devlog.md — vim
roadmapdevelopmentmilestones

Roadmap Explained: What Alpha, Beta, and v1.0 Actually Mean

> Tauan |

Alright, let’s talk roadmap. I know “roadmap” sounds very corporate, but I promise this won’t be a bunch of buzzwords. Just an honest breakdown of what I’m building and roughly in what order.

The Big Picture

Foundation  →   Combat     →   Progression  →   Social
   ✓            ALPHA           BETA            v1.0

Four phases. Each one adds a major layer to the game. Let me break them down.

Phase 1: Foundation ✓ Done!

This is the boring-but-essential stuff. The “you can’t see it but everything depends on it” work.

What I built:

  • Walking around the world (sounds simple, took forever)
  • Real-time multiplayer sync (see other players move!)
  • Character creation
  • Multiple zones/maps

Why it matters: Without this, there’s no game. It’s like building a house - you gotta pour the foundation before you can put up walls.

Phase 2: Combat & NPCs → ALPHA

This is where I’m at right now. And honestly, this is where Fenrok stops being a tech demo and starts being an actual game.

What needs to happen:

  • Monsters that spawn and walk around
  • Basic combat (hit things, things hit you back)
  • NPCs you can talk to
  • Loot and a basic inventory

When this is done, it’s Alpha. That means:

  • You can actually play something
  • It will be buggy and unbalanced
  • Things might change dramatically based on feedback
  • Perfect for people who like helping shape games early

If you’re the type who enjoys jank early builds and wants to tell me “hey this feels weird” - Alpha is for you.

Phase 3: Progression → BETA

This is where the RPG systems come in. The stuff that makes you want to keep playing.

What I’m planning:

  • XP and leveling up
  • Skill trees (different builds!)
  • Equipment with actual stats
  • Character classes that feel different to play

When this is done, it’s Beta. That means:

  • The core game is there
  • Long-term progression exists
  • I’ll be focused on balance and polish
  • Your save data should be safe (no more wipes, hopefully)

Beta is for people who want a more complete experience but don’t mind some rough edges.

Phase 4: Social & Economy → v1.0

This is the “MMO” part of the MMO. All the social features that make these games special.

What’s planned:

  • Chat (local, global, whispers)
  • Party system for grouping up
  • Player trading and shops
  • Guilds

When this is done, it’s v1.0. The full release. The “okay this is actually a game now” moment.

What about after v1.0?

Oh, I’ve got ideas. Lots of them.

  • Crafting system
  • Player housing
  • PvP zones
  • Procedurally generated dungeons
  • World events

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First I need to ship v1.0. One step at a time.

”When will X release?”

I don’t do dates. Sorry.

Here’s the thing - every time I’ve estimated how long something will take, I’ve been wrong. Game dev is unpredictable. Some features take a weekend, others take months. I’d rather under-promise and over-deliver than the other way around.

What I can promise:

  • I’ll post updates here regularly
  • You can always try the latest build on GitHub
  • When a milestone is ready, I’ll announce it

How to stay in the loop

  1. This dev log - I’ll post progress updates, screenshots, and the occasional rant
  2. GitHub releases - Grab new builds as they come out
  3. Play the game - Seriously, just try it. It’s the best way to see where things are at

Thanks for being interested in this weird little project. Building an MMO solo is… a lot. But seeing people actually care makes it worth it.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have monsters to spawn.

> ./spawn --monster goblin --count 10
Spawning goblins... wish me luck.