The End The Beginning - Dungeon Escape Game v4.0.0

The End The Beginning is an immersive text-adventure dungeon escape game built with Java and JavaFX. Players embark on a perilous journey through a mysterious dungeon, battling monsters, collecting items, and progressing through 50 challenging levels to achieve freedom.

Current Version: 4.0.0 (Advanced Combat Edition)
Developer: Abdul Fornah
Framework: Pure JavaFX 20 (Java 17+)

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What's New in v4.0.0

Enhanced UI & UX

• Improved Window Sizing - Optimized 950x750 resolution with better component spacing
• Updated Version Display - Consistent v4.0.0 branding throughout the game
• Better Text Area - Increased display area (450px height) for improved readability
• Refined Input Field - Larger input area (600px) with helpful prompt text

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Ctrl+S - Quick Save your progress anytime
• Ctrl+L - Quick Load your saved game
• F1 - Show help and keyboard shortcuts
• 1-6 Keys - Quick combat actions during battles
  • 1: Normal Attack
  • 2: Defend
  • 3: Heavy Attack (costs mana)
  • 4: Quick Attack
  • 5: Use Item
  • 6: Attempt to Run

Audio System Framework

• Copyright-Free Music Integration - Complete framework for background music and sound effects
• Audio Attribution Guide - Comprehensive guide for adding copyright-free music
• Ready for Audio Files - Pre-configured directories and documentation for easy audio integration
• See MUSIC_ATTRIBUTION.md for details

Previous Features (v3.1.0)

• Auto-Save & Quick-Load - Progress auto-saved after key events
• In-Game Settings Panel - Configure text speed, high-contrast mode, and confirmations
• Inventory Quick-Use - Type use <item> to quickly use items during gameplay
• Contextual Hints - Helpful hints appear after 3 invalid inputs in the same state
• Difficulty Preview - See exact multipliers and bonuses before confirming difficulty

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Game Features

• Epic 50-Level Dungeon - Navigate through 50 increasingly challenging levels
• Three Character Classes - Warrior, Mage, or Rogue with unique abilities
• Advanced Combat System - Multiple attack types with strategic options
• Automatic Saves - Progress saved automatically
• Keyboard Shortcuts - Quick access to common actions
• Dynamic Monster System - Face diverse enemies with scaling difficulty
• Inventory Management - Collect and use items
• Achievement System - Unlock achievements for milestones
• Audio-Ready Framework - Add your own copyright-free music and sounds

Character Classes

Warrior - High health and defense (120 HP, 15 ATK, 8 DEF)
Mage - High attack power, bonus XP (80 HP, 25 ATK, 3 DEF)
Rogue - Balanced stats, critical hits (100 HP, 20 ATK, 5 DEF)

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Getting Started

System Requirements

• Java 17+ (required)
• JavaFX 20 (included via Maven)
• 512MB RAM minimum
• No FXGL required - Pure JavaFX

Quick Start

Build & Run (Maven - Recommended)

git clone https://github.com/Apexone11/TheEndOfTheBeginning.git
cd TheEndOfTheBeginning/TheEndTheBeginning
mvn clean javafx:run

Build & Run (Alternative)

# Compile the project
mvn clean compile

# Run the game
mvn javafx:run

# Package as JAR
mvn clean package

Controls / Commands

Keyboard Shortcuts (NEW in v4.0.0!)

• Ctrl+S - Quick Save your progress
• Ctrl+L - Quick Load saved game
• F1 - Show help and keyboard shortcuts guide
• 1-6 - Quick combat actions (during battle)
  • 1: Normal Attack
  • 2: Defend
  • 3: Heavy Attack
  • 4: Quick Attack
  • 5: Use Item
  • 6: Run Away

Game Commands

• Numbered choices - Enter 1, 2, 3, etc. for menu options
• Quick-Use Items - Type use <item> (e.g., use potion) anytime during gameplay
• Settings - Accessible from game menu
• Navigation - Follow on-screen prompts

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How to Play

1. Click "Start New Game"
2. Choose to LOAD saved game or start NEW
3. Select character class (Warrior/Mage/Rogue)
4. Choose difficulty (with preview!)
5. Explore, fight, and survive 50 floors!

Gameplay Tips

• Press F1 anytime for help and keyboard shortcuts
• Use Ctrl+S frequently to save your progress
• Type use potion anytime to quickly use items
• Your progress auto-saves after rooms and combat
• Enable high-contrast mode in settings for better visibility
• Watch for contextual hints if you're stuck
• Number keys (1-6) provide quick combat actions during battles

Saves & Config

• Saves: ~/.the-end-the-beginning/saves/
• Config: ~/.the-end-the-beginning/config.properties

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Adding Music & Sound Effects (Optional)

The game includes a complete audio framework ready for copyright-free music and sound effects!

Quick Setup

1. Download copyright-free audio from sources listed in MUSIC_ATTRIBUTION.md
2. Place audio files in the appropriate directories:
   • Music (MP3): TheEndTheBeginning/src/main/resources/audio/music/
   • Sound Effects (WAV): TheEndTheBeginning/src/main/resources/audio/combat/, /ui/, /environment/
3. See the complete guide in MUSIC_ATTRIBUTION.md

Recommended Copyright-Free Sources

• FreePD (https://freepd.com/) - Public Domain music
• Incompetech (https://incompetech.com/) - CC BY 4.0 licensed music
• Freesound (https://freesound.org/) - Sound effects with various CC licenses
• OpenGameArt (https://opengameart.org/) - Game audio resources

Note: The game works perfectly without audio files - they're optional enhancements!

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Documentation

• CHANGELOG.md - Version history and updates
• RELEASE_NOTES.md - Detailed release information
• TODO.md - Tasks, bugs, and feature roadmap
• MUSIC_ATTRIBUTION.md - Audio licensing and attribution guide

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Credits

Developer: Abdul Fornah
Framework: JavaFX 20 with Java 17+

Thank you for playing!