
1.
introspection#
Fanatic Cardboard
⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪⚪ Fable of the Seven Orbigates
Game Introspection#
Development#
Summary#

FANATIC CARDBOARD is a retro-style PJRPG that immerses you in a utopian and dystopian fable, steeped in dark and absurd humor.
Its main plot, a mix of neo-medieval science fiction and fantasy science, explores themes inspired by contemporary issues.
The story depicts the unexpected friendship between Lia, a young, solitary hermit farmer, and Boo, a flying cat with mysterious powers. Lia, the main character, is supported by Boo and seven other companions who will join your party.
In this board-game-like world, equipping your team with artifacts bearing unique affixes will be crucial to overcoming challenges and quests.
Art Direction#
The game features a cartoon and animated art style, immersing the player in a vibrant world made entirely of cardboard.
Designed with a 2D engine using 3D projection, it achieves the desired rendering and mechanics.
This project, the result of ~8 years of solo development, was a rewarding experience that allowed me to create my own game engine and editor, and to develop mechanics inspired by my childhood D&D adventures.

In my childhood, we would meet on my neighbor's balcony for hybrid D&D games.
These sessions, played on large gridded maps with buildings, offered challenges and combat.
These experiences sowed the seeds for mechanics that I later explored and refined, inspired by major titles like Final Fantasy, Pokémon, Diablo, and StarCraft.
The game incorporates proven mechanics, which I sought to enhance according to my own standards.
"You don't reinvent the wheel, but the tire."
Synopsis#
Initial#

The Nébureve solar system, at the edge of the universe, is the setting for a captivating fable. Lia, a young mixed-race girl of the Nelfs people, has been living as a hermit on her farm since her grandfather's death.
Her farm is next to that of her non-biological grandmother, her only connection to the outside world.
Isolated since childhood due to her mixed-race origins, which her grandfather deemed impure, Lia avoids all contact with the Nelfs from the surrounding villages.
The Trigger#
The story begins on Floranys, the planet of the Nelfs, where Lia one day meets a strange creature in her garden: Boo, an enigmatic, cat-like being. Boo, a Peta with a naive and sometimes confused appearance, hides an esoteric mind and extraordinary psychic powers.
Lying in Lia's garden, he displays deep mental confusion, revealing a sense of unease and psychic pain. Boo is not the only one suffering; all the Peta of his species are afflicted by this mysterious illness.
Twists and Turns#
Moved by Boo's condition and driven by her own loneliness and empathy, Lia decides to help him.
Together, they embark on a journey across Floranys, seeking to understand the origin of the energy afflicting Boo and his species, and to put an end to it.
Development#

Your adventure with Lia and Boo will lead you through a world populated mainly by Nelfs and mixed-race anthropomorphs, all searching for the origins of this mysterious ailment.
During this epic journey, Lia will forge unlikely friendships with various companions who have unique skills, essential for progressing and solving puzzles.
Lia's decisions will greatly influence the course of her adventure and the story.
Whether she is an intrepid adventurer or a wise contemplative, she will be drawn, against her will, into a complex plot, sparking deep reflections and ethical and moral dilemmas.
She will have to choose between wealth and morality, exploring the challenges and paradoxes of the 7 human worlds of Nébureve.
2.
race#
The 7 Superior Races and the Inferior Race of Nebureve#
The fable of Nebureve transports you through a universe of distant galaxies, populated by creatures with fantastic morphologies and diverse cultures.
Within this galaxy, seven races are designated as superior, each endowed with its own unique traits, traditions, and powers.
These superior races have shaped the destiny of Nebureve, influencing the political, economic, and social balances across the worlds.
In your journey through Nebureve, you will interact with these races, discover their worlds and conflicts, and also gain allies throughout your adventures across the worlds.

The nelf

Nelfharius Bellatorius Luxvera
Mastery of nature and botanical biology.

The ukelf

Hulkarius Gigantus Obesitus
Machine mastery and brute force.

