#rpg in development

[willows-unnamed-rpg]

Post 1) Overall idea - turn based pirate rpg/ttrpg system

TLDR: I am working on a ttrpg system as a basis for a turn based rpg that is magic, piracy, and exploration. A focus on wealth and growth plus a vast world (hopefully). I am inspired by alot of things, mainly horror and pirate media, so the intent is a more darker setting

Ok onto the post :)

I figured if I actually want to get this bloody game in production I might as well start with a long post detailing some initial thoughts with some hope of any amount of actual engagement (doubtful that is). This thing has lived in my brain for weeks now and it has officially kept me up at night now. Figured I should post something out into the world. Now I guess I should have some form of organizing

Why a turn based rpg

Honestly, it's what I love. I grew up playing RPGs and I love table top RPGs. I figured it was this or action rpg and I don't want an action rpg. Granted it might fit the genre more but also I'm the one making it the thing so I get to call the shots (until someone else hops in if I ever get someone else)

I also Game Master several table top games currently so I have an understanding of combat flow and narrative, I am just used to others adding to the story rather than it being all me (since ttrpgs are inherently collaborative works)

I have some ideas for the system, something I want to go into detail when I am less sleep deprived, but in short I want it to be classless but still guiding the player to general play styles, like mage or tank. I know pirates and magic, but the whole magical dungeon diving fits exploring ancient ruins for money (plus casting a big old fireball at a ship sounds cool as hell).

So a custom rpg system?

Yes. Like I want it to work on its own as a standalone ttrpg system. Since I should be able to make it translate well into a video game. I mean that's the hope. I won't be the first person to do this (look at all the d&d games from the 1980s on dos to BG3, it works)

The idea as said above is classless with point buying perks (kinda like fallout). Unsure if I want it to be a d20 system but I am absolutely going for high roll is better since low roll systems hurt my head (looking at 2e dnd, had to learn it for some dos d&d games and it took a bit of getting used to). But it's all subjected to change since it's literally this post and my brain

Pirates?

You bet. Look, the only good pirate games are Assassin Creed: Black Flag and Sea of Thieves and both are subjective. Of course the big problem here comes from the question of how much time do we put into ship combat to make it fluid. Especially with turn based rpg combat. And I know that will be the challenge. I will not back down from this point. I want ship combat. Even if it's just boarding other vessels. I want fireballs to light gunpowder holds and deal massive damage. I want artificers repairing the ship and manning guns. I want the player to feel at full control and be able to react while making choices that fit into the system. Without it being full on simulation.

As for the player exploration off the boat, that should be easy, like any other RPGs. Of course I have done ttrpg games not video games so I know it will be a pain nonetheless but that's learning and art.

So about that world for exploring

I want that to be it's own post once I nail down the system's mechanics but in short, kinda an Isekai (well not literally, the player isn't from another world, not yet anyway) but all the "Species" (no idea what I want to use for the word) are not native to the world, and so they have been invited over time to explore a long dead universe that they brought in their own beliefs. Does that mean human Christianity mixing with let's say elven nature faith? It's been in my mind as a neat idea but also *yikes* as well. I want to be sure that I consider everything, including cultures who were exploited during the age of sail so I don't propagate more harm. So that will require a lot of research and help from those communities. I also don't want to plop in fantasy races "just because" since they probably won't belong. We tend to see them because Western fantasy is typically "eurocentric", and this game will not be. Pirates were European sure but that ignores so many other groups (Barbary Pirate, Malagasy, South East Asian. Again I need to do more research)

I have tied in my own Mexican culture into my ttrpg games before but that's my own culture and in a small group. This is far larger and I need to give the world the respect it deserves.

What kind of art style?

I am not a very good artist so this one will be in the air until I settle, but I need to grow or get help. I would like something near realism (Honestly like how the Paradox Strategy games tend to do art, EU4 especially since it's the right period of time but again that's eurocentric so who knows)

I can't settle on a style when I haven't even made custom stat blocks for creatures or even know what creatures will be in the game yet. I will say, I love pixel art but I'm aware of exactly how much work it takes to make it wonderful. I have exactly zero skill in most art/drawing and what I do have need work, so best get to doodling to get better

The story?

On my main blog I usually write (though I am bad at posting, let's not make that a habit shall we?) but that doesn't mean I'm good at writing. Writing like drawing is an art, so I need to work on this and get help from others as it warms up. I don't want to disregard writing, it's an rpg, it lives by the narrative.

Other than exploring the world for money, I like the idea of it being focused on either one country or one city. A pirate republic. You could leave on expeditions and come back and those would be arcs. Do everything around town, hang out with companions, romance, and then to move the narrative along we build up to an expedition that changes the republic. Kinda like Dragon Age 2 and Kirkwall (not going into it here since spoilers for the game) but I really like this idea. You can see growth and change and get an impact on the narrative. Obviously this isn't anything new. But it's always a good time

My Inspirations?

