Book of Travels News

[h2]Dearest Travellers,[/h2]

In Braided Shore a whole range of encounters is possible; an enraged Sefra might knock you from your path or a happy hearted one surprise you with a boon, or perhaps a meeting with a Malku Su might leave you feeling a little small. But look down and think tiny, because little lurkers are also on the move! Some will come in single spies, and others in battalions, but in most cases these little creatures will cause you no sorrow and are in fact as harmless as rabbits...



Folklore from all around the world tells us that spirits aren’t always spooky - they can manifest as many moods and keep all kinds of habits, and so it is with the ones you see here. You might recognise the predecessors of these little creatures in the worlds of Studio Ghibli or the Moomins – they also echo the sprites of Swedish folklore where their collective name is ‘Oknytt’. in Braided Shore, the collective name for this range of sprites and small spirits is Omin, and today we’re taking a look at production sketches outlining many kinds of Omin.













The early sketches of Omin here are just some of the many that may come into being. Some will debut in Early Access, but most will have to wait until Chapter One commences, and some may in fact never make their escape from paper to game world... We’d love to hear which ones you like the most so that we can take your wishes into our design considerations, so please leave your comments!

Best Wishes,

Helen & the Dev Team xx

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1152340/Book_of_Travels/
[h2]Want more info?[/h2]
[h3]Become a Traveller[/h3]
Sign up on our mailing list for news and an in-game treat in our upcoming game at www.TMORPG.com.

[h3]What is TMORPG?[/h3]
The T in TMO signals an alternative to the more common industry standard MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) putting 'tiny' in the place of 'massive'. That means fewer meetings, which we think means more magic... Read more here: What is a TMORPG?!

[h3]Revealing the Early Access World[/h3]
Later this year Book of Travels will be available for Early Access on Steam. In Chapter Zero parts of the Braided Shore will be open, and among the places to visit is the gem of the region – the city of Kasa. Read more here.

[h3]Join our Discord[/h3]
Join our super friendly Discord to exchange ideas on all things Book of Travels as well as art, games and books. Join here.

[h2]Dear Travellers,[/h2]
What word best describes those items used in spell casting? In Braided Shore these ‘ingredients’ are known as Reagents, and as your travels unfold you’ll come to know a great deal about them...



As with all things that nourish our lives, the occurrence of these magical ingredients is sometimes logical but at other times seems to have no obvious cause. When it comes to logic, Reagents manifest as a complex expression of many things: the natural landscape, the relationship between the land and its various inhabitants, and the history of both of those things. Like mycelium beneath mushrooms and the roots under trees, there are deep systems at work, and they’re largely the labour of Game Designer Beto who took inspiration from picking flowers for a midsommar garland: “I knew vaguely where I could find each flower I wanted, so I went kind of where I remembered them to be, but I still had to do some searching, and as I did, I found pleasant surprises - it felt so much like the experience I wanted for Travellers in Braided Shore”.



“Those who dig deeper are more attuned to the gifts of earth and can express themselves with the language of the Winds and the aroma of Tea.” - Soyda, Mushroom Specialist, Rivenleaf College, Naturalist Faculty



[h2]What are Reagents?[/h2]

While we’ve talked a little about some of Braided Shore’s more supernatural aspects and some of the effects and skills that can be conjured by way of teas and knots, we’ve shared little about the items required and how you might encounter them. With the correct combination of Reagents, players will be able to use skills and make knots spells and magic teas (such as the Brew of Hidden Cries). Reagents can manifest as many things - beautiful, ordinary, natural or manufactured, and their properties are studied by scholars and Mystics across the land. As a newcomer to Braided Shore you too will become a student of Reagents as you get to know the many aspects of Reagent lore and usage.



[h2]Tune in to the presence of Reagents[/h2]

The most obvious way to detect the whereabouts of Reagents is by paying attention to the world around you. Just as with items, you’ll find them in hidden places, and thoughtful exploration will pay off - light, colour or movement might signal that something potent is close by. But as you familiarise yourself with the world you’ll also learn its logic and figure out where you’ll have the most chance of searching out more common Reagents such as Dandelion or Garden Balsam. Folk you meet and conversations you overhear may also reveal tips and pointers to an all-important, spell-completing Reagent.



[h2]Find signs of Reagents in the wild[/h2]

When it comes to wildlife, there’s more to the surrounding flora and fauna than decoration. For example Yellow flowers indicate that Garden Balsam or Char Mustard are somewhere closeby, and noticing where wolves like to hunt will help you seek out a rare tuft of animal hair.