The ghill

Ghillarius Furtivus Sylvaria
Mastery of metaphysical science

The barlutin

Barrelarius Orcus Desertus
Master's in mineralogy, and bituminous

The grippon

Grypharius Avius Montanus
Mastery of wind and air.

The zoha

Zoharius Aquaticus Rivaria
Water Mastery and Freediving

The zion

Zionarius Mechanicus Automatus
Electricity Mastery
The Petas#

A crossbreed between animal and superior races, adopting a singular morphology and a character sometimes hostile or friendly
Considered a sub-race, the Petas are not among the seven superior races, although they are sometimes rigorously classified as the "eighth".
They are generally perceived as pets, slaves, or tools for work.
Within this marginal caste, we find Boo, a member of the PetaBoo.
The Petas are distinguished by a singular and animal-like morphology, sometimes deemed strange by other races.
Their lineage can also generate crossbreeds, giving life to hybrid beings carrying the genetic heritage of the Petas.
Boo is himself the result of an 'impure' and ancient hybridization, which occurred several millennia ago between felines and the Ghills.
This fascinating lineage has endowed him with unique powers.
Pure Petas (Passive)#






Passive Petas, which you will frequently encounter, offer you bonuses, quests, and resources.
They can trigger a mini-game, taking the form of small challenges, through which you can earn rewards.
Their challenges do not require strength, but rather intelligence, and are generally quite simple.
These are often side tasks, such as:
Victory is achieved when all challenge criteria are met.
Defeat occurs according to the specific conditions of each challenge.
You also have the option to study them to potentially acquire their powers.
Mixed and Impure Petas (Hostile)#






Rarer and more dangerous, these Petas will attack you if you interfere with their territory or resources.
Fighting them can nevertheless earn you rare and valuable resources, essential for your survival during your journey.
You also have the option to study them to assimilate their powers.
These confrontations will put your stats to the test, especially when encountering a boss.
Victory is achieved when all hostile adversaries are eliminated from a fight, while defeat occurs if your team is entirely eliminated.
3.
planets#

The 7 planets of the Nébureve galaxy#
The Nébureve galaxy, located approximately 29⁷ UA from the center of the universe, harbors seven planets with distinct ecosystems.Each of them, home to one of the seven superior races, offers rich and unique environments to explore.
With over a hundred maps to discover, each world promises an unforgettable adventure.
Although the main story will guide you through these worlds in a predefined order, you will have the freedom to explore them at your own pace, based on the information you gather during your journey with Lia.
Each planet holds its own secrets and wonders, waiting to be unveiled by curious and determined adventurers.
Floranys#
The Nelfs Planet#

Its name evokes the planet's lush and varied flora, as well as the deep spiritual connection of the Nelfs with plants and natural elements.
Geography and Biosphere#
Ideally located, it offers a perfect biosphere for botany and the study of nature.
Thanks to its dense and varied vegetation, Floranys enjoys a temperate climate and balanced seasons, creating ideal living conditions for its populations.
This deep connection of the Nelfs with their environment is manifested in every aspect of their culture and way of life.
In Summary#
The environment of Floranys is characterized by:
Culture and Society#
Their existence is rhythmic with natural cycles, featuring ancestral celebrations during solstices and equinoxes.
The Nelfs architecture integrates perfectly with the environment, using organic materials and forms inspired by nature.
Their discreet dwellings blend into the natural landscape.
Society is communal, where everyone contributes to collective well-being.
The elders are revered for their wisdom, transmitting traditional knowledge from generation to generation.
The Nelfs utilize large trees as protective shelters against dangerous cosmic rays.
In Summary#
The culture of Floranys is characterized by:Discover Floranys, a world where nature and Nelfs culture merge in perfect harmony, offering abundant biodiversity and rich ancestral traditions.

