Repeated intro
Hello everyone, Pedro here, the developer of Scum's Errand. Today I wanted to talk a bit about how build crafting works in the game, and the ideas behind the Fortune Teller system.
What changed
1 fix0 additions3 changes0 removals
changedBuilding Through CardsEach card grants two bonuses and one drawback. Some may improve revolvers while hurting reload speed. Others may turn machine guns into powerful crowd-control tools at the cost of mobility. The idea is not simply stacking power, but combining cards whose drawbacks cancel each other out. All active effects are displayed inside the Fate panel, allowing players to understand how their build evolves over time. Steam post image
fixedOmens Aligned!Certain card combinations can align together and trigger additional effects called Omens. These synergies can completely change the way a build plays, restoring health on kills, removing heavy weapon movement penalties, or causing revolver bullets to explode. I wanted builds to feel discovered rather than selected from a fixed meta. Steam post image
changedScaling With ProgressionPlayers begin with only one card slot, meaning no Omens can activate early on. As players level up, additional card slots become available, eventually allowing up to four active cards simultaneously. Alongside that, the cards themselves also grow stronger. The result is a progression system where characters gradually become more specialised and powerful, unlocking increasingly complex combinations the further they advance.
changedProgress in Other AreasAlongside the Fortune Teller system, I am also continuing to polish the game for the upcoming demo release. Recent work has focused heavily on graphical improvements, environmental atmosphere, and upgrades to the procedural generation systems in order to create more varied and immersive dungeon runs. Steam post image
Scum's Errand changes
changedEach card grants two bonuses and one drawback. Some may improve revolvers while hurting reload speed. Others may turn machine guns into powerful crowd-control tools at the cost of mobility. The idea is not simply stacking power, but combining cards whose drawbacks cancel each other out. All active effects are displayed inside the Fate panel, allowing players to understand how their build evolves over time. Steam post image
fixedCertain card combinations can align together and trigger additional effects called Omens. These synergies can completely change the way a build plays, restoring health on kills, removing heavy weapon movement penalties, or causing revolver bullets to explode. I wanted builds to feel discovered rather than selected from a fixed meta. Steam post image
changedPlayers begin with only one card slot, meaning no Omens can activate early on. As players level up, additional card slots become available, eventually allowing up to four active cards simultaneously. Alongside that, the cards themselves also grow stronger. The result is a progression system where characters gradually become more specialised and powerful, unlocking increasingly complex combinations the further they advance.
changedAlongside the Fortune Teller system, I am also continuing to polish the game for the upcoming demo release. Recent work has focused heavily on graphical improvements, environmental atmosphere, and upgrades to the procedural generation systems in order to create more varied and immersive dungeon runs. Steam post image
Reading Fate. How Build Crafting works in Scum’s Errand
Seeking Answers
Scum’s Errand is a game about desperate people surviving in a collapsing world, and I wanted progression to reflect that uncertainty. Instead of a traditional skill tree, builds are created through the Fortune Teller. A system inspired by tarot cards and the human tendency to search for answers during moments of crisis. Steam post image
Building Through Cards
Each card grants two bonuses and one drawback. Some may improve revolvers while hurting reload speed. Others may turn machine guns into powerful crowd-control tools at the cost of mobility. The idea is not simply stacking power, but combining cards whose drawbacks cancel each other out. All active effects are displayed inside the Fate panel, allowing players to understand how their build evolves over time. Steam post image
Omens Aligned!
Certain card combinations can align together and trigger additional effects called Omens. These synergies can completely change the way a build plays, restoring health on kills, removing heavy weapon movement penalties, or causing revolver bullets to explode. I wanted builds to feel discovered rather than selected from a fixed meta. Steam post image
Scaling With Progression
Players begin with only one card slot, meaning no Omens can activate early on. As players level up, additional card slots become available, eventually allowing up to four active cards simultaneously. Alongside that, the cards themselves also grow stronger. The result is a progression system where characters gradually become more specialised and powerful, unlocking increasingly complex combinations the further they advance.
Progress in Other Areas
Alongside the Fortune Teller system, I am also continuing to polish the game for the upcoming demo release. Recent work has focused heavily on graphical improvements, environmental atmosphere, and upgrades to the procedural generation systems in order to create more varied and immersive dungeon runs. Steam post image
Next Steps
If you would like to support the project, consider wishlisting Scum's Errand on Steam: Scum's Errand Steam Page In the next dev diary, I will talk more about weapons, relics, and how equipment shapes combat builds inside Scum’s Errand.
