In a bit of a nostalgic shock, I’ve discovered that there is a Runescape ttrpg and board game available now! Runescape was my first MMO and a very influential phase in my gaming history. I still go back to Runescape from time to time to relive some of that nostalgia, but nothing will ever beat being a poor kid in the library, grinding levels with my friends. Now it is time to take this nostalgia to the tabletop in a pair of games you’re going to want to add to your collection.
The games come to us from the good folks over at Steamforged Games, who have steadily been building their repertoire of excellent licensed games over the years. They’ve got well-known titles such as DARK SOULS, Monster Hunter, and Resident Evil, but have also seen success in their own IPs like Bardsung, Epic Encounters, and Animal Adventures. With a catalog this good, I have faith in their Runescape line of products.
RuneScape the Roleplaying Game
RuneScape Kingdoms: The Roleplaying Game promises to capture the spirit of the source material in a streamlined 1-5 player experience. The book takes players and GMs to the world of Gielinor and gives them the tools they need to run a successful campaign. There is a crafting, magic, and prayer system as you see with the MMO and a bestiary full of enemies and bosses to fill your next adventure.
The game uses a 3d6 system, which is always a nice change of pace. The game seems pretty easy to learn, but to put it simply, you roll your dice and pray. You can check out the official Steamworks video for a more detailed dive into the book.
The corebook is 200 pages and comes in a standard hardcover edition and a beautiful collectors edition. If you’re looking for a new fantasy RPG with a detailed mechanic and a whole lot of nostalgia, you might want to pick up RuneScape Kingdoms
RuneScape the Board Game
In RuneScape Kingdoms: The Shadow of Elvarg is a 1-5 cooperative narrative game where players work together on iconic quests from the video game. Fight monsters, complete side quests, and do a lot of crafting. This unique board game experience allows players to build their characters however they want, regardless of the miniature you choose. That means you aren’t tied down by the preconstructed archetypes you see in other games and only limited by your imagination. The game looks fun, the minis look like they’re good quality, and there seems gaming included in the box. Check out the official Steamforge dive for more, and pick up your copy today!
The Drakantos devs just dropped their February Dev log, and I am hyped! We still don’t have a release date, but we get closer every month. There is a lot to be excited about, but make sure you read the official log. Make sure you join the growing community of anticipating on Discord, and show some love to the developers by adding Drakantos to your wishlist on Steam.
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Ojore Teaser
Brawlers rejoice with this heavy-hitting, earth bending, hero. Ojore hits hard, and those dashes are bound to set up some amazing plays in PvP. The voice acting is also pretty spectacular. He is a little too close-quarters for me, but I can see the potential.
Ranked PVP Confirmed
Whatever you may think of PvP, it is important for the health of the game. PVP will be 3v3 arena-style matches which is perfect for a mobile game. The devs intend to make a PvP experience that is more skill-reliant than gear, but we will have to wait for release. We do know there is a ranking system for those of you who need the incentive.
The Preset System
In an interesting bit of news, the developers have worked on implementing a preset system. Players will be able to save four distinct load-outs on each character so they can easily switch to an appropriate build for a desired activity. This is such a cool and generous quality-of-life feature that I welcome with open arms.
Boss Fights!
This month marked the completion of 16 boss fights, with two more coming soon. It is safe to say that every hero will work as a boss for the game, and I can’t wait to see teasers for the actual fights. I’m interested to see how creative they get with the moves and mechanics.
Ozul Boss Fight
Pet Contest Winners
Last month the developers asked the community to submit their ideas for in-game pets, and the winners have been chosen. Congratulations to all the winners, but it is really cool to see such an excited and involved community. I hope the Devs continue this type of engagement with their players.
More Sneak Peaks
Finally, we got a lot more visuals and previews for the game. WE got to see a sneak peak of the Guild Hall, some more mounts and animation, and a better look at the UI. I’ve been following this game for a while now, and I get more excited with each bit of news. I can’t wait for an open beta! Until then, enjoy the last bits of visuals from the Dev Log and don’t forget to add Drakantos to your wishlist!
The Guild HallThe UIThe Donkey!More Mount Animation
I was sent Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mistfor free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
What is Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist
Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist is the first DLC for Astlibra Revision. The game picks up after the events of the first game and introduces a new character. I’ve written my review of the base game, but if you haven’t played it yet, you need to. Astlibra is a modern Metroidvania for the fans of the old-school classics for PC and Switch, but the DLC is only available on Steam at the moment. Either way, I recommend you at least check out the Steam demo.
After the events of the last invasion, a hero’s guild has formed to keep the realm safe from evil. All was good until one day the heroes vanished. It is now up to the baker’s daughter to venture into the Cave of the Phantom Mist and bring the heroes back. Does she have what it takes to return the piece to the land?
