lumizard

[lumizard]

What makes Lumizard special?

We received a question about what sets Lumizard apart from other existing browser games, and we'd like to provide some answers.

Firstly, we won't reinvent the wheel. Virtual Pet Games have been around for a long time, and they naturally share some similarities. Our primary focus is on combining dragons with exploration. While we do offer customization through color/markings and decoration, it is not our sole emphasis.

In Lumizard, exploration, collecting, and crafting items play a significant role. The battles are click-based, but stats heavily influence and interact with each other. Each dragon possesses a magic and a physical attack, with plans to introduce more attacks over time. We aspire to create a battle system reminiscent of Pokemon but without unnecessary complexity. Our initial approach is to keep it simpler and expand based on player feedback.

Regarding exploration, the acquired stats of your dragons will aid your progress as you confront stronger opponents. Some opponents will even drop items. To "conquer" a biome, you must battle its boss, activated when you obtain specific items and reach a certain level. Defeating these bosses yields special loot and also allows you to advance in the game. As Lumizard develops, we aim to incorporate a proper storyline, but this will be a focus once all other aspects of the game are balanced.

Different elements will have their own biomes, currency, and shops, adding variety based on your chosen alpha dragons. This introduces new aspects when changing elements or encourages trading with other tribes if you prefer to stick to your chosen element permanently.

Breeding for stats differs from most games. Stats are divided into genetic (inherited) and acquired (gained during leveling or through items). Acquired stats are not inherited, ensuring breeding is based on genetics rather than grinding. This provides each offspring with the opportunity to be the best, not just the offspring at the end of a dragon's lifespan.

Our goal is to make each part of Lumizard interconnected yet playable as a standalone. If you enjoy exploring and battling but not the "dress-up" aspect, you can focus solely on that. Similarly, you can concentrate on breeding specific colors and ignore other features. If customization is your preference, you can exclusively focus on that. Of course, you can combine all aspects if that's what you enjoy. Ultimately, while new games will naturally overlap with existing ones, we try to bring you some new mechanics and a twist on existing gameplay features. Our aim is to create a fun game that combines dragons, exploration, and breeding.

We hope this provides a clearer overview of the game's direction and the balancing of its different features.

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Social Media Links

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for your support for our Kickstarter campaign. We still have some way to go, so I kindly ask you to help us spread the word. Please tell your friends and communities about Lumizard!

Here are also links to our other social platforms if you'd like to connect further. Website Discord Instagram Facebook

Once more, here's the link to our Kickstarter campaign if you'd like to check it out. Kickstarter Campaign Thank you so much for your support! <3

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Earth Dragon Baby

This cute earth dragon baby asks you kindly to check out our Kickstarter campaign and spread the word, so we can make Lumizard a reality. Thank you! <3

Kickstarter campaign

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Kickstarter is live!

Hello everyone! Yesterday we launched our Kickstarter campaign! We would be so happy if you could check it out and also maybe support it. Sharing our project also helps out a lot. So if you are excited about this project and want to see it come alive, please consider supporting us! Kickstarter Campaign

We also launched our website, where you can find a dragon previewer and have a first look at all the basic colors we will offer! Lumizard Website

Thank you so much for supporting us!

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Water Dragon Baby

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Fire Dragon

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FAQ (Part 3, Various Questions)

How complex is the caring system in Lumizard? The caring system in Lumizard is quite simple. Our main focus is on exploration, battles, and breeding, so we've kept the caring system straightforward. You'll need to ensure your dragons are well-fed, but there are no illnesses to worry about. Additionally, because your game remains "frozen" when you're not logged in, there's no need to play daily to keep your dragons content.

Are there mechanics that will reward players for returning to the game? Indeed, Lumizard isn't a game where you complete everything and then have nothing to do for the rest of the day. Activities like hunting and scavenging, for example, can be undertaken every hour, and your alpha dragons' energy replenishes throughout the day. This means you can return to the game multiple times a day to continue your journey, but it's not a requirement. While returning may help you progress a bit faster, it's not necessary to enjoy Lumizard and it won't provide significant advantages over other players.

