Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
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ebornian.bsky.social
Ian Eborn ~ [Making "Moons in Crystal" 🌖🔮]
@ebornian.bsky.social
920 followers 48 following 2.6K posts
Indie dev, writer, and visual artist. ~ 🎮 http://thaumaturge-art.itch.io ~ 📺 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTcOFMvYj12hiWoTLkRhseA
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ebornian.bsky.social
🌖I'm working on an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania called "Moons in Crystal"!🔮

Playing as a spirit embodied in a small, brass-and-crystal spacecraft, you explore moons, fight, and gain magical powers.

All searching for a way to stop an entity that threatens to devour your solar-system...
A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows the player within a small room of sorts, its "floor" being woody plant-limbs and its "walls" covered in leaves. Spaced about are similarly-foliated "columns", these additionally studded with small pink flowers. Behind the player is a large, dark hole, where the plant-limbs travel downwards to some unseen place. And ahead of the player is a small table-like structure, likewise formed of plant-limbs. Lying upon this structure is a black whip, studded with pale thorns. A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows a view within "space", with bright stars against a purple backdrop, and floating nearby, a moon made of bones. At the lower edge of the moon is a circular icon, above which is a label that reads: "The Bone Galleries" A screenshot of the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows the map screen, here displaying a solar system with planet at centre, three moons orbiting about, and a sun near the outer edge. Nearby one of the moons is a marker indicating the player's position. To the sides are various buttons, allowing the player to select the current level (there is only one within a solar system), to move to the map-layer "above", to return to the player's position, and to place or remove markers. A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows a view from within the Serpent Moon. The environ is a biological one: the player is within the reddish interior of a huge serpent. Along this tube-like space march ribbed structures, and just ahead a spurt of green liquid makes for a hazard. Behind, a smaller snake has spat a glob of green venom, and the patterned blue tail-tip of a massive snake just enters the light. All is in darkness, save for what the player casts.
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Take a step into the aethereal... See echoes of what was, and pass through what is.

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Guys! Just chill!

;P

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
October 14, 2025 at 12:31 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Something found amongst the leaves

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows the player within a small room of sorts, its "floor" being woody plant-limbs and its "walls" covered in leaves. Spaced about are similarly-foliated "columns", these additionally studded with small pink flowers. Behind the player is a large, dark hole, where the plant-limbs travel downwards to some unseen place. And ahead of the player is a small table-like structure, likewise formed of plant-limbs. Lying upon this structure is a black whip, studded with pale thorns.
September 30, 2025 at 10:24 AM
ebornian.bsky.social
In "Moons in Crystal", can you pet the baby winged serpent?🐍

Of course you can! ^_^

(Well, since I just earlier added it. :P)

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev
September 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Probably the original Rogue (on DOS)

... If we're somewhat permissive with the word "beaten"

You see, as I recall, even back then I rankled at permadeath and a lack of save-and-reload

So I made a batch-script to store my quit-save, and used that to save-scum my way through! :P

(Image from Moby)
A screenshot from the classic Roguelike, Rogue--i.e. the game for which Roguelikes are named! Specifically, it shows a dungeon-level, seen from above, depicted in tiled ASCII characters. The layout is one of scattered, rectangular rooms of various sizes, joined by irregular corridors each one tile wide. In one room stands the player-character--here represented by the "smiley-face" ASCII-character. Nearby is some gold (an asterisk), a scroll (a music-note), armour (a solid rectangle with a whole in the centre), and two monsters (letters of the alphabet). The monsters are an "H" and a "B"--likely a "Hobgoblin" and a "Bat". In another room can be seen a set of stairs: a green rectangle with three black bars inside it. At the bottom of the screen are the player's various stats: level, hits, strength, gold, armour, and experience. At the bottom-right is what looks to be a time-display.
September 23, 2025 at 8:22 AM
ebornian.bsky.social
He is a mighty pirate! ;P

(Indeed, he's even depicted as a pirate lord (or something to that effect) in one of the Uncharted games, as I recall. ;) )

