DAS BOOT/FTL INSPIRED STRATEGY BRANCHING SAMPLE

(set: $watch to false) 1945 You are the captain of the U-688 - a u-boat in the Kriegsmarine. You've spent weeks in the North Sea following commands leading the crew back and forth from the same ports. A slow futile circle spent mostly in the dark. Off the Coast of Norway, the radio crackles with a new route: 11,000 Km south into the Atlantic Ocean. [[Next]]

Four colors of dialogue choice (including unlocked/locked pocketwatch option)

Bootsmann: Kaleun. PC: The radio. Bootsmann: Yes. PC: Breathe slower. Bootsmann: I can't. PC: Try. A moment passes. Karl's shake slows down a little. Bootsmann: Thank you Kaleun. PC: Do you have someone in Hamburg? Bootsmann: Some family. Karls hands start shaking more. PC: Why are you shaking? [[Next|Karl Choice Branch]]

Karl: I'm not sure. PC: This boat relies on the engine room, Karl. What is it? Karl: It's the working shifts. PC: What about them? Karl: Many of us haven't had time to sleep. Some as long as six days. PC: I understand. These decisions will advance time! (if: $watch is true)[ [[End the shift early. You've more than earned it.]] [[Continue the shift. Back to work Bootsmann.]] [[I have something for you. A package.]] ] (else:)[ [[End the shift early. You've more than earned it.]] [[Continue the shift. Back to work Bootsmann.]] ] (enchant:"You've more than earned it.",(text-colour:green)) (enchant:"Back to work Bootsmann.",(text-colour:red)) (enchant:"Dismissed.",(text-colour:yellow)) (enchant:"A package.",(text-colour:orange)) (enchant:"These decisions will advance time!",(text-colour:purple))

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Officer with the package [(set:$watch to true)]

bombings in hamburg, Karl leaves the room.

Haven't slept in 6 days Driven to an intense discussion, the captain showing some mercy, Karl reveals part of the thing causing him great distress.

- End the shift early and dismiss the machine crew. Get some rest. You've more than earned it. (positive) - The shift ends when I command it. Back to the engine room, Mr. Shmidt. - I'll address the crew myself. Dismissed. Or personalized, maybe one different - Sit a while. I have something for you from your uncle in the Kriegsmarine." (+1 to machine room morale)

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INT. U-688 - Officers' Quarters The Officers' Quarters is at the bow of the ship. A narrow hall surrounded by closed off rooms, except for a table covered in charting papers and chipped kitchenware. A crewman exits the WC, walks through the sub to the Officers' Quarters, where he sits down into the Radio Room - a small open compartment filled with dimly glowing equipment and oil pencils. [[Take a seat.|Sit]]

You take a seat at the table, and the other officers sit alongside you. The crew fills the room slowly. They are sweaty, yawning, fidgeting with their hats, and trading small conversation. The quarters are full now. When the engine crew arrives, they must lean in towards the Quarters from the entrance of the Control Room. Many of the engine crew look only at eachother, shirtless, their heads leaned on the wall or a shoulder, silent. [[Next|Radio]]

The man in the radio room gives you a nod. You: Alright. The Officer next to you has an old tin of cookies, takes one, then offers you the tin. Officer: Lebkuchen. [[Take one]]

You pick up a lebkuchen from the tin. It's too hard to bite outright. You flip it between your fingers like a coin. Officer: Enjoy that. I need to speak to you once you're done here. Soon. [[Pass the tin.]]

The rest of the crew takes from the tin. Some pass, some struggle to break it into more managable pieces, while others let it sit in their mouths a while before making a sudden harsh bite. The radio crewman plugs a small wire into the radio console, and a German broadcast whispers through a field of static. [[Next|Radio Comes On]]

Radio: The power of Germany is seen nowhere more than its ---- --- soldiers -- parade in another successful push against the -- in --- visited-- [[Find a different signal.]]

