Indie That Which Rises [Grimdark fantasy x Cosmic Horror]

[Tyranicon]

We're going into full development! The project will also hopefully raise some funds for my other project, Vampire Syndicate.

Here's some more screenshots.

 

[perfectslumbers]

I like the current artstyle a lot, much more than the old one. Hope the project works out

 

[santino27]

Not a fan of the new art style at all, so I'll be on the fence with this one. Nothing about cartoony pixel shit screams grimdark to me.

 

[Jaesun]

This is just completely gorgeous! Kudos to whoever that artist is. Good luck on your project, at least the setting is a least interesting and different.

 

[Lord_Potato]

This looks very nice! Great use of pixel art.

 

[jaekl]

Ok but how am i supposed to jerk off to this??

 

[Tyranicon]

Not a fan of the new art style at all, so I'll be on the fence with this one. Nothing about cartoony pixel shit screams grimdark to me.

Yeah, I get the disappointment. After all, I have switched from pixel art from Memoirs to 3d renders in Vampire Syndicate specifically for the more mature look.

However, in this project we went back to the older pixel art style because it's vastly cheaper and faster to use, which is important since this game will have a much shorter development time.

As opposed to Vampire Syndicate, which will have time-consuming custom work.

Ok but how am i supposed to jerk off to this??

There'll be a free porn DLC. The base game probably won't have any adult content.

 

[Tyranicon]

Currently unsure how many player classes I'll be including in the game. They are simultaneously a set of combat options, the player's background, and a difficulty modifier. They make repeat runs of the game very different and there'll be a fair amount of unique content for them. So they take a good amount of time.

For example, in the above Deathbringer, the player steps into the role of a noble who has dabbled in forbidden martial techniques, will start off with a noble's set of gear and coin, and NPCs in the game will notice you as a noble.

Spoiler

Or a Warlock:

Spoiler

And you can be a peasant, who starts out with almost nothing, not even a real weapon.

 

[Caim]

Will the Peasant class be the challenge mode class since you don't start with anything, or the one you can minmax because you don't spend any levels on attributes you don't use?

 

[Dayyālu]

Yeah, I get the disappointment. After all, I have switched from pixel art from Memoirs to 3d renders in Vampire Syndicate specifically for the more mature look.

However, in this project we went back to the older pixel art style because it's vastly cheaper and faster to use, which is important since this game will have a much shorter development time.

As opposed to Vampire Syndicate, which will have time-consuming custom work.

The pixel art look is fine, I even prefer it to your Vampire Syndicate setup (Vampire reminds me instinctively of cheap 3d games, I know it's not the case but it's a gut feeling). I'd say the only problem is the ambience: it's too bright and clean for a world you're trying to lead into ruin. Blood Omen is flat-out kitsch judged by the parameters of today, but the sense of darkness and foreboding were there, and pixel graphics can manage that, you know it better than me.

So, more grimdark, please!

 

[JamesDixon]

Best of luck. I don't care for modern pixel shit graphics since it fails to live up to old pixel art in the blending department to hide the square edges.

 

[Spectral Pontifex]

When I saw the title of the thread I had to stop for a second and ruminate over whether Tyranicon is behind the famous scam game That Which Sleeps

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Currently unsure how many player classes I'll be including in the game

Add barbarian.

 

[Harthwain]

Currently unsure how many player classes I'll be including in the game

Add barbarian.

I'd also suggest thief/assassin and paladin. These are classic classes in any RPG.

 

[Tyranicon]

Will the Peasant class be the challenge mode class since you don't start with anything, or the one you can minmax because you don't spend any levels on attributes you don't use?

It's a challenge mode class, but one with unique advantages since you're not locked to a specific weapon type like other classes (which is more of a design choice forced by animation limitations).

The pixel art look is fine, I even prefer it to your Vampire Syndicate setup (Vampire reminds me instinctively of cheap 3d games, I know it's not the case but it's a gut feeling). I'd say the only problem is the ambience: it's too bright and clean for a world you're trying to lead into ruin. Blood Omen is flat-out kitsch judged by the parameters of today, but the sense of darkness and foreboding were there, and pixel graphics can manage that, you know it better than me.