4.
combats#
Combat#
The System#

Context#
Combat design emerged as one of the project's most complex challenges.As someone passionate about puzzle games rather than action games, I have always favored strategic mechanics.
My initial wish was to recreate the captivating atmosphere of combat from our D&D sessions.
However, the initial mechanics integrated into the game quickly proved laborious and monotonous.
I therefore had to rethink these systems, drawing from my memories without ever betraying that source of inspiration.
The objective was clear: to design an experience focused on strategy and reflection, rather than on reactivity or dexterity.
After numerous iterations, I finally developed an architecture and mechanics that emphasize strategic thinking, eliminating any requirement for agility often present in modern games.
I was thus able to establish consistency between several key game systems, including combat.
These are divided into various sub-categories: CB, CD, CR, CU, and CA, all built upon the fundamental principles of this architecture.
Mechanics#
CA type combats mainly occur during fortuitous encounters with hostile Petas.These confrontations take place turn-based on a game board, integrated directly into your team's current environment.
You control your team on a 7x7 grid.
In this space, 49 types of tokens are available, allowing you to elaborate complex strategies and manage the course of battles.
This system is dynamic: your opponents react to each of your actions, making every strategic move crucial.
In keeping with the spirit of D&D combat, you will be able to use different types of attacks and defenses acquired during your adventure, or manipulate tokens on the board to trigger devastating combos thanks to the 7 orbic colors system.
Your team's equipment and affixes will greatly influence the difficulty of combat.
A defeat is never fatal, but the outcome of each confrontation — whether it's a victory, a defeat, or a negotiated resolution — will have a significant impact on your adventure's progression.
Before engaging in battle, you will know the potential consequences, allowing you to anticipate your actions with precision, whether it's solving a puzzle or defeating an opponent to obtain their treasures.
The Board and Tokens#
Tokens#
Below is the list of tokens present on the board.It should be noted that this list is not exhaustive and may be enriched over time.
pages.game.combats.board-title
pages.game.combats.tokens.black_hole.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.stump.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.keylock.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.sandtime.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.single_dmg.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.board_rotation.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.shield.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.target_consumer.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.target_dmg.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.propultion.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.wall.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.random_item.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.rip.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.synergic_difusion.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.gold_coin.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.bank.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.magnet.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.cannon.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.bomb.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.xp.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.pool_view.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.synergic_infusion.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.teleport.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.orb.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.monster.name

pages.game.combats.tokens.actor.name

5.
structures#
Infrastructures#
Introduction#

We wanted to reintroduce a mechanic that offers concrete utility to buildings.
Unlike the often meaningless and uninteresting structures found in many RPGs, each infrastructure encountered in the game will have a real and relevant function for your characters' progression.
Exploring these locations will always be rewarding.
Infrastructures offer a multitude of varied specialties and challenges.
Exploring and interacting with these structures will never disappoint you.
To unlock access to an infrastructure, you will need to win a CD-type combat.
They are grouped into several categories, detailed below.
Categories#
Residential Buildings#

Once unlocked by winning a CD-type combat, these buildings can be explored in search of items.
Exploration is carried out via a P&C-type mechanic, where each click consumes PDS to try and discover resources or interesting items.
However, burglarizing a house will have moral repercussions, encouraging you to find a balance between greed and morality throughout your progression.
For those who prefer a less random approach, it is possible to spend additional PDS to directly identify items during your searches.
By developing your experience in item searching, you will be able to reduce PDS consumption for these activities.
Commercial Buildings#

These buildings offer various services and products, allowing you to invest your resources in your characters' development and the progression of your main quest.
Their initial access is unlocked after successfully completing CD-type combats.
The more challenges you succeed at, the more advantages you will gain.
These challenges can be replayed and improved over time, allowing buildings to evolve and offer you even more beneficial services.
Activities conducted in these businesses can also influence your morale.
Here is a list of commercial buildings available in the game:
Resource Structures#

