Alaloth: Champions of The Four Kingdoms News

Alaloth has a very complex combat system which is a key part of its gameplay, so the combat animations had to be both functional and impressive. We chose Alaloth’s fighting styles and their animation after a long period of study and comparison together with our tech-animation department and designers. We wanted Alaloth’s combat system to be as spectacular as possible. The system we settled on allows you to choose from and improve 5 different fighting styles, all with their own unique animations—one-handed, one-handed + shield, two-handed, dual wielding, and polearms.



The animations we ended up using were taken from our libraries and then modified by our animation team to adapt them to the needs of our designers and maintain a unique visual style. We utilize both motion capture and handmade animations and Root Motion is essential for us to make movement and combat as real as possible. Once all the animations were put into our test environment (we call it the Dojo) and selected, we moved on to managing the animator controllers in Unity. During this development phase, it was important to maintain a dialogue between our coders and tech-artists to ensure the best possible management of the animations and transitions. Our goal of course was to have everything be as smooth as possible, so to do that, we needed to set certain mechanics in our animator controllers to create a unique common base set to start from for each fighting style.



Each fighting style was designed in a way that the timing and combos would give the same feel and so enhance players’ experience with all 5 fighting styles. Light attack animations and heavy attack animations are used in each style, and thanks to our animator controller, we were able to manage combos consisting of only light or heavy attacks, or a mix of both. In addition, we introduced a multidirectional dodging system to give the player a tactical advantage by being able to dodge attacks in all 4 directions once an enemy is locked onto.




Enemies in the game also use this animator controller system and, thanks to a complex AI, they can manage a series of fighting styles and behaviors—from the most cautious to a more aggressive and brutal style. Finally, closely related to the VFX department, we have unique animations for unique skills. In Alaloth you can customize your character by choosing different Ways of Power, classes, and skills. Each one of these has its own animations, changing accordingly with the chosen fighting style.



But in the world of Alaloth there are not only warriors looking for fame and fortune. In each city, town, or tavern you will find different NPCs and animals, each with their own set of animations, according to the situation or task they are carrying out. Plamen is a living world and we transmit all of this through the scenes of everyday life with tons of gestures that are scripted by our writers and to allow players to appreciate each dialogue and all the small details that make the lore of Alaloth unique. With all of this we hope to make Alaloth’s world as immersive as possible.


[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!
Let’s continue our journey through the world of Alaloth. You’re already familiar with the Kingdoms and their cities, so it’s time to stray off the beaten path.

[h3]Journey through Plamen[/h3]
As you travel across the lands of The Four Kingdoms, you will find yourself in cities, caves, ruins, and dangerous areas. Some of them are revered and often worshiped by the kingdom they are found in as special points of interest.

Each of these places are considered important monuments to the culture of their kingdoms, and the envy of many. They often mark moments in history that could not be forgotten.

[h2]Points of interest in Edherest[/h2]


[h3]The Sea of Stars[/h3]
Located at The South Sea of Edherest, this shore is unusually calm and holds shimmering lights that shine at night. The lights take the shape of constellations that are not present in the night sky and have bewildered scholars for ages. The waters are considered a sacred place, blessed by the gods, and thus no warship may enter the territory of the Sea of Stars and no blood may be shed in its vicinity.

[h3]The Tears of Light[/h3]
Vaizmil’s face shines through a remarkable sculpture carved into the cliffside here. A true testament to human art that encapsulates nature’s beauty, the Tears of Light fills all that look upon its grace with awe. Waterfalls flow from her eyes like tears, grieving the death of the Goddess of Light.

[h3]The Turquoise Ice[/h3]
Nestled beneath a glacier, there lie beautiful gems and crystals that shine their light through the ice, changing its colour to turquoise. It remains unknown why the gems are buried inside the glacier, but most can agree that the spectacle of the ice and lights is surely divine.

