Dev Blog #2: Companions vs Followers for Project Witchstone.

Greetings Adventurers!

Welcome back to the Dev Blog for Witchstone. In a series of regular posts, we’re gonna dive into the cool features of the game that we’re working on to make it a new kind of RPG experience. The very first one is an interesting addition to a well loved system…

Companions… and Followers!

While having companions to your main character is a long-time staple of many (honestly most!) cRPG’s, we’re using one of the options of the Influence System we’ve built the core mechanics of the game around to give you even more options when it comes to who you can have following you around.

Companions, in the normal sense, will be available to the player at various points and locations around the world. Because the nature of how each playthrough of Witchstone is wildly variable subject to choices the player makes, there will always be variance in which companions you’ll meet along your travels. Among these we plan to have an interesting cast of characters that cover various tactical roles, personalities, and interesting interactions with the world as a whole when they become members of your party. While companions are more likely to stick around through thick and thin, you still need to be aware that they have a mind of their own, and while you do control them directly as a member of the party, their goals and wishes are still there, and their willingness to stick around can be affected by the player’s decision to either address or ignore them.



Where we get to do something new and interesting is the inclusion of the ability to convince NPCs to follow you around by using the Influence System. The method you chose to employ is up to you, be it through persuasion, intimidation, or some other method, but a successful attempt will see that NPC willing to tag along with you for the time being. This NPC is still an independent thinker, unlike the companion members of your party who generally will be yours to control, so you may find yourself in some interesting situations if you have followers along while engaging in something they’re opposed to. The autonomy that all of the NPC’s in the game have still applies to followers you’ve convinced to come along, so you’ll always have to be aware of your actions and the dispositions of anyone you have following the party to avoid (or even encourage) unforeseen outcomes.



One interesting use of the follower system that opens up a lot of possibilities for being able to physically bring NPCs to new locations their AI wouldn’t normally bring them to, but their presence can create emergent events. Want the sheriff to come check out the nearby smuggler’s hideout? If you can convince him to tag along, you can make it happen even if there isn’t a scripted quest that would take the Sheriff there normally. Bringing certain NPCs into areas that create conflict is an obvious use, but on the flip side, inventive use of the follower system may lead to peaceful resolutions that aren’t immediately obvious as well. Programming this level of reactivity into the systems is obviously challenging, but we think it’s an important aspect of the “living word” feel of Witchstone. We hope its inclusion in the wider toolset we’re trying to give players will create more interesting events and effects that step outside the traditional model of RPG design.



If you feel like recruiting every guard you can see so you can run around town in a big gang? Yeah, you can do that too.



….though bringing them all into a restricted area, was probably a bad idea.

If you’re interested in supporting the game right now, adding us to your wishlist goes a long way to help us!

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or anything at all. You can get a hold of the team by following the game on Twitter! https://twitter.com/WitchstoneGame

If you want to be notified when we send out the newsletter with info about the studio, and general updates you can subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/dilhNP

Until next we meet Adventurers!
-The Spearhead Team

Tojodojo reports on the system specs for Yakuza: Like a Dragon which is set to launch November 10th.

• Minimum:
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-3470 | AMD FX-8350
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660, 2 GB | AMD Radeon HD 7870, 2 GB
  • Storage: 40 GB available space
•  Recommended:
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-6700 | AMD Ryzen 5 1400
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, 3 GB | AMD Radeon RX 580, 4 GB
  • Storage: 60 GB available space

Screenrant has reviewed the Early Access version of Sands of Salzaar:

Sands of Salzaar Early Access Review: A Deep and Engrossing Sandbox RPG

Sands of Salzaar is an immersive sandbox RPG, blending elements of Dynasty Warriors, Diablo, Divinity II, and 4X games into something rewarding.

Ambitious sandbox RPGs often come out of left field. It’s a rarefied genre with an invested audience, served by clutches of outrageously devoted developers. That’s the space where Han-Squirrel Studio’s Sands of Salzaar thrives, a Chinese-developed action-oriented sandbox RPG which centers on Middle Eastern culture and folklore, and it touches on everything from the Dynasty Warriors and Diablo franchises to city builders, 4X games, and visual novels. While many facets of the game lack polish or adequate instruction, Sands of Salzaar presents a vibrant and absorbing experience that will hook genre aficionados and newcomers alike.

[...]

