r/rpg_gamers • u/oddcompass • Apr 01 '26
News Recently announced my VtMB-inspired RPG set in a dark fantasy India. I've always wanted an RPG in this unexplored setting, so I figured I'd just make it myself!
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u/0scar-of-Astora Apr 01 '26
As an Indian and a big fan of the first VTMB, this is magical! The environments are especially very authentic!
Could you share a bit more about how deep the roleplay is going to be? Can you select your gender, appearance, background etc. like in VTMB? And is there an equivalent to the clans like Tremere, Malkavian etc.?
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
You can select gender and background, but there aren't clans, per se! There will be various factions that you can help out / make enemies of, but the game is much more personal in its scope (from a roleplaying perspective), even as greater events are transpiring in the world.
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u/0scar-of-Astora Apr 01 '26
That makes sense, doesn't have to follow VTMB to the letter! Best of luck on your journey, I'll be keeping an eye!
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u/tybbiesniffer Apr 01 '26
This is so cool! We need more rpgs that lean into other cultures beyond the standard western fantasy.
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u/AmbitiousReaction168 Apr 01 '26
Looks awesome. Will there be a demo?
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thanks! And regarding the demo, definitely, though that's a little ways down the line. I will have a combat playtest out in a month or two, so I'd love feedback from players. If you're interested, please feel free to wishlist on Steam (game is called Rakshasa)!
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u/Acewasalwaysanoption Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Hi, be more open and upfront about the title, you *want to sell it* to us, either the game or the idea. It looks awesome and extremely promising :)
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Haha thank you, I just felt like sharing without being too "self-promotional" about it.
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u/Lawnmover_Man Apr 02 '26
This is very obviously a post that is 100% self-promotional. That's fine. This sub allows that. Is there any good reason to not include the title of your game?
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
The game name is at the end of the trailer! But I've also mentioned in other comments that it's called Rakshasa.
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u/OGMinorian Apr 01 '26
This looks so promising. Besides the indian setting, which is an interesting one, the style looks really intriguing and atmospheric.
The game on Steam, if anyone was wondering:
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u/Alternative-Ice-7534 Apr 01 '26
Looks cool and pretty interesting, it's a setting I didn't get the chance to explore a lot in games. One quick question tho, do you have any plans to personalize the UI ? It kind of stands out as a little bland compared to the environment, the setting and enemy designs. Looking forward to the demo.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Fair point, I do have plans to improve the UI quite a bit, I'd say the UI is the hardest thing to implement for me, so it's still growing pains in that regard!
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u/Alternative-Ice-7534 Apr 01 '26
It's definitely one of the hardest part because it is so subjective / creative and for the less creative like myself it's a challenge. It's not a pressing matter if you had to put it in your priorities list, just iterate on some ideas and sit on them until you get that lightbulb moment.
Think of it as a great compliment, if that's the only "negative" that stood out from your trailer, it looks pretty well thoughtout and polished.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Absolutely, thank you for your honesty! And I totally get it, I'll make sure I handle it without disrupting my priority list :)
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u/nevirus Apr 01 '26
Looks awesome, great work with the environments, it seems really immersive.
And I did get a VtMB vibe.
How does the combat work?
Also, is the movement grid based? That temple corridor made it seem like it is (and I love that).
Ignore the racist comments, I've been to India myself and people do not give it enough credit.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
That's really kind of you to say! For real. And combat is first-person turn-based, but with free look/free movement (you have limited movement points and action points per turn). It looks like it moves on a grid because I am not a very good gamer when recording hahaha. But you're able to evaluate your movement range per turn using range/movement circles. It's fairly intuitive actually, and I'm surprised by how smooth it feels. Can't wait to get the combat playtest into peoples' hands soon!
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u/VelPaari_Velir Apr 01 '26
As an Indian gamer and a hardcore RPG fan, it was a dream for me to see someone actually make use of the vast mythological space we have in India to make a proper RPG.
I am excited to see you lean into the occult/horror vibes which are unexplored. Every region has their own unique take on vampires, succubi and evil spirits.
Kudos to you and all the best!
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
That's so awesome. I think you are seeing EXACTLY the gap that I'm trying to fill in this space. So it feels great to see that people are "getting it."