So, more grimdark, please!

This is true. Hopefully we'll have it figured out before too long.

When I saw the title of the thread I had to stop for a second and ruminate over whether Tyranicon is behind the famous scam game That Which Sleeps

I picked the title mostly for the boner joke.

Currently unsure how many player classes I'll be including in the game

Add barbarian.

Yes, barbarian is slated to be probably in the second batch of classes we're working on. There actually might be two different barb classes: an axe-wielding Berserker and a Head-Taker with a greatsword.

Currently unsure how many player classes I'll be including in the game

Add barbarian.

I'd also suggest thief/assassin and paladin. These are classic classes in any RPG.

These will also be in the game. But the good path will be its own separate campaign/game. In that one you'll play a knight serving one of the religious orders attempting to purge cultists and evil shit from the country.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

In that one you'll play a knight serving one of the religious orders attempting to purge cultists and evil shit from the country.

Or barbarian bullying all the losers who need the backing of ancient evil to get shit done.

 

[MerchantKing]

So when does this come out Binky? Are there battle prostitutes just like in your previous game? Also this looks more interesting than the vampire game.

 

[Tyranicon]

So when does this come out Binky? Are there battle prostitutes just like in your previous game?

No idea. It's not a long game at all, probably should be around 10 hours. So shorter dev time.

The Courtesan's Guild will show up, but they're not a main focus.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Oh! Who wouldn’t want to start out as a peasant? There be fields to plow and work to be done of all sorts. Please sir, I’d like some more….

……. Peasant content!

GO PEASANTS!
PEASANTS!
PEASANTS!
PEASANTS!

 

[Tyranicon]

Due to a personal pet peeve, I'm adding different fonts to the game. At least three to choose from, including a high-readability one.

I don't think the above pixel font is horrible, but it can be grating on the eyes after a while.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Due to a personal pet peeve, I'm adding different fonts to the game. At least three to choose from, including a high-readability one.

I don't think the above pixel font is horrible, but it can be grating on the eyes after a while.

Yeah, no one cares for boiled fonts eye gratin.

 

[Tyranicon]

I'll also be expanding the party size to 7 unless the engine craps out on me. It's currently holding steady but big fights might be iffy. I did optimize it more since Memoirs so it should be able to handle at least 7x7 fights without too much lag.

There'll be two types of recruit-able units: Troops and Heroes (which are just single-unit troops like the player character and companions). Both are subject to permadeath if the option is enabled.

Troops

Troops are groups of mercenaries, crusaders, cultists, etc. The number of individuals in any given one is abstract. Basically a small squad, more than one but less than 10.

They are not very powerful by themselves but rely on weight of numbers to do their fighting for them. They are also easy to use as they don't have access to the skill trees that actual companions will. And they tend to have higher HP compared to heroes, to reflect that these are masses of fighting men.

Players will be able to hire or recruit these units in a variety of ways.


Heroes

These are strong individual units that can take on multiple opponents at once or other heroes. Anything with a class will belong here, including the player character and companions you recruit.

They generally have lower HP than Troops but will be more dangerous, having access to skill trees and possibly more Action Points than most Troops. They will also be harder to hit as well.

Players will be able to recruit these companions either through reaching 100% trust with them, or capturing them and converting them to the worship of your dark master that way.

 

[Abu Antar]

Can you refill troops? Or is it handled like a single unit.

 

[Tyranicon]

Can you refill troops? Or is it handled like a single unit.

We're debating whether or not to have different HP restoration methods for Troops compared to Heroes. For example heroes can rest to regain health, but it may not make sense for Troops to do that, instead you might have to go to a recruiter to refill their HP. I'm also thinking of having them do less damage when they're wounded...

But in the end it might just be easier and more elegant to treat them like a single unit.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

You know, this almost gave me a flashback to

It had troops as well but they couldn’t be healed as far as I recall. You simple bought replacements. Very disposable.