There’s a reason the Sands of Salzaar fanbase put in so much unpaid translation modding work prior to this full release: it’s an inspired and engrossing RPG that delivers a fierce value for its modest price. It makes up for an occasional lack of polish with impressive and entertaining depth, and features an excellent soundtrack that somehow doesn’t wear out its welcome 50 hours in. While the game is narrative-complete, Han-Squirrel Studio’s attentive updates thus far means that more content could well be on the horizon, and a spirited mod community will only grow further with this English translation. Anyone wanting to lose themselves in a new sandbox RPG need look no further: Sands of Salzaar is it.

Genshin Impact has been released today:

Genshin Impact is an openworld RPG inspired by the Zelda series

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In a world called Teyvat, certain individuals chosen by the gods are given a Vision — magical gemstones that give their bearers the ability to control an element. The player starts out as a Traveler of unknown origin who is searching for a lost sibling. The player can choose between a male or female version of the Traveler. As the adventure progresses, the player controls several other characters met by the Traveler on their journey, each with unique personalities and special abilities, as they undertake quests to understand the truth about the primordial gods of this world.

The Turn Based Lovers take a look at the upcoming JRPGs:

Top Upcoming JRPG for your PC 2020/2022

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• Echo Generation
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
• Jack Move
• Keylocker
• Kingdoms of the Dump
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
• Wolfstride
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon

The devs behind Visual Novel Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest were interviewed by Gamingbolt about the games setting, themes and choices.

Can you talk to us about the choice and consequence mechanics in Heart of the Forest and how significantly they will affect how the game’s story plays out? Tying the choice and consequence mechanics with character attributes is an interesting concept- how deeply are the two intertwined, and how does the game ensure that choices don’t become transparent as a result?

First of all, we have the main branching paths, some of which get closed with your choices and lead you through the story. But there’s also another layer to this. At any point, your Rage determines how you see the world. The higher your Rage, the stronger your will to act. You are proactive and able to make more confident decisions. But this prevents you from seeing nuances of the world around you. The options you have become more binary. There’s also your personality, which determines the description of places or objects, and which characters follow you or not. Your relations also can change. Your version of Maia can find herself in different places, with different companions at her side, or see everything in a different way.

The game has multiple endings and it will be really hard to achieve the best one.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

@thexboxhub Visual Novel Vampire: The Masquerade – Shadows of New York has been released on PC, Switch, Xbox One and PS4.

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Whether you’re well-versed in the rich universe of Vampire: The Masquerade or a newcomer, it matters not in regards to the latest instalment. Prepare for a political themed horror in the form of Vampire: The Masquerade – Shadows of New York, which has just arrived on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC. Will it be able to satisfy your bloodlust?

Shadows of New York is a visual novel that works as both a standalone expansion of the Vampire: The Masquerade lore and as a complementary piece to the previous title, Coteries of New York. This follow-up proves to be a more personal and unique tale set in the world of the tabletop role-playing game. While the metropolis is familiar to some, Shadows of New York will still offer a fresh perspective as you get to meet new characters and visit new locations.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wccftech reports on a new expansion for Conan Exiles called Isle of Siptah which has been released in Early Access.

What is best in life? Some might say it’s to receive a new expansion to one of your favorite games. If Conan Exiles happens to be that game for you, you’re in luck as Funcom has released the Isle of Siptah, a new expansion that’s exclusively available on Steam Early Access for the time being. This major expansion for Conan Exiles adds in more than a dozen new dungeons, a Maelstrom map, and even a special Wartorn Rhino mount skin for picking up Isle of Siptah while it’s in Early Access.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

An upcoming story mod for The Witcher 2 called The Witcher: Farewell of The White Wolf.

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Good day everyone, today I have a quick video for you about the upcoming Witcher 2 mod called The Witcher Farewell of The White Wolf. One of the biggest story mods ever created for The Witcher.

Thanks Farflame!

The RPG Crawler has reviewed the tactical RPG Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark:

Indie Game Friday - Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark

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COG has reviewed the rogue-lite Star Renegades:

Star Renegades Review – Rogue-Lite Experience that Keeps On Giving

I’ll come right out and say it. Star Renegades is a rogue-lite, run-based game in the style of some gritty Saturday morning cartoon. With that out of the way, you should be good to decide on whether or not this game is for you. However, I’d be remiss to not point out a lot more. In fact, there’s a lot going on with Star Renegades, so if your interest is piqued, let’s dive in.

