Alaloth - Champions of The Four Kingdoms News

Today we are going to delve into the creative process of world dressing, character placement, and population control. The world dressing of a game is a very important aspect of development as it determines what the world of a game will look like. Things like whether there is a large population in a city, an impoverished family, a warrior protecting others, or a crazy person with insight into the future, are decided during this process.

The game has Four Kingdoms, each with its own cultures and traditions, and thus their own kinds of population. In those Kingdoms there are major cities and towns that are distinct from one another, so what works for one city in a sunny plain, may not work for a city covered in snow. In our work to find a balance in setting up the NPCs in Plamen’s cities, we looked at the architecture and the surroundings of the area we were populating. If a city looked very ornate and wealthy, like a place where only the upper classes and royalty lived, then the nobility would take center stage in the dressing of that city, with commoners seeming out of place if found there. On the other hand, if a city was supposed to be known for being a den of villainy and scum, the area would be populated mostly by commoners and shady individuals while the nobility would be scarcely seen.





When working on character placement in the different cities of our game, understanding the relevant Kingdom’s culture was perhaps the most vital aspect that needed to be taken into account before placing a single NPC. We’d consider such things as: ‘Does the culture allow for more liberty in the day to day of the common folk?’, ‘Does society look down on certain classes or races?’, ‘How nationalistic or patriotic are the people in this particular corner of the world, and what is the relationship between the race that controls the city and the other races of Plamen?’.

Another thing that would help in choosing where our NPCs would be placed is travel. While knowing the world of the game is certainly the key to understanding what kind of characters and archetypes go to which city, travel allows you to understand how cultures and geography can change the local population. Each city in the Kingdoms and the different Kingdoms themselves are similar to one another and yet very distinct, and that is what world dressing tries to capture so that the world doesn’t just feel populated, but alive.



Our goal is always to immerse you in the world we are creating, meaning that every character in the world, even if they are not someone you can interact with, has to have a purpose. When placing these characters, the world dresser has to have a story behind why they’re there; ‘What are they doing there?’, ‘Who are they?’, ‘What do they want?’. Some of these reasons won’t be apparent in the game, but thinking of these reasons when placing NPCs is part of making the world more believable and closer to our own.

[h2]Discover New Content Every Week[/h2]

If you missed any of the previous Development Updates, check out the latest ones here:

https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3060730254432975108
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3058475918421648964
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2961646623389887320

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the making of Alaloth. What do you think about the process of populating Plamen? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. Sometimes they will come in the form of a special Companion update to introduce companions that may accompany you on your quest. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

[h3]Follow our official channels to stay up to date:[/h3]
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our Newsletter Check out our Steam page



https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Champions!

You’ll need power and skills to survive in the world of Alaloth. To possess them however, you will first have to choose a Way of Power and a Profession. Today we’ll take a deeper look into the Way of Nature, one of the three Ways of Power you’ll be able to choose from.

In the beginning there was only the All-Father’s chaos and Jaiha’s earth. The only power to be harnessed was the raw energy of nature. It was the elves of old that learned that if one nourished their connection to the nature around them, they would reap great rewards. A champion who chooses the Way of Nature will gain elemental magical skills that can be used at a long range against their enemies. This way draws on the power of the nature gods to help a champion manipulate the flora and fauna that surrounds them.

[h2]Professions of the Way of Nature[/h2]



Like every Way of Power, the Way of Nature has its own unique professions. These will help you connect to the natural world and vanquish your enemies.

[h2]Elementalist[/h2]



By joining with nature, Elementalists have control over all elements in the mortal realm. They excel in conjuring these elements and manipulating them as they please.

Earthquake
Shake Jaiha’s earth to knock down your enemies and make them lose their balance.

Fireblast
Bring forth a mighty dragon within you that will burn your enemies to a crisp with the heat of its fury.

Lightning Bolt
Harness the power of thunder and lightning to strike forcefully at your enemy with electric results.

Winter’s Grasp
Permanently freeze all the enemies around you by surrounding yourself with the icy winds of winter.


[h2]Arcanist[/h2]



Arcanists focus more on the magical aspect of nature rather than on controlling specific elements.

Arcane Shield
The forces of nature and of magic are one. With both, you can form a mighty shield that will protect you from harm.

Forcewave
Knock the enemies that are assaulting your position to the ground with the force that exists deep inside all living things.

Disruption Field
There’s no reason to let the enemy storm your party without obstacles. Call upon nature to slow and disrupt the will and might of your enemy, giving you an edge in battle.

Cloudkill
Unleash a poisonous cloud that envelops your enemies and follows them as they try to escape.

[h2]Warden[/h2]



Wardens completely immerse themselves into nature, becoming one with it. They guide it and revel in it, manipulating it with admiration rather than selfish need. Wardens control the creatures of the ground as well as the earth itself.

Bohai’s Hand
Summon the mighty thorny hand of Bohai, a root that will capture your enemies and keep them in place, not allowing them to move while it's called.

Elemental Aegis
Do not let the enemy attack you with that which you hold power over; protect yourself from the powers of the elements with a shield made from them.

Healing Spring
Form an aura around yourself that will promote the natural processes of healing in yourself and your allies.

Summon Familiar
Call on the powers of nature to summon an animal familiar to fight by your side and charge at the enemy for the duration of a battle. The pet will follow you for as long as it lives.

[h2]Discover New Content Every Week[/h2]
If you missed any of the previous Lore Updates, check out the latest ones here:

https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3060730254448222082
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3060730254426286535
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3059602452005106721

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Do you think you’ll choose the Way of Nature? Which Profession did you find the most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

[h3]Follow our official channels to stay up to date:[/h3]
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our Newsletter Check out our Steam page



https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Champions!

You’ll need power and skills to survive in the world of Alaloth. To possess them however, you will first have to choose a Way of Power and a Profession. Today we’ll take a deeper look into the Way of Gods, one of the three Ways of Power you’ll be able to choose from.

In the world of Plamen, you are never alone. A god or two is always watching over you, guiding you, giving you strength, or cursing your enemies. Following the Way of Gods, a champion will have the power to gain boons and abilities from a plethora of deities; some good, some evil—depending on a champion’s wishes. The gods channel their power through champions that they feel are worthy of possessing it, channeling spells that heal or kill as needed.

[h2]Professions of the Way of Gods[/h2]



Like every Way of Power, the Way of Gods has its own unique Professions that will help you restore the faith and fight like the blessed monks.

[h2]Templar[/h2]



Templars are mighty defenders of the faith, providing holy energy to the world by channeling the powers of the gods of justice, healing, and truth. Templars swear to protect the four kingdoms using pure magic.

Divine Shield
Gather the powers of the gods to form a protective shield that will defend you from incoming attacks from close and afar.

Holy Fire
Call upon the ire of the gods and send their righteous fury against enemies with a fire that burns more than just the unholy.

Bless
The power of the gods channeled through this blessing will give you and your allies a boost in battle.

Consecration
The enemy aims to corrupt the lands of the blessed gods, but you won’t let them. Consecrate the ground beneath them and punish them for their sins.


[h2]Cleric[/h2]



Defenders of the faith and preachers of the word of the gods. Clerics travel between holy places, healing the sick, blessing the righteous, and smiting the sinful. They protect the mortal realms from abominations and the evil magic of the undead.

Banish Undead
Send skeletons, zombies, and any creatures that dare to crawl out of their graves back into the ground with the blessing of the gods. Cause damage to all undead near you.

Purify
Traveling and fighting in these corrupted lands takes its toll on you. Purify ailments and misgivings from yourself and your allies.

Sanctified Field
Cast upon the ground around you the sacred power to cure yourself and your allies when in battle, and block the malice of your foes.

Heal Wounds
Let the lifeforce given to you by the will of the gods flow through you to heal yourself or those around you.


[h2]Necromancer[/h2]



Death is not the final stage for mortals as some may think. Necromancers hold dominion over the realm of the dead. They can raise them from their graves and make them walk the streets once more. Necromancers use the dead as their own personal army to fulfil their wicked plans.

Summon Undead
Give the bloated corpses and piles of bones around you a new chance at life in your service as they fight to “die” for you.

Vampiric Touch
The blood that flows through your enemy’s veins is yours by right. Take their lifeforce for yourself as you strike against them.

Affliction
Afflict your enemies with a potent ailment from the gods of death and cruelty, let them suffer slowly as they fight against you.

Curse
Let your opponent have no advantages in battle and make them vulnerable, make them feel pain when they try to strike against you.


[h2]Discover New Content Every Week[/h2]
If you missed any of the previous Lore Updates, check out the latest ones here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3060730254426286535
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3059602452005106720
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3062978883683506392

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Do you think you’ll choose the Way of Gods? Which Profession did you find the most interesting? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. Sometimes they will come in the form of a special Companion update to introduce companions that may accompany you on your quest. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.

[h3]Follow our official channels to stay up to date:[/h3]
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our Newsletter Check out our Steam page



https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

Nearly every game, from shooters to RPGs, has a narrative. It can be hidden in the background or carry the player from beginning to end, but it's always there. It has been our job to create that narrative in Alaloth: Champions of The Four Kingdoms, and embed it into every aspect of the game, be it in combat, quests, or the characters that you’ll interact with.



The world of our game has been in the works for quite some time, with different visions and building blocks laid out during the first years of development. It was during this stage that the core ideas of the game; the villain, kingdoms, gods, and overall style took hold and still influence every subsequent addition to the game. With the lore and world of the game already in place, new narrative designers didn’t have to invent the wheel, but rather expand upon it.

The first step when starting on a new project, particularly in the creative field, is to study the material meticulously. Every page, character, tree, and ant that was already created by previous writers needs a thorough examination. Every god and kingdom needs to be understood. In our role as designers, we need to first read everything that exists, then fully comprehend it, and finally memorize each and every small detail. Then we can create our own original stories, but set in an already pre-existing world and with a similar style.



After becoming familiar with the source, one can add to it, creating quests, characters, and in-game items that complement the existing lore. Sometimes a pre-existing aspect of the world needs to be reworked to fit the in-game content. It’s fun to create the intricate details of a kingdom and how each noble house behaves, but we need to be careful what we create is reflected in the dialogues, the random barks a player can hear on the streets of a city, or when meeting face to face with a king. Everything needs to mesh together seamlessly.

Narrative Design is similar to writing a novel or a movie, the components are all there. Every narrative has to have its structure, highs and lows, and its relation and inspiration to human life as we know it. But game narratives add an extra layer to the job. As a game writer, you need to consider the core gameplay and game design with every line of dialogue you write. You need to verify if a game can do what you want it to do, can the engine handle these complications for the sake of a narrative? But also, does the dialogue complement the style of the game? How do you convey your information in third person, or in an isometric view? All these have a deep effect on how you write and what you write, because while you can get sucked into the world and let your imagination run wild, nothing of what you write will ever see the light of day if the game is not considered first.



Another aspect of Narrative Design, once you look past your own imagination, is inspiration. The world of Plamen is one that takes the medieval style and combines it with magic and supernatural forces, leading to a lot of sources of inspiration when trying to create and expand these concepts into something original. One could look at old fantasy books or at the direction of similar games, but it’s important that these inspirations do not consume your product. You can be inspired by another game, like a concept, but at the end of the day, your world and story have to be your own creation and not depend completely on another.

Alternatively, a designer can look to real life for inspiration. When deciding on the names and traditions of races in the game, we looked to the different cultures of Earth for sources of inspiration. Irish festivals, Jewish holidays, and African dress are just a few examples of cultural aspects that can be studied for inspiration. Looking to Earth cultures for inspiration also has the added benefit of creating a sense of belonging in the characters of the different races, giving them some commonality in the world.
This commonality also applies to the religious structure of Alaloth. Looking at ancient mythologies and the Bible itself, one can see the natural progression of a creation story, a tale of a god, prophecy, and prayer. It’s only with great knowledge of the world that surrounds us that we can create new and exciting worlds just like Tolkien did for Lord of the Rings.



In Alaloth: Champions of the Four Kingdoms, we’ve strived to bring you an engaging world full of mystery, chaos, and challenges. That all seeps into the core of our narrative, from the quest at hand to defeat a fallen God, to the many characters you’ll encounter along the path to that goal. Each companion will offer a new perspective on the world, and each character has their own internal motive for you to discover. At the end of the day, we can only hope that you, the player, will fall in love with the cast of misfits we’ve assembled and the world we created for your enjoyment.


[h2]Discover New Content Every Week[/h2]

If you missed any of the previous Development Updates, check out the latest ones here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3058475918421648964
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/2961646623389887319
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/4811498361139642909

We hope you enjoyed this foray into the making of Alaloth. What do you think about creative design in gaming? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.


[h3]Follow our official channels to stay up to date:[/h3]
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our Newsletter Check out our Steam page



https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/

In the lands of Plamen you’ll find many who will want to join in your crusade against Alaloth—if your interests align. Some will come from far and wide, from distant lands or from their own home in Plamen, but all have the same goal in mind—defeating the great demon. These characters are potential Companions who would join you on your quest. The first you may choose to add to your band of heroes is Lileah. She is someone who cherishes the light of Vaizmil and wants to protect all that is innocent and good, especially now, that corruption that is slowly but surely taking over Edherest.




[h2]Lileah, The Last light of Vaizmil[/h2]

Hailing from Altar City, Lileah was orphaned when the city was destroyed by Alaloth’s Tempests. Now the city is known as the God Graves. As a child, she was always aggressive and looking for a fight. No caretaker or family had the patience to bear with the wild child and she often found herself on the streets of Edherest. As she matured, she formed a bond with the Shield-Bearers of Vaizmil, eventually becoming a member, and used her aggression and violent nature for good. But as the priesthood lost its hold over Edherest and magic users became more powerful than ever in the service of the great houses, Lileah found herself disillusioned by her position in life. She worked tirelessly to save persecuted priests from the hands of the houses and now, she seeks a way to restore balance to the kingdom. As the last sentinel of Vaizmil, Lileah has taken it upon herself to fight against the enemies of the Goddess and slay the ultimate monster, Alaloth. She will seek a champion to join forces with who will protect the innocent and do what’s good, even at the cost of self-sacrifice.



[h2]Discover New Content Every Week[/h2]

If you missed any of the previous Lore Updates, check out the latest ones here:

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3059602452005106720
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3062978883683506392
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/919360/view/3062978248987410801


We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Do you think you’ll be the champion Lileah is looking for? Share your thoughts with us on Steam and Discord.

Lore updates will be posted on Steam every Wednesday* and will introduce key characters, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you the full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. Sometimes they will come in the form of a special Companion update to introduce companions that may accompany you on your quest. A brand new piece of art will be available every Monday* as well!

Be sure to check Steam every other Friday* to get an update on Alaloth’s development. The updates will give a general overview of in-game content, explain gameplay features, give insight into the gaming tech we use as well as reveal other game-related content.

[h3]Follow our official channels to stay up to date:[/h3]
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our Newsletter Check out our Steam page



https://store.steampowered.com/app/919360/Alaloth_Champions_of_The_Four_Kingdoms/