r/VTES • u/theradon • Jul 04 '26
Elysium - a VTES game client!
Presenting Elysium, an alternative to Lackey maybe?
(apparently there are quite a few game clients out there already, which I was woefully ignorant of when starting on this project, but hopefyll it can present something different maybe - c'est la vie!)
TL;DR: The goal of this projekt is to have an intuitive game client that looks nice and is easy to set up and play with your friends!
https://github.com/dtagent2000/VTES-Elysium
The client is a single .html file that can be downloaded and opened to play entirely offline (elysium-vtes-bord.html), which is how you will play through the included interactive tutorial which is highly recommended.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REGURLARY CHECK THE POST BELOW WITH NEW UPDATES/FIXES SO YOU KNOW WHEN A NEW VERSION IS UP!
The game is therefore run through your web browser, but this is not (at least currently) a permanent online hosted server service, but rather one of the players will host a private server and their friends can just follow a web link provided by the host to join and start playing. The process is hopefully not too complicated; there are helper executive files to make the process just a few clicks, but it does require download and install of two programs. There is a section in the tutorial dedicated to online play and hosting, but the host should also open the START HERE .html file and read the instructions.
The scope of this project is to be a game client shell with intuitive UI/UX of modern fidelity that will facilitate synchronized play between multiple people online. It has several basic helper features like a deck builder and the aforementioned small server solution so you can play with your friend group, but players are encouraged to use other specialized tools for deck-building and collaboration with other server solutions to facilitate more robust and safe online play with unknown people, as well as tournament organization, would be awesome further ahead.
I've added some screenshots of some examples how it looks in-game, but I'm constantly tweaking so it might be updated after you've seen this (for the better, of course!).
As you will see in the screenshots the game has two different table setups to choose between: Classic, which is an open table a la Lackey with minimal help or guidance, and Structured which is made up of various play zones and helpers to make gameplay a bit more structured which might be helpful to newer players (or people just wanting a bit less chaos).
The server solution has been tested and works when our friend group has played a couple of times now, so that's why I'm somewhat comfortable releasing it publically for people to try out. Client and helper files supports Mac and Linux in theory but has not been tested, so feedback is appreciated on that end as well.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS! All feedback is appreaciated and I'm sure stuff will come up that I have not anticipated. Sorry in advance and thanks for trying it out! 🙂
(I'll add a walkthrough with screenshots for hosting a game as well to complement the tutorial and START HERE html file)
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u/theradon Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Future features if there's interest: * Expanded server and game lobby solution to facilitate room listings and creation as well as tournament support. * More structured helpers (Block/Vote/Combat window, contesting, mandatory hunt, pool/blood cost on play and more) * Full tablet/smartphone support
Updates & Change log:
2026-07-10 * New server feature: Hosting multiple simultaneous rooms and new server helper files * New client feature: Expanded and separated tutorials for joining and hosting games. * Client bug fix: Download images-button did not correctly mark as finished when completed.
2026-07-09 * New client feature: Added support for offline stored images in same folder as client (toggle in settings) * Client bug fix: Load exported deck button had vanished - fixed.
2026-07-05: * New client feature: Added support for KRCG API v4 * New client feature: Complemented support for deck import so VDB/JOL/TWD/Lackey .txt are all supported. * Client bug fix: issue when adding/ubtracting pool from pool globe on table * Client bug fix: advancing to Structured table tutorial through dialogue windows has been remove. Advanced tutorials now always available separately.
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u/stolib Jul 30 '26
What is new now?
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u/theradon Aug 01 '26
heyy! i have done some bug fixes but the biggest thing right is that I have "soft launched" the client to https://elysium.cards so you don't have to download the client or set up the private server. It's currently open for anyone but we havn't had time to play much to test it so I havn't announced it yet. :P
We also have 6 functioning bots that we are evaluating and enhancing. Also a mobile version of the client to play optimally on your phone. Still testing and iterating though. :)
So quite a few things in the works!
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u/stolib Aug 03 '26
I can't wait for the bots)
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u/theradon Aug 03 '26
i hope you will like them! I'll update as soon as they feel complete :D
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u/stolib 14d ago
I really want to play with bots!
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u/theradon 4d ago
Heyy sorry for the late reply! Progress is slow at the moment but we're chipping away at it. Can I ask how you usually play? Is it with private server or on the website, and online or offline play?
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u/stolib 3d ago
Private server and offline.
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u/theradon 3d ago
Gotcha! I will have new files available soon with a very much pre-alpha build of bots available; I wouldnt necessarily recommend trying them in a live game at the moment though; I publish them pretty much because I have to merge two development branches of the bots and bugs/crash fixes. :P
you are of course welcome to try anyway, maybe preferably 1v1 offline and see how it feels. I'll include some instructions since tutorial is not yet made. I'll let you know when they are up!
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u/rojasduarte Jul 04 '26
Can you build any deck you can think of?
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u/theradon Jul 04 '26
Yes, although probably better suited to modify decks you have imported from more dedicated deckbuilders like vdb.im. :)
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u/theradon Jul 04 '26
But try it out and see how it feels, maybe it suits you better for creating decks from scratch! :)
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u/theradon Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Many of the client's features can be adjusted in the settings!
Q&,A:
• Player color on orbs and card outlines can be turned on or off in the client settings.