Can we trade with other players in Lumizard? Can we gift dragons/items? Yes, trading dragons and items is a core community feature in Lumizard. It's important to note that alpha dragons cannot be traded, and certain items have trade restrictions. Gifting is permitted to some extent within Lumizard, although it comes with certain conditions. You cannot gift players who share the same IP address, and there are additional rules governing the gifting process.

Can I have multiple accounts on Lumizard? No, Lumizard enforces a one-account-per-person policy. Players found with multiple accounts will have their accounts locked.

Can other people in my household have an account too? Yes, other individuals in your household are allowed to have their own Lumizard accounts. However, trading between players in the same household is not permitted. These accounts must be registered as sibling accounts and will be monitored to ensure they are not operated by the same person.

Will it be possible for players who register after the game has been online for months or years to join and enjoy Lumizard? Absolutely, it will be entirely possible. In Lumizard, the pace of progression is highly individual. While some players may have already explored numerous biomes and advanced their dragon levels, a new player embarks on their unique journey. Breeding dragons may contribute to improved dragon stats over time, but this won't impact the starting experience of a new player. Everyone can dive into the world of Lumizard at their own pace.

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Explore Encounters

Here are some of the creatures you might encounter while exploring in Lumizard. Some will serve as prey for you to hunt, while others will pose as enemies that may attack you.

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FAQ (Part 2, Game Questions)

Will the dragons in Lumizard die of old age? Indeed, Lumizard is more akin to a simulation game than a pet game, and as such, it features a life cycle. Dragons progress from infancy to adulthood and, eventually, meet their end due to old age. Breeding is the key to perpetuating and evolving your lineages.

Do the alpha pair need to be of the same dragon breed? Yes, the alpha dragons must share the same breed. You can alter the breed when your alpha dragons retire.

Can my dragon tribe have dragons of other breeds than the alpha dragons? Absolutely. Initially, you can only incorporate dragons of the same breed as your alpha dragons into your tribe. As your tribe accumulates more experience, you'll gain the ability to introduce dragons of different breeds as well.

Can I crossbreed? No, presently, crossbreeding dragons is not possible. However, it's a planned feature, albeit a complex one, and it won't be available from the start. We've designated it as a Kickstarter stretch goal. If we reach this goal, crossbreeding will be accessible from the game's launch.

What is the purpose of crossbreeding? Each dragon breed has a defined color range; for instance, water dragons are limited to blue bodies, blue and green wings, and blue, green, and cyan accents. Crossbreeding empowers you to introduce colors from other elements to your water dragons. It also plays a role in inheriting stats.

Is the gameplay similar to game XYZ? The gameplay of Lumizard is not directly comparable to any specific game, as it is an original creation with a unique blend of elements. While you might identify certain similarities with other games, this is mainly because Lumizard shares common genre characteristics such as breeding, exploration, battles, and customization. Like many games, Lumizard draws inspiration from various sources, including Pokemon for its battle mechanics, Ark for elements like boss encounters and crafting, and Lioden for the concept of alpha dragons. However, we integrate these influences in our own distinctive way to create an unique gaming experience.

Is Lumizard more of a single-player or community-based game? Lumizard offers both individual and community aspects. While it features community events and player-to-player trading, you can also play it entirely independently. You don't need to collaborate with others or depend on them to fully enjoy Lumizard.

Are there different biomes for the different elements? In the early stages, we'll launch with only 1-2 biomes that can be explored, and these will be the same for all elements. As the game continues to develop, we have plans to introduce distinctive biomes for each element (e.g., volcanic biomes for fire dragons, snowy biomes for ice dragons, swamps for poison, and more). Depending on your dragon's element, you'll come across diverse items and unique encounters in these biomes.

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Earth Dragon Baby WIP

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FAQ (Part 1, General Questions)

We'd like to address some common questions we receive.

When will Lumizard open to the public? We don't currently have a set release date. We'll be announcing estimated release details in our upcoming Kickstarter campaign.

When will the Kickstarter campaign launch? Very soon! You can anticipate the Kickstarter campaign launching within this year.

What languages will Lumizard be available in? Lumizard will be exclusively available in English. There are no plans for other languages at this time.

Will I be able to use a translator (e.g., Google)? Certainly, you can use a translator. However, please be aware that translations may not always be perfect, and some translators could potentially affect certain javascript components of the game. Lumizard has been designed with translation tools in mind, as we try our best to make it playable by everyone.