(Image from Moby)
A screenshot from the classic point-and-click adventure game, "The Secret of Monkey Island". It shows our hero, Guybrush Threepwood, standing outside a small bar at night--the "SCUMM BAR". The path on which Guybrush is standing runs from left to right, broadly speaking; on the left it transitions into a flat plank bridge. Behind and to the left is a calm-looking sea; behind and to the right are some buildings. Bar and buildings alike have windows lit with a warm yellow light. At the bottom of the screen is the main user interface, with a grid of nine verb-buttons on the left (labelled in German in this screenshot), and a grid of eight inventory spaces on the right. Three of the inventory spaces are occupied, holding a piece of meat, a metal pot, and a red fish that may or may not be a herring...
September 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
I'm rather fond of the (first) Discworld game

As a game, it's a fun--if tricky!--point-and-click

But as an adaptation, it does a really good job of bringing in elements from multiple books and welding them into something coherent, and in keeping with the humour of the books! ^_^

(Image from Moby)
A screenshot from the old point-and-click adventure "Discworld". Specifically, it shows the first (playable) room of the game, being the protagonist's bedroom. Said protagonist--the "Wizzard"[sic] Rincewind--stands near the centre, calling his Luggage--a large chest that moves about on many little humanlike legs. Said chest sits nearby, seemingly ignoring him. The room itself is small, and appears to be round. There's a bed, and an ornate cupboard, a doorless doorway, and a pair of high windows looking out on the city--including the crimson dragon perched on a spire in the distance...
September 17, 2025 at 7:40 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Looking at release dates, it was probably either Quest for Glory V or Deathtrap Dungeon--both released in 1998, it seems.

(I thought of four possible candidate games, but didn't remember which was first. Hence checking release dates! ^^; )

(Cont.)
A screenshot of the title-/main-menu- screen of Quest for Glory V: Dragon Fire! Specifically, it shows the main-menu buttons, flanked by red dragons, and surmounted by the title. Behind all lies a night-bound coastal village. Below is the logo of the game developer, Sierra. The logo of the old video-game "Deathtrap Dungeon", being a pale skull with angry-looking eye-sockets and a crimson glow in one of those sockets.
September 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
"Uh... Hello? Oh, uh, I can come back if now is inconve-"

(Note: Some elements here are yet unfinished. The slightly-clumsy transition hides one such. ^^; )

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
September 5, 2025 at 3:49 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
(Congratulations on the new dentist! And I'm glad that it inspired you here! ^_^)

Let me nominate Morte, a floating skull whose teeth are his weapon!💀🦷

And said teeth are removable, and replaceable. Including by a set of teeth that didn't want to leave with their owner. (Yes, really.)
An image taken (I believe) from the classic video-game RPG "Planescape Torment". Specifically, it shows a closeup of the companion-character Morte, whose is a floating skull with eyeballs. His jawbone is wide-open, as though he were saying something, or preparing to bite.
September 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
So, my usual online name is Thaumaturge.

Now, I love magic--but there are many names for arcanists. So why this one?

Well, but it likely comes down to Ultima 8 being close to mind: amongst the many magics of that game, Thaumaturgy is my favourite--in lore and practice! ^_^

(Image from Moby)
A screenshot from the classic RPG "Ultima 8: Pagan". Specifically, it shows the player-character near the exit from the otherworldly home of the Thaumaturge Mythran. The house itself--of which just the exit-corridor is visible here--is simple wood and hangings, with some nice stone-line shelf-tops. On those shelves is a miscellanea of small items. But that wooden structure is set in jagged grey stone, which extends down in tapering spikes--and finds no root. Instead, it is suspended in a starry void--the Ether.
September 3, 2025 at 6:26 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Here I think that it may be a close race between the aethereal, crystalline starship from "The Dig" and the cool nebula-charting literal-sail ship from "Heaven's Vault"

With an honorable mention to the cosmic starship from "Isis"