You: Try another. A moment passes, and a British broadcast comes through clearly. Radio: The war effort continues- Crewman: What are you doing? You: Listening. Radio crewman: Limited range on these. But we're close enough to get their signal for the night. [[Next|Karl enters1]]

The crew makes space for an engine crewman to properly enter the Officers' Quarters. Karl Shmidt, a twenty-something bootsmann, and the only member of the engine crew to wear their complete uniform. Karl: Kaleun. You nod. [[Next|Radio continues]]

Radio: - where Air Chief Marshal Harris leads the bomber campaign -- Crewman: Captain. Please. You: Yes? Crewman: Foreign communications are a treasonable offense. You: An offense? The officer next to you speaks up. Officer: Rolf. Handle this please. The Radio Crewman nods. Officer: We need to discuss something of urgent priority. [[Next|news of hamburg]]

Radio: - fire rained down on southern Hamburg from 500 aircraft, destroying u-boat yards - Crewman: Kaleun. Engine crewman: Quiet. Crewman: It's- Several of the crew tell the crewman to be quiet. Karl is breathing heavily. Radio: - few factories or houses are left standing. Power and communications all but dead. German soldiers are fleeing the city wounded signaling - Officer: Excuse us. The kaleun and I must discuss a private matter. Karl's hands begin to shake. Karl: Turn it off. Officer: The crew needs to stay informed. Karl: Of German death? [[Turn off the radio.]] [[See to Officer's urgent business.|PW]]

You: Yes. Of Germans. You nod at Rolf, and he turns the radio off. Karl: Thank you Kaluen. Karl's hands shake further and his lebkuchen falls to the ground. He looks around and then leaves, pushing aside a crewman on his way to the bunks. [[Next|Exploration/mission]]

You stand up. You: Yes. Of Germans. The crew creates some space for you as you maneuver to the Officer's room. Karl's hands shake further and his lebkuchen falls to the ground. He looks around and then leaves, pushing aside a crewman on his way to the bunks. [[Enter Officer's Room|Officer's Quarters]]

Int. Officer's Room The Officer's Room is small but lavish. Small bed and smaller desk. The door is shut behind them. Officer: Take a seat. The officer reaches under the desk, and lifts up a small safe. He places it on the desk. He spins the dial to the combination, unlocks the safe, and removes a large accordian folder. You: More codes? Officer: Yes and miscalleanous political speeches. One especially sensitive. They've requested radio confirmation within the hour. The officer breaks open a seal on an envelope, and provides you a piece of paper. Officer: Sign. [[Sign]]

There are many code ciphers and propaganda in addition to Karl's package, which you open. Inside is a sealed letter from someone named Helmut Shmidt. The letter has the stamp and address of a Kriegsmarine U-boat port in Hamburg. The package also contains a photo of Helmut and a small metal pocketwatch of a standard design of the Kriegsmarine. You: The bootsmann's father maybe. [(set:$watch to true)] [[Next|Exploration/mission]]

Officer: Good. I suggest you decode these soon. They'll have my head if I forget to radio this. I'll give you some privacy. In the file, you find a small package addressed to Karl Shmidt. You: One thing. Crewman: Yes. You: Tell the bootsmann I will be having a word with him in the Engine Room. Officer: Yas Kaleun. The officer leaves. [[Open Karl's Package]]

You: End the shift early. Try to rest. Karl: Who will work the engine tonight? You: Let me worry about that. Karl: Thank you Kaleun. (if: $watch is false)[ [[Next|Early2]] ] (else:)[ [[Give Karl package.|Early2]] ]

You: Everyone works on this boat. I can't give the engine crew special treatment. Karl: I am not sure we can work for much longer. You: I understand. (if: $watch is false)[ [[Next|work2]] ] (else:)[ [[Give Karl package.|work2]] ]

You: Here. You hand him the package. Karl takes out the photo, letter, and pocketwatch. Karl: My uncle Helmut. He's in the Kriegsmarine. How long have you had this? You: Maybe weeks. It's unusual to receive mail this way. Karl: Thank you. You: It was chance. Read it. Karl: Alright. [[The letter]]

Manage your crew. >>Player manages what crew member(s) will work the engine room for the next eight hours while engine crew rests.<< [[End]] (enchant:"Manage your crew.",(text-colour:purple))

"Dear Karl, I am safe here in Hamburg. It'll take a lot of bombs to crack these submarine ports. 20 feet of concrete. You've always liked this pocketwatch more than me. I'd like you to have it. Helmut November 7th, 1944" [[Next|Letter2]]

Karl: This was written almost half a year ago. PC: Mail by sea. Karl: It doesn't sound like him either. PC: When's the last time you saw him? Karl: About a year ago. PC: Is your uncle high rank? Karl: Not really. [[Tell Karl what you know.|Tell Karl the truth.]] [[Comfort Karl.|Tell Karl a comforting lie.]]

