Hang on a sec, how about right on top of the tower? Surely that would cover the ground and rooftops as well? Then the problem becomes heat settings and angles.

Are there any more details as to the precise rules these turrets follow?

Could not the night horrors evade them entirely no matter where they are by climbing out the back of their residences, walking around the city, and coming in through the windows of their prey? Can anyone read the turret settings in any way, which would include the night horrors, or is McAndrews the only one who knows the settings? Do they shoot through walls? Can night horrors just run along the roofs instead? Will they open fire on ordinary sleeping villagers who are in their arc of fire when they roll over at night?

Many, many questions.

You have got to be kidding.

I am really sorry for the accusation, Melly. I had sound reasons.

I had Melly pegged as the vampire. The reason for this is that he said "the vampire" out of the blue, when I kept speaking of multiple vampires. I was convinced that was a tell, and I had caught him red-handed.

I'm wondering a few things, which I'll bring up now in case somebody is capable of covering their tracks by killing me during daylight. Why was Melly happy to have died? Was he being controlled, or possessed? Was Melly obligated to say certain things at certain times? Could the "the vampire" comment still be a tell, but by their controller?

Or was it simply an innocent slip, and my theory is completely and utterly wrong?

Or am I a vampire, and I have been lying to you all this time? Of course, I'd be a very sloppy one, since Melly's departure is just a little too convenient "proof" of this theory. It is possible that I am being set up.

On another subject... helicopters? Turrets!? I need to think on that one a bit.  My current theories have been shot to pieces and I seriously don't know what to think.

Oh, and if I am allowed to, I would like to approach Melly's body, and check to see if indeed it is Melly, and not someone else wearing a mask.

Alas, Cheater, I did try my very best, but I was outnumbered by foes powerful enough to smash down the very wall of my store. Whilst you should not underestimate the ferocity of a skilled butcher with cleavers and blades, my skill is not such that I could harm them in any significant way. I was hardly on the offensive.

Caring Melly, you seem very fast to latch onto a theory that I did provide, and to then embelish it with other circumstances to suggest my guilt. I fear that in your mind, your vote was cast well before the theory.

Let us assume you are correct, and I am a terrible and powerful vampire. So you say I was interrupted whilst seeking out my prey, whilst still in my store? Which villager resides in my closed store at night? And after a terrible fight in which I was forced to retreat, the corpse just got up and left? Or if they survived, I must have traumatised them so, for they do not speak of it. Or would you instead say that I also turned them to the dark, and they are still among us? What a deadly vampire I must be, able to fight off three werewolves and turn another into a creature of the night, all at once. Quickly everyone, grab your stakes, for surely it will take everyone to overpower such a deadly adversary as myself.

Your theory has another flaw. The vampires in this town will know it to be false. Even if they do not speak of it, they know who is lying.

Yes, Noble Cheater, you are correct. Another possibility is that vanishing has something to do with vampires. One flaw with this theory though is that on the first night, there seems to have been a vampire strike and a vanishing. That makes it less likely in my mind, but doesn't rule it out.

And yes, we must all remain wary. Even if circumstances do suggest my innocence, they do no prove it. There are ways to do that, however, should there be someone who wishes to know for sure.

Thankyou for your compliments. Had I not become a butcher, I would have liked to have become a minstrel.

Oh, and increpare. Since there was some confusion with your comments, could you re-speak them so that I may know with certainty what you had to say? Whilst it is good to see you back, your impromptu trip away and tales of tentacled beasts and mysterious saviours does warrant some consideration. And since my name was spoken more than once, I would like to be certain of that which you say.

increpare, I am a butcher, not a baker. I don't recall speaking those words, nor did I talk of having a dream, nor of dropping a note. Do you stand by those words or did you make a mistake?

Good Cheater, my ability to fight off werewolves does not prove my innocence for certain. There are other explanations, consider two: I could have lied entirely and somehow smashed out my back wall and strewn rubble to fool you; or I could even be a vampire who is too powerful to destroy at night. There are others. I think my innocence is a fair explanation, but it is not the only one.

