Since I’m the one writing these journal entries, I should start by saying: hi, I’m Mom. *Waves* While Dad codes, the kids design, and dragons take shape in Blender, I’ll be here telling the story of how this little family project unfolds.
The Quest Begins
Unlike most great quests, ours began on Mom and Dad’s bed one evening. E had “recruited” Dad to help her on her crusade to rebel against what she calls “anti-dragon propaganda” (looking at you Skyrim). And when I say “recruit,” I mean he had no choice but to concede.
Out came the notebooks: Dad’s worn-out spiral bound, E’s sunset-gradient journal, and A’s suspiciously similar one, because if E’s doing something, A is right there too, 150%, no questions asked. Dad had one rule, essentially: if they were really going to do this, it had to be something fun and engaging. Otherwise, the project would curdle faster than the milk in the fridge.
They started tossing around their favorite games and the bits they loved most.
- Minecraft — building and exploring
- Hogwarts Legacy — puzzles and the thrill of wandering the castle
- Stardew Valley — cozy world vibes
- The Legend of Zelda — sheer open-world enchantment
- Dad’s picks: Command & Conquer, Battlefield, Rollercoaster Tycoon, The Sims, Microsoft Flight Simulator
The list grew fast, each idea scribbled into Dad’s notebook or blurted out over the others. It was chaotic and at times incoherent, but Mom, who had been overhearing from her desk in the corner of the room, noticed a common thread linking them all together.
“What if we took the exploration and horse sim concept from Horse Tales Emerald Valley Ranch and twist it into what we thought My Fantastic Ranch was going to be? You could find dragons in the woods, bring them back to your old dragon keep you are fixing up, and tame them.”
Taking that idea further, Dad added, “and what if the dragon keep worked like a tower defense?”