Gameplay
Leveling in this game requires players to grind gems to purchase stats in between runs. While this gives the game its grind, it isn’t a terrible one. At least not on Normal. I like that the game continues to give players the freedom to find their playstyle through their character’s build, but I felt like I needed less guidence this time around.
While the DLC does have a unique story, it isn’t as interesting as the base game. Where the story for the base game is deep and developed, the DLC acts more as a frame of flavor for the grind. It isn’t bad, but fans of the base game will be disappointed.
Thoughts
I enjoyed Astlibra Gaiden, but I see where it won’t be for everyone. Fans of the original who enjoyed the story and complex mechanics will be disappointed by the changes. The story isn’t as good, and the game is easier. The DLC feels like a more casual entry to the series, and that isn’t a bad thing.
Progression in Astlibra Gaiden is more like a dungeon diver roguelike where players will have to grind through a procedurally generated dungeon to progress through the story. While the story isn’t as great as the first one, it’s good enough for the casual experience that it is. I enjoyed the repetition, but I didn’t follow the story as closely as I did with the base game.
If you haven’t played the Astlibra base game, I recommend you go do that first. It’s an amazing game that should be in your library. If you’re a fan of Astlibra but want something more casual that isn’t a huge commitment, go get the DLC. It’s not as good as the base game, but it does scratch that casual Metroidvania itch.
I was sent Astlibra Revision for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow my socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Demons invaded your village. You and your long-time friend try to escape, but something catches you and leaves you unconscious. You wake up in a strange new world with a hazy memory. A talking bird comes to your aid, and together, you make a quiet life there. But your past haunts you, and every day the nightmares get worse. Something is calling you to action until you can no longer deny it.
With the help of your new companion, you must travel back to the human world and help free it of the demons that now roam it. Will you be the hero this world needs? Will you find your friend after all this time?
Gameplay
I recommend you look up guides for this game because it can be a little complicated. You shouldn’t be scared off by the game’s complexity, but there are some recipes and builds that won’t be intuitive for the casual gamer.
You start the game off with basic attacks, and slowly build combos and learn magic. Like any game in the genre, you fight your way through mobs of monsters and face creative bosses at the end.
The game features a liberating leveling system that allows players to build their characters to fit their playstyle. Going up a level gives players skill points to allocate against the attributes of their choosing. Monsters will drop special materials that can be spent on permanent buffs to a character. This is a very cool system, but one that can make the game difficult if you aren’t building efficiently. There is an easy way to reset a character’s allocation, but it is important to be actively thinking about your build as you play.
I really like how the shops are run in this Astlibra Revision. Buying items requires gold and materials you farm throughout the game. This is a terrific flavor and it gives me something to work towards.
Thoughts
I absolutely love this game even though I am terrible at it. The art is beautiful, the gameplay is engaging, the soundtrack if phenomenal, and the game is fun. I recommend you check this game out just for the soundtrack. I’ll leave you with the playlist for your to get hyped!
This game is a fantastic Metroidvania, especially if you’re a fan of the classics. I struggled because I refused to use guides, but I appreciate the complexity. You’re going to obsess with your builds, farming locations, and combos so much that you might need a journal. I’ve never had such a rewarding experience with a game like I’ve had with Astlibra, nor have I ever gotten so technical. There is a grind to this game, but I didn’t notice because I was having fun.
My favorite part of this game is the story. I was hooked from the moment I booted it up until the moment I had to put it down. It has great characters, a solid pacing, and a fantastic flavor. If you have time for a well-developed narrative and complicated mechanics, you need to pick up Astlibra Revision. It is the modern Metroidvania that you should try at least once.
You can pick up Astlibra Revision on Steam and Switch for $24.99. It is currently on sale on the Nintendo eShop for $19.99. Everyone should at least give the Steam demo a shot. It includes the prologue and a solid sample of the end game mechanics.
With only a few sessions left in my Dragonbanecampaign, I think now is a great time to release the review. Please note that I did receive a free copy of the pdf and foundry module, but I was planning on at least running the quickstart guide eventually. That said, this will be my honest review.
If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Dragonbane is a fantasy tabletop RPG based in the Mysty Vale It features unique races, an interesting combat/initiative system, and a less limiting class/character creation system than a traditional RPG. The game is easy to pick up, and fun to play once you’ve adapted to the Year Zero engine.
Initiative
Dragonbane uses cards for initiative, and I love this system. While I love rolling dice, nothing beats the randomness of drawing cards. While some characters and creatures might go multiple times in a round, there are no initiative bonuses in Dragonbane. Instead, the creature or player who pulls the lowest card goes first.
This order isn’t fixed. Players can switch initiative cards with each other or enemies for an advantage, and the initiative resets after each turn. It felt like my players were no longer waiting around for their next turn, but instead were adapting to change, or planning to gain the advantage.