("Heaven's Vault" screenshot from GOG; "Isis" screenshot from Moby.)
A screenshot from the classic point-and-click adventure "The Dig". Specifically, it shows a geometric crystalline form--in fact a starship--floating in the air above an island. That island is surrounded by several tall, pointed islets, and all about is the purple sea, and a pink sky. A screenshot from the classic point-and-click adventure "The Dig". Specifically, it shows a geometric crystalline form--in fact a starship--against the starry backdrop of space. A screenshot from the indie point-and-click/translation adventure "Heaven's Vault". Specifically, it shows a ribbon-like "river" of a gaslike substance, flowing in a spacy, cloudy setting. Within and about this float large chunks of rock. A little below centre can be seen a ship of sorts, with a sail extended from either side near its front, and four oar- or rudder- like objects extended nearer the back. The ship is banking, dipping one closed sail in the river as it does, from which a trail of sparks is thrown up behind. A screenshot from the point-and-click adventure "Isis". Specifically, it shows an FMV screen, surrounded by an green-and-gold border; to one side are four buttons, above which is an image as of a sarcophagus-lid from Ancient Egypt, resembling a pharaoh in gold.
August 31, 2025 at 7:23 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Ooooh!

Probably Baron Friedrich von Glower, from Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within.

He's charming, and likeable, connects strongly with our protagonist. Between that, this backstory, and his acting, he makes for a very sympathetic (and initially non-obvious) antagonist.

(In a 90s FMV, no less!)
A screenshot from the classic point-and-click adventure "Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within". Specifically, it shows the character of Friedrich von Glower, a man elegantly dressed, and reaching out to someone just beyond the frame (and to the right). He seems to be smiling. The location is wood-panelled, and lit to produce thick oranges and blues. Around this scene is the bronze-brown game-UI, occupying much of the bottom and some of the sides and top. To the top of this UI is the name of the current location ("Hunt Club Front Hall"), a note that the scene can be skipped by a click of the mouse, and the current score. To the bottom is an icon representing the game, a box for an inventory item (currently blackly empty), some action-icons, and a broad backdrop depicting what look like metallic doors of an old-fashioned sort.
August 29, 2025 at 5:49 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
A peek at some of what's in my recent UI asset-pack:

(Excluding, of course, the various button-states, and all but the heart metal-variations. ;) )

🔗 thaumaturge-art.itch.io/assets-fanta... 🔗

(Reposts would be much appreciated!)

#AssetPack #GameAssets #VNDev #GameDev #GameArt
An example-image showing a selection of UI-elements from an asset-pack. Specifically, it shows two horizontal buttons (one with decorative ends, and one fashioned to look like a push-button in a simple frame); two hollow buttons (intended for radio-buttons or check-boxes; both with some decoration); two tileable chains (one horizontal and one vertical); and two cursors (one a pointer and one for targeting; both decorative). All are rendered as though made of steel. An example-image showing a selection of UI-elements from an asset-pack. Specifically, it shows a rounded heart-symbol, repeated for a total of five instances, each rendered as though metal, and each coloured as though of a different metal: steel, bronze, brass, gold, and copper.
August 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Razed...

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
A screenshot from the work-in-progress video-game "Moons in Crystal". Specifically, it shows an area in which a great many woody trunks or stems have been cut down, leaving only stumps. To the top-left is a palisade of logs (with a gate of similar construction). To the right some yellowish blobs mark sap. To the right, an region as-yet un-razed forms a natural wall, with scattered leaves left growing on it.
August 29, 2025 at 10:01 AM
ebornian.bsky.social
They also appear in every game (save the fourth), from the stranded Katta merchants in the first game, to the Katta-filled city of Shapier, to the lone Katta selling carvings in the third game, and finally the food-sellers and their musician daughter in the fifth. ^_^
A screenshot from the classic point-and-click/RPG hybrid, Quest for Glory II. Specifically, it shows a scene in a market-square, all rendered in old-style chunky, low-colour-count pixels. The square itself is octagonal (albeit that only half is visible in the screenshot), and has at its centre a low fountain pouring into a star-shaped basin. Ahead and to the right are keyhole-shaped archways, leading into darkness. To the left is a wooden door, over which hangs a sign depicting a green eye. Within the square are three stalls, each with an awning overhead, and each manned by a short, cat-like person. One sells plants, another sells baskets, and the third sells other items (I think including lamps). A screenshot from the classic point-and-click/RPG hybrid, Quest for Glory II. (Or rather, the VGA fan-remake thereof.) Specifically, it shows a scene within the common room of an inn. On broad flagstones is set a large rug, and scattered about are low tables with pillows as seats. To one side, against a protruding section of wall, is a pillow alone, on which stands a short, cat-like person. Near top-left is an inset, showing a portrait of the cat-like person. To the right of this is a text-box, in which the cat-like person is declaring how wonderful is their mate.
August 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Can I nominate an entire species?

