Read on Twitter
let's see.
1) is that a heart shaped lake
2) did you mean "Byzantium"
3) how do I join the desert people and their salty heart-shaped lake
2) did you mean "Byzantium"
3) how do I join the desert people and their salty heart-shaped lake
"what if Alucard, but profoundly unfuckable"
[Sarah McLachlan starts playing]
![[Sarah McLachlan starts playing]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuiWcriXYAEAyvQ.jpg "[Sarah McLachlan starts playing]")
Cordelia, how can I put this? Hmm. Let me tell you a story. It's about a distant kingdom, and the fate of House Romanov...
(side note: neat little "profile" button, which pulls up details about the characters. My guess is entries fill up with various events/biographical details as the game progresses. Super into it.)
me when someone acts brave on twitter dot com:
Gonna keep screenshots to a minimum to avoid spoilers for folks, and focus on mechanics if they become relevant. Hope they will.
Big cast of characters already, multiple houses, family drama, betrayal...and a lot of blood. Someone ain't coming back from THAT.
Big cast of characters already, multiple houses, family drama, betrayal...and a lot of blood. Someone ain't coming back from THAT.
We got dialogue choices. Repeat: we got dialogue choices.
and once you validate a choice, this briefly pops up to let you know which conviction (Utility, Morality, or Liberty) you embodied in that moment.
No hint of it when making a choice, and I'm guessing this gets tricky as you navigate the convictions of other characters. Cool.
No hint of it when making a choice, and I'm guessing this gets tricky as you navigate the convictions of other characters. Cool.
"(*these parameters will not be reflected visually.*)"
Okay, video game, now you're FLIRTING flirting.
Okay, video game, now you're FLIRTING flirting.
There's an encampment (accessible through the menu, you're "teleported" there) which apparently develops as more people join you. Merchants and other NPCs are there.
Seems like a space ripe for social mechanics. Also shout out to this amazing line:
Seems like a space ripe for social mechanics. Also shout out to this amazing line:
Tell me about the additional activities or [trying to stop myself from chuckling] be quietuses.
![Tell me about the additional activities or [trying to stop myself from chuckling] be quietuses.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Euie1cDXYAYbmng.jpg "Tell me about the additional activities or [trying to stop myself from chuckling] be quietuses.")
Map. Main stories and side stories are clearly labeled so you know what you're getting into. Recommended levels are there too. Also, mysterious currencies in one of the sub-menus.
Oh, and this is all animated. Clouds float by and cast shadows. Rivers flow. It's gorgeous.
Oh, and this is all animated. Clouds float by and cast shadows. Rivers flow. It's gorgeous.
The whole game's gorgeous, honestly. It's also very, very legible. The little yellow icons next to Abilities, the empty spaces between stats and values.
We will not talk about the Luck stat, however. It's not there. Not a thing. Nope.
We will not talk about the Luck stat, however. It's not there. Not a thing. Nope.
What stands out: Acc., Speed, Evasion, Jump, and Mov. are all separate. It's not that rare in tactics games, but I find this breakdown interesting. Also contrasts with the left column and its monolithic STR, def, and magic ATK/DEF. Thats it there's nothing else in that column 
Goddamn the combat abilities are a treat.
-A lot of movement/terrain stuff
-An ice mage type character will regenerate action points when standing on frozen tiles
-Tactician type character can "move" another character's turn so that they act right after the tactician's turn
-A lot of movement/terrain stuff
-An ice mage type character will regenerate action points when standing on frozen tiles
-Tactician type character can "move" another character's turn so that they act right after the tactician's turn
Do Not Ask For My Thoughts About Luck Stats
Okay, I hope they go all out with the maps because even the demo stuff is cool. Elevation's a big deal. For example, I ambushed an enemy by jumping down, waiting under a massive bridge, then popping back up to stab them.
All tiles have a height value, a type, and a status:
All tiles have a height value, a type, and a status:
Hard to describe how gorgeous AND how legible this stuff is. When you plot a character's moves, there's a blue line showing their exact path, a ghostly form that remains at their start point, and tons of effects + menus to give you a sense of what's going to happen.
Like, the interplays between stats, menus, graphics, animations, etc. are ON POINT.
This screams "oh you wanted Ogre Tactics with a bunch of QOL improvements? Well well well, guess what."
This screams "oh you wanted Ogre Tactics with a bunch of QOL improvements? Well well well, guess what."
thread's getting lengthy so let me wrap things up.
-the rogue who can run up to someone, then immediately vanish after stabbing them? Incredible.
-I'll need to think about it, but the game materializes spaces in ways I've rarely seen in tactics games. And I like it a lot.
-the rogue who can run up to someone, then immediately vanish after stabbing them? Incredible.
-I'll need to think about it, but the game materializes spaces in ways I've rarely seen in tactics games. And I like it a lot.
-haven't seen enough of the social mechanics, but I can see how that stuff will draw me in. My only hope/fear: I want it to have an impact in battle beyond "this unit doesn't hit as hard because they dislike you."
-I can't get over how great and imaginative the abilities are.
-I can't get over how great and imaginative the abilities are.
Anyway, I do hope people enjoyed the thread. I had fun, and if folks are there for it, I'll do this kind of stuff more often.
good
good