That is a hell of a question. I have alot, ranging from Dark Fantasy/Gothic Horror with Ravenloft, Dragon Age, From Software's Library, Lovecraft's work (he isn't gothic horror I know, Eldritch is different but also water monsters in a ocean setting hits good) to pirate media with One Piece, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies and the actual historical pirates I know.

And Obviously with any game, Lord of the Rings and System Shock 2 despite how far apart both are and possibly irrelevant they are.

I don't have any current "required reading" minus The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings (and maybe The Dunwitch Horror?)

I guess my inspirations lead me to a darker world, which fits real pirates well

[mirrutatep]

Large set of tropical fruits from neopets!

[prokopetz]

I think one of the virtues of games as an art form is that with most mediums, those endless hobby projects you spend decades of your life tinkering with with no particular finished state in mind are obliged to be private affairs, but with games you can share your work and confuse the hell out of people any time you want.

[zynclori]

I’m on a roll for art this year so have some OCs I made for my uni assignment where I create a fake trailer about a pirate/farming sim rpg. From top to bottom we have Mimur Wisp, Theseus and Elma, with the last image showing some chibi Elmas and UI designs.

[witchmarsh]

🔥 Wishlist on Steam. 🔥

[yumykon]

"Ah… it wasn’t gonna be that easy, huh?"

Enigma of Fear is a horror and mystery game by the Brazilian game studio Dumativa. For horror and mystery fans like me, is a real treat, full with puzzles, investigation mechanics and a intriguing story

Wishlist it on Steam! - 11/28/24

[galgopix]

DOWNLOAD THE DEMO FOR MY AWESOME GAME HEREEEEE!!!

That's right!! FINALLY, the demo is officially live!

Opus Torrentia is a surreal exploration RPG with inspiration from the classics such as Earthbound and Yume Nikki. (it’s an RPGmaker game, what do you want from me?) It has strange environments, curious characters, fun abilities, puzzles, minigames and secretssss!

The demo is testing at about 45mins - an hour to finish. Please check it out and let me know what you think!!!

Or else...........................................................

[redclovercasefiles]

Welcome to the Seance Soiree!

Freshly minted occult auditor John Tsukimori receives a strange invitation to where his like isn’t wanted: the Seance Soirée, an event hosting some of the biggest stars in spiritualism. Surely it's some kind of mistake, but John's free, and his sister, Julia, is out of school for the summer. Who knows? Might be fun... ...Until a real murder disrupts the morbid circus! John must now push past the smoke and mirrors of professional psychics to prove the killer is among them, and not the great beyond. Time to get to work, Detective.

The Red Clover Casefiles: Seance Soireê is a 2D visual novel where you will be tasked with navigating a murder-mystery, investigating locales, interrogating a collection of intriguing characters, and evaluate all you learn to name the real killer. 

Or killers.

Support us on Kickstarter! • Linktree

[akabaka-dev]

help i'm a victim

[journey-to-the-attic]

happy fnaf movie (uk) release day!

[naaattie]

Party on Hallow Grove is OUT NOW! Available now on Steam, Itch.io and Gamejolt! Thank you so much to everyone who's followed development, and those who played the demo. I hope you enjoy this spooky, fun, whacky adventure game.

Happy halloween!

[urlknight]

Having a silly little conversation

[mirrutatep]

Turn based strategy icons 32px (Set #1)

Tell me your favorite!

twitter ♦ prints ♦ tip jar

[prokopetz]

"RPG Maker lets you create games without knowing how to program!" is both technically a true statement and a trap.

[notoh-dev]

Working on sprites is one of my favorite parts of development!

[mushroomwitchgames]

COMING NOV 22 - CATS KNOW THINGS

CATS KNOW THINGS is a light-hearted game meant to tell a humorous story of intrigue, all while pretending to be a very nosy cat. 

But you are no ordinary cat.

You are a very special feline who, through some magic you cannot explain, can communicate with your human, an individual who wishes to make their mark in society by any means necessary. The two of you decide to start a society page, (a very fancy type of tabloid newspaper dedicated to a particular location) revealing the glitz, glamour, and inner turmoil of the town’s most notable individuals. 

As the cat you will travel across town, using your stealth and wiles to listen in on the most intimate conversations and encounters. At the end of the day you return to your human to relay to them all the town’s salacious gossip for the society page. The goal is to prepare 6-8 items for the newspaper before your human sends them to the presses for the week.

CATS KNOW THINGS will be available on our Itch.io store at 9am PST on November 22!! Please reblog to get the work out! We're really excited to share this game with you!