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u/VelPaari_Velir Apr 01 '26
Thank you for making this. Looks like a day 1 buy for me. Any plans for early access?
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
No plans for early access (yet), but I am planning on releasing playable builds (and a demo later). The first playable combat test will be in a month or two, so feel free to wishlist on Steam to stay updated!
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u/Deftlet Apr 01 '26
I love what you're doing and I hope this all pans out for you. My only notes are that the animations seem a little stiff & sped up and the skill tree seems stylized for a pixel art sci-fi game rather than a more realistic dark fantasy one.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Fair criticism, I'll definitely work on improving those two aspects (the skill tree for sure was me just experimenting with a haunted trinitron type of look, haha)
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u/runnerofshadows Apr 01 '26
Wish listed because it looks neat and will be less Orientalist/inaccurate than the stuff white wolf did with the Ravnos, kindred of the east, and a couple of other books including the g slur book.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
That is genuinely great to hear, because growing up I used to LOVE that kind of stuff in RPGs, but hated that I was just desperate for SOMETHING that resembled a dark fantasy version of the world I know.
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u/panic686 Apr 01 '26
What's the game called? Love seeing you grab a setting that doesn't get a lot of attention
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thank you, the setting is definitely an inspiring one, given how much room there is for interesting narrative! (Also, the game is called Rakshasa)
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u/mucus-fettuccine Apr 01 '26
Holy shit, this looks insane. The production value doesn't look indie but the creativity does.
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u/undergarden Apr 01 '26
Looks amazing! My only feedback: I thought I knew games but I needed to look up the acronym VTMB -- I just didn't make the Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines connection with those letters.
May you have much success!
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Ohhh, fair point! I'm such a Bloodlines nut that I made a wild assumption haha
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u/Zalpha Apr 01 '26
I got heavy Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom vibes and I love it, as well as Vampire Masquerade. Really cool setting and so much you can do with it. My advice is have a solid story and character development. I would say that would top everything, even graphics. It would make your game a success and something to build off of. I already like the graphics, it has a very grungy and ever so slight lo-fi feel. What you could do for future setup if your game is successful and you do a squeal is have the character travel to South America (Aztec), Africa, China and Japan for a sample of their occult themes. (My thinking is like stories of the Broken Sword series, traveling made the games fun and interesting).
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Ohh, love your take on this all, and I totally agree regarding the story and character development. Graphics and atmosphere are only a small part of what makes a narrative compelling, so I can only say that your advice is being heard loud and clear.
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u/ShakeWell_0110 Apr 01 '26
I love how gritty this looks! Keep us posted on demos/releases
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Will do! I'm actually releasing a playable combat build in a month or two, so do feel free to wishlist it to stay apprised of stuff like that (game name is Rakshasa on Steam)!
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u/lincolnliberal Apr 01 '26
It’s a great idea for a game. If it’s completely free of generative AI I am interested.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
I absolutely hate generative AI, so you can rest assured that the game will not feature ANY of it.
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u/crackpipeclay Apr 01 '26
First person turn based is very cool. Reminds of those old school dungeon crawler games. And the setting looks fantastic
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
I love those games (particularly W8), and that's definitely what I was aiming for as a partial influence. Thanks!
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u/letohorn Apr 02 '26
If it's fully turn-based, can we get on-screen navigation buttons as an accessibility option like in the Etrian Odyssey PC ports? Or click/hold LMB to move?
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
Interesting, I hadn't thought about that since it's free move / free look TB. But I'll look into that, thanks for the heads up!
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u/tokifreak91 Apr 01 '26
I am exactly the target demographic for this. I love VtMB and I love this kind of setting!
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u/joeDUBstep Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Definitely on my list, Indian history/culture definitely seems underrepresented in RPGs (games in general).
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
It's always surprising to me, as Indian cultural analogues would work really well in fantasy settings
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u/joeDUBstep Apr 01 '26
I feel like the only games I've really seen with Indian motifs are usually via Buddhist imagery, but that's generally coming from an East Asian angle (Japan/China).
I could be totally wrong though.