[...]

Star Renegades is a love letter to tactical RPG fans who have been craving a rogue-lite experience that keeps on giving. While not quite at the mastery of Into the Breach in terms of depth, Star Renegades has enough to be excited about.

The Good

• Fantastic animation and art style
• Quippy dialogue
• Challenging battle system
• Scales from still-learning to full on pilot

The Bad

• Randomization can leave party ill-equipped
• Not a lot of mechanical depth
• Randomization can unfairly spike the difficulty

Score: 85/100

MMORPG reports that Ultima Online celebrates the 23rd anniversary by announcing Ultima Online New Legacy:

Ultima Celebrates 23rd Anniversary By Announcing Ultima Online New Legacy

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Announced during a livestream today, Ultima Online: New Legacy, as well as released a shiny new trailer to celebrate the announcement. The MMO is meant to be a brand new shard, forgoing the current trend of bringing cassic MMOs as they existing at launch to life again in a modern world. 

"We asked a simple question: 'What is your Britannian Legacy?,"' UO designer Greg Havlusch explained during a celebration livestream today. "And trhe response was overwhelming. And what it showed us was, just like us, people who have had a chance to experience Ultima Online have an incredible connection to it: the nostalgia, the friendships [...] You just can't find that anymore. And started thinking and talking about how we can recreate that. And that's where this idea of Ultima Online: New Legacy came from, that is our ultimate goal: to recreate that nostalgia you once felt when you played UO, without having to be bogged down and face the barriers of entry that you would otherwise face trying to get into a gameworld that is 23 years old."

Ultima Online: New Legacy is leaning into creating a place for new players to jump into the MMO, as well as capture the nostalgia returning veterans can feel about jumping back into the world. New Legacy is the first new shard the team has released in 15 years, and will have an all new ruleset aimed at making the experience more intuitive, including changes to skill and gear progression, resource gathering, crafting and more. The New Legacy shard will be available to free-to-play accounts, though no official date for its release has been given just yet. 

[...]

Thanks Lucky Day!

The High Seas Strategy Adventure Sea Legends will be re-released on Steam:

Sea Legends

The year is 1667 and the sea is a dangerous place to be. As you set sail for a commission in Barbados, powers are at work that threaten everything you hold dear. A wayward uncle, betrayal, murder and the gift of a single gold earring – all have their part to play within events bounded by pirate attacks and international disputes.

In this exhilarating blend of role-playing adventure and swashbuckling combat, you must make good use of strategy skills and swordsmanship to solve complex puzzles. Build a fleet strong enough to take on the Spanish armada and wrest control of the seas from the misshapen misfit governing Panama – a man who, with the help of a mystical stone earring, aims to steer the destiny of the New World.

• Fight full-scale ship-to-ship animated 3D battles
• Engage in life-or-death sword fighting duels
• A myriad of strategic puzzles and plot twists to unravel
• Navigate the seas of the Caribbean, trading wares and managing your ship and its crew
• Unique blend of multiple genre, all with the freedom to deviate from the main story for your own adventure

The English EA version of Sands of Salzaar is out now:

Background Story

This is a fantastical tale of an exotic land. The Old Empire which once ruled the desert has fallen, leaving various tribes to fight for control of their world. Little do they know of the seeds of darkness which grow in the shadows with each passing day...

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Game Features

Epic War & Strategy:
Recruit and train your soldiers for both large-scale battles and skirmishes. Customize your hero’s skills to become a martial arts master, powerful archmage, and more. Manage your resources, ally with different factions, and command your troops in real-time to win.

Explore a Dynamic Open World:
Roam across a giant map to encounter various characters, take on quests, explore dungeons for loot, and uncover tons of secrets behind this sprawling desert...

A New Adventure Every Time You Play:
With each playthrough, you become stronger and discover different questlines, using Legacy points to unlock bonus characters, abilities, and rare items.

Full Modding Support:
Shape your own desert adventure with a full set of mod development tools. Discover hundreds of Steam mods already available featuring large-scale campaigns, multiplayer maps, characters, perks, and more!

The classic MMORPG RuneScape will be released on Steam on October 14:

RuneScape

RuneScape is a high fantasy open world MMORPG. Explore an ever changing and evolving living world where new challenges, skills, and quests await. Featuring unprecedented player freedom, you choose how to play, adventure, and grow. 