Will there be a beta, and how can I participate? Yes, before the public release, there will be a beta phase. Beta participation is among the rewards for our Kickstarter backers. If you're interested in taking part, be sure to check out our campaign when it launches.

Will Lumizard be free-to-play? Yes, Lumizard will be completely free to play. We'll introduce a special in-game currency to support ongoing game maintenance and development costs.

Will Lumizard be pay-to-win (P2W)? The monetization model for games can be complex, but in a nutshell, we aim to make Lumizard enjoyable for all players. Real-money currency (diamonds) can be used to purchase cosmetic and gameplay assets, like special potions, which helps support the game. However, to ensure fairness, diamonds and special items can also be obtained through gameplay, events, and player-to-player transactions. Moreover, Lumizard offers versatile gameplay and objectives, so there isn't a single path to "winning" the game. You can't accelerate dragon aging and progress through multiple generations in a day by spending money, giving you an edge over others.

Will I need to log on every day? No, there's no need to log on daily. Your dragons won't age, and your account remains "frozen" if you're not actively playing. You can comfortably take a break or play Lumizard sporadically. Just keep in mind that the longer you're away, the more the game may have evolved when you return, as Lumizard's development and storyline will continue.

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We already showed you the first attempts on our logo but decided to go a completely different direction. We are happy to be able to show you the finalized logo of Lumizard.

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Earth Dragon

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Expand the Tribe

You may have wondered which options you have to grow your tribe. Upon registration, you will get your first two dragons (your alphas/main characters) for free. After that, you will have to acquire more dragons by yourself to grow your tribe. There are different options available, which I will explain now.

1) Breeding: Mating your dragons and hatching their eggs is one of the main ways to grow your tribe. Breeding is available from the start and not locked behind tribe experience requirements. But hatching eggs takes some time and you need the nesting material in order to do so. Also, baby dragons need time to grow into adults.

2) Hatching wild eggs: In the "wild" (aka exploring) you can also find wild eggs that you will be able to hatch. The babies that hatch from these eggs have random stats and colors, so you can get lucky and get dragons which are useful for your tribe or babies you don't like at all. It is therefore a more uncertain method.

3) Battling and claiming wild dragons: You can also come across enemy dragons in the wild. When you defeat them, they may join your tribe. The advantage of claiming dragons over hatching wild eggs is that you can see their colors in the battle and also have an estimate of the stats, depending on how difficult it is to defeat them. They also are already adults, which makes this a faster way than hatching eggs. But it also requires some skill/training of your alphas to successfully defeat those enemy dragons.

4) Buy or trade dragons from other tribes: In the marketplace, you can also acquire dragons from other players. They can be bought with gold or traded for items/dragons.

Remember that in the end quantity is not everything. Since your territory space is limited and needs some effort to expand, you want to make sure to keep the quality of your dragons and your goals for your tribe in mind.

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Fire Dragon WIP

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Tribe Level & Experience

While your dragons gain individual experience to level up and gain stats, they also contribute towards tribe experience. Tribe experience is a way to track the progress of your tribe along your journey. While your alpha dragons start again at level 1 with no experience when they continue the legacy of the previous ones, your tribe level and experience will never reset. Some areas of the game can only be unlocked once your tribe reaches a specific amount of tribe experience. At the start of the game, there will not be much focus on tribe experience but we plan on adding rewards for reaching certain amounts of TE.

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Hunting & Scavaging

Hunting and scavaging are ways to engage the other dragons of your tribe. Hunting is the primary way to obtain food. You can choose one of four biomes (e.g. mountains) and a strategy (chase, stalk, fight or swoop) and send one of your tribe dragons hunting. It will take an hour for them to come back. Depending on the biome selected, the strategy chosen (which will determine what stats of your dragon are used), and your dragon's stats, they will bring back a varying amount and size of prey. Scavaging works similarly, you also choose a biome and which technique your dragon should use (e.g. digging), but they can bring back all sorts of items like nest-building material, herbs or even decoration items. Each time they hunt or scavenge they will also gain experience. Over time they will become more skilled and efficient.