Gangs of Sherwood News

[h2]In the heart of the legendary Sherwood Forest, where tales of valor and chivalry echo through the ages, there lies a character whose story often remains in the shadows, eclipsed by the legendary Robin Hood himself.[/h2]

But as the Major Oak of Sherwood is about to lose its first leaves, it's time to turn the spotlight on the enigmatic figure known as Alan A Dale.



[h2]Honoring the legend: an interesting yet lesser-known figure
[/h2]
Alan, a name that may not ring as loudly as Robin's, conceals a tale as captivating as any epic adventure. He is indeed mentioned in a 17th century ballad, 200 years after the first mentions of Robin Hood. Among the various depictions of Alan, one stands out—an engraving by Louis Rhead, taken from his 1912 book "Bold Robin Hood and His Outlaw Band: Their Famous Exploits in Sherwood Forest."
When crafting Alan's character for Gangs of Sherwood, we drew a lot of inspiration from these enduring legends. Alan embodies the essence of a minstrel, a storyteller and a musician from the European Middle Ages. This is why we dressed him in vibrant attire and portrayed him as a storyteller in Gangs of Sherwood.



[h2]Crafting our own Legend
[/h2]
In the same way that we reinterpreted the legend and the universe of Robin Hood (link to the article) , we allowed ourselves to infuse iconographic elements to Alan-a-Dale’s puppeteer persona.
Among these elements, one finds puppets that are inspired by the “Gignol” theater, and a bell-topped hat decorated with many masks. These elements remind us of the masks of Greek theater, but also of the two-faced god Janus.



[h2]Serving the story: a key character
[/h2]
In fact, just as Janus is the god of beginnings and endings, passage and doors, Alan-a-Dale is a character that you will find at the beginning and end of every level. His duality manifests itself in the narration, because he tells his story both to us as a player, and both to the characters, thus breaking the 4th wall.
Like a feline Cheshire cat, Alan appears at precisely the right moments, physically materializing as the game's "save points."

[h2]To sum things up:
[/h2]
In summary, we trust you've found this blog both intriguing and enlightening. We've relished the opportunity to breathe life into this character and continue to look forward to what lies ahead!

⚔️ Introducing Little John, Robin's unwavering and mighty companion!

🦾 While he may be Robin's right-hand, he employs both with equal mastery when it's time to unleash his metal arms and brawl with unmatched efficiency!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

You enjoyed Robin’s Spotlight but you're someone who prefers the thrill of "crushing everything"?

Worry no more—Tuck and his Energetic Sledgehammer have got you covered! 👊👊

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h3]My fellow Rebels,

Just a couple more months before the release of Gangs of Sherwood!
[/h3]

We can't wait to finally bring you this epic adventure we've been working on for so long. As I write these lines to you, we are working on the finishing touch of the game, we are tightening the bows and sharpening the daggers, to offer you the most enjoyable and immersive experience possible.

Do you recognize the tree in the art above? It is not just any tree. It represents a centuries-old tree whose roots intertwine with the stones. The most observant may have noticed ruins at its feet, mysterious ruins serving as a refuge for oppressed commoners, and as the headquarters of the nascent rebellion. Inside, a free and reimagined society takes shape, inspired by a new kind of hero, yours.

But that's not the only thing that inspired us: this tree is based on a real one, the Major Oak, which is in the heart of Sherwood Forest, England.

[h2]The origin of our inspiration, a historic tree with a fascinating story
[/h2]



Allow me to share a little bit of history before we return to slaying those greedy folks.

This humongous tree is thought to weigh more than 20 tons and has a circumference of almost 10 meters. But where do these improbable measurements come from?

While scientists have not reached a definitive conclusion, it is possible that external factors played a role in constraining its growth, much like the deliberate pruning of a bonsai tree. Additionally, there is a hypothesis suggesting that this tree's stunted growth might be due to the merger of several younger trees approximately a century ago.

Although in the end, its measurements are impressive, you will surely notice that the "real" tree is much smaller than that of our concept art. Let’s dive into these differences!

[h2]Why we adapted and reinvented this tree
[/h2]



Historians agree on the fact that the oldest and most reliable mention of a Robinhood dates to an obscure parchment from 1228. However, the Major Oak is supposed to be between 800 and 1000 years old, so it is very probable that at the time of Robin Hood, this tree was still only a shrub! Therefore, Robin Hood and his companions probably did not shelter there, as the legend tells.

Indeed, as tales and legends do, it is also the job of us creators to not simply repeat stories, but to reinvent them.

As you can see in this gif, we took some liberties to bring our Oak Tree to life. We placed the tree on a small mound, to emphasize its central role. We also chose to represent it in the fall, to showcase it’s bright red foliage through which the sun's rays pierce, making it even more majestic. Finally, we added two long metal pipes, symbolizing the fusion of opposing elements: nature and man’s technology, direct consequences of our steampunk reinterpretation of this timeless legend.
[h3]
From a physical reality to a concept art, from a myth to a video game, we hope you enjoyed this journey with us. We can't wait to tell you more about Gangs of Sherwood and look forward to your discovery of it in just a few months![/h3]

Learn how to hit the bull's eye in Gangs of Sherwood with Robin's Spotlight! 🏹🎯

Fight the armies of the Sheriff of Nottingham and lead the rebellion, solo or in co-op with up to 4 players. Play as one of the Merry Men, combine your attacks, and free the people in this futuristic dystopia inspired by the legend of Robin Hood.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]