[h2]Look for logic in towns and villages [/h2]
Just as with items, towns and villages are the site of a greater abundance of Reagents, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll need to be any less discerning. Some Reagents will be found in places they’d naturally occur, such as the Pure Soot in dockyards and railways, and Woots Powder which is also commonly found by train tracks and sites of rudimentary industry. But Reagents may be moved, dropped or hidden and as a result, turn up in some unlikely locations...

[h2]Rare Reagents may mean high stakes[/h2]

Rare Reagents are much sought after owing to their special properties or simply to their scarcity value. The rarest are as elusive as they are powerful and players will most likely need to invest some energy to locate them. One may be cause for a special expedition, another may require the kind of commitment that involves risking one’s life… A Silk Flower, for example, grows far from any road or settlement, where landscapes are desolate and sublime, and should you seek a Tuft of Animal Hair while wolves are hunting, you might run the risk or a wolf attack. But not all rare Reagents are as pretty to behold as flowers and fluff - Coagulated Engine Oil is as sticky and stinky as you might imagine (its rarity owes to the sparsity of oil in this inherited railway infrastructure).

Once you’ve packed your latest Reagent safely in your pack, it’s yours to use as you wish. There’s a plethora of Reagents already in Braided Shore, but nothing is fixed - some Reagents may disappear while new ones may emerge or be discovered.

------------------------------------------------

We’re really looking forward to hearing about your discoveries come Early Access! No matter what the findings, there will be an endless abundance to seek out as the world opens out before you and countless tales are told...

Are you a believer in the power of spells and magic? Or do you only harvest magical ingredients in your gaming life? If so, where?

As always, our best wishes and seasonal blessings,

Helen & the Dev Team xx


https://store.steampowered.com/app/1152340/Book_of_Travels/
[h2]Want more info?[/h2]
[h3]Become a Traveller[/h3]
Sign up on our mailing list for news and an in-game treat in our upcoming game at www.TMORPG.com.

[h3]What is TMORPG?[/h3]
The T in TMO signals an alternative to the more common industry standard MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) putting 'tiny' in the place of 'massive'. That means fewer meetings, which we think means more magic... Read more here: What is a TMORPG?!

[h3]Revealing the Early Access World[/h3]
Later this year Book of Travels will be available for Early Access on Steam. In Chapter Zero parts of the Braided Shore will be open, and among the places to visit is the gem of the region – the city of Kasa. Read more here.

[h3]Join our Discord[/h3]
Join our super friendly Discord to exchange ideas on all things Book of Travels as well as art, games and books. Join here.

[h2]Dear Travellers,[/h2]

Today instead of our regular post, we have some scheduling news, plus an exciting addition to our team, so let’s dive right in...

[h2]Tuesdays are the new Fridays[/h2]

If only they were, but maybe they’ll be a little more perky now that they’re our new content day... From now on, our usual Friday dev update as posted here on Steam and Kickstarter will now come on a Tuesday. Our next post is this coming Tuesday the 18th - it’s all about Regeants this week and I cannot wait to share it with you...

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Along with our monthly Fireside Chat on Youtube this means that we’ll have something to share with you for three Tuesdays of every month - we’re still wondering what to do with that fourth Tuesday, but for now we’ll try and deliver something fun on our Twitter account, so if you’re a Twitter user be sure to follow us! And maybe you have an idea about what monthly occurrence you’d like from us… a competition? An art day? We’d love to hear it in the comments!



[h2]Our new CM Oliver[/h2]

MORE TO THE POINT Oliver would love to hear about it! Please welcome him - he’s our brand new and dedicated Community Manager and won’t be split between roles as I have been these last years. Oliver loves games and has worked as a games journalist and with various communities and games in the last few years. You can find him on Discord or just say hello in the comments right here… He’s great, we love him, you will too.

[h2]Shifted release window[/h2]

Now to our almost-news concerning release - we realise you’ve been waiting for a Q2 release and we’re very aware that this frame is close to its June end... Well, we’ve shifted the window - but not by too much!

We can tell you Book of Travels really is coming soon, we can tell you it’s all going very well, and we can tell you it will be released this summer. As you might expect, fixing a solid date for release involves coordinating a fair few aspects and schedules. Right now we’re working on doing just that so that we can nail that date once and for all. When we do, we’ll let you know right here - expect something in the coming weeks!

That's all for now - we look forward to sharing Braided Shore magic with you on Tuesday!

Helen, Oliver & the Dev Team xx

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1152340/Book_of_Travels/

[h2]Want more info?[/h2]

[h3]Become a Traveller[/h3]
Sign up on our mailing list for news and an in-game treat in our upcoming game at www.TMORPG.com.

[h3]What is TMORPG?[/h3]
The T in TMO signals an alternative to the more common industry standard MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) putting 'tiny' in the place of 'massive'. That means fewer meetings, which we think means more magic... Read more here: What is a TMORPG?!

[h3]Revealing the Early Access World[/h3]
Later this year Book of Travels will be available for Early Access on Steam. In Chapter Zero parts of the Braided Shore will be open, and among the places to visit is the gem of the region – the city of Kasa. Read more here.

[h3]Join our Discord[/h3]
Join our super friendly Discord to exchange ideas on all things Book of Travels as well as art, games and books. Join here.

[h2]Dear Travellers,[/h2]

As you may know, the Book of Travels experience is one of immersion and discovery, so it makes sense that in this game, level design is as much the work of the art team as Narrative Designers. Here we’re sharing a little bit about our approach to designing levels and the intended play experience we hope to create.

Passing place or site of hidden loot?

Working to a fairly wide brief, artists design spaces where players will discover items, lore or story fragments while taking a rest or cooking up some roots. This means they must take into account both aesthetics and gameplay, so crafting a location that is as intriguing as it is beautiful is just one part of their work.

[h2]Where set design and gameplay come together[/h2]
Of course levels in the game vary greatly in size and scope; some, such as cities and towns are bigger and more interactive, while others, like the one above, may appear to function as a passage or an interlude. But this being Book of Travels, the best things can happen off the beaten track, and all levels are designed to enrich your journey, often in unexpected ways...

Hints of blue behind these trees hint that there’s more to discover.

[h2]Creating curiosity in different spaces [/h2]

Working with narrative components as well as items and NPCs, our Level Designer’s task is to ensure that there's not only a good degree of activity and discovery in all areas of the world, but that the experience of exploring them is rich and rewarding. In areas where the player’s field of vision is limited such as the one above, that means revealing small parts of hidden things - they might be spirits, bandits, buildings or beasts - to prompt further investigation. In areas where land is open and a long field of vision is available, levels must work to suggest possible pathways, challenges and rewards.

Obstacles, pathways and discoveries are hinted at from afar.

[h2]Levels that feel like a painted world[/h2]

A large part of this work involves decorating the world with hand painted props made by the 2D art team. These props work to reinforce the feeling of walking around in a painting. Since we don’t have full control over where players will go, the goal is to make every place one where a beautiful view can be enjoyed.

A village will likely have more NPCs to meet, but isn't necessarily where the most interesting things happen, and a quiet pathway might not be as empty as it looks.

But it’s not all about the woods and wilds - following the main road will eventually lead you to one of Braided Shore’s more populated areas where you can find buildings to rest in, goods to trade with and hear a tale or two.

Making a journey at night can be beautiful, magical, dangerous or simply peaceful.

[h2]Balancing design with open play [/h2]
We’ve often said that Book of Travels doesn’t set your direction for you - you’ll be free to go where you wish, unbound by linear narrative or pre-planned player paths. However, levels are designed to offer suggestions to where you could go next. A fork in the road, a structure looming in the distance or dialogue with a passerby are among the many things that might alter your path.


The goal of designing to reward exploration is to have the player find something wherever they decide to go, be it an item, a lurking spirit or just a silent clearing to play an instrument or sit and take stock… But to find what secrets hide in this world you’ll need to take risks and steer away from the roads - we think that you’ll be enticed by the levels that await you!

We hope this gives you a little more sense of how it will feel to roam free in Braided Shore. Please drop your thoughts in the comments right here, and tell us what kind of exploratory games you’ve enjoyed most... Olle, our Level Designer will pop in and respond next week.

Best Wishes!

Helen & the Dev Team

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1152340/Book_of_Travels/
[h2]Want more info?[/h2]
[h3]Become a Traveller[/h3]
Sign up on our mailing list for news and an in-game treat in our upcoming game at www.TMORPG.com.

[h3]What is TMORPG?[/h3]
The T in TMO signals an alternative to the more common industry standard MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) putting 'tiny' in the place of 'massive'. That means fewer meetings, which we think means more magic... Read more here: What is a TMORPG?!

[h3]Revealing the Early Access World[/h3]
Later this year Book of Travels will be available for Early Access on Steam. In Chapter Zero parts of the Braided Shore will be open, and among the places to visit is the gem of the region – the city of Kasa. Read more here.

[h3]Join our Discord[/h3]
Join our super friendly Discord to exchange ideas on all things Book of Travels as well as art, games and books. Join here.

[h2]Dear Travellers,[/h2]

In between dev updates we’ve trickled out some of the lore of this land, peeking in on spirits, listening to the thoughts of everyday folk and soundtracking its wilderness. But we want to share how it feels to play a part in this world, so today we cordially invite you to imagine immersion through... stuff. So this post is all about the objects and items that you’ll be able to toss into a backpack as you travel around Braided Shore and how they’ll enrich your play experience. As ever, we’d love you to drop us a comment or two with your thoughts.