From ProtoxxGaming:

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Henriquejr spotted this Solasta: Crown of the Magister Q&A:

Ask Us Anything - PAX Q&A Recap

Hey there folks!

This week we're posting a recap of the Q&A that happened during PAX Online last week. Saddle up, because there's a LOT of text coming your way. 

== Character Building ==

Q: You will add some new class post-launch ?

A: Solasta launches in Early Access with the 6 classes available in the Demo, however we have already promised to add the Sorcerer as a free post-launch DLC during our Kickstarter Campaign. 

Ideally, we'd love to have all official SRD classes in Solasta - however we don't want to make any promises. We'll likely be looking at DLCs post-launch to add new classes (depending on how the game performs!). As for the order of release, we'll likely involve the community like we did during the Kickstarter!

Q: Will there be anything like Bladesinger or Eldritch knight?

A: So just to make sure people don't misunderstand - we won't have the Bladesinger or the Eldritch Knight as they are not SRD.

That being said, we do have the Spellblade that is our version of the magic-wielding fighter archetype, and the Greenmage which is a sort of Wizard / Ranger hybrid (vs the Wizard / Fighter that is Bladesinger)

Q: Are you only including content from the core 5e books in terms of class and races, or will you be expanding out to Xanathar's, Tasha's, etc. ?

A: As stated before, we're using D&D SRD 5.1 - we do not have a full D&D license. As such, we can't use any content from Xanathar's or other official D&D sourcebooks. Even taking the Player Handbook, we don't have access to all the archetypes for instance.

Q: Are Half-orcs going to be included?

A: Half-orcs have unfortunately not been confirmed for Solasta! So... maybe post-launch, but maybe never - I don't like to make empty promises, so we'll have to see!

Q: Is multiclassing something you are looking into for the future?

A: This is unlikely, as multiclassing brings in a LOT of bugs and balancing issues (who doesn't know of the Warlock dip when playing a CHA character). That being said, Solasta is a single player game so it's mostly for technical reasons than balancing reasons (it's not like we have a scoreboard or something).

Ideally we want to make more Archetypes / bring more Classes if variety is what is lacking, rather than do multiclassing. But again, we have the philosophy of "never say never" - if the community is behind it, and we find the time and decide to prioritize it, it may be a thing post-launch (but most likely not). 

[...]

Tweaktown reports that ex-Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime has started a new label called Dreamhaven with some ex-Blizzard developers.

Today Blizzard co-founder and ex-CEO Mike Morhaime announced Dreamhaven, an ambitious new publishing label that houses two studios: Moonshot Games and Secret Door. Morhaime and his wife Amy are funding the label themselves, and a number of StarCraft, Warcraft, Hearthstone and Heroes of the Storm vets have joined their ranks.

Morhaime says the main goal with Dreamhaven is to create a positive workplace that fosters creativity and frees developers from crushing crunch and financial pressures. You know, the exact opposite of what mainstream AAA game dev studios like Blizzard face under billion-dollar publisher rule. Dreamhaven is a haven and a beacon of hope in one, a place where devs can come and make their passions come to life without worry of over-monetization and constant obsession on metrics, service updates, and the other rigors of current Blizzard development.

[...]

The Turn Based Lovers have interviewed the Broken Roads devs:

10 Turns Interview with Broken Roads Developers

An old man and a child go together towards the evening. In the distance, the red dust raises above an ill sun.
All around there is nothing, except the gloomy outline of towers of smoke.
While the two are walking, the old man softly speaks and his voice is like a whisper. In his wet eyes slides the images of past myths. He looks afar and tries to follow the faint scent of his memories:
“Imagine this, covered by wheat, imagine the fruits and imagine the flowers, and think of the voices and think of the colors. And on this plain, up to where it gets lost, trees grew and everything was green; the rain fell, the suns marked the rhythm of man and of seasons.”

[...]

1^st Turn) I’m only an old man and he is just a child, but we definitively have to go on this journey! What kind of dangers lies ahead?

That depends on who you ask, wanderer. Monsters of beast and man lurk out beyond Merredin, some scouts say, but even our most experienced surveyors don’t range that far. We hear tell of unseen dangers in the salt lakes, of raiding parties far more savage than even the Bitch Queen’s Mongrels, and Western Australia’s already deadly fauna and savage weather seeing many a barter crew never made it home from the Waystations. You’re brave to take that boy with you. He’ll see things no child ever should.