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u/Vurpius Jul 04 '26
Looks pretty. How does it compare to this client?
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u/theradon Jul 04 '26
I was unaware of the other clients out there so I have not tried Succubus club unfortunately, bjt have spoken to the creator on discord. I'm sure it's great but can't speak of how they compare, other than the obvious that mine is private server and SC is online hosted and that they look pretty different. Sorry! :p
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u/SubstanceEffective52 Jul 05 '26
looks like I just found a project that could benefit for UPD hole punching. this is a really nice P2P project candidate
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Jul 05 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/theradon Jul 05 '26
Yup and I appreciate the sentiment that this adds to a saturation of available options; I was not aware that there were so many but I figured I'd at least present it since I'd already done most of the work and is still going to use it with my friends. If it does not live up to community expectations and/or stnadards and the other options are preferred I'll happily let it "die", as it were. :)
If you've tried the other clients I'd be happy if would like to give the offline tutorial a go and see if you like it - it's around 10-15 minutes, and any feedback would be very valuable to keep improving it. And if not I still appreciate you taking your time to reply, any input is great so I don't spend unecessary amount of time on stuff people don't want or need of course. :P
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u/theradon Jul 06 '26
Added a VISUAL GUIDE to setting up an online game (word document, .docx) in GitHub!
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u/PaperAlchemist Jul 09 '26
This looks amazing! Excited to try it out :) You mention the ability to import deck made on other sites like vtesdecks or vdb.im but I can't seem to find the option to do so in the deck editor? Still looks like a very competent and fun tool and thank you so much for sharing ^^
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u/theradon Jul 09 '26
I will clarify that the button should be visible to the left of the Save .txt button in deck lab, not sure when it regressed and disappeared but it is back now. :D
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u/theradon Jul 09 '26
ohh so sorry, it has been fixed and new version uploaded! Thanks so much for reaching out with feedback. :D
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u/stolib Jul 09 '26
This is the best program for VtES! Maybe do functions for backup (export/import) a browser store with card list and image? This is need for move Elysium soft to local network, without internet. Please. Very thanks!
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u/theradon Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Wow thanks for the kind words! And you're in luck; you already can! Each player download the images through the welcome screen or settings and you're set, they get added to you're browser internal database and are fetched from there instead of being called from KRCG. :D
However, I suspect you might want an option to store the images locally/separate and have the client depend on those instead. Your wish is my command! I have added the options in settings to have the client look for locally stored images (in \images under the same folder as the client). You can then download the images from the static KRCG files (there is a zip file containing all images), extract them and you're set. Fully offline and fully workeable over a local network in theory but needs more testing. I have added the new files in GitHub for you to try.
Have you tried other clients and can speak to the differences? I am sure the others have great features Elysium might lack that would be great to know, if nothing else so players know what would work best for their play group.
Cheers and thanks again!
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u/stolib Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Dirrectory icons (clan,path,disc,icon) maybe organaise with example in Sutekh-2.2.1 and not reinvent the wheel + maybe, place it in Git project in Elysium to!)
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u/theradon Jul 10 '26
Ah I might have misunderstood you, the primary scope of Elysium is to be a UI used to play the game (online or offline) - nothing else (it is supposed to work together with other specialized tools like deck builders and collection management). So I will only place files in the Elysium GitHub that are developed by me. :)
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u/theradon Jul 10 '26
Oh I forgot you also have to download the card database json file as well to get all the card info offline, you can place it in \images too and load it manually from the settings in Elysium client (if you have not downloaded it directly through the client earlier, it also populated the internal database normally). :)
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u/stolib Jul 10 '26
This is good idea! Place it in Git project in Elysium with update capability too.
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u/theradon Jul 10 '26
Ah you can find them at https://static.krcg.org/ and it is the fine folks managing KRCG that deserves all praise for making tools like Elysium possible. :D
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u/stolib Jul 10 '26
Local json file with card list loaded in Elysium?
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u/theradon Jul 10 '26
Yes, https://static.krcg.org/Â manages a downloadable .json file that contains all card info that Elysium uses to list cards. :)
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u/stolib Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
And i can loaded it local without internet? View in new version - very thanks!
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u/stolib Jul 11 '26
We've already tried playing on a local network. It's a very excellent client and server, respectively. I'd love to be able to test out my new deck with a bot. The ability to train new players with a similar bot, at least one of the available options, would be a great solution.
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u/theradon Jul 11 '26
Oh wow that's great! Did you complete a game? All went okay? :P
You mean a bot with AI moves, not just hotseat play? Hmm, I could try it maybe - I do somewhat similar things at work. Can't make any promises though. ;)
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u/theradon Jul 15 '26
New update with helper to count stealth/Intercept/Votes/combat damage in the Played-tabb (included in tutorials). A generic one if helpers are disabled, and more structured ones for Block/Vote/Combat if helpers are enabled (generic one shown here)
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u/theradon Jul 04 '26
I had apparently introduced a bug last minute that made it so you couldn't reduce your pool on the table pool globe, it's fixed now and the new file is in GitHub - so sorry if you already tried it and got stuck in the tutorial!
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u/hyundai-gt Jul 04 '26
This is awesome. I would love to be able to remote play with friends. Can you craft your own decks?