Direction 2 - Last Goblin Camp

This concept shares a lot of similarities with the game as it stands and Direction 1, but relies on the inherent fun of goblins to add a lot of flavor.

Concept:

Build an outpost, amass an army, and ward off adventurers. Mutate and create wild combinations of upgrades.

Goal:

In universe: Protect your camp, swarm any adventurer foolish enough to brave your forest. Take their shinnies and use them to grow in power with offerings to Baan and Bopo

Mechanically: Lean into the infinite nature of the idle game. Upgrade your units to slay stronger adventurers, forever. Number go up

Gameplay:

Build burrows which spawn infinite goblins, merge burrows to create stronger burrows 

Research upgrades, mutate and equip your goblins in a variety of ways.

Chain burrows and other buildings to add equipment and training to your goblins.

Scope:

Infinite rounds, 5-10 enemy unit types, 3-8 building types types, 100 mergeable-upgrades, 30 enemy upgrades

Mechanics:

Use goblin effort points (upgradable) and trinkets (scaled based on adventurers killed) to build burrows and buildings

Research new modifiers

Burrows will have a base mutation when built (similar a basic enemy card in the current alpha)

Merge burrows to create new upgrades from their random mutations

Attach training and equipment buildings to your burrows to further modify the goblins coming from them

Scout upcoming adventurer groups

Watch as your goblins swarm over adventurers

World:

The goblin lands are a treacherous dark forest where goblins used to thrive. You are commander of the last goblin camp. Grow out of control and dominate these lands again.

Characters:

Baan: The demon of greed worshiped by the goblins in days of old. His shrines are where goblins go to pray for shinies, mainly

Bopo: An upstart wood sprite who is driven to protect the forest from humanity. Uneasy alliance, but goblins haven't learned woodworking just yet

Fug: Your main advisor, always willing to praise you for extra trinkets

The Goblin King: Lives in your heart