Patreon Build Poll: Bonus Level!

Since December is quickly approaching, that also means that it's about time I started work on the bonus level for the patreon build scheduled for that month. However, I can't really decide on what mechanic to focus on... so here's a poll instead! I'll break down what each option means, and the development effort required to execute on it.

• Rising platforms
  • When I was working on Dark Descent, the level that features falling platforms, one of the “twists” I wanted to present later in the level was rising platforms. So I wound up designing about a dozen rooms, only to realize that the level was now too long… so I cut the rising platforms rooms.
  • Creating this bonus level would require the least effort, since the mechanics are already complete and the rooms have already been playtested a fair amount. This would also mean that a bonus level centered around rising platforms would be longer than a bonus level centered around any other mechanic in the poll.
• Water
  • Right now, I’m a little unsure of how water would fit in with other mechanics, or what role it would play in a full-length level. Since the mechanic is mostly complete (it’s just missing a few visual and sound effects), it’s ripe for a bonus level.
  • I’m not sure how many interesting rooms I could make from water alone, but I’ll do my best!
• Drilling
  • Drilling is present in the hub and the title screen for the demo, but the mechanic has no tutorial and is currently not present in any full-length levels. While I do have a few rooms designed with drilling in mind, they haven’t been thoroughly playtested and aren’t that interesting; I would have to design new rooms.
  • However, I am a bit hesitant with a bonus level focused on drilling since I plan on making it one of Dark Descent’s major mechanics in a later revision. I might end up moving these drill-focused rooms into that level later on.
• Cannons
  • Like with water, I’m a little unsure of how cannons would fit into a larger level- but the mechanic is mostly complete. There’s also quite a few playtested rooms designed around cannons already, so this has potential for a longer bonus level.
• Toxic gas
  • As it turns out, the factory level I’m working on is a little too long- and I need to cut out some of the rooms in the beginning that focus on the toxic gas mechanic. A bonus level would be a pretty good place to put them!
  • Working on this bonus level would also mean finishing the toxic gas effects, of course. No more placeholder green water shader!

As a final note, this bonus level would follow a fairly similar format to the two other bonus levels: abstract visuals, somewhat higher difficulty, emphasis on a single mechanic, and few or no bottlecaps. Also, options that aren't voted on are likely to return in future bonus level polls.