2^nd Turn) What do you think, there will be the possibility to resolve some encounters without fighting? I mean, I cannot be a good fighter, not anymore at least, I’m too old, but I’m a wise man and I know a lot of things. Do you think that even these skills could come in handy?

The crew came in here not three days ago, on two camel cars trailing a beat-up old wagon. Nine there were in total, and only two hired guns in tow. Said they’d manage to reason with some would-be attackers, something about owing future favours. I got talking to the youngest of their crew – bit of a jackaroo from the sounds of things, with a penchant for engineering. Reckons leader of their crew had won over the head of a settlement with his silver tongue… quite the charismatic fella, apparently, so if you may be able to talk your way out of a few things. And old man… you tell that boy to put that fruit back where he found it, or I’ll see to it he’s not quite so deft with those little hands any longer. We have little patience for thieves here.

[...]

Here's Devlog #37 for Vagrus: The Riven Realms:

Devlog #37 | Fleeing

Lately, we have been working on Crew Combat to further enhance its mechanics and the latest improvement is the 'Flee' feature. Let's check it out!

Flee!

Fleeing will now be added to a selection of Crew Combat encounters with the following considerations:

• You do not always have the option to flee. It depends on the encounter.
• While trying to flee, your combat strength is significantly reduced.
• Your Flee value comes from your crew composition, equipment, and crew combat attributes among other things, resulting in a percentile chance.
• The enemy's Chase modifier further alters the chance of fleeing.
• Flee chances represent how successfully you can flee from combat. You will suffer damages even in case of a successful flee, albeit much less than you would by staying in a fight where you are outmatched.

Appease

Appease is an option that further changes fleeing when you can use it.

• Sometimes you have the option to try to appease your enemies. Again, this is dictated by the combat encounter.
• When you choose to appease, you offer to leave behind a variety of things for the enemy but depending on your foe's type and motivation (crew combat attributes), they may or may not appreciate them equally or at all. Some Perks increase the effectiveness of appeasing your opponents.
• If you offer enough things to satisfy their craving, the appeased opponents will not chase you at all. In case of a partial offering, some of them might still do but the damage caused by them will be comparatively less.

You can see a demonstration of these mechanics in the video below.

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No need to die against a horde of Jhakrae or a throng of Undead (or to load your game...). Run away and live to fight another day! :)

We hope that these changes will significantly improve the WIP Crew Combat experience, making it less of a Load Game fest. Let us know what you think once you have tried it.

The Lost Pilgrims Team

Final Fantasy XVI has been announced for the PS5 only:

Final Fantasy XVI - Awakening Trailer | PS5

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Larian reveals in a new video how party dynamics work in Baldur's Gate 3:

Love in the Forgotten Realms - Community Update #7

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Thanks Yemeth!

Yemeth spotted this tweet:

We have bad news, and good news. But first, the bad news! We're delaying to October 6, by a week. We'll be back later today with the romance & companionship update to pick you all up again.

A new gameplay trailer for the Cyberpunk stealth/action RPG Disjunction has been made available.

Hi everyone,

Sold Out and Ape Tribe Games today revealed a brand new gameplay trailer for cyberpunk stealth-action RPG Disjunction, ahead of the game's launch on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch™ and PC in 2021.

The trailer reveals the third playable character, Spider, fully for the first time. Up until now this former grey hat hacker has been largely in the shadows, but when the Harmonious Path, a brutal Chinatown crime syndicate, murder her cousin, she is contacted by her estranged father and called on to help restore the balance of power in New York's Chinatown.

About Disjunction: 
Set in the dystopian underworld of a near-futuristic New York City, Disjunction is a single-player, cyberpunk, stealth-action RPG that follows the intertwined narratives of three characters as they unravel a mystery that will change the fate of their city.

Featuring an interconnected narrative starring three playable characters, players can choose their playstyle and use an arsenal of futuristic tech, weaponry and cybernetic upgrades to engage in lethal, high-octane combat, or utilize distraction techniques and non-lethal attacks to stick to the shadows and avoid detection. Experience a reactive story shaped by your actions, unlock cybernetic upgrades to augment your abilities, and crush entire factions or convince them to aid your cause. Your destiny is yours to write.

Warner Brothers have posted a FAQ for action RPG Hogwarts Legacy.