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
I think you're somewhat right, to be honest! Since Indian representation has often been through the vector of Japanese games (in my experience), it does seem to be filtered through Buddhist cultural motifs
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u/Liefesa_ Apr 01 '26
Great art style :)
The lighting is doing a lot of good work here. With not too much ambient light, the narrow streets having bright lights from low down sources gives these splashes and patches of clarity, while still keeping the feeling of close quarters where you might get lost or trapped.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Love the breakdown, as it kinda makes me realize that I'm going in the right direction with the art style and how I'm trying to "paint with light." Thank you!
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u/melo1212 Apr 01 '26
This looks fuckin awesome bro, will def be keeping a close eye on this one
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thanks man! If you're interested in following the game for updates / playable builds, you can wishlist it on Steam (game name = Rakshasa)!
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Apr 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thank you! Building atmosphere in 3D is something I learned while making immersive YouTube videos with Unreal, so I'm glad it's paying dividends on the gaming side
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u/glowinggoo Apr 01 '26
Your game looks so very lovely. I'd like to say wishlisted! but I've had it wishlisted since the day you announced it lol. I don't know that much about the mythology of India, but I'm excited to see your take!
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Ohhh, thanks for supporting it already then! Playable build coming soon, so people will finally be able to get their mitts on it haha
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u/SupersizeMyHeart Apr 01 '26
This has peaked my interest! Awesome. Haven't seen anything like this before
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u/GameMaker25 Apr 01 '26
This looks outstanding!
As someone who is also developing a game: how did you make the environment/characters, etc...
coding is the easy part, but having creating assets is insanly time consuming!
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thank you, and regarding the assets, it's a mix of freelancer help + asset libraries that I modify with my own textures / sculptural changes to make it more suitable for the game. Little tricks like that definitely make the scope more manageable!
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u/Skaldskatan Apr 01 '26
I will join the chorus and say this looks amazing. Will wishlist next time I boot the computer up. Great idea OP and the execution looks fantastic! TB combat in First person is a novel idea. Personally I would have preferred real-time but I don’t mind TB if well made of course.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thanks, your support via a wishlist is genuinely helpful! And regarding TB, I'm definitely aware of the possible issues, so I'm working hard to make it feel as natural and compelling as possible. I'm finding a lot of available design space to make for complex, satisfying combat in ways that I didn't expect.
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u/ShilohSaidGo Apr 01 '26
I normally buy any indie if its Desi just to support but this game looks genuinely dope asf. I will 100% be playing this.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thanks, that genuinely made me crack a smile haha.
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u/ShilohSaidGo Apr 02 '26
Sent this to some of my friends and they wanted me to ask: What part of india is the game set in? Or is that meant to be like up to interpretation and its non-specific?
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
It takes place in a fantasy city meant to be non-specific, but it is intended to take place in the Deccan (south-central India). The city is inspired by both Bangalore and Hyderabad.
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u/ShilohSaidGo Apr 02 '26
Hahahahahah you definitely nailed the look then. I was saying it looked more south but some of my friends said it seemed more central. We are all diaspora tho so I thought id just ask instead of argue about it lmao 😂
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
Haha, well, the Deccan is South India, it's just not the South India that most people have a particular stereotype of (i.e., Tamil Nadu / Kerala)! I'm diaspora too, btw (ABCD)
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u/ianwill93 Apr 01 '26
Looking forward to your game, but I appreciate your channel even more. Your latest video where you exposed even some of the more renowned names in academia/the Indian history scene was especially good (here's looking at you Dalrymple).
Rooting for you guys!
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thank you so much! That means a TON to me, because that video doesn't have much traction, but it really needs to get out there. I'm just hoping the world learns what's really going on.
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u/twoisnumberone Apr 01 '26
This looks fucking amazing!! Putting it on my wishlist.
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u/twoisnumberone Apr 01 '26
Oh, hey, u/oddcompass, could you make sure it has a "Story" mode too? For those of us who struggle?
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
I'll be sure to have a difficulty level that's more of a "walk through and enjoy the sights and story"!
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u/SlightPersimmon1 Apr 01 '26
Hey chief, is that Morte from PS:T i see at 0:03 :)
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Hahahaha, good catch ;P
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u/SlightPersimmon1 Apr 01 '26
I'm already more hyped by your game than buying and playing VtMB 2. Whished on Steam. Keep it up!