Because the Katta from Quest for Glory--a species of small, catlike folk native to the desert region of Shapier--are one of my favourite things about that series--and it's one of my favourite series. ^_^
A screenshot from the classic point-and-click/RPG hybrid, Quest for Glory III. Specifically, it shows a scene in a bazaar, set on large yellow-stone flags, composed of tent-like stalls, and peopled with humans, a jackal-like fellow, and a cat-like fellow. An inset, near bottom-left, shows a portrait of the cat-like fellow (who has sandy fur). Beside this, to its right, is a small text-box (with pillars decorating the sides), in which the cat-like fellow is greeting the player.
August 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
I've just released a new asset pack!

This is a pack of UI elements in a metallic fantasy theme: Buttons, icons, cursors, etc.

Each element comes in five variants--five metals:

Steel; Bronze; Brass; Gold; and Copper.

🔗 thaumaturge-art.itch.io/assets-fanta...

#GameDev #AssetPack #GameAssets
A cover-tile for an asset-pack, specifically one that contains UI assets with a fantasy theme and a metallic look. In the background, on a dark backdrop, are a handful of such UI elements: a steel button (with decorative ends) near the top; a rounded heart and a flat upwards-pointing arrow (with a decorative bottom) near the bottom; and in the centre, a series of overlapping squared buttons, each in a different colour. (Those colours being intended to depict various metals.) Overlaid on this is the title: "Assets: Fantasy UI~ Metals".
August 22, 2025 at 9:20 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Align the flux and open the portals.

Then... dare you enter, and find to where they lead...?

(Seen here in a test-level)

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
August 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
I think probably "Jill of the Jungle" (the first episode, at least).

Yeah, it's old, it's clunky--but it's fun, and it's my comfort game. ^_^

(Screenshot again from MobyGames, as it seems that I haven't reinstalled the game since my last OS reinstallation...)
A screenshot of the menu/title -screen of the old video-game "Jill of the Jungle". In the background, it shows a stone-like frame, containing three views: To the left and top is a list of high-scores; below that is a portrait of the protagonist of the game; and to the centre and slightly to the right, taking up most of the space, is a shot depicting gameplay. That gameplay-shot includes some earth-and-grass platforms (with a few stones), a tree, some vines,, and a sprite depicting the protagonist. Each of these views has a title, albeit indicating what the views are used for in gameplay: "controls"; "inventory"; and the title of the game, "Jill of the Jungle". In the foreground is the menu, presenting various options, and a little "ball" indicating which is currently highlighted for selection.
August 9, 2025 at 9:53 AM
ebornian.bsky.social
To me, all large, circular portals--think Stargate--are "daokas", after the portals in Outcast. ^_^

Also: All hazards in the form of large blocks that slide at the player as they pass are "Thwomps".

(Screenshot from MobyGames.)
A screenshot from the video-game "Outcast". Specifically, it shows a snowy village scene, with some snow-roofed houses in the background, and a cobbled path running from background to midground. In the centre-foreground is the player, facing away from the viewer. To the right of the foreground is a large, circular, decorated portal.
August 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
Heaven's Vault comes to mind: a beautiful, clever game built around the exploration and interpretation of the past (of a civilisation located on moons within the cyclic flows of a nebula)

The central mechanic is a form of inferred translation, and it's really really good! ^^

(Image from MobyGames)
A cover image from the game "Heaven's Vault". It shows a yellow-tinted ruin, in which—to the right—kneels a woman, examining writing on a wall; the writing glows near to her hand. To the left, and a little further back, a robot observes this. In the centre of the image is the game's title—and in the centre of that is some text in a script like thar on the wall.
August 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
A new enchantment in "Moons in Crystal", one that calls the little creatures of the moons to your aid!

(Seen here in a test-level.)

🌖"Moons in Crystal" is an isometric fantasy "space" metroidvania.🔮

#MoonsInCrystal #Metroidvania #GameDev #IndieDev #IndieGame
July 31, 2025 at 7:20 PM
ebornian.bsky.social
If you see this, post a flower.

#MoonsInCrystal
July 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM