Don't Kill Them All News

[p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p]So here we are: our first ever journal, for future Warchiefs like yourselves![/p][p][/p][p]Yep… this was originally meant to be a journal about the art style, but as I wrote it, we realized we needed to explain all the other changes first. So now, the art style journal will be the fourth one. It’ll be worth the wait, trust us![/p][h2]
The old premise[/h2][p]If you remember correctly, here’s what Don’t Kill Them All is all about: [/p][p][/p][p]"Don't Kill Them All is a turn-based strategy and base-building game in which you teach bloodthirsty Orcs to develop mindfulness by discovering passions, navigating emotions, and developing healthy relationships."[/p][p][/p][h3]Or is it?[/h3][p][/p][p]While mindfulness is a core mechanic of the game, we noticed it didn’t connect with some players in the way we’d hoped. Who would have thought that "finding solutions to emotional problems" might not sound fun? Of course, that’s not how we actually describe the game! But that’s how some players saw it, and first impressions really do matter.[/p][p][/p][p]To all the Sims fans, imagine if the game were pitched as "Enjoy going to work and cleaning your house!". Would you buy it? Probably not! Games should be an escape after a tough day, not a replay of it![/p][p][/p][p]Mindfulness is a key part of our gameplay, but making it the main focus just doesn’t work. That leads us to the big question: What’s the true premise of our game?[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Synopsis[/h2][p]To better understand the new premise, here’s a little bit of DKTA's story.[/p][p][/p][p]"The Orcs have a mantra: 'Kill Them All!'. This battlecry strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear it, as what proceeds is a mindless rampage of destruction and mayhem which leaves nothing standing in its wake.[/p][p]Unfortunately, this has spelled ruin for the Orc clan, as any resource that could have been collected and used to enhance their camp during their rampage was destroyed. The current Warchief is unable to bring their Orcs in raids without triggering a 'Kill Them All!'. So Urdorok, the Orc Warlord, decides new blood is needed.[/p][p]He promotes the player, a simple Orc, to Warchief, and as their first task, they are given very clear instructions: rebuild the Warlord's Throne, which has been broken for ages, and remember: 'Don't Kill Them All!"[/p][p][/p][p]We believe players need to understand what they are doing and why they are doing it to truly resonate with a game. For us, the "What" is collecting resources, and the "Why" is rebuilding the Orc clan.[/p][p][/p][p]In fact, both the "What" and the "Why" are the heart of your main quest and are central to the core gameplay loop in Don’t Kill Them All![/p][p][/p][p]So, where does "developing mindfulness" fit into all of this? It’s actually a "How". Connecting with a "How" is often challenging, since everyone wants to bring their own unique perspective and methods to life. This is even more true in video games![/p][p][/p][p]Once we understood this, it was obvious that our premise needed to be clearer for players, especially when it came to our "Why".[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]"He promotes the player, a simple Orc, to Warchief"[/h2][p]Wait, did I read that right? Isn’t Olive supposed to be promoted to Warchief in this game?[/p][p][/p][p]Yes! But as development progressed, we realized just how much fun creating your own orc really is. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to let players step into the role of Warchief as themselves![/p][p][/p][p]Good news: If you’ve pledged at the Archaeologist tier or above, you’ll get to play as your orc-self! We’re really excited about the customization system and hope to make it possible for players to share their Orcs’ designs with friends and family in the future.[/p][p][/p][p]About Olive. To be honest, we were never completely convinced by the idea of her being an outsider, and calling her an official "Life coach" always made the story feel more complicated than it really is. The Orcs should be the ones to tackle their own problems, and that’s it. So we’ve decided she’s no longer a relevant part of the story.[/p][p][/p][p]Don’t worry, Olive isn’t entirely out of the picture! She’ll still play a role in the game and help you in her own unique way. How exactly? We haven’t fully decided yet, so feel free to share your wildest ideas![/p][p][/p][p]As for the Life coach outfits unlocked by backers, rest assured, they haven’t been forgotten. Since Warchiefs aren’t life coaches themselves, our aim is to enhance the Orcs’ customization system, so everyone can look forward to something exciting. We’ll share more details about this in the future![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]The new premise[/h2][p]Having covered what we’ve learned about the game, here’s the fresh new premise:[/p][p][/p][p]"The Orcs are broke! Embody their Warchief and lead them out of misery in this brutish strategy and base-building game, where whatever’s left standing gets looted. Forge bonds between units, shape their personalities and passions, and unleash their true potential both in and out of battle."[/p][p][/p][p]Here, we’re highlighting what players will actually do and feel in the game: Strategically questionable, yet undeniably satisfying destruction! The "Why" is leading the Orcs out of misery, while the "What" is looting everything that’s left standing.[/p][p][/p][h3]The "How" is up to you.[/h3][p][/p][p]This is where moving mindfulness out of the spotlight truly stands out. Previously, it was the only solution. Now, it’s just one among many, and the way you balance them will shape your Orc clan’s unique identity![/p]