These structures, which blend discreetly into the environment, will provide you with resources each game turn once discovered and their challenges resolved.
They represent an effective way to develop your economic capital and minimize the tedious task of resource gathering.
However, they can become depleted, then requiring you to undertake a more significant challenge to exploit them again.
These structures may also be subject to specific conditions for obtaining their resources, such as being exploitable only on rainy days or during certain weeks.
Unique Structures#

Similar to resource structures, but often more hostile in appearance and blending into the environment, these structures can sometimes go unnoticed.
They offer challenges of varying difficulty levels in exchange for high-value rewards.
These challenges generally take the form of puzzles on a combat board, with unique and well-defined rules that will test your equipment and your characters' abilities.
It will be essential for you to assess the risks based on your situation before accepting a challenge.
The discovery of such a hidden structure in the world is always synonymous with opportunities to obtain valuable items and resources.
6.
resources#
Resources#
Introspection#

The objective is for in-game resources to generate deep interest and a desire for possession, thereby conferring essential value to your progression.
Inspired by "Farming" games, we have designed each resource to be rare and precious, actively encouraging players to seek them out.
In this whimsical neo-retro-futuristic universe, creative liberties have been taken regarding resource exploitation.
However, we have ensured to remain faithful to real-world scientific concepts, in order to preserve an educational aspect and value basic scientific knowledge.
Systems#
They are essential for bartering and accessing services offered by the various buildings you will discover throughout your exploration.
Neglecting them could lead to your demise.
They will allow you to craft or upgrade items, and can be traded according to their value and your needs.
Each trade must be carefully considered, as some resources are extremely rare and difficult to obtain.
They will also serve as motivation for the side battles of CD, essential for your progression and the accomplishment of your objectives.
This system has undergone meticulous balancing, spanning several years and numerous iterations, to ensure perfect functionality.
Thus, you will not encounter disproportionate economies or imbalances.
Each resource has been designed to have a well-defined value and utility, making your quest even more captivating.
In summary, the resources in this game are rare treasures requiring strategic and thoughtful management, essential to maximize your potential and achieve your objectives in this fascinating universe.
7.
equipment#
Equipment#
Introspection#

Equipment is one of the pillars of RPG-type games.
Aware of its importance, I developed a robust architecture, designed to evolve and facilitate the updating of game items.
Each item integrates affixes (including prefixes and suffixes) capable of directly interacting with and influencing in-game actions.

To achieve this, I implemented comprehensive serialization of all game actions, including menu interactions.
This high-performance architecture allows affixes to continuously monitor in-game events and intervene accordingly, through mutations or value adjustments.
Furthermore, an affix can interact with others, thereby creating complex and dynamic synergies.
Affix System#
This approach guarantees a wealth of infinite combinations, both powerful and clearly defined.Unlike traditional methods, which are often prone to malfunctions, difficult to debug, and have sometimes ambiguous actions, my solution ensures coherent and dynamic interactions.
Thanks to this innovative architecture, each affix integrates and interacts harmoniously with the entire system, providing a rich and evolving gaming experience.
Players will have the opportunity to experiment with and discover truly unique affix combinations, transforming each game into a captivating adventure.
8.
interfaces (UI)#
Game Interfaces#
Introduction#
The game offers 7 menus and 9 HUDs, all deeply integrated into the gameplay and universe.Most of these HUDs are tools and technologies developed primarily by the two scholarly races of Nébureve.
The Ukelfs and the Ghills are the pioneers of these technologies, used by the inhabitants of the various planets of Nébureve.
Thanks to the material ingenuity of the Ukelfs and the metaphysical knowledge of the Ghills, they have created fantastic advancements that significantly enrich the universe.
Payotte#

Your anthropomorphic backpack, Payotte, will accompany you throughout your adventure.
Endowed with a narcissistic personality, it will subtly guide you and act as a tutor.
All menus and HUDs are associated with it and can be accessed or unlocked via upgrades throughout your journey.
The Menus#
The Items Menu#

