Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Indie
A Year of Rain
Say Hello to Killian Morningview
Thanks for staying with us. Prior, we introduced Shen The Scarred and Morrig Fogvale. Two of four heroes of House Rupah. If you missed them, make sure to check out our News Section.
Today, we'll introduce the Paladin who is the face of our Social Media channels: Killian Morningview. The captain of the mercenary outfit and a paladin of the morning sun. She’s a veteran of many battles with enough scars to prove that she’s hard to take down. A life of warfare, however, does not only scar the body, but also the soul.
Concept Art
On the first original concept, Killian had pigtails. That's how she is currently shown on our Social Media channels. Since then, she had a visit at the hair stylist who decided that pigtails is not really what you want to wear when in a war. So in the final 3D model, you'll find her with a different haircut.
3D Modeling
Not just her haircut changed. She also got a better armor.
Killian's Abilities
[table]
[tr]
[td]Lay on Hands[/td]
[td]Instantly restores some of a friendly unit's health and reduces incoming damage by a set percentage for a couple of seconds.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Fear no Darkness[/td]
[td]Shields Killian from some damage and redirects incoming damage in a small area on to the paladin for a couple of seconds.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Dawnblade[/td]
[td]Killian dashes some distance towards an area and swipe attacks enemies in the area in front of her applying a debuff that slows down for a couple of seconds.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Night's End (Ultimate)[/td]
[td]Killian protects all units from incoming damage in a circular area for a couple of seconds.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
Killian is the third playable hero of the House Rupah faction. Just one is missing: Lord Jaidee Rupah, the leader of the faction. Read more about Lord Rupah next week. We're looking forward to it.
Part 2/2: To bring back RTS games to everyone's virtual shelves
Why we are attractive for existing RTS fans
We strongly believe that we can be your new favourite RTS game. With the help of our friends from TaKeTV and the known StarCraft II professionals HeRoMaRinE (mousesports) and Harstem (Asterion), we developed A Year Of Rain for YOU!
Play in a team and try new strategies
We see a tendency towards team gameplay. While most other RTS games feature 1vs1 modes, we completely focus on 2vs2. With a second player, you unlock new ways to strategically outdo your opponents. Our game features are created and balanced to support team gameplay. A role selection at the beginning of a match allows both players to choose complementary roles to perform even better as a team - or play double support. It's up to you really. Besides an ingame chat, we offer a ping system with which you can communicate with your team partner, no matter if real player or AI, effectively.
Bring your friends - no matter if pro or not
Thanks to our onboarding features (see our latest DevBlog), new players learn quick and can support you in a match already after a few first matches. You also gain extra XP for playing with an unexperienced player in a team.
A great story in a brand new universe
Experience the epic story of A Year Of Rain in three campaigns with ten missions each. All missions are created for co-op mode but can be played singleplayer with an AI. The first campaign will be included upon Early Access release. The other campaigns follow later.
A lot of hotkey functionality ingame
We implemented a ton of different hotkey functionality ingame, inspired by all your favourite RTS games including but not limited to: Unit grouping, grouping buildings, hotkeys for hero selection and idle worker, saveable camera positions, skipping through unit types in current selection, different ways to add or remove units to selection and many more! Key bindings can be changed in the game options.
Still not convinced?
Then check out all the improved featured like: Replays, Ping System, AI, Ladder System, Hero Roles, specific upgrades, or our plans for new game modes such as Against All Odds: A new asymmetrical 2vs2 game mode where two heroes face two entire armies.
Give it a try and wishlist A Year Of Rain today to be the first one to play!
Part 1/2: To bring back RTS games to everyone's virtual shelves
How we make our game accessible for new players
It's our goal. It's in our veins. We want it to happen. We believe that we can bring the real-time strategy genre back into everyone's shelves. No doubt about it, that requires a lot of hard work and focus. In todays blog I'd love to share our thoughts on how we want to bring new players to the genre.
While the reasons for losing in other genres are easier to understand, in an RTS, reasons for losing can have multiple layers. One doesn't just had a faster aim on your head or casted the better spell. In an RTS, it could already be over if you don't scout. Or don't know how to scout. Or don't know how to counter the units of the opponent ect. ect. We believe that it is very hard to learn and understand an RTS game. And that is why it is so hard for new players to find their way into this genre. We want to change that with A Year Of Rain.
We're a team-RTS
Take a look at how your team mate plays. Looking, copying and trying is a valid way of improving your own skills. Many of our game modes are set up for 2 versus 2 matches, so you never play alone. Don't worry about your team mate. If he has a higher skill, he will be getting a bonus on XP at the end of the match for being a role model for you through the game. If your opponents are ranked higher in the game, you both are also getting a so-called Underdog bonus for playing against more experienced players.