The lack of visible vampire attack is interesting. Perhaps they also seek to visit me in my sleep, but the werewolf attack had already happened and I was already gone. Perhaps something happened that we cannot see. Perhaps it is related to increpare, or perhaps somehow to the "construction work" on Mitchard's building. Or perhaps they waited, to confuse us all.

cyber95, do not fear, I am not concerned for my safety in the day, so your level of suspicion toward me is not of concern to me. The innocent are unlikely to vote for me, and the dark forces will likely choose not to for the suspicion it would cause. Of course, I do still fear the dark, as there is no doubt a way to harm me if I am not appropriately prepared.

And yes, you didn't say you were planning to vote between us, I was mistaken..

It would not hurt to break into song again today, if you can stand my voice.

cyber95, you are undecided between Melly and I, despite an unsuccessful attempt on my life, and some blatantly flawed logic on the part of Melly? How do you explain this?

I should also point out that Melly said "You accuse me because you were attacked". I never said this was the reason at all. I said it was because a few folk in this town have taken poorly to my suspicion to him. The extrapolation that it was as a result of the attack on me was entirely Melly's construction. Consider why.

Alas noble Cheater, I could not say for sure. I did not see them armed with such gauntlets, but it all happened so fast that I cannot say for sure.

It seems increpare is back, and disoriented. Perhaps something has been done to him- I hope he has not been changed.

Ah, caring Melly, you wish me to come up with further reasons, beyond that which I already gave? Very well, I aim to please.

There is nothing noble about having been fast off the mark to accuse a werewolf who was already fingered by our resident ghost. You ask why would you do that if you were one of them? Because they were at risk of condemnation already, and it would not harm you to make the accusation. I care not who did not vote to further condemn a condemned man, nor will your attempt to distract me work.

These facts are not difficult to discern, and your not mentioning so has cleared up the remaining doubts I may have had as to your guilt. My vote for you will remain unchanged, Melly, short of some incredible revelation this day.

[Melly]

It seems that I was visited in the night. The events of the night proceeded so fast that my recollection may be a little hazy, but if I recall correctly, it went something like this:

Having been unable to sleep, I instead waited at the counter of my store. Besides I was anticipating that I may have visitors that night. Suddenly the door burst open, and three, growling, snarling, and salivating werewolves entered my store. "Good evening, gentlefolk", I recall saying, "can I interest you in a selection of my finest meat?". They would seem in agreement with me, as they immediately advanced toward me, having already selected the freshest meat in the store.

The next few moments were a blur. I made my battlecry, and with a graceful flip I dived toward them, a cleavers in hand, knives on my belt, and fire in my eyes. There are few faster and deadlier than myself with my cleavers, and a fine lesson was taught to those creatures of the night. The next few moments were a flash of blade and claw in a frantic struggle that could only have one outcome.

I was, sadly, outnumbered. Realising I could not prevail, I bravely deflected their attacks and fought my way to the rear of my store. Diving out the door, I was followed by my ravenous foes, who even burst through the walls of my store in their foul rage to slay me. The dark horrors would not relent, and the battle continued through the night, as I fought and flung knifes and anything I had at hand at my adversaries. I even managed to cut one of the foul beasts. Having momentarily stunned my foes, I took the opportunity to make a hasty retreat, and that is why I stand here this morning.

It would seem, that appropriately prepared, I am a little more difficult to silence than our dark foes would prefer. Be aware, dark horrors, that there is still one amongst us who can resist you.

Alas I did not get a good look at their faces but had I done so, this I would have shared with you. I will point out, however, that exactly three wolves were there at the time of my encounter.

I will waste little time today. It seems that a few folk in this town have taken poorly to my suspicions toward Melly and jstckr. I shall suggest that it may be time for Melly to leave us. So let us see where the accusations do fall today, shall we?

I had thought that Mitchard had best take something for his cough, but I was thinking more along the lines of medicine, rather than artillery shells.

[battlerager]

Very well, if battlerager has nothing to say, I'll take the word of a ghost over no word at all.

I retract my vote for Melly. battlerager it is.

Well, everyone seems very trusting of the words of a spectre.

I for one would like to hear what battlerager has to say for himself.

I hate to interrupt your regularly scheduled bandwagon but...

Suddenly, Garthy the butcher picks up an instrument, and breaks into song...

In a simple town
A town of charm
A town I hope for still.

With five main streets
Well, more or less
The town known as Killville.

Alas...

A pause, and then the beat picks up

Werewolves they stalk
us through the night
Our lives they'll surely take;

Unless the vampires
Do get us first
Oh crap where is my stake?

