Indie RPG Ortus

An upcoming adventure RPG by Jazza Studios.

The graphics will be fairly simple, either drawn pictures or isometric, but aside from that, it appears to have some very lofty intentions for a free Flash RPG with Gameplay and Story Integration and plans to avoid railroading plots. I'd have to see the finished product myself (which hasn't happened yet) to know whether that's true, but I can't deny I want them to succeed. The setting is medieval fantasy in a small nation called Candor created from refugees of the Therion Empire 150 years ago that struggles to fight off said empire constantly...and now their leader is gone and monsters are appearing in their lands. You're someone who wakes up not knowing any of this and a lot more, save for the memories of a tormentor who've you apparently escaped, but you do have magical powers like the Candor leader. Adventuring time to find out what you don't know! The game's setting has a prequel called Battle of Wayland Keep that you can play here (which is not representative of Ortus' gameplay, since is basically a Hold the Line game with context and some dialogue trees, though the graphics seem similar to what Ortus will use).

Unfortunately, they ran out of money, so they've got a Kickstarter page here, along with more information on the game and a video. The deadline's December 24. Obviously, if you're interested in what they want to make, you may donate to them. They also have a Facebook page for the game.

edited 14th Nov '11 8:06:49 PM by VutherA

This is all very interesting but I really am leery of it being in flash.

Might I ask why?

<— Is largely ignorant of the programming complexities and differences

edited 15th Nov '11 5:36:46 PM by VutherA

Sturgeon's Law. Flash tends to be the medium of choice for newbies and lazy creators.

edited 15th Nov '11 5:39:03 PM by Recon5

And flash tends to be the worst memory hog for the least benefit.

Understood, fair points.

If anyone's wondering about it still, their Kickstarter page is past 25% within 25% of the time limit now. Yaaayyyyy.

Now it's past 50% with 15 days left.

Also, here's an interview!

They're promising an awful lot for a flash game.

Also, maybe if they let people design their own recruitable characters for a given donation amount they'd get more donations. That'd convince me to fork over some cash (if I had any) anyway.

Well, they did. Emphasis on did.

edited 8th Dec '11 6:24:06 PM by VutherA

Hah. I missed that. Just as well, though, since I don't have anywhere near that kind of money to drop.

And currently, too many people do as well.

The game will still be made, just, much more slower.

Wow, they really are promising a lot, based off that interview.

Yep. I want it to turn out well so badly.

I have to say, it would be a pretty awesome game if most of what they said actually works out.

Sorry for the double post, but I'm curious: what's everyone (who donated, obviously) paying for this? I'd like to (and probably will) add some money, but I'm a jobless college student, so I'll see what I can do.

Hmm. The concept is hardly uncharted grounds. What's the gameplay like?

A bit behind the scenes video!

They've elaborated little on the combat thus far - it is real-time and character building is going to be fairly free, but how it really will work and feel in execution is beyond me. They've stated you'll start out inside an old cottage with amnesia aside from memories of a tormentor, and you'll have unique powers. Adventure ensues! They've stated there's many, many endings which will depend on what you do, and I'm guessing that it's just "look around" in the meantime.

I first gave them $30, than added another $70 later.

edited 9th Dec '11 12:01:46 PM by VutherA

Well, it looks like an isometric RPG in the old Bioware school, so, consider me interested.

For anyone who was interested in the game but couldn't or didn't want to donate, you're now in a win-win situation! They've reached the Kickstarter goal, YAY!

Well, hopefully it turns out good. I'm not one of the NMA fanatics, but I do appreciate old school isometric RP Gs of the early Bioware and BIS model.

Clearly, their presence is too great if you feel you have to mention you aren't like them just to say you like older game concepts.

edited 23rd Dec '11 7:47:37 PM by VutherA

I've encountered enough utter madmen to find it totally worthwhile to distance myself from such. Like the type who want another industry-wide Crash.

Don't worry about me, I know we have a Vocal Minority article for a reason.

Bit of an update.