Build Order Guides help you through the match
You're not completely depending on learning from your team mate. At the beginning of the match, we offer you different Build Order Guides to follow. They vary on the chosen role you'd like to play and list actions we recommend you to fulfill your role. We plan to offer multiple Build Order Guides for multiple playstyles in-game. There is no need to search for those online anymore.
Tips and Hints
We're working on an intelligent hint system that analyses your gameplay and gives you tips and hints after the match on what you can improve. This is a complex thing to do, but we're taking on the challenge.
Watch a replay of your matches
Your matches will be saved as replays. Through an ingame menu, you'll be able to watch your matches again from a Spectator perspective to analyse what happened and to take a closer look at what your team mates did.
Fair matchmaking procedure
We aim for a fair matchmaking. We sort players into leagues and tiers. Advanced players will play in higher leagues. Your opponents will be just about right for you to play against.
That much for our current plan. We're sure there is much more we could do. If you like, let us know more ideas to improve onboarding of new players. Write us in the comments below, in our Steam Hub or in Discord.
All that doesn't mean that A Year Of Rain is boring for existing RTS fans. In our next blog, we'll take a look at how we cater existing RTS fans with A Year Of Rain.
Wishlist A Year Of Rain now to receive news updates as soon as they are posted.
Last time, we introduced Morrig Fogvale, Ranger from the north, to you. Today we're on fire (pun intended) and show you the next hero from the House Rupah: Shen the Scarred.
Shen is an evoker from the southern lands dedicated to the element of fire. She’s young, but her profession has a tendency to leave people somewhat weathered, burned or worse, even if you’re not on the receiving end of the spell. Her social attitude is warm (no pun intended) and has a definitive no-bullshit heads-on approach to most problems.
Concept Art
Compared to Morrig Fogvale, Shen has no outdated concept art and received no rework. Since she is dedicated to fire, her right arm is partly on fire and looks "slightly burned".
She carries a book and a staff with her, with which help she can summon a fire elemental to fight by her side.
3D Modeling
Very close to the concept art, Shens 3D model was one of the first final hero models for A Year Of Rain. She quickly became the favourite choice for most of our developers in internal battles.
Promo Art
Probably because Shen the Scarred is a developer’s favourite, she is featured on our current A Year Of Rain main promo art, visible on most of our Social Media channels and our Steam Shop Page.
Composition Ideas
Shen's abilities
[table]
[tr]
[td]Fireball[/td]
[td]Deals X damage to all enemies in a circular area.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Fiery Chains[/td]
[td]Roots all hostile units in the circular target area in place for X seconds, making them unable to move.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Conjure Fire Elemental[/td]
[td]Summons a fire elemental that attacks enemies.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Emberstorm (Ultimate)[/td]
[td]Summons a circular firey vortex for X seconds that pulls enemies towards it and dealing Y damage.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
* Why are there no values in the table? Because they are still in the balancing process! Meet Christoph, Game Designer, here!
With Shen, you already saw two of four heroes of House Rupah. Receive a notification when we show more by wishlisting and following A Year Of Rain below.
Okay, okay! We're really into showing the content our community asks for - as long as it is possible in the current production state. So join our Discord Server and tell us what you'd like to see.
Discord member Spartak did so and after Wednesdays' blog post he said "I was expecting some gameplay info as well like his abilities". Sure thing! Here we go:
What A Year Of Rain Staff says about Morrig Fogvale
"Always enjoying the advantages of range, combined with speed and a lot of BOOM."
~ Ahri, A Year Of Rain Game- & Level Designer
"I love to rush in, focus one big unit with "Relentless Hunter", slow him down, chase him, do some awesome damage with some sweet auto attacks, a smooth "Burst Shot" on these low fools to the left and right, and then, when they think that's all I've got, when they feel like: "He can't do any more damage!" - one nice "Monster's Bane" right into their glorious hero. I like when somebody yells:"#*!$% that Ranger!"
~ pitz, A Year Of Rain Visual Effects Artist (and apparently Storyteller)
"Morrig is the perfect hero when it comes to kiting the enemy; with his dash ability he is one quick dwarf!"