Combat
I love the combat system in Dragonbane. As a GM, I love how the system handles monsters. Monsters come with a roll table of abilities and attacks they can perform each turn. During a monster’s turn, GMs roll for the action. The randomness of this system makes combat a lot more exciting. I either roll for the TPK (I never did), or I waste a turn on a useless debuff. There are some monsters I’d tweak for future campaigns, but combat generally had enough fun and suspenseful drama.
From a player’s perspective, I love how strategic the action economy is. A player can use their action to attack, aid a party member, or evade/parry an attack. I like that players aren’t waiting around for damage, but can instead use their action to mitigate it. Waiting and evading a deadly attack is so satisfying.
Classes
It’s important to note that classes in Dragonbane are more like templates. While other systems limit the abilities and skills available to a character based on their class, Dragonbane gives players the freedom to play their character how they want. Classes in Dragonbane are only really to help players allocate their proficiencies and skill points.
After a player starts the adventure, players have the freedom to allocate skill points wherever they want. This means you can be a wizard who is proficient at swords, or a knight who can cast magic (depending on how your world handles magic). To people coming from other systems, some of the classes will feel underwhelming, but I always let my players change their character if they don’t like what they come up with the first time.
Leveling
Leveling in Dragonbane is based on five questions:
✦ Did you participate in the game session? ✦ Did you explore a new location? ✦ Did you defeat one or more dangerous adversaries? ✦ Did you overcome an obstacle without using force? ✦ Did you give in to your weakness? (Optional)
At the end of the session, the GM asks players these questions. I didn’t use the optional rule for my campaign because we didn’t want to deal with keeping track of weaknesses. For every yes, players get a point they can spend on attempting to level one of their skills. They then roll a D20 for every skill they want to level. If they roll a number higher than their skill, the skill increases by 1.
There will be sessions where players will level every skill they roll against, and in others, they won’t get any. The higher the level, the harder it is to upgrade which is what gives the game the system its balance. My players loved this system because they got to roll dice, and they had the freedom to customize their character to fit their plays tyle.
I loved the questions because they forced my players to play differently. My player who didn’t usually participate was suddenly roleplaying and encounters that would have usually resulted in murder were resolved peacefully. It was such a nice shift, but it also meant I needed to be ready for anything.
Adventure
The prewritten adventure is a great way to get you started in the system. GMs get access to a well-structured template of adventures, and players get a solid sense of what to expect from the system.
The adventure is a collection of quests loosely tied by lore, but they can exist independently. I changed a lot from the adventure because that’s how our narrative flows. If you’re thinking of running Dragonbane, and don’t know where to start, the adventure in the core book is fantastic. Like all prewritten adventures, use it as a template, and don’t be afraid to go off-script.
I always start with these prewritten adventures, but we usually veer way off and have a lot of fun doing so. This adventure was no different. I liked the adventure. The flavor was good, the lore was neat, the encounters felt balanced, and there was enough content for a long campaign.
Conclusion
We had a lot of fun with Dragonbane, and it’s going to be hard switching to another system. With the new Beastiary coming out in March, I’ve got a few more sessions planned, so it isn’t goodbye just yet.
I loved how easy it was to jump into this system and pick up all the rules. I love how easy of a transition it was from 5th Edition. Some mechanics took some time to get used to, but nothing that I would call impossible. It has a neat leveling system, a fun combat system, and unparalleled freedom in character creation.
If you are looking for a fantasy TTRPG, you need to look into Dragonbane. I recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy, or just needs a break from 5th Edition burnout. Pick up your copy of the rule book in PDF from Drivethru RPG ($24.99), but the art is so beautiful you’re going to want a physical. You can pick up your physical copy from the official site ($41.98 +shipping) or Amazon ($49.99 shipping included.) It is currently on sale on Amazon for $45.69.
This week’s been crazy, but I’m doing my best to keep up with the daily releases. Make sure you support the original. If you enjoy this project, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Ryusenji cackles at the threat.
Eiji opens a private chat. “Stay sharp Loogamon. We don’t know what he’s planning” Loogamon nods as he moves to a defensive stance.
METAL CANNON
A cannonball flies towards the pair. Eiji jumps to the ground. Loogamon jumps out of the way, narrowly dodging the projectile. Dorumon stands at the source of the attack and glares emotionlessly at the pair.
“What are you doing?” Loogamon shouts, but Dorumon doesn’t answer.
Eiji turns to Kosuke for answers. Kosuke had broken under the weight of the professor’s revelation. He had become lost in his grief, but Durumon’s sudden attack slowly breaks him free. He lifts his head towards the commotion and mumbles, “Durumon? What are you doing?” He is on the verge of tears.
The Source Domain shakes violently.
“What’s going on?” Kosuke shouts. Dorumon answers with an empty blank expression.
“Dorumon can’t hear you now.”
“But how? We’re still mindlinked?”
“You don’t need to be mindlinked to control Digimon. How shall I put this?… I cracked your connection. Dorumon is mine now.”
Kosuke helplessly looks through this watch and attempts to take back control, but his efforts are fruitless. Words fail him as his world crumbles around him. The great Code Cracker Tartarus was powerless.
“Now Digivolve,” the professor barks. Dorumon nods and digivolves into Dorugoramon.
Dorugoramon
Dorugoramon towers over the pair. Its blank emotionless stare remains fixed on them as it stands at attention, gripping its blade, ready to attack.
The professor smirks as he takes a step next to the Mega Digimon. “This is your last chance your chance Eiji. Join me, and all is forgiven. Work for me and I can promise you a nice apartment, great benefits, and a steady salary. Imagine how impressed Hatsune will be.”
“How did.?” Eiji becomes overwhelmed.
“You have ten seconds. Then I’m taking the offer off the table.” He begins counting down.
Eiji wrestles with the offer. This was everything he ever wanted. A steady job, a good college, and maybe even a girlfriend.
“You can’t be seriously considering this,” Loogamon snarls.
“It’s tempting..” Eiji crouches down next to Loogamon and begins petting its head. “You don’t know what it was like before all of this. I’d have stability…I mean I wouldn’t even have met you if it wasn’t for him…”
“Sure, but…”
The professor extends his arm. “I knew you’d understand. Now-“
Eiji shrugs, “But then again, I was never in it for stability.” Eiji stands and turns to the professors. “I came here to make my mark on the world because, at the end of the day, I’m still a code cracker.”
“Well said Eiji.” Loogamon’s tail wags as it perks up enthusiastically.
“How disappointing…”
“Shut up old man,” Loogamon growls.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Eiji adds. “I still respect you as a mentor, but I was wrong to put you on a pedistal. In other words…”
“Get out of our way!” Loogamon barks.
The professor remains silent. His smile had disappeared as he glared at the pair. “Well if you insist on losing, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Eiji lifts his Digilinker and cycles through the commands. “You’re not stopping us.”
“Let’s fucking go!” Loogamon howls.
“Digivolve!” Eiji disappears into the Digicore as Loogamon digivolves into Soloogarmon. Bright flames pour out of his shoulders with great intensity. it groups at its mace and lets out an earth-rumbling howl.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
PROMINENCE LASER
A white-hot beam of plasma erupts from Soloogarmon’s hands and washes over Dorugoramon. Dorugoramon takes the hit head-on without flinching. It remains unphased as its armor loses its red-hot glow.
“What the?” Soloogarmon shouts.
“Very impressive,” Ryusenji commends.
“That was just the warm-up,” Soloogarmon scoffs.
“Careful Soloogarmon, we didn’t see their fight. We don’t know what we’re up against.”
“Durogoramon has a shockwave and charge attack that make it effective at long and short range. There are no obvious openings to take advantage of either attack. In your current form, one hit will likely fry your Digicore.” Yulin interjects.
“It’s taking commands from a tool, there’s no way it can be that strong,” Soloogarmon rebuts.
“You should listen to the captain on this one. Tools or not, the professor is on the other end of the terminal.”
Soloogarmon swings its massive mace as it readies for another attack. “We don’t have the luxury of being catious.”
“Right,” Eiji says, trying to psych himself up. “Let’s give him hell!”
The professor smirks. “I guess I need to start getting serious.” Dorugoramon absorbs Ryusenji’s projection.
DORU-din
A shockwave of energy roars through the Source Domain, but the attack is too slow. Soloogarmon howls as the engines on its shoulders come explode with energy, and shoot him into the air. Soologarmon hovers over the battlefield with a smug smirk as it braces for the next attack.
Dorugoramon stalls for a moment, searching the battlefield. It smirks as it turns its attention to the center of the circle where Pulsemon and Black Agumon remain suspended. It begins charging its next shockwave.
SKOLL RAGE
Soloogarmon shoots toward Dorugoramon without hesitation, leaving a trail of hellfire in its wake. It closes the distance and takes a swing with its mighty Vanargand.
“Predictable,” the professor says. Dorugoramon stops its charge to swing at the charging wolf. The strike sends Soloogarmon flying back. “You have to do better than that.”
Eiji felt the force of the strike, the sting lingers in his abdomen. He peers over his screens. Their levels remain in a normal range.
“What an annoying prick,” Soloogarmon growls.
“Lets try this,” Eiji says, imputing commands into his virtual console.
Soloogarmon releases another laser, but Dorugoramon deflects it easily. Soloogarmon follows with a turret of blasts, slowly engulfing Dorugoramon in flames. The flames never catch. Smoke billows off Dorugoramon’s body.
“Nice try, but you’ll need to be more imaginative than that,” Ryusenji sneers. “But I’ve wasted too much time playing with you, I have to get back to work.”
The smoke around Dorugoramon’s body begins to clear, revealing an empty space where Yulin, Ryudamon, and Black Agumon stood. Only Kosuke and a Tyrannomon stand at the altar.
“Tyrannomon? Where did you come?” The Professor asks incredulously.
Tyrannomon stands next to Kosuke, looking concerned. Kosuke remains frozen in place.
“Kosuke, you have to move,” Eiji whispers.
“Using your little Tyrannomon under the cover of smoke, very clever Eiji.”
“Get out of there Tyrannomon!” Soloogarmon orders.
Tyrannomon doesn’t get a chance to react. An attack pierces through its shoulder and brings the Tyrannomon to the ground. It lets out a pain-filled roar.
“Such a weak Digimon,” the professor says. Dorugoramon had refined the shockwave into a fine point, making it like a bullet.
“Tyrannomon!” Eiji shouts.
“Dorugoramon is too powerful.” The professor looks down at the trembling Tyrannomon. It is too terrified to move. “Poor thing. I think I’ll put it out of its misery.”
Dorugoramon launches a salvo of focused attacks. The Tyrannomon shuts its eyes, waiting for a hell of fire that never comes. It hears the attack connect but doesn’t feel it. Tyrannomon opens its eyes slowly and finds itself unharmed. Around it, the earth is filled with clusters of deep impacts. Soloogarmon hovers over the Tyrannomon, its arm hangs limp to one side. Scorch marks run up its arms like a sleeve and steam bellows from the injury. Soloogarmon gives the Tyrannomon a warm reassuring smile.
“You saved my Tyrannomon…” Eiji whispers.
“That’s what packs do.”
Eiji feels the pain running up his arm. Senses the heat of the thrusters from his shoulder. His lunges fill with the scents of the battlefield. Loogamon’s anger, frustration, and determination had become his and Saloogarmon felt the same. At that moment, all their remaining reservation melted away as they became determined to win.
Energy begins to build within their core as the two become one. Soloogarmon begins to glow.
“Lets show this asshole what hell really looks like,” Eiji says.
A bright light engulfs the pair. Out of the light steps out a new Digimon, Fenriloogamon.
I’m going to do my best to keep up with the daily releases, but it’s going to be tricky with my schedule. I’ll do my best and appreciate your patience. Make sure you support to original. If you like the project, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Loogamon falls to the ground. Its crash echoes over the void. Three strange shapes materialize before the group: a blue raindrop, a purple sun, and an orange cube. Each shape glows brightly as it begins a slow orbit in the space Loogamon once stood.
Loogamon’s heart races. Attempting to catch its breath, Loogamon tenses up and moves into a defensive stance. “What the heck is that?” It shouts, eying the strange display cautiously.
The others have begun a slow retreat and watch the orbiting shapes suspiciously. “You’re the one who activated,” Eiji replies.
“By accident, I don’t…” Loogamon’s voice trails as one of the carvings catches its attention. “I think I’ve seen this thing before.”
“Now you’re just making things up, it’s okay to be scared buddy,” Eiji replies with a nervous chuckle. He studies the objects carefully. They feel familiar somehow.
“It’s the three types!” Yulin blurts out suddenly.
Eiji focuses on the strange shapes and recognizes the letters written between the shapes. “Oh yeah! The things in the lobby.” Eiji recalls the three hologram objects he passed before every visit with the professor. The shapes represented the three types of Digimon taxonomy: virus, data, and vaccine. The objects spin for a moment before each makes their way to their respective Digimon.
“These are the terminals that control this fortress, and we are the intereface,” Dorumon says, breaking the silence. “We made it. This is where we’ll find the Sacred Chalice.”
“It’s been quite a journey,” Kosuke responds.
Dorumon nods. “It’s not over yet.”
“Commence phase four,” Kosuke says as he takes a step forward.
“We’re so close!”
“Now we have to access the source code.” Kosuke turns to Eiji, “Do you still have mindlink time left?”
“Of course I do!” Eiji says, putting his hand on Loogamon’s back. “Readyu buddy?” Loogamon’s tail begins to wag slowly.
Yulin is stunned. She attempts to process the events unfolding around her. “The …source domain…” Yulin was a gifted coder, but this was outside her knowledge base.
“I doubt you’ve even heard of this place Yulin,” Kosuke says. “This place is what the professor what all those expeditions have led up to. This is all of the professor’s research, but now it is no longer just theories. This is how we save Saya!”
Something clicks for Eiji as he takes it all in. Suddenly, his involvement with the Sons of Choas wasn’t wasn’t random chance. Standing here in the Source Domain with Ryusenji’s two former students was by design.
“I get it now,” Yulin says, grabbing one of the Ryudamon’s clawed paws to help it up. “You want to crack the Digital World!”
Kosuke smiles, “That’s right. We’ll surcumvent the Royal Knights, slip past the system admin, and take control.”
“That’s too dangerous!”
“I’m not here to rule the Digital World, I just need to controll it for a moment. Just enough to do what I need to.”
“No! You can’t! If you put the Source Domain to the whims of man and….”
“These are no mere whims,” Kosuke says coldly. “This is to save Saya and nothing more.
“That doesn’t matter. We shouldn’t even be here. We can’t risk destroying the fragile connection between humanity and the Digital World. You don’t understand the forces you’re dealing with!” Yulin’s words echo through the void.
The group stands in silence for what seems like an eternity. Kosuke is the first to break the silence. “…This is for Saya. If it brings her back, it will all be worth it.”
“I don’t give a crap why you’re all here,” Loogamon interjects. “We made a deal, and we’ve got people to save here. So if we can move it along…”
Yulin turns to Eiji. “Are you willing to take responcibility then? Are you okay with this Eiji?” Her voice pleads desperately.
Eiji sighs as he thinks for a moment. “Look. I hear you, but we didn’t come all this way to just turn around. We came here to rescue our friends, and we’re so close.”
The three shapes begin to spin and rise, slowly coming together and rushing into one blinding orb of light. Around them, massive stone pillars shoot out from the ground, reaching up until disappearing past the eye line. Stone begins to pile around them, forming a large circle around them.
“This looks like some kind of alter.” Eiji finally adds. “How big is this going to get?” No answer. He looks over to Kosuke, who watches as the ancient structure continues to form around them. The temperature drops suddenly, forcing the group into a shiver.
“Can’t you light us a fire?” Durumon’s asks with a tremble.
“I’m not a space heater?” Loogamon snarls.
The structure stops shuffling, sending everything into silence. “When you’re ready Loogamon, commence Phase 4.”
Loogamon takes a step towards the floating object. Durumon takes hold of Ryudamon’s restraints and drags it behind. The half-conscious Digimon mutters under his breath. “You awake back there?” Durumon asks mockingly.
“You’ve…made your choice.” Ryudamon manages. Its voice is frail.
“I’m here to back up my partner,” Durumon begins. “I’ll help him free the Digital World, and whatever happens…happens.”
The stone circle begins to glow.
“Hey, Kosuke?” Eiji asks, his gaze fixed to the center of the fixture.
“If you have questions, keep them brief.” Kosuke types away furiously at his console.
“When you access the source code, can you do a search of Leon’s Pulsemon?”
“I only have the identification code for the Black Agumon,” Kosuke says coldly.
“I know the scent,” Loogamon adds as he sends over the identification code.
“Now all we need is the Ryusenji’s treatment,” Kosuke says as he pulls up the data.
Yulin’s heart stops. The professor not only knew, he was behind this whole operation.
“There’s no turning back now,” Kosuke says.
The air around them grows colder as a stream of light from the floating object reaches towards each Digimon.
“Woah,” Eiji lets out, overwhelmed by the sight.
Strange, glowing symbols fill the wall around them. “Decryption in progress,” the three Digimon say in sync. The whole structure glows bright for a moment before ending in a flicker. Kosuke’s monitor shuts off. Everything around them goes dark and silent.
“Good morning friends,” an unfamiliar voice says softly.
It’s been a bit chaotic, but I finally found some time to pick this project back up. I apologize for those of you who have been waiting, and I thank you for your patience. Please make sure you always support the original, and don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Eiji, Kosuke, and Yulin vanish. Omnimon’s blade slashes through the space Kosuke’s neck used to be. It pulls up the glowing blade to examine it for signs of contact. It lets out a powerful sigh in its disappointment as it realizes it has failed.
“Did they make it?” Marvin asks as the shock kicks in. He and Satsuki freeze, as they watch the frustrated knight plan its next move. If it turns around, they didn’t stand a chance.
Marvin looks at the destruction around him. Sees the half-frozen Chaosdramon, the overheating Brigadramon, and the two Mega Digimon Kosuke sacrificed. Watches as Omnimon stands at the center of the aftermath, motionless. Moments go by before it leaps into the air. It takes a sudden dive into the gate and disappears out of sight.
The battlefield falls silent. The mangled corpses of Gatekeepers and Code Cracker Digimon form scattered piles over its face. The Wall Slum Digimon had long since disappeared, leaving Marvin and Satsuki alone. The raid is over.
Marvin appears as a hologram and walks over to Satasuki whose hologram stands over the wrecked Mekanorimon.
“Thanks for the assist,” Marvin says coyly.
“Where’s the captain?” She asks flatly, without looking up. Sadness, anger, and frustration all jumble inside her as she tries to make sense of what just happened.
“We should really get out of here before that thing decides to come back.
Satsuki turns angrily and pulls Marvin by his collar. “I asked you a question!”
Marvin lifts his hands up in protest, “I have no idea where they went. We didn’t get that far.”
“LIAR!” She shouts as she shakes Marvin violently. “Tell me where she went!”
“Woah, calm down.” Marvin pulls himself free and brushes himself off. “Look, my parts are done. The battle is over. Now if you’ll excuse me, I got to check up on my friends. I’ll be seeing you.” He gives Satsuki a brief wave as he walks away. Marvin summons a small virtual console as he walks, and inputs a few commands. The felled Digimon and the screen vanish as Marvin turns his attention to help his comrades.
Satsuki remains frozen where he left her and stares blankly into the distance. Moments go by before Marvin finally turns to her and says, “It’s been nice, but I’m out of here.”
Satsuki turns slowly towards Marvin and stares at him with a lost expression. She clenches her fists tightly but doesn’t say a word.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. You can come join us if you need a place to crash. I can even fix that Mekanorimon if you want.”
Eiji, Kosuke, and Yulin stand at the center of an endless void. Around them, white empty space stretches away from them for miles.
“Is this…The depths?” Eiji asks as he searches for something to fix his gaze. Nothing seems to stand out. Except for the solid floor below them, everything around them was an endless formless blight.
“Well we can summon our holograms which is a good sign that this is 3D space,” Kosuke says. His voice trails off as he summons his virtual console and begins typing into it furiously.
“I always imagined the Depths to be a wild place full of untouched nature, like a forest or somthing,” Eiji says, his hologram also testing his surroundings. “That’s what the video at the DDL showed.” Kosuke doesn’t respond. He doesn’t seem to have heard Eiji’s comment. Eiji continues his search, and Loogamon sniffs at the air for clues.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
“So what is this place?” Loogamon asks. “There’s a bunch of scents in the air, but they don’t make sense. It’s like there’s something here, but there isn’t.”
“Something?” Eiji asks in a shaky voice
“Yeah, it’s like this whole place exists and doesn’t at the same time. It’s confusing.”
“I didn’t peg you for a philopher Loogamon.” Dorumon chuckles.
“Shut up,” Loogamon snarls, blaring its fangs at the fox.
“This is the Source Domain,” Kosuke says finally without looking up.
“The source? So this is where it all starterd?” Eiji says as he takes another look around him.
“The Digital World was born from noise and chaos. This is a place full of ancient and forgotten data. Only old Digimon can access it, or Digimon compatible to the old standards like…” Kosuke’s voice trails off.
“Like the Prototypes,” Durumon continues, pointing toward the interface on its forehead. “These things gave us access, and since you were fused to our Digicores, you came along too.”
“Ah!” Eiji chirps.
Durumon turns his attention to the unconscious and restrained Ryudamon. “Still asleep captain?”
Yulin’s hologram suddenly appears between them. “Kosuke!” she shouts.
“I’m sorry Yulin, but this was the only way. You wouldn’t have helped me otherwise.”
“Wait!” She looks at the void around her, frozen with shock as she struggles to piece the truth together. “The Gateway…What happened?!” Her voice shakes as she demands answers.
“We cracked it. This is the other side,” Kosuke answers, his gaze still fixed on his work.
Yulin is speechless. The mission failed because she hesitated.
“The DigiPolice watched you fall and withdrew. Your deputy fought till the end. She even deployed a Mega-level Digimon in an attempt to rescue you.” Durumon begins.
“Sastuki deployed Brigadramon? No!” Her voice fills with genuine concern. No one could fully control Brigadramon. It wasn’t ready to be used in combat.
“We didn’t know you were sitting on such a nifty little Digimon. It even stood toe-to-toe with Marvin’s Chaosdramon, but then Omnimon showed up, and well… that’s when the real party started. The thing came inches from Kosuke’s neck, but he was just too smart.” Durumon ends his story with a proud smile.
“What…What happened to Satsuki?”
Kosuke shrugs, “She’s not my responsibility.” He steals a quick glance at the distressed captain and sighs. “I’m not sure what happened after we cracked the Gateway, but Marvin’s a good guy. I’m sure he’s taking good care of her.”
Eiji is surprised by how casually the two foes address each other. “Do you know each other?”
“I guess there’s no reason to lie now that we’re in here,” Kosuke responds as he goes into their history.
Eieji takes it in for a moment but remembers where they are. “That’s a lot, but…shouldn’t we be worried about Omnimon coming back?”
Dudumon shakes his head, “Only prototype Digimon can enter here. We’re safe.”
“That’s good.” Eiji begins to relax.
“In theory,”
“Huh?”
Durumon shrugs, “It’s entirely possible that I am wrong. The Royal Knights will show up and end us. It’s all Jazz from here on out.”
“Please tell me you’re joking.” Eiji tenses up.
“That’s the worst case scenarion.”
Loogamon wags its tail. “Relax kid. I don’t smell any Royal Knights.”
“You’re younger than me Loogamon.”
“We don’t know that,” it sneers. Its nose twitches suddenly as it catches a faint unfamiliar scent.
“What’s up, Loogamon?”