(if: $watch is false)[ Karl is holding onto a small package. PC: What's that? Karl: Mail. From my uncle. I've been avoiding opening it. PC: Read it. Karl opens the package and finds a letter, pocketwatch, and a photo. ] (else:)[ You: A package came for you. Karl takes it and removes the letter, pocketwatch and photo. Karl: My uncle Helmut. He's in the Kriegsmarine. How long have you had this? PC: Maybe weeks. It's unusual to receive mail this way. Karl: Thank you. PC: It was chance. Read it. Karl: Alright. ] [[Next|Early letter]]

Karl: This was written almost half a year ago. PC: Mail by sea. Karl: It doesn't sound like him either. PC: When's the last time you saw him? Karl: About a year ago. PC: Any other family? Karl shakes his head and inspects the pocketwatch in his hand. Opens it. It's very clean, new. Karl: I don't remember this either. He closes the watch, resigned and hands it to you. Karl: Keep it. PC: Are you sure? Karl: Goodnight kaleun. He exits towards the bunks, weary. [[Player advances to management UI|Strategy screen]]

Manage your crew. >>Player manages crew. Most of the engine crew is now sick and requires medical attention.<< [[End]] (enchant:"Manage your crew.",(text-colour:purple))

Manage your crew. >>Player manages crew. Some of the engine crew is sick, however Karl's thin hope for his uncle's survival gives them all some extra health and endurance.<< [[End]] (enchant:"Manage your crew.",(text-colour:purple))

PC: This was inside a package of classified material, mostly in code. They may have forced him to write this in such a way as to avoid the truth. Karl: Or hide it. PC nods. Karl: Do you think he could still be alive? PC: I don't know. Karl looks conflicted. Karl: Is there a way to contact Hamburg? PC: Not where we're headed. Karl: I understand. Thank you for the honesty. [[Next|lietruth2]]

PC: This package was inside a portfolio of classified material, mostly in code. Your uncle is likely involved in a high ranking mission in Hamburg. It's likely in code. Karl: Hard to believe PC nods. Karl: So do you think he's alive? PC: Maybe. Karl looks conflicted. Karl: Is there a way to contact Hamburg? PC: Not where we're headed. Karl: I understand. Thank you for telling me the truth. [[Next|lietruth2]]

Karl shakes his head and inspects the pocketwatch in his hand. Opens it. It's very clean, new. Karl: I don't remember this either. He closes the watch, resigned and hands it to you. Karl: Keep it. PC: Are you sure? Karl: Yes. Goodnight kaleun. He exits towards the bunks, weary. [[Player advances to management UI|Strategypackage]]

You've reached the end of this sample!

Radio: - the Royal Airforce continued its mission yesterday in Hamburg-- Engine crewman: (directed behind him) Hey. Come. [[Next|Karl enters]]

DAS BOOT/FTL INSPIRED SAMPLE by David Tiegen README: This IF sample is directly inspired by the film Das Boot, FTL mechanics, and Telltale style branching. As such it takes place on a U-boat in 1945. Despite the obvious content warning of subject matter, the sample involves no direct violence, no anti-semitism, no racist language, no on-screen offensive imagery, and is safe for work reading. Das Boot is an anti-facist and anti-war film, the reason for its challenging subject, and this sample reflects that. PLAY INSTRUCTIONS: This sample has a few choice points. One of them is only unlocked if you find a certain item. Refresh the page if you want to start again. Don't use the arrows to go all the way back, or you mght run into some errors. FORMAT NOTES: For the player's dialogue, I switch a bit between using You or PC (player character), mainly for convenience. They all mean the player/ Captain. I've left any mechanic notes (in between >><<) here or there where other features hook in, based off the narrative designs the inspirations follow which is essentially: - The player is a captain, in charge of leading a crew - A scripted branching event - An exploration phase - A crew based choice - The choice has consequences on the crew - The choice has consequences on the player in the strategy/management phase - The story advances The following events are based around March 1945. Sources available upon request! Enjoy! [[Next|1945]]

Mission: Visit Karl in the Engine Room at the end of the day. >>Player explores the submarine for other events and items, or paths directly to the Engine Room to finish the main arc of the day.<< (enchant:"Visit Karl in the Engine Room at the end of the day.",(text-colour:purple)) [[Navigate to the Engine Room]]

INT. Engine Room You follow Karl to the Engine Room. He is sitting against the wall, holding his knees, shaking. You: Bootsmann. [[Next|Karl Conversation]]