[h2]Points of interest in Larastir[/h2]


[h3]The Sentinels[/h3]
Towering over the landscape, the Sentinels, huge monoliths, were formed by the fierce winds of the southwest, originating in Chillwitch. Having contended for their possession for years, the dwarves and elves came to an understanding that the stones should be protected together rather than fought over.

[h3]The Gloworm Caves[/h3]
To the south of Dawn’s Rest lie the Gloworm Caves, brimming with resins that shine like gems, reflecting the light of the stars into the beautiful landscape. They open inside the ancient forests of the world, surrounded by trees that were petrified long ago.

[h3]The Waterfalls of Wishing[/h3]
North of the elven city of Nir’Lathias, the Waterfalls of Wishing astound those who are fortunate enough to see them. The bizarre saturated colors of the water and plants comes from, as legends say, the magic of fairy creatures that dwell in the area, though nobody has seen them.

[h2]Points of interest in Karak-Hohn[/h2]


[h3]Bingel, The Hawk[/h3]
Carved into the stone by strong winds and shaped into the form of a woman with an eagle head, Bingel is viewed by the dwarves as a protective idol of their culture, a sign from the sky goddess that the heavens will not harm them.

[h3]The Bloody Lake[/h3]
The mountain’s blood flows down to this lake, tainting it as red as can be. Some say that the blood comes from the dragons slain by the dwarves in days past. But the reality is much less interesting than the tale woven into the place, as the color originates in the rusty water and diluted minerals that come from the dwarven mining camps.

[h3]The Eye[/h3]
The highest peak of the Giant Knee, the Eye overlooks an impressive landscape spanning several hundred feet below it. The beauty one sees when embracing the view is unparalleled. For that reason the dwarves consider The Eye to be sacred ground where funeral rites are held.

[h2]Points of interest in Baga[/h2]


[h3]The Spoor of Gorbag[/h3]
South of the Great Mothers, a great depression named The Spoor of Gorbag cuts the land that looks as if a giant horse smashed the ground with its hoof. The crater runs deep into the ground to the point that water springs from its depth. The orcs have been trying to devise a plan to channel the water to their towns for a long time.

[h3]The Well of Baga[/h3]
In the light of dawn after Baga’s humiliation in The Valley of Storms, a hole appeared, running deep into the ground until no man could see its bottom. It is said that inside the rift the body and spirit of the hero Baga still roams, restless from his failure. The orcs regard it to be a sacred place that serves as a reminder of the horrors that Baga’s pilgrimage wrought upon the Desolation.

[h3]Kima, The Volcano[/h3]
A small active volcano by the southwest border of the Desolation. Frequent seismic activity savages the land, and the volcano is prone to eruptions. The gas spewing from its depth gave birth to many poisonous herbs, fatal to most.

[h2]Discover new content every week[/h2]
If you missed any lore update post, explore them here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480286416728
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2947008021749049042
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2947007387768598012
We hope you enjoyed this introduction into the rich world of Alaloth. What 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, 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.

[h2]Discord Kingdom Allegiance[/h2]
Lately, we also introduced an Allegiance feature on the game’s official Discord server. Those of you who are already in the server or just joined it, have to decide to which King or Queen you want to swear your allegiance.

For now, the roles are just a display of your allegiance. In the future, they will play a greater part in community activities.

Make sure to pick your Kingdom now and discuss your homeland’s lore with your fellow countrymen.

Enjoy your stay!

[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/

[h3]Champions![/h3]
To end this particularly strange year on a positive note, we are hosting an Alaloth - Champions of The Four Kingdoms AMA today (December 23) at 7pm UTC on the game’s official Discord server.

If you haven’t yet, join the server, and start typing your questions in the #ama channel to give us a heads up.

Developers of the game (Gamera Interactive) will be available to answer any and all questions you have about Alaloth and its development. Don’t miss it!

Set a Steam reminder or mark your calendar and get notified when the AMA starts:



[h2]Discord Kingdom Allegiance[/h2]
Earlier today, we also introduced an Allegiance feature on the game’s official Discord server. Those of you who are already in the server or just joined it, have to decide to which King or Queen you want to swear your allegiance.