Q: What kind of game is Hogwarts Legacy?

A: Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world, action role-playing-game set in the 1800s wizarding world, which puts players at the centre of their own adventure

 

Q: Who is publishing Hogwarts Legacy?

A: Warner Bros. Games is publishing Hogwarts Legacy under the Portkey Games label. The game is being developed by Avalanche.

 

Q: When does Hogwarts Legacy release?

A: Hogwarts Legacy will release in 2021.

 

Q: What platforms will Hogwarts Legacy be on?

A: Hogwarts Legacy will be available for PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStation4 Pro, the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox Series X and Xbox One X, and PC.

 

Q: What is J.K. Rowling’s involvement with the game? Is this a new story from J.K. Rowling?

A:  J.K. Rowling is not directly involved in the creation of the game, however, her extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World.

This is not a new story from J.K. Rowling. 

 

Q: How does Hogwarts Legacy fit into the Harry Potter Wizarding World?

A: While Portkey Games are not direct adaptations of the books and films, the games are firmly rooted in the Harry Potter universe. While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original work, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the wizarding world.

 

Q: Is Hogwarts Legacy an original story?

A: Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world, single-player, action role-playing videogame (RPG) set in the 1800s wizarding world. The story has players experiencing life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like never before, as they live the unwritten and embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world.

 

Q: What is the original story of Hogwarts Legacy?

A: Players will experience life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1800s as they embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world. They will grow their magical abilities by mastering spells, brewing potions and taming fantastic beasts.

 

Q: How do you play Hogwarts Legacy?

A: Hogwarts Legacy is filled with immersive magic, putting players at the center of their adventure to become the witch or wizard they choose to be. They will grow their character’s abilities as they master powerful spells, hone combat skills and select companions to help them face off against deadly enemies. Players will also encounter missions and scenarios that will challenge their morality and determine what they stand for.

 

Q: Can players choose and switch their Hogwarts house in Hogwarts Legacy?

A:  Players can choose their Hogwarts house at the start of Hogwarts Legacy.  We’ll have more details to share at a later time.

 

Q: Will you see Harry Potter, Hermione Granger or Ron Weasley in the game?

A: No, Hogwarts Legacy is set in the 1800s, before the time period of J.K. Rowling’s original stories.

 

Q: Will Hogwarts Legacy adhere to Wizarding World lore?

A: Yes. While Hogwarts Legacy is not a direct adaptation of the books and films, the games are anchored in Wizarding World lore. Avalanche is creating a unique gaming experience that is inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, in which players will find new and unexpected locations, characters and story elements.

 

Q: Does the game take place only in Hogwarts Castle?

A: Hogwarts Legacy takes players beyond Hogwarts to new and familiar locations including the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade Village.

 

Q: What is Portkey Games?

A: Portkey Games, from Warner Bros. Games, is the games label dedicated to creating new Wizarding World mobile and videogame experiences that place the player at the center of their own adventure, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s original stories. Portkey Games offers players the opportunity to make their own narrative choices and engage with the Wizarding World setting to discover new and unique experiences. The label was created to bring gamers and fans new gaming experiences that allow them to delve into the Wizarding World in immersive ways where they can create their own magical stories.

 

Q: What does Portkey mean, and why have you chosen it for this label?

A: In the Harry Potter series, a Portkey is an object, enchanted to instantly transport anyone touching it to a specific location. Most of the time, a Portkey is an everyday object that would not draw the attention of a Muggle. For Portkey Games, it symbolizes how games under this label will transport fans to their own adventures inspired by the Wizarding World.

 

Q: What type of games will be developed under Portkey Games?

A: Portkey Games will enable developers to create a variety of new and immersive gaming experiences that are all inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. These experiences have not been written by J.K. Rowling and will not be direct adaptations of the books or films. These are games that have been created for the fans, by game-makers who themselves are fans of and have been inspired by the Wizarding World.

 

Q: Are Portkey Games created with J.K. Rowling’s approval?

A: Each experience offered under Portkey Games will take place in the Wizarding World and will be authentic to the Wizarding World. J.K. Rowling is supportive of Portkey Games and has entrusted the design and creation of the games to WB Games and the developers involved.

