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1[[quoteright:283:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/33c4d472f025aeaf86bad848ffb904a0.jpg]]
2''Serpent in the Staglands'' is a DarkFantasy WideOpenSandbox WesternRPG, released by [[http://whalenoughtstudios.com/ Whalenought Studios]] on [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PC]] on May 28th, 2015.
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4Its mechanics mirror those of the 90s RealTimeWithPause [[RolePlayingGame CRPGs]]. It's set in the world of Vol, inspired by the late bronze age in a Transylvanian landscape - with enemies ranging from UsefulNotes/{{Romania}}n mythological creatures and [[OurWightsAreDifferent spirits]] to [[OurMagesAreDifferent rogue mages]] and [[BanditMook mutilated outlaws]].
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6You take the role of Necholai, a minor god of a celestial body, who descends to the world for a moonlit festival only to find his way home blocked and immortality slipping out of his grasp. Seeking answers and aid, he takes on a mortal body and the guise of a traveling Spicer.
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8The game uses a [[PointBuildSystem classless role-playing system]] where you create builds via any combination of the magic, combat and aptitude skills available to use on a group of up to five characters - or you can choose to find new allies during your travels across the world.
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10It's heavily inspired by {{Videogame/Darklands}}, both in looks and in game play elements. [=SitS=] has its older brother's difficulty (albeit mitigated by modern UI improvements), Gothic/European style and overall tone.
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12Can be purchased from its [[http://serpentinthestaglands.com/ official website]] (where a demo can be downloaded), [[http://store.steampowered.com/app/335120/ Steam]] and [[https://www.gog.com/game/serpent_in_the_staglands GOG]].
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15!! This VideoGame contains the following tropes:
16* AllDeathsFinal: There's no way to revive your fallen comrades, so each encounter is potentially fatal.
17* AllInARow: Akin to most RealTimeWithPause [[RolePlayingGame RPGs]], the game has many possible party formations.
18* AllSwordsAreTheSame: Long-bladed weapons and short-bladed weapons work differently, but there's no other distinction.
19* CarryABigStick: Maces and scepters.
20* CharacterCustomization: You can customize the appearance (portrait, sprite, sex), race, attributes, skills and traits of up to five characters.
21* CharacterLevel
22* DialogueTree: All of the conversations happen in this manner, and your skills unlock further options in them. For instance, one of the earliest dialogue options you may get is to turn a potential companion into a thrall completely bound to your will.
23* FantasyGunControl: Since it's set in a late Bronze Age / early Iron Age European-like world, guns don't appear.
24* GameplayAndStoryIntegration: The questions asked to you in the intro of the game affect certain gameplay elements. For example, if you choose the Trickster God as your ally, his priests would be more helpful as opposed to other gods.
25* IdleAnimation
26* LargeHam: You start as one, being a moon god and all.
27* ManualLeaderAIParty: As in the classic IE games, there is an option to leave party control to the AI during combat or not.
28* OneManArmy: Very much averted - your party will get mowed down quite easily if you're not careful in combat.
29* NowWhereWasIGoingAgain: Like Darklands, there's no quest log.
30* PausableRealtime
31* PlayerParty
32* PlayerPersonalityQuiz: The intro before the actual character creation has the player answer a "biographical" questionnaire to a mysterious hooded woman that will decide what kind of god you are.
33* PointAndClickMap: [[http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_%2017.png Has one]].
34* PurelyAestheticGender: Downplayed. While the gender doesn't affect your stats, it does change how the characters treat you. This is also combined with the effects of your race and that of the speaker; some of the races clearly place women above men, others do the opposite, and the rest are mostly egalitarian.
35* RandomDrop
36* RandomNumberGenerator: The game even admits being RNG-heavy in the first pages of its manual.
37* SavageWolves: The bane of most starting low-level players. A pack of wolves can reduce your party to dead bodies in a heartbeat if you're not careful.
38* SceneryPorn: the pixel art [[http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_%2004.png sceneries and menus]] [[http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_%2005.png are]] [[http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_%2014.png amazing]].
39* ShopliftAndDie: don't let any owners see or hear you're stealing from them.
40* SkillScoresAndPerks: skills are divided into [[FighterMageThief three categories]] ("books"):
41** [[UselessUsefulNonCombatAbilities Aptitudes]]: mainly knowledge and interaction-related perks. Aptitudes can affect conversations with allies and enemies.
42** [[MultiMeleeMaster War]] [[MultiRangedMaster Book]]: weapon and combat related skills and perks are chosen here (both melee and ranged).
43** [[SpellBook Spell Book]]: list of memorized spells and their intensity, among the schools of [[LightEmUp Illumination]], [[StatusBuff Linking]], [[ShapeShifting Morphing]], [[PoisonousPerson Flesh]], [[ExtraOreDinary Forging]] and [[GreenThumb Herbology]].
44* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''VideoGame/{{Darklands}}''.
45* ThrowDownTheBomblet: [[AlchemyIsMagic Elixirs]] are throwing weapons.
46* TraumaInn: You can rest in inns but also on the wild provided you have camp equipment and a good woodsman character to stand guard.
47* WideOpenSandbox: From the beginning you can go anywhere.

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