• [p]Gurd’s constantly afraid when venturing into the dark and gloomy Forgotten Mines? Help him vanquish his fear of the dark![/p]
• [p]Don’t feel like connecting with your troops? That’s okay. After all, fear can be an effective motivator![/p]
• [p]Got a bunch of jealous Orcs that haven’t been on a raid in a long time? Spread the wealth among them to keep the peace![/p]
• [p]Got an Orc who’s wreaking havoc on the battlefield? Alter their loadout to favor precise destruction![/p]

[p]As we said last week, this is just the beginning of our efforts to be more transparent. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or let us know how you’d like us to share updates going forward![/p][p][/p][p]And that’s a wrap for Journal #1! Next week, we’ll take a closer look at the Orcs and what makes them unique![/p][p][/p][p]Don’t forget: Don’t Kill Them All![/p]

[p]Hello fellow Warchiefs![/p][p] [/p][p]Today’s a good day! I’ll be speaking on behalf of the studio, but first, let me introduce myself: I’m Francis, the new community manager at Fika. As one of the studio’s co-founders, I’ve been part of Fika since we started back in 2018. If you’ve played Ship of Fools (our first game), you’ve definitely seen my work, from editing trailers to crafting islands and combat encounters across the seas.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]My goal is to bring more transparency between Fika and you, the fans. There was some oversight on our end in the past years, and I am currently working on ways to improve all our channels of communication, including Steam. Since the campaign ended, we’ve kept things pretty secretive about the game’s progress. There have been lots of small positive changes since what was first shown, and it’s time to get you up to speed![/p][p] [/p][p]To avoid overwhelming you with a giant, headache-inducing update, we’ll be rolling out news in weekly ‘Warchief Journals’ for the next four weeks. This way, we can chat about each change together and collect your thoughts for the team. We’ll start with the art style, then move on to the game’s story, mechanics around orcs, and finally, the general gameplay loop.[/p][p] [/p][p]Because it’s our first time adopting a more transparent communication style, we’ll begin by sharing updates in the exclusive Kickstarter Discord Channel starting next week. This way, we can fine-tune our approach before communicating it to everyone, two weeks later.[/p][p] [/p][p]So you. YES, YOU! Have you pledged on Kickstarter at the Magician tier or above? You still have time to use one of your rewards: access to the exclusive Kickstarter Discord Channel! So far, only 15% of all backers have joined us on Discord. It’s the best place to connect with the team! If you don’t have a Discord account yet, start by creating one. Then, click the link below to join our private server.[/p][p] [/p][p]https://discord.gg/fika-productions [/p][p][/p][p]You can claim your Discord role in any channel by using the chat command "/kickstarter". You then have to enter the email address linked to your Kickstarter account. For those who have pledged for access to the private channel with the devs, you’ll gain access after redeeming your role.[/p][p][/p][p]Not interested in using Discord or unable to access the exclusive Kickstarter Discord Channel? No problem! We know Discord isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The Warchief Journals will be posted two weeks later on our Kickstarter, our main Discord channel, and of course here on Steam.[/p][p] [/p][p]After these updates are released, we’ll shift to a monthly schedule. Each month, we’ll post a Journal that covers recent updates, changes, and what’s ahead for the game.[/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p]That's it! As you join our Discord and get ready for next week, enjoy this small preview of some fresh enemy designs![/p][p] [/p][p]Cheers![/p][p]
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[h2]What if we Don't Kill Them All[/h2]

Skulls pile up, but the coffers are empty. Blinded by their constant destructive urges, the Orcs leave nothing standing in their wake. A simple raid for wood quickly turns into a massacre and clear-cutting. Something has to change, and fast.

In Don’t Kill Them All, you assume the role of a self-proclaimed Life Coach with an extraordinary solution : What if… WE DON’T KILL THEM ALL?

[h2]A new game?[/h2]
After the success of our first game Ship of Fools, we invite you to live a new adventure in this turn-based strategy and base-building game in which you teach bloodthirsty Orcs to develop mindfulness by discovering passions, navigating emotions, and developing healthy relationships!



[h2]Kickstarter![/h2]
It would mean the world to us if you show your appreciation for our work by backing our game! You can also wishlist it now on Steam to stay in the loop. We’ve put a lot of care into it and we’re sure you’ll like it a lot!

To back our project on Kickstarter
To watch the trailer on Youtube

And remember: DON’T KILL THEM ALL