For now, the roles are just a display of your allegiance. In the future, they will play a greater part in community activities.

Make sure to pick your Kingdom now and discuss your homeland’s lore with your fellow countrymen.

Enjoy your stay!

[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/

[h3]Champions![/h3]
Before you set off on a quest to find The Fifth Kingdom and free the world from Alaloth’s influence, let’s consult old tomes to learn more about the history of the Kingdom. Read a tale of ambition, ignorance, and manipulation.



[h2]The Fifth Kingdom [/h2]
At the dawning hours of the Second Era, the Goddess of Light, Vaizmil, looked upon the world and saw only conflict and war. She saw friend turned against friend, and disloyalty and pain. She saw a realm disjointed by falsehoods when it could have been one prosperous kingdom. Thus, she came up with a plan.

The Fifth Kingdom, a kingdom that was to be in the center of The Four Kingdoms, was at that time a vacant land with a mighty abandoned city, ripe for the taking if one was brave enough. Vaizmil convinced the All-Father to enact her dream through trickery, telling him that only the strongest realm would be able to claim the Fifth Kingdom and rule over all others. But the reality was that she had no intention of leaving The Fifth Kingdom to competition. Her purpose was unification, as only with the united force of The Four Kingdoms would the land truly know peace.

Vaizmil was so set on her ambition to save the mortal realm and the All-Father on the prospect of combat that they did not think of the rules he’d set up long ago, prohibiting him from intervening physically in the mortal realm. The moment The Fifth Kingdom was created, the Mother of Betrayers was free to revolt against the All-Father.

Vaizmil realized her mistake and the Mother’s plan and tried to warn the gods of the war that was coming, but none would listen. As a martyr, she confronted the Mother and her son, Alaloth, alone, only to be murdered. But when she died, her life force spread across the kingdom in shards in the hope that they would one day help the mortal race enter the Fifth Kingdom.

With Alaloth’s victory over The First Pantheon and his mother, he saw himself as beyond the gods. He attempted to cross into the mortal realm via The Fifth Kingdom, but the moment he set foot in it, he was chained to the ground, unable to move, stuck forever. His sheer presence in such a holy place has corrupted the Kingdom and spread his venom into the ground.

There is only one way to restore the world to what it was before Alaloth ravaged the lands with his Tempests—gather the shards of Vaizmil’s life force and conquer The Fifth Kingdom for the good of the whole mortal realm.



[h2]The Spectral Circle[/h2]
Since the moment Alaloth was born, he had already planned to betray his mother. With his powers of manipulation, he had convinced a selected few in the mortal realm to wait for his descent and be his mortal army as he took over their world.

These few formed what is now known as The Spectral Circle, a cult that worships Alaloth and revels in the corruption he brings to the world, caged in The Fifth Kingdom.
The goal of the Circle is to spread his corruption further, seeding chaos inside The Four Kingdoms, and defile their gods.

Their ultimate goal is to release Alaloth from his chains and let him wreak havoc on the realm, taking it as his own. They expect to be rewarded for their efforts and will go to any length to show devotion to their lord.

They are hunted all across the kingdoms, but like cockroaches they always reappear, corrupt the young, and increase their ranks faster than any cult the world has ever seen. They care nothing for mortal life and accept their death as part of Alaloth’s plan. They fear nothing and their ideology will survive as long as Alaloth is alive. While the other kingdoms and groups want The Fifth Kingdom for themselves or for the good of all mortal beings, the Circle merely wants it as a tool to free their lord—the Kingdom and the world mean nothing to them.

[h2]Discover new content every week[/h2]
If you missed any lore update post, explore them here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2947008021749049042
https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2947007387768598012
We hope you enjoyed this introduction into the rich world of Alaloth. What 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, 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.