~ Mexicanopiumdog, A Year Of Rain Sound Designer
Morrig's abilities
[table]
[tr]
[td]Burst Shot[/td]
[td]Shoots arrows at all enemies in a circular area, dealing X overall damage. The damage will be splitted, if more units are hit.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Relentless Hunter[/td]
[td]Mark a target to to have it take X percent increased damage and reduce its movement speed by Y percent for Z seconds.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Dash[/td]
[td]Increase movement speed by X percent for Y seconds.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Monsters' Bane (Ultimate)[/td]
[td]Shoots an explosive arrow at a target that deals X damage and knocks all surrounding units Y distance away.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
* GIF: Reduced color palette and frames to meet Steam's file size limit.
Welcome to Game Balancing
The reason there are no numbers in the table above is that they are currently still in game balancing. Our Game Designer Christoph tries his best to find the perfect balance for all game abilities. That takes a lot of time and requires many adjustments over time. We're really excited to show the game to you the first time soon!
Christoph C. - A Year Of Rain Game- & Level Designer
Next week, we'll present the next House Rupah Hero. There, we'll already include the abilities to the blog post. Thanks again for all the hints we get how we can improve!
Wishlist A Year Of Rain to stay up to date when a new announcement is up!
In A Year Of Rain, your army is accompanied by a hero unit. Our first faction, called House Rupah, includes 4 heroes. One of them, Lord Rupah himself, is only available during the Co-Op Campaign.
Today, we're happy to show one of House Rupahs' heroes in detail: Ranger Morrig Fogvale. Morrig is a dwarf from the north and also a skilled hunter with a strong and sometimes unhealthy ‘if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth dying for’ attitude. His development came a long way.
First concepts
Originally, Morrig was planned to have a hood and a powerful crossbow. The blue coloured parts of the concept are replaced by the players' colour, so you know which hero belongs to you.
Reworked concept
Later on, we reworked him a little. He kept his crossbow but now shows his incredible haircut instead of a hood. Also, he got some muscles from us so he looks stronger. His clothes are inspired by old leather armour. Sadly, we're not allowed to show our reference images because they are most likely copyrighted.
Morrig lost his prominent blue coat from the outdated concept, where the color indicated the player colour. In the new concept, shoulder and arm armour will be colored in player colour instead.
3D Modeling
While Morrigs 3D Model and texture is already done, his animation is currently in progress. Our Animation team is almost done, right now working on his talk animation. After all animations are done, he will be implemented into the game where we can show him in action for the first time.
Morrig Fogvale, the dwarf from the north, is just one of 4 heroes from House Rupah. We'll introduce you to the other 3 heroes within the next couple of weeks. Wishlist A Year Of Rain to not miss any updates on our Steam Hub.
A Year Of Rain will feature three factions. Each with individual heroes, units, buildings and its very own unique story. The first and most human-like faction is called House Rupah.
House Rupah is led by a rich man from the northwest, called Jaidee Rupah. He is ready to claim unclaimed lands to make a name and a legacy. His call to arms has drawn in many soldiers of fortune to bolster his loyal house troops. Among them are those who share his ideals, those who are out for coin as well as those who want to see civilization prosper and expand.
Heroes of House Rupah
In A Year Of Rain, your army will be accompanied by a powerful hero. House Rupah brings 4 playable heroes to the table. Though, Lord Rupah is one of them and only available in the co-op campaign.
All heroes will be introduced to you in more detail over the next couple of weeks.
Units to your disposal
Multiple different units, tiers and upgrades are available for you. Every unit can be upgraded/learn a new ability through research.
Units of House Rupah:
[table][tr]
[th]Name[/th][th][/tr][tr]
[td]Builder[/td][td]Worker Unit[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Spearman[/td][td]Melee Unit[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Pathfinder[/td][td]Range Unit[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Cleric[/td][td]Armored Support Unit[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Runecaster[/td][td]Light Siege Unit[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Knight[/td][td]Armored Melee Unit[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Djinni[/td][td]Magical Range Unit[/td]
[/tr][/table]
Addition: Find details about all units HERE.
Buildings
[table][tr]
[th]Name[/th][th][/tr][tr]
[td]Keep[/td][td]Main Building[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Barracks[/td][td]Main Troops Production Building[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Elven Enclave[/td][td]Unlocks unit in Barracks[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Temple[/td][td]Secondary Troops Production Building[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Library[/td][td]Unlocks unit in Temple[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Stables[/td][td]Unlocks unit in Barracks[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Floating Gardens[/td][td]Advanced Troops Production Building[/td][/tr][tr]
[td]Watchtower[/td][td]Defensive Building[/td]
[/tr][/table]
Addition: Find details about all buildings and upgrades HERE.
We'll reveal the unknown units and heroes of House Rupah over the next couple of weeks, together with their upgrades and buildings they're produced in. Wishlist A Year Of Rain to not miss any updates on our Steam Hub.