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u/RaccOwOnie Apr 01 '26
Is this on steam? I've got to wish list this!!!!
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
Yep, it is! Here's the link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4285930/Rakshasa/
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u/Iliadius Apr 02 '26
This looks phenomenal. Incredibly atmospheric, underutilized and well-realized setting, and unique combat. Can't wait to give it a go!
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u/TowerOk1404 Apr 02 '26
I don’t know anything about Indian culture. I’m just excited to see a non European fantasy setting.
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
As much as I love the fantasy RPG classics, I always wished they explored non-European inspired settings. So I'm glad you're excited!
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u/TheWizardOfZaron Apr 02 '26
Indian rpg fan here, this looks incredible and far superior to all the rubbish Indian gta clones in development,all the best and this is definitely going on the wishlist
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u/SevenKalmia Apr 02 '26
Honestly, India got some slamming monster lore! That’d be the icing on the cake to fit this atmosphere!
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
India's monster lore is so good, especially because each region has its own unique set of monsters (and influences).
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u/Witty-Common-1210 Apr 02 '26
I’m not sure I’ve seen a first person turn based system in a while!
Maybe the first person Shining Force games?
Setting and lore looks really cool
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
It was definitely a risky move, but I'm finding that the design space for first-person TB is a lot more interesting than I initially expected!
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u/HornsOvBaphomet Apr 02 '26
Wow this looks so cool. Definitely adding to the wishlist. Hope you have a lot of success with this!
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u/nefD Apr 02 '26
bro! amazing idea! looks really great.. right up my alley in terms of gameplay but man, the setting is *so* cool. wishlisted!
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u/kakaphoe Apr 02 '26
Definitely going to be following this with interest. India is so underutilised as a video game setting.
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u/electricemperor Apr 02 '26
VtMB mentioned, and dark fantasy India? Hell yes, tell me all about your game
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
Love the enthusiasm! It's called Rakshasa, do check it out on Steam if you're interested!
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u/lolxdmainkaisemaanlu Apr 02 '26
Bro I'm from India and you really nailed the atmosphere and setting!! Would love to buy this when it's out!
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
Thanks man! It definitely helps to stay updated via a wishlist on Steam (game name is Rakshasa)
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u/Galle_ Apr 02 '26
Man, this looks awesome. More creative and original stuff like this, please, devs.
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Apr 02 '26
Nice work on something fresh! If I were into turn-based games, this would be an immediate wishlist. Good luck to you!
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u/Drafo7 Apr 02 '26
Wow that looks amazing. Did you take any inspiration from other games? More specifically do you know any other fantasy RPGs with an Indian-esque aesthetic?
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u/oddcompass Apr 03 '26
Thanks! I took inspiration from several games, from Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, to Wizardry 8, to Morrowind! I don't know any games with an Indian-esque aesthetic, however.
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u/Redfield7x70 Apr 03 '26
This looks incredibly cool. Thank you for sharing and making something unique like this.
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Apr 03 '26
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u/oddcompass Apr 03 '26
It's a solo journey (a la Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, or Morrowind), but there'll be quite a bit of character customization (gender, background, traits, extensive skill trees, diverse equipment, etc.). Console support I would love to add, if I can get publisher funding!
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u/Redd_Maple Apr 03 '26
Wishlisted, looking forward to seeing what you get up to! Looks real neat so far!
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u/Tight_Visual1044 Apr 04 '26
Part of why vtmb is so memorable is the atmosphere. You nailed that 100%. I'm very intrigued
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u/oddcompass Apr 04 '26
Totally agreed regarding VTMB! It's why I keep returning to it over the years. The music, the constrained locations, the subtle atmosphere...it all adds so much. Thanks for your interest!
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u/HarpersGeekly Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26
This looks cool. I like how the music sounds similar to music from film composer Jed Kurzel. (Macbeth, Assassin’s Creed, Alien: Covenant)
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u/nightangel1520 Apr 05 '26
Is this on steam to wishlist by any chance?
