Author: ClassicJ & Editor: CherryBlue

Foreword

In the expansive cosmos of Dark Forest, players find themselves navigating a universe shrouded in mystery and strategy. This isn't just any game; it's a fully onchain experience where every action unfolds within a dark, star-speckled expanse brimming with hidden adversaries and untold secrets. The core of this game lies in its clever use of zero-knowledge proofs, a feature that artfully conceals player movements until they unveil new sectors of the star map. This mechanic ensures that surprises lurk around every nebula, especially when an unsuspected player emerges from the shadows of the cosmos.

Dark Forest is more than a game of simple resources and actions; it's a realm where complexities arise like constellations in the night sky, captivating players who delve into its depths. Engaging in battles, forming alliances, and devising strategies becomes an interstellar ballet, set against the backdrop of a universe where every decision can tip the scales of galactic dominance.

As we embark on this journey, our focus shifts to the myriad of Community Rounds that have punctuated the Dark Forest landscape over the past two years. Orchestrated by various groups, DAOs, and organizations, these rounds have introduced a kaleidoscope of new features, ingenious ideas, and alluring rewards. They are not just events; they are the heartbeats of the Dark Forest community, each round adding a unique twist to the game's fundamental allure. Below, we will explore some of these pivotal rounds, diving into the rich tapestry they have woven into the Dark Forest universe. Please note, this list is comprehensive yet non-exhaustive, as the ever-expanding universe of Dark Forest is always ripe with new discoveries and overlooked treasures.

MarrowDAO’s ‘For Pioneers’ Red vs Blue

In December 2021, the Dark Forest universe witnessed an intriguing twist with the first community-made round; MarrowDAO’s ‘For Pioneers’ Red vs Blue” round. This round was not just a battle for territory and resources but also a clash of the emergent strategies between two predefined enemies: the Red Team and the Blue Team. Adding a extra layer of complexity, unaligned players also roamed the universe, serving as wild cards that both teams had to strategically consider.

What set this round apart from a usual Dark Forest round, was the introduction of “side-quests”, a novel concept that added extra depth to the gameplay. These quests offered a range of rewards, incentivizing players for specific achievements like being the first to broadcast certain planets or maintaining control of key planets until the round's end. These objectives provided players with unique challenges and opportunities, ensuring that the gameplay was about more than just total domination by one team.

The primary goal, however, was the collective effort focused on team scores. Here, players weren't just individual competitors; they were members of a team, striving together to achieve a the highest score. The sense of camaraderie and shared objectives brought forth, to previously solo players and different guilds-alike, an exciting team dynamic. The rewards were not just individualist accolades but a shared bounty, distributed based on each player's contribution to their team’s success.

DFDAO’s Death of the Universe

DFDAO’s Death of the Universe (January 2022)

The fireworks of the new year on 1 January 2022 brought a dramatic and thrilling twist to the Dark Forest universe with DFDAO's 'Death of the Universe' round. In this cosmic challenge, players faced an ever-shrinking universe, a intriguing concept that added a layer of urgency and strategy unseen in previous rounds. As the universe contracted, players found their empires at risk of elimination if they were caught beyond the shrinking boundaries, adding another real-time survival element to their strategic planning.

This round was distinguished by its unique scoring system, divided into three separate rankings to intensify competition and diversify strategies. The first objective harkened back to 'Grape Extra-Small', the third round from Dark Forest v0.6, where players vied to position their empires as close to the center of the universe as possible, constantly weighing the risks of the closing universe, against the risks of moving towards the war-torn center.

The second element built upon a different layer of gameplay: planetary destruction. Players could obliterate planets, and a new leaderboard tracked those who excelled in this (with scores adjusted according to the rarity of the planets destroyed). This feature increased the aggressive, offensive strategy of the game, where players had to balance expansion with tactical warfare and destruction.

Lastly, the round included the classic scoring mechanism familiar to Dark Forest enthusiasts. Players increased their scores by finding artifacts and extracting silver from Spacetime Rips, maintaining the core elements of exploration and resource management that players had grown to love.

The 'Death of the Universe' round was not just a test of survival and expansion; it was a multifaceted challenge that required players to adapt to an ever-changing environment, balance multiple objectives, and outmaneuver opponents in a universe that was literally enveloping them.

Neronzz’s Saturday Team Battles

In the early months of 2022, the Dark Forest universe buzzed with the energy of Neronzz’s Saturday Team Battles. These rounds, marked by their tempo and competitiveness, offered a departure from the usual expansive timelines of a Dark Forest round. Each battle, lasting approximately an hour, condensed the excitement and strategic depth of Dark Forest into a high-octane experience.

Echoing the dynamics of popular MOBAs, these rounds grouped players into teams of four, pitting them against another quartet in a quest for supremacy within a miniature universe. This team-based format not only tested individual prowess but also emphasized the importance of collaborative communication, strategy and synergy.

The implementation of these rounds was made possible by a significant update from the original Dark Forest developers – the introduction of Lobbies. This feature allowed for the creation of custom universes, granting players and organizers unprecedented control over the game’s environment and conditions.

Though these team battles only ran for a few weekends, they left a lasting impact on the dedicated community. They were more than just a series of games; they were a glimpse into the potential future of Dark Forest, hinting at what a structured matchmaking and ELO rating system could bring to its competitive landscape. These battles not only provided exhilarating gameplay but also showcased the evolving nature of the community within the Dark Forest universe.

Wrapping up

As we close the chapter on these first three groundbreaking, experimental rounds of the Dark Forest Community Round saga, we begin to see the contours of a broader narrative emerging. These initial forays – MarrowDAO’s 'For Pioneers' Red vs Blue, DFDAO’s 'Death of the Universe', and Neronzz’s Saturday Team Battles – have each carved out their distinct niche in the Dark Forest lore. They showcased a diverse interpretation of 'winning', from team-based triumphs to survival against the odds, each round redefining victory in its unique way.

Yet, this is just the beginning. Our exploration into the myriad of community rounds of Dark Forest is far from complete. In the upcoming article, we will delve into three more rounds (and even seasons!), each bringing its own flavor of innovation, challenge, and reward. We will continue to uncover the various prizes that have been up for grabs – ranging from cash and NFTs, to communal accolades – and the constant evolution of gameplay that keeps the Dark Forest universe engaging.

These rounds are not just isolated events; they are the building blocks of a continuously evolving game, each contributing to the ever-expanding universe of possibilities within Dark Forest. What new gameplay options have emerged? How have different rounds challenged the conventional notions of strategy and collaboration? Stay tuned for the next installment, where we'll explore these questions and more, further unraveling the rich tapestry of community-driven innovation that defines the Dark Forest experience.

About Dark Forest ARES

We will be hosting Dark Forest ARES v0.1 Round 2 on RedStone soon 😎

We hope to innovate fresh game mechanics while maintaining the original style of Dark Forest.

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We are open to various forms of cooperation and partnership!

If you are interested in Dark Forest ARES, please contract with us asap 🚀🚀🚀