“Something stinks over here but…GAH” Loogamon’s face twists as it fights back disgust. The area Loogamon was sniffing reacts suddenly. A strange translucent shape begins to form around it.
“What did you do?!” Eiji shouts.
Loogamon jumps back as the shape begins to form. “Nothing I..” Loogamon freezes partway through his leap. Its body remains suspended, frozen in the air.
I’ve been excited about Drakantosfor a while now. With the January dev log out, my excitement continues to grow. I can’t wait to finally play Drakantos, but until then, let’s just get hyped about the current progress.
Make sure you check out the official dev log and join Discord if you want to stay up to date. If you enjoy these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Most importantly, add Drakantos to your wishlist!
Orbryn Hero Teaser
The community has voted. This month’s hero teaser is Orbry, an Engineer from Garmorli. The dwarf has access to several gadgets and traps to help him fend off enemies. If you like dwarves, traps, and explosions, this is the champ for you.
I was a bit disappointed with the teaser’s slow start, but the more traps and gadgets I saw, the more impressed I became. I don’t think I am smart enough to run this champ, but I can see the potential. With the amount of debuffs and traps, Orbry can help control the battlefield and tempo of battle. It seems like this will be one of the trickier heroes to learn, but one that I am sure will be rewarding in the right hands.
I love how every hero teased so far feels unique and different, and with each release, I have trouble choosing who I want to play.
And Mount Animation!
Cooldowns Changed to Charges
Drakantoswill feature artifacts that will act as interchangeable abilities for further customization. These artifacts were initially intended to be cooldowns, but they were changed to charges based on the event players run. The official explication from the devs:
I have to agree with the devs on this change. From a gameplay perspective, it makes the artifact feel more impactful. Players are now forced to use their charges efficiently instead of mashing buttons. From a flavor perspective, it makes the artifact feel more special and magical. It’s something rare that only a hero can use, and I am all about feeling special in my fantasy.
More Cities!
More of the world has been created, and I gotta say I am a huge fan of the art style. Here are some samples of the major cities. I can’t wait to explore what else they have in store:
Pet Contest
If you’re feeling artistic, head over to the official discord and join the “Create a Pet Contest” for a chance to have your creation featured in the game. I love that the devs are working with their community, I just wish I was at least a little artistic.
Conclusion
There were some other balancing changes for combat and more pets added to the game, but you can always read about it on the official dev log. I am still excited and I hope we get a beta soon. This game looks like a lot of fun, so make sure you go add it to your wishlist!
The Realm of Ink demo is now live on Steam. If you are looking for a new action roguelike to sink some time into, download this demo today! The demo is only 40 minutes long, but you’re going to want more.
If you enjoy my content, please leave a comment, like, follow, and share this with your friends!
Hook
Realm of Ink is a short story collection controlled by the Book Spirit. For the most part, characters within its pages live their lives as written. This changes when on a hunt for a cunning Fox Spirit, Red discovers that everything around her is a fabrication. After her awakening, Red makes her journey through this fictional world to find out the truth of the Book Spirit. What secrets will she learn along the way?
Gameplay
Thoughts
The full version of the game will give players access to different characters, spirits, and upgrades, but the demo is limited to one character, chapter, and a limited selection of upgrades and spirits. While I was left wanting more, the provides players with a solid grasp of the gameplay loop.
Real of Inkplays like your traditional Rogulike. Players start each round with a random spirit and earn random upgrades as they move through the levels. Champions have access to a light attack, a heavy attack, and two spirit abilities.
These types of games are repetitive by design, but there is enough RNG in this game to make each run feel different. I ran through the demo version a few times and never had the same build twice. Some builds are better than others, but that is the nature of RNG.
Red is a cool champion with three loadouts. Players start the demo with the single sword but can unlock a duel wield version for faster attacks and a ranged attack after you end your first run. Each loadout plays differently, which keeps the game feeling fresh. I preferred the ranged version of Red because I had a lot of fun kitting in this game.
Realm of Ink is beautiful, and I recommend you check it out to appreciate its art style. The demo also has fun flavor, and an amazing soundtrack. The gameplay was fun. Combat was great, leveling was fast and easy, RNG seemed fair, and the spirits gave fun abilities. I don’t like that you start the game with one spirit and have to find the second through RNG.
The only complaint I have is that in some runs, I only had access to one spirit ability. This felt like a disadvantage, especially when it came to the boss fight. I hope spirits are easier to collect on full release because it is the mechanic that gave the game its unique flavor.
The demo is short, but it was long enough to get me excited. I need a little more story and gameplay before I can form a full opinion. If you’re looking for something new to play, check out the Real of Ink demo. It’s free, it’s fun, and it isn’t a huge commitment.
We don’t have an official release date, but I will be trying to get my hands on a copy when it comes out. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy my content, please leave a comment, like, follow, and share this with your friends!
