold riches and the harsh realities faced by many prospectors. In Avarice, players experience the duality of fortune and downfall, mirroring the experiences of those who chased dreams of wealth only to encounter unforeseen challenges.

In Avarice, players start as a lone adventurer who, after aiding a besieged merchant caravan, decides to settle in a town under threat. The adventurer's mission is to defend the town, explore treacherous dungeons, gather valuable resources, and ultimately face a deceptive final boss. The gameplay combines elements of combat, exploration, and town management, offering a richly immersive experience.

Avarice boasts a medieval high fantasy aesthetic with 16-bit graphics, reminiscent of classic adventure games. The art style is inspired by titles like Stardew Valley, featuring vibrant colors, detailed environments, and expressive character designs. The game's visual style enhances the nostalgic feel while providing a fresh and engaging look for modern players.

Explore, survive, and thrive in a dynamically evolving world. Defeat monsters, gather resources, and uncover the mysteries of a cavern with untold riches. Balance combat skills and barter expertise to influence the fate of the town.

Nonlinear progression with key milestones such as enhancing abilities, unlocking new areas, and achieving story milestones. The game increases in difficulty, requiring strategic thinking and resource management.

A seamless blend of exploration, combat, and story-driven events. Players explore, engage in combat, and experience key narrative moments. Town management elements are also included.

A seasoned adventurer arrives in a troubled town besieged by monsters. Motivated by justice and curiosity, they strive to protect the town and uncover its mysteries.

The plot follows the adventurer's journey from helping a merchant caravan to exploring a mysterious cavern and defeating the final boss.

The narrative is influenced by player actions, leading to different endings based on choices made.

Key narrative moments are highlighted with cutscenes, including the adventurer's arrival, discovering the cavern, and the final battle.

A high-fantasy world with a 16-bit art style. Areas include the town, surrounding forest, and a cavern.

• Tutorial: Path leading to the town.
• Town: NPC interactions, market areas.
• Forest: Multiple sublevels with increasing difficulty.
• Cavern: Final boss level.

Areas are interconnected, encouraging exploration and revisiting locations.

Dynamic elements include seasonal changes, an evolving town, and hidden areas.

A seasoned adventurer with a strong sense of justice, bravery, and curiosity. The character evolves through interactions, gaining new skills and abilities.

Dynamic NPC interactions with quest givers, traders, mentors, and storytellers. AI opponents have distinct personalities and tactics.

Introduces mechanics, controls, and narrative foundation. Players escort a merchant caravan through a forest path.

Each level expands the story, introduces new environments and enemies, and builds on previously learned skills.

Minimalist HUD with essential information. Menus are accessible and straightforward.

Optimized for accessibility and depth. Key controls include movement, combat, and interactions.

Immersive music and sound effects enhance the gameplay experience.

16-bit art style with vibrant colors and detailed character designs.

Integrated help system with tutorials, FAQs, and dynamic advice.

To get started with Avarice, follow these steps:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/username/Avarice.git

2. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd Avarice

3. Install the required dependencies:

   npm install

4. Start the game:

   npm start

We welcome contributions to Avarice! To contribute, please follow these steps:

1. Fork the repository.

2. Create a new branch:

   git checkout -b feature-branch

3. Make your changes.

4. Commit your changes:

   git commit -m "Description of changes"

5. Push to the branch:

   git push origin feature-branch

6. Open a pull request.

Please ensure your code adheres to our coding standards and includes tests where applicable.

All work Copyright ©1999 by Nathan Nguyen & Jacob Junker

We hope you enjoy playing and contributing to Avarice! If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to open an issue or contact us.

This README is based on the comprehensive Game Design Document for Avarice. For more detailed information, please refer to the full document or the associated presentation.