The inventory management interface is associated with Peyote, an anthropomorphic bio-composite backpack, designed by the Ukelfs for carrying goods.
It offers vast storage space and dedicated screens for managing your inventory and resources.
The 'items' menu is accessible via a tactile fabric located on the left pouch of the bag, facilitating display and navigation.
A screen on the right allows you to diagnose a selected item and obtain more information.
Two small HUDs, also on the right, display the slots and slot groups of your OrbiBelth, allowing you to organize your items within it.
During the turn configuration phase, this menu allows you to associate items from your inventory to your belt for the next turn.
Once the turn begins, items in the bag become inaccessible, except at rest stops, merchants, or points of interest.
The bag is also unusable during combat.
The Petas Menu (PetasDeck)#

Lia uses an ancient PetasDeck, an Ukelfs technology initially designed for hunting.
It was later adopted by scholarly castes as a tool for studying interworld fauna and biodiversity.
Today, this technology is widespread, with the exception of the Zions who possess a model integrated into their own system.
This device allows you to collect data on encountered Petas, in order to analyze their skills and combat strategies.
Powered by an orbic fusion cathode, it ensures power to its sensors and an autonomy of at least 50 years.
The Quests Menu (Parchemilles)#

Created by the Ghills, the Parchemilles are magical scrolls that allow you to store and consult memories.
You can record your thoughts, discoveries, and the progression of your adventure there.
They also contain encoded clues; a keen intellect will help you decipher them and advance more easily.
The Map Menu (GGPS))#

The GGPS (Galactic Global Positioning System) is an Ukelfs technology initially designed for predation, then widely adapted to facilitate navigation within the Nébureve.
By scanning the environment, the GGPS records terrain data, allowing you to orient yourself.
All explorers possess one, and some even sell their data.
In its most advanced versions, it is possible to record points of interest and connect it to the Parchemilles to evaluate the direction of an objective.
The Items Menu (IIDM))#

The IIDM is a bio-electronic interface developed by the Ukelfs, connected to Peyote.
It allows for detailed diagnosis and an overview of objects stored in interactive and biomechanical backpacks, like Peyote.
This tool uses a matter decompression algorithm to visualize objects via a touch screen.
Navigation is performed via the surface of the bag's left pouch, an interactive tissue membrane.
The Characters Menu (IMAB))#

The IMAB (Biological Aptitude Manipulation Interface) is an Ukelfs medical technology.
By scanning the genetic code of a biological entity, this device sends resonance frequencies aligned with different DNA branches.
This is how beings of the Nébureve can modify their aptitudes according to their needs.
You can use it to adjust your characters' abilities and evolve them towards desired skills.
Genetic modifications by electro-resonance require the subject to have made certain physical and physiological progress.
These progresses are visualized and converted into points, displayed by the MPF (Physiological Progress Monitor).
These points are then usable for the genetic manipulation of your characters.
The Options Menu (IMRA))#

The IMRA (Augmented Reality Configuration Interface) is based on the Ukelfs understanding that each individual perceives the environment differently.
This device allows for modifying the perception of sounds and visuals for the user.
It refines the environment's rendering, filters sounds, and ensures language translation.
Its mechanism, the result of cutting-edge quantum engineering, was discovered by Lukafa Ferati, an Ukelfs researcher who explored optics, illusion, and metaphysical tensegrity.
This powerful device allows you to manage the game's rendering options through your characters.
The Achievements Menu (IVA))#

The IVA (Achievements Visualization Interface) was originally an Ukelfs entertainment device, designed for their challenges among colleagues.
The competitive culture of the Ukelfs led them to create this tool to satisfy their ego and vanity.
Today, popularized and modernized, it serves as a recap of a lifetime's accomplishments.
The inhabitants of the Nébureve use it to showcase their performances and as a competitive entertainment tool.
You can consult this device to visualize your accomplishments and obtain clues on how to achieve them.