[h2]Discord Kingdom Allegiance[/h2]
Earlier today, we also introduced an Allegiance feature on the game’s official Discord server. Those of you who are already in the server or just joined it, have to decide to which King or Queen you want to swear your allegiance.

For now, the roles are just a display of your allegiance. In the future, they will play a greater part in community activities.

Make sure to pick your Kingdom now and discuss your homeland’s lore with your fellow countrymen.

Enjoy your stay!

[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/

When we started Alaloth’s pre-production back in 2017, we knew we wanted to make a full 3D game. The original prototype was very cool in the end and we caught the attention of a few outlets by showing it behind closed doors at different events. In the end, we decided to announce the game early on in its timeline because we had the chance to be featured by IGN on its whole network.

That meant millions of viewers and it was the best way to get the ball rolling! Anyway, while thinking about the pros and cons of the plan we had in mind, and still busy with pre-production, we decided to change direction. Environments make up most of what you see in the screen of a game and in their complexity, they are among the most difficult things for a computer to render. To look as visually appealing as possible while still being able to run on almost all platforms, we decided Alaloth should use pre-rendered environments. Moving on using fully pre-rendered environments completely changed our work pipeline but at that time, our thought was that pushing on the art department would have been much easier than stressing coders, in a moment when we were still on the hunt for talents able to push Unity to its limits and still working on our tools. It ended up being a wise choice that allowed us to work on our idea of creating a hybrid game that was in-between a classic RPG and a modern action game, bringing 3D mechanics to an iso-view. Challenging. Unique.

Working with pre-rendered environments allows for a much faster workflow and less of a burden on our computers, with the only downside that scenes cannot be rotated while playing. Depending on the kind of scene, if combat or non-combat, we start from a concept, outlining the key parts of the experience we want to offer. For cities, the focus is almost only on the visuals, while dealing with a fighting area brings a totally different scope to the level design. No matter what scene we’re working on, the first step after the concept stage is measuring its size. It would be really bad to have extremely different sizes inside the same area family, so we essentially measure two kinds of values: the minimum distance a player will travel to reach the edge of an area and the one he needs to walk to roughly reach every spot in the area. Each kind of area, be it a city, fighting area, or anything else, is enclosed in a range of sizes that can’t be broken.



At this stage, multiple professionals work together to reach the right balance of performance, visual appeal, and design elements. When all the sizes are set and the walkable blockout has been created, the Environment Artist, together with a designer, start building the scene.



While for non-combat areas the process is more or less straightforward, for fighting scenes, we have to keep an eye on combat flow. Multiple design elements can be used to enhance a user’s experience and let the player interact with environments instead of just walking through them. However, these design mechanics are condensed in advanced stages, since we wanted to keep early scenes simpler and gradually add more challenges the farther a player goes on their journey.







A scene is gradually built, from ground up, with a neuter light to better see all the important details. At this stage, we mostly take into account navigation and boundaries; everything must be as easy as possible to walk through, while enemies can’t remain stuck in place or block a player in a corner.

When everything is in its place, we tweak the lights according to the mood we want to achieve.



After that, we focus on VFX such as post-process, fog, and particles. Keeping in mind that everything is going to be baked onto textures, we make sure to migrate animated elements to final scenes, such as flames, water, and similar VFX. At this point, the vast majority of the work is done and we proceed to bake everything into a set of textures that our proprietary tool automatically outputs as an array of pictures. Not only is a color texture produced, but also technical elements such as depth, occlusion and geometry information, as well as navigation and real-time lights.



The technical stuff is being moved into the final scene to make things work, while the color bakes undergo a final step of hand painting to enhance details that would be too complex to do in 3D.

Lastly, the scene is populated with NPCs and mobs and tested over and over again to ensure that everything works as it should.

The entire process takes 3 to 5 days, depending on the size of the area. This is why we were able to create over 100+ areas with a relatively small team in less than a year. Completely 3D scenes would have needed much more time and resources to achieve similar results, with the need of a much more powerful machine to run the game.

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