Summary of "Monk Took Book - Always Judge A Book By Its Cover"
What the game is
You play a monk-librarian on Monastery Island whose job is to receive, organize, and protect a growing library. The game uses a day/night loop:
- Daytime: sort and shelve incoming books, expand shelves and rooms, restore damaged books.
- Nighttime: patrons request books under a timer; you must fetch and deliver them quickly to earn “blessings” (currency). Enemies appear at night (rats, skeletons, spiders, archers) and can damage books and you.
Supports single-player and is designed for cooperative multiplayer (players can split roles). The demo shown is an early build and has no release date.
Storyline / setup
- You are a non-reading monk forced to judge books by their covers — using symbols, color bands, size, and condition to identify them.
- Libraries expand by spending blessings to build shelving, open new rooms, and buy gear from a monastery shop.
- The demo ends without a release date and demonstrates both single-player and coop design (host/join menu is shown).
Gameplay highlights
Day / Night cycle
- Day
- Collect books from the dock.
- Sort by cover symbol, size, quality, and theme.
- Build and arrange shelving.
- Restore damaged books at the shop.
- Night
- Customers request specific books; deliver quickly to earn blessings and bonuses for efficiency.
- Enemies appear and can damage books or the player.
How books are identified
- Books are recognized only by cover art, color/quality bands (gold, blue, used), size, and condition.
- Categories must be inferred from covers: practical, intellectual, religious, zoology, magic, shapes, etc.
- Book condition matters — rats and some enemies can nibble or damage books. Restorations increase book value.
Inventory and equipment
- Carry capacity is limited (books vs items). Torches and weapons occupy item slots and can reduce how many books you can hold.
- Torches can be placed on sconces to free hands while keeping areas lit.
- The shop sells gear (dagger, cross, etc.); certain enemies require specific items (e.g., a cross for ghosts).
Shelving mechanics
- Shelving units have limited space and accommodate different book sizes.
- Carpentry/upgrades increase maximum shelf height and storage.
- Placement affects night-run efficiency — keep frequently requested/practical books near exits.
Strategies & key tips (from the playthrough)
Organization
- Create clear, consistent sections (practical, intellectual, religious, magic, zoology, etc.).
- Order books by quality — place the best/most valuable copies in predictable positions (for example, leftmost).
- Put frequently requested practical books near the door to reduce run time.
Protecting books
- Keep books off the floor and on tables/shelves to avoid rat damage.
- Restore high-value or damaged books when affordable.
Combat & survival
- Avoid unnecessary fights. If engaged, block first, then attack — blocking is important.
- Use torches to see at night and place them in sconces to free hands.
- In multiplayer, assign roles: defenders protect while others fetch and deliver.
Expansion & economy
- Spend blessings to expand shelving and rooms when storage limits become a problem, but balance this against buying weapons and restorations.
- Prioritize carpentry/shelf upgrades as the library grows to avoid clutter and loss to rats.
Practical run tips
- Memorize shelf placement by symbol and your chosen ordering system (theme + quality).
- Use trays or tables to hold overflow temporarily.
- When filling requests, grab books predictably (for example, best-first when value matters).
Demo / mode notes
- Version shown was a demo / early build; no release date yet.
- Single-player supported; game is designed with cooperative multiplayer in mind.
Featured source: Many A True Nerd — John (host and playtester in the video)
Category
Gaming
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