SMOKEWOOD GAME - PLANNED FEATURES

What Makes SMOKEWOOD Different

Your Choices, Your Legend

Revolutionary Morality System

64 Unique Character Archetypes

Forget good vs. evil - SMOKEWOOD tracks your choices across four independent axes, creating a morality compass that reflects who you truly are by how you truly play:

Modernization: Naturalist ←→ Industrialist
Do you respect the land or exploit it for profit?

Disposition: Peaceful ←→ Violent
Do you solve problems with words or weapons?

Criminality: Lawful ←→ Criminal
Do you follow the law or make your own rules?

Citizenship: Nomad ←→ Communal
Do you roam free or build roots in a community?

Every combination is valid. Be a lawful naturalist who solves problems peacefully but prefers solitude. Or a criminal industrialist who's violent but deeply communal. There are no "right" answers—only consequences.

Dynamic World Reactions

The frontier remembers everything you do:

  • NPCs remember your actions and adjust their behavior

  • Factions track your reputation and respond accordingly

  • Law enforcement pursues criminals based on witness reports

  • Ecosystems change based on your hunting and industrial activities

  • Markets fluctuate based on supply, demand, and your actions

  • Communities grow or decline based on your involvement

Just a living world that reacts to who you've become.

Multiple Endings

Your choices lead to dramatically different conclusions:

  • The Keeper: Become a legendary guardian of the land

  • The Outlaw King: Rule through fear and reputation

  • The Ghost: Disappear into legend, known but never caught

  • The Pioneer: Build a thriving community and legacy

  • The Wanderer: Remain forever free, bound to no place

And many more variations based on your unique path.

Explore the Morality System →

Four Starting Characters, Infinite Possibilities

Cole Merrick – The Drifter

A weathered lover seeking a fresh start.

Emmett Graves – The Lone Gunman

A scarred gunslinger with a shadowy past.

Gray Wolf – The Guide

A wise native knowledge keeper.

Elijah Reed – The Survivor

A young man rescued from tragedy. 

All paths start in SMOKEWOOD, but how you navigate the frontier is entirely your choice.

Learn More About Characters →

Survival & Frontier Life

Homesteading & Building

Many Structure Types

  • Cabins, barns, workshops, storage sheds

  • Fences, wells, smokehouses, root cellars

  • Specialized structures for different activities

  • Upgrade and expand your homestead over time

Farming & Ranching

Build Your Frontier Empire

  • Cultivate diverse crops with seasonal cycles

  • Raise livestock (cattle, chickens, pigs, horses)

  • Manage resources and plan for harsh winters

  • Choose between sustainable or industrial methods

Hunting & Fishing

Master the Wilderness

  • Track diverse wildlife across varied terrain

  • Learn animal behaviors and migration patterns

  • Use traditional or modern hunting methods

  • Face consequences for overhunting

Crafting & Equipment

Create What You Need

  • Craft tools, weapons, and survival gear

  • Brew medicines and consumables

  • Create illegal equipment for outlaw activities

  • Upgrade and maintain your equipment

The Outlaw Path

High-Risk, High-Reward Activities

Moonshine Production
Distill illegal spirits, evade revenuers, build a distribution network

Cannabis Cultivation
Grow forbidden crops, manage secrecy, navigate black markets

Cattle Rustling
Steal livestock, alter brands, fence stolen goods

Gold Mining
Stake claims, extract resources, defend your strike

Every illegal activity has lawful alternatives. Grow legal crops instead of cannabis. Raise your own cattle instead of stealing. Mine legally instead of claim-jumping. The choice is yours.

Indigenous Wisdom Path

Unique Cultural Mechanics

Seasonal Knowledge
Learn from the land's natural cycles and rhythms

Spiritual Connection
Tobacco offerings, dream guidance, elder respect

Sustainable Practices
Use every part of what you harvest, honor the ecosystem

Traditional Crafting
Birchbark work, tracking mastery, bushcraft expertise

Multiple Cultural Endings
Keeper, Bridge-Builder, Resistance Leader, Wanderer, and more

Character Progression

Four Tier Progression System

Attributes (Permanent)
Strength, Speed, Agility, Smarts, Constitution, Charisma
Increase only with level-up points

Skills (Use-Based)
16 skills that improve through practice:
Jump, Mechanics, Nature, Relations, Fishing, Hunting, Farming, Sneak, Foraging, Accuracy, Melee, Mining, Ranching, Swimming, Bushcraft, Roll

Statuses (Dynamic)
Health, Stamina, Hunger, Thirst, Money, Bounty, XP
Change constantly based on your actions and environment

Morality (Dynamic)
The frontier remembers everything you do. You will progress, even if you don't want to.
Change constantly based on your actions and environment

Every action combines relevant attribute, skill, and status for realistic outcomes.

Living World Systems

Dynamic Economy

  • Market prices fluctuate based on supply and demand

  • Your actions affect local and regional economies

  • Hidden costs and debt management

  • Black market opportunities

Weather & Seasons

  • Four distinct seasons with unique challenges

  • Dynamic weather affecting gameplay

  • Plan for harsh winters and droughts

  • Seasonal events and opportunities

Random Events

  • Natural disasters and wildlife encounters

  • Social events and community gatherings

  • Criminal opportunities and law enforcement

  • Personal challenges and moral dilemmas

Bounty System

  • Crime exposure tracked separately from bounties

  • Witness reports affect law enforcement response

  • Pay off bounties or lay low to reduce heat

  • Reputation affects how you're pursued

Combat & Conflict

Multiple Approaches

Melee Combat
Close-quarters fighting with knives, axes, and improvised weapons

Ranged Combat
Rifles, pistols, shotguns with realistic accuracy and reload mechanics

Defensive Options
Cover, evasion, de-escalation, and strategic retreat

Non-Violent Solutions
Diplomacy, bribery, intimidation, and stealth

Every conflict can be approached multiple ways. Violence is always an option, not usually a requirement.

Accessibility & Quality of Life

Difficulty Settings

  • Adjustable challenge levels

  • Customizable survival mechanics

  • Optional tutorials and guidance

Accessibility Features

  • Colorblind modes

  • Adjustable UI scaling

  • Remappable controls

  • Subtitle options

Save System

  • Manual save anytime outside combat

  • Autosave at key moments

  • Multiple save slots

Visual & Audio Design

Painterly Aesthetic

First-person perspective with impressionistic, oil painting-inspired visuals

  • Hand-crafted textures and environments

  • Unique visual identity

  • Timeless art style

  • Indie credibility

Immersive Audio

  • Period-appropriate music and sound design

  • Dynamic audio responding to environment and weather

  • Voice acting for key characters and moments

Post-Launch Plans

Ongoing Development

  • Regular content updates

  • Community-requested features

  • Bug fixes and optimization

  • Expanded storylines and characters

Potential Expansions

  • New regions and territories

  • Additional character paths

  • Expanded crafting and building

  • Multiplayer co-op (long-term goal)

What We're NOT Doing

No Microtransactions

No Always-Online Requirement

No Pay-to-Win

No Hand-Holding

Join the Movement

Kickstarter Launch: February 1, 2026

Back SMOKEWOOD and help shape the game's development. Early backers receive exclusive rewards, development updates, and the chance to influence features and content.

Your frontier legend awaits.

Back to Home →Meet the Characters →Explore the Morality System →Visit Kickstarter →