Backpack slots accommodate accessories and musical instruments created in our 2019 Kickstarter.

[h2]Fill your pack with many things[/h2]

As with most RPGs the most appealing aspect of collecting items is in imagining how they may one day serve you well in trade. Among the many items you’ll come across on your travels you’ll find various edibles (pickled seaweed, simple soot bread) and equipables (alabaster armbands, a walnut flute) - together these will protect you from dangers, keep you fed, and ready you for all kinds of possibilities.

But many items don’t seem to have an immediate obvious benefit… do not dismiss them, for who knows what unknown trade potential they may hold? One person’s junk is indeed another person’s treasure in this land, and a perfect example can be seen in this gameplay video where a bag of rusty nails brings joy to an NPC building a treehouse. And who knows? A cobalt glazed tile shard may be useful to someone...

[h2]Skill cards[/h2]

Skills are also items: skill cards can be acquired, used to learn new skills, or traded. Recipes, knot skills and fighting techniques are some of the skills you’ll be able to acquire from those in their possession. Items vary in quality and rarity, but all can be used to trade – either for other items, or for skills or services – and such trade deals will be one of the many beats in your story journey. Here’s a little more about the different kinds of items you can find...



[h2]Poor & good items[/h2]

Poor items are exactly that - low quality items that usually have low use value and little trade value. Often discarded, such items may be broken, rusty or mouldy and can be found in all kinds of places for you to pick up and keep. But they are not all without value – stale bread will sustain you and a poor sword will still serve as some defence. Whether for reasons of practicality or curiosity, a Traveller with an empty backpack would be well advised to hang on to some poor items.

Unsurprisingly good items can be useful in all kinds of ways and include everything from clothing, weapons and backpacks to lights, lanterns and umbrellas. Much like real life, these objects of use will need to be obtained from a merchant or in a shop. Amongst the many generic pieces there will also be many outstanding items with individual appeal. Besides those pictured above, examples of good items include a flower-scented tunic, protective tombac footwear, a conductor’s lucky knot ring and an adventurer’s blade.



[h2]Great & exceptional items[/h2]

Great items are very rare and sometimes unique and come with a story that reveals something of its past. There are countless great items in the region but they’re not to be found in shops or markets and are unlikely to be traded – possessing them takes some effort and will require an undertaking such as a search or quest. Should you acquire a great item, listen to its lessons, carry it safely with you and let its spirit lighten your step and warm your heart.

Extremely rare and always unique, an exceptional item is tantamount to a historical artefact. Each one of these special objects has played a part in the history of Braided Shore – imparted to its owner, such story fragments will contribute to a deeper understanding of the land and perhaps give clues to one of its unsolved mysteries. Effort alone will not yield such items – time and luck will also play their part.

[h2]Pack smart... and look out for Reagents too[/h2]

Since there’s no currency in Braided Shore, when managing your inventory it’s good to aim for a selection of items of varying value, that way you’ll have items small enough to trade should you need a quick snack, and you’ll be able to avoid being forced into an unequal trade in an emergency. A Traveller who carries only a diamond and a Master Iron cog will have a hard time making a good trade for a torch or some farmers’ field bread.

Reagents, (Braided Shore’s magical ingredients) will also need seeking out, and each one will bring new possibilities to your story. We’ve lots to share about reagents too, and we’ll dedicate a post to them further down the road!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you deeply for once again spending your time with us! What are your attitudes to things and how you relate to them? Are you a hoarder or do you travel light? What games have types of items that you’ve enjoyed?

Let us know below and we can talk! And as ever, you can chat to us on Discord too…

Best Wishes,

Helen and the Dev Team xx

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1152340/Book_of_Travels/

[h2]Want more info?[/h2]

[h3]Become a Traveller[/h3]
Sign up on our mailing list for news and an in-game treat in our upcoming game at www.TMORPG.com.

[h3]What is TMORPG?[/h3]
The T in TMO signals an alternative to the more common industry standard MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) putting 'tiny' in the place of 'massive'. That means fewer meetings, which we think means more magic... Read more here: What is a TMORPG?!

[h3]Revealing the Early Access World[/h3]
Later this year Book of Travels will be available for Early Access on Steam. In Chapter Zero parts of the Braided Shore will be open, and among the places to visit is the gem of the region – the city of Kasa. Read more here.

[h3]Join our Discord[/h3]
Join our super friendly Discord to exchange ideas on all things Book of Travels as well as art, games and books. Join here.