Video game publisher Nordcurrent and Max Mraz, the developer behind Zelda-like tribute to Bloodborne, Yarntown, today announced they are bringing their newest IP, Ocean’s Heart, a beautiful pixel-art adventure RPG with modern twists and turns, to Steam for PC in early 2021:

Ocean’s Heart is an action RPG featuring detailed pixel art with a heavy focus on exploration. In a lively world teeming with secrets and mysteries, Tilia sets out in search of her missing father. Follow the trail through the ruins of a flooded kingdom, shape the future of the current world, or keep your head down and focus on your own mission in this epic retro-inspired adventure!

Explore a detailed and beautiful world, brimming with secrets hidden in misty forests, isolated mountain peaks, or saltwater marshes. Every area is filled with unique and meaningful sidequests, ancient mysteries, and dangers.

Battle fearsome monsters and wield various weapons and ancient magic to defeat or outmaneuver them. Search for special materials to upgrade your weapons until you're demolishing monsters who once put up a fierce fight.

Gather various items throughout the world to craft potions, upgrade weapons, and expand your ever-growing arsenal.

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Game Features:

• Retro-inspired action RPG with modern trimmings.
• A lively and gorgeously pixeled world full of secrets free to explore at your own pace.
• Menacing enemies and tense boss fights that’ll keep you on your toes.
• An exciting array of weapons, spells, and abilities. Experiment to find your favorites for every situation and foe.
• Unique, character-driven sidequests with heartwarming or twisted stories that expand upon the world’s lore.
• Foraging and crafting elements to increase your chances of survival in a nasty fight.
• Quirky charm and humor to keep you smiling on your extraordinary adventure!

Thanks Yemeth!

Softpedia checked out the Wintermoor Tactics Club:

Wintermoor Tactics Club Review (PS4)

The back to school period always awakens mixed feelings in the students: while some can hardly wait to be reunited with their friends and classmates, most youngsters would like to extend the summer holiday indefinitely, and not to waste time in school rooms. This may be caused by the fact that most learning institutions do not seem as fun as Wintermoor, where each student has a hobby or another, courses being the least of their worries. Wintermoor Tactics Club has nothing to do with the learning, but it manages to convey a light-hearted message about acceptance and self-improvement.

To be honest, Wintermoor Tactics Club has nothing to do with school or everyday student life, despite the fact that the entire story plays out on the Wintermoor campus. Being a boarding school, it means that the only interaction you will have is with other students and occasionally with the principal. There are no teachers or periods to distract Alicia, our hero, from tabletop games, her one true passion, and nosing around in other people’s business’, her other true passion.

[...]

Just like its characters, Wintermoor Tactics Club has a lot of soul. It is not perfect by any means, but the turn-based combat proves to be fun, the RPG elements are well integrated, while the story is compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Still, there is no real challenge in the game, no replay value and despite the producer’s best efforts, the encounters can feel somewhat repetitive.

Wintermoor Tcatics Club is an indie game as all indie games should be: it is not flashy, overcomplicated, or very long, but manages to be fun and exciting without the AAA budget. It is a single-player experience that any RPG fan should experience.

Score: 4/5

IGN checked out the rogue-like Hades:

Hades Review

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C4G likes these five RPG-mechanics:

5 Mechanics That More RPGs Should Use

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Forgottenlor checks out if playing the evil side in a dungeon crawler is something to enjoy in this review of Iratus: Lord of the Dead.

Iratus: Lord of the Dead is a reversed dungeon crawler. Instead of playing a group of heroes who travel through a dungeon to face some ancient evil, you play Iratus, who is a necromancer that has been unintentionally freed from his tomb by foolish grave robbers. The necromancer sends his minions to conquer a series of catacombs in order to make it to the surface, where he can realize his dream of extinguishing all life. As a traditional villain, Iratus leaves most of the dirty work to his minions, whom he supports from a safe distance with his magic. The necromancer must also manage a number of resources, so he can replace dead minions, bolster existing ones, and increase his own powers. Anyone who has played or seen Darkest Dungeon will see its influence on Iratus: Lord of the Dead. Iratus must escape his confinement and defeat all the mortal enemies who face him. Each battle is potentially dangerous, and minions are only to a certain degree expendable. Battles are from the side view, and undead minions have different powers which can be executed dependent on where they stand in the battle formation. The game also has some rogue-light qualities, such as having only one save and a somewhat random dungeon floor layout. But Iratus: Lord of the Dead is in many ways its own game, for better or worse.