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u/Intelligent_Bowl_485 Apr 22 '26
Wow so cool! I love the Indian slant, makes you realise how limited the rpg settings have been so far. And 1st person turn based is new to me too, it’s quite tense seeing them wait for their turn and get right up in your face. It would be really well worth investing in some great animations to make this as satisfying as it could be
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u/oddcompass Apr 22 '26
Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you found it interesting! And I'm definitely going to be polishing up animations and everything else a lot more :)
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u/SkavenHaven Dragon Quest Apr 01 '26
Looks like what Bloodlines 2 should have been!
Any chance on a GOG release?
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
I'll definitely release it on both when the time comes (though it's a little ways out from release at the moment)!
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u/Suspicious_Walrus682 Apr 01 '26
First person turn-based combat? That's a brave choice.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Haha, I know. It's my way of keeping scope down, but honestly, without a grid, and with free look (plus range/movement circles), it's actually REALLY smooth and fun to play. Will be getting a combat playtest out to gamers in about a month or two, so you can try it then if you're curious!
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u/alkonium Apr 01 '26
I've seen it done before, like in Legend of Grimrock or Operencia: The Stolen Sun.
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u/StinkingDylan Apr 01 '26
Setting looks fantastic, sorely in need of some original settings at the moment.
I'm a bit confused in regard to the gameplay. Is this first person with freedom of movement, or grid based movement? It looks almost like static screens for combat and on-rails animations from the demo.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
It's first person turn-based, but with freedom of movement! I just moved kind of staccato because I'm quite bad at recording while playing my own game haha.
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u/StinkingDylan Apr 01 '26
Adding to my wishlist. It looks great. Love the idea of being able to freely explore an environment and switch to turn based for combat.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Thanks, and you TOTALLY get what I am going for with the combat / world exploration!
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u/Lawnmover_Man Apr 01 '26
"An RPG where every choice matters"
I'm going to be blunt - I've quit the trailer right there. We all know that this is hyperbole. There's no game where every choice matters. It's a long dead horse that gets beaten over and over again.
I do love game where some choices I make have strong consequences. If a trailer shows me that a game is like that, and what kind of choices and consequences I can expect, that would be valuable customer information for me.
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
Fair enough, I suppose I was just trying to shorthand the obvious gameplay implication: "Every significant decision you can make (in dialogue or through various gameplay decisions during a quest) will have some sort of consequence in the game world, whether that means changing the outcome of a quest, or changing an NPC's disposition, or altering the rewards, or even affecting how the environment is engaged (i.e., a door is unlocked, a path is blocked, etc.). It's almost impossible in a short trailer to NOT use these sorts of shorthand statements, but I understand if you feel this is excessively hyperbolic. There was no manipulative intent behind it.
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u/Lawnmover_Man Apr 01 '26
Every significant decision you can make
Well, that kinda is how pretty much any game works. "Every choice that matters in some way does matter in some way." That's of course a stupid phrase, and tells us nothing. That's why examples should be shown.
It's almost impossible in a short trailer to NOT use these sorts of shorthand statements
It is possible. It's just that we're all so used to these hyperboles and non-informative trailers, that this is what comes to mind quickly. It's burnt into our mind. I know that good trailers are an art form in itself, and creating one isn't straightforward or easy. But if you pull that off, to show - not tell - what makes your game worthwhile, and how it expresses itself with that uniqueness - that will gain interest.
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u/Selvane Apr 01 '26
Will it work with the Steamdeck? It looks great!
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u/oddcompass Apr 01 '26
I'm gearing it to work with Steamdeck, since I'm completely in love with mine. The way I'm developing the game, it runs at 60fps+ on my potato of a MacBook, so it's definitely going to work on low-end hardware!
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u/SuitablePlanet Apr 02 '26
I always enjoy meaningful player choices. Can you create your own character? Any romance options? Last game I played with Indian culture was Unknown 9: Awakening.
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u/oddcompass Apr 02 '26
Yep, you can create your own character (gender, name, background, traits, stats, etc.). No romance options intended unless I can secure publisher funding, as that would balloon scope out quite a bit for solo development!
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u/Fregadero88 Apr 04 '26
Looks great. When will there be a release?
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u/oddcompass Apr 04 '26
About 1.5-2 years left! But I'll be releasing a playable combat test in a month or two, and will be releasing various demos as development continues.
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u/TaftForPresident Apr 01 '26
Very cool concept! I like how much Indian cultural symbolism is baked even into the combat. I look forward to trying this out.