But please of course
Do keep your head,
For that is what they say;

Unlike ex-con
Nitro Crate
Who lost it anyway.

Messengers who
Can leave the town
For reasons we don't know;

And increpare
who just vanished
Oh my where did he go?

Items some craft
But you might die
If you were to then accept.

In our first day
Four died at once
All pure! We're so inept.

The judge and mayor
Can choose to send
One on a task to save.

Spectral voices
And guardians
Revelations from the grave.

Ninjas and
A healer too
Skills are all I see;

Yet Here I am
Damn you Xion
Where's my ability?

The beat slows down

But there is a foe
This simple man
With valour could defeat.

The town's only hope
If under threat
From flying slabs of meat!

Garthy the butcher bows

EDIT: Swapped a verse, and changed "chunks" to "slabs" for reasons that were not obvious to me initially.

0rel, your analogy-fu is strong.

I would not try to build a skyrise with my hands but I can certainly spend my time creating the nicest room in the city.

To continue with your analogy, I have biked to the next city, more than once, and on more than one bike. I've made that trip, and had that experience. I've even built my own bike for the journey. Yes, sometimes it is about that journey, but after the first trip, sometimes it is more what you do when you reach your destination.

In my time I have looked up in the sky at those huge planes passing me overhead, and wondered what it would be like to fly in one. And in planning my next trip, I have swung by the airport to check them out. Minutes after arriving, I stand there, marveling at the beautiful planes, gracefully taking off and landing with mesmerising synchronicity.

Until one slams into the terminal.

And on that note, I think I should depart for the day.

I know I should keep quiet, for with two votes to my name, my silence would be most wise. But I cannot help but wonder why Mitchard has, all of a sudden, contracted both a cold and three people looking to make this night his last?

I should probably add another comment, this one slightly motivated by a desire to save my own neck. Remember, voting isn't an unpopularity competition. The second prize is the same as the third, which is the same as the last, it's only the first prize that has special meaning. So if you don't think the first person should depart this mortal coil, you might want to shift your vote around to ensure that they don't.

The last thing we want is for another bunch of people to say "Whoops, I accidentally lynched an innocent. Again! My bad!". After a while, it gets less convincing. Besides, we've seen what happens when the innocent are driven to the other side- they become very vengeful spirits.

Thanks for those.

Darwinia and Mr Robot, for both, were they internally-developed engines? I seem to remember some talk in each case that suggests that. Whoever corrects me first for being completely wrong about that, please be gentle. I'm also not sure- was the Mr Robot one 3D? It's been a while since I've played, and IIRC they might have been able to get away without- much as Head Over Heels did. Again, I am almost certainly completely wrong- please correct me if you know.

Assuming I'm not full-of-it on the engines: I think Introversion and Moonpod outnumber me by a factor of three or so. But they're still not huge, and they managed to do it, so perhaps it is attainable. It would be interesting to know if they plan to stick with their engines, or plan to use someone elses next time.

Had to search for Toribash as I have no idea at all what it uses (played, yes, details of engine, not known), though some posts suggest they are looking to improve it, which suggests own-design.

I'd never heard of Armadillo Run (sorry). After a quick squiz at the page, I fear I may need to "test" the capabilities of the engine.

Haven't heard of "Penumbra", and Google shows at least two products, so I'm not sure which one to check out.

As for an $8k engine... out of budget, out of budget!

Regarding rattling off completed 3D commercial indie games, there's MDickie's games (http://mdickie.com), which were made in BlitzBasic or Blitz3D or something, and there's Darwinia and Armadillo Run. There's also that game about a rabbit -- Lugaru or something? And Toribash. Those are all pretty good, and fairly commercially successful. There are probably many more that Derek Yu or Tim W could name, if you ask them, they're far more familiar with indie games than I am.

Ah, there were a lot of them I forgot about. Mr. Robot is a big one, and Penumbra.

do know that The Graveyard uses Unity, although I suspect that its sales (at $5 each) didn't make back the cost of that engine (which is around $8000?).

That is brilliant!

Holy crap, right under my nose too. Thankyou.

I just had the most brilliant idea:

http://db.tigsource.com/browse?genre=&platform=&max-price=&release=&min-rating=&developer=&publisher=&engine=&language=&tag=3d&sort_by=name&sort_dir=asc