Companions Update #1 - Lileah, The Last Light of Vaizmil
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.
Lileah, The Last light of Vaizmil
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.
Discover New Content Every Week
If you missed any of the previous Lore Updates, check out the latest ones here:
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.
Lore Update #7 - The Wandering Characters of Plamen
In the world of Plamen there are many who wander. There are those who’ve lost it all—their homes, loved ones, and purpose and then there those who by choice or curse are forced to be distant from the rest of the mortal world, until their goal is finally achieved. These latter beings are mortals of great power, either of the body, the mind, or of magic, waiting for someone to come and gain their favor by succeeding where they could not. Though found in the lands of The Four Kingdoms, they are not bound to them, nor do their kingdoms care for them or wish to aid them in their quests. The wanders’ only goal is their own, and whether that’s good or bad for the kingdoms they dwell in remains to be seen.
The Red Mage
The Red Mage is an unknown and mysterious sorcerer who dwells in Edherest by a lake overlooking a derelict magical tower, a Beacon Tower. He is known as a healer to some, a heretic to others, and evil incarnate to those that fear him. Rumors about his heritage and appearance circulate the streets of the kingdom but each story contradicts the last. What is certain to those that know him well enough, is that he does not bear ill-will against Edherest, on the contrary, he wishes to save it from the ever present corruption that has been seeped in from Alaloth and from unchecked magic. He wants to restore the Beacon Towers, colleges, and human society to the days of peace. The Red Mage is waiting for a champion to arrive at the doorstep to his tower and take on a task that will benefit them both, only after completing it will he know if the champion is ready to face Alaloth.
Kellis of the Zephyrs
Once just a powerful mage among the Elven high class, Kellis of the Zephyrs is just a mythical prisoner now, locked in the woods he once loved. He is a depressed and doomed soul who tried to embark on the Retreat, to venture the sea to the next life, but instead found himself trapped within the forest, unable to leave and unable to die. He has attempted to escape countless times but has always failed. Despite all this, Kellis is compassionate and never judges a creature or mortal on their nature, even if they do things he does not approve of. He watches the forest in defeat, and assists those who become lost. He seeks a champion to bring to him what he cannot get himself, to prove their mettle in the face of danger.
Forgeback
Forgeback is a legendary figure in dwarven history, the great dragon slayer of Karak-Hohn, known for his brutality in combat and the mastery of his craft. He is and always was a great smith, who could forge any weapon to kill a dragon. His hatred for dragons made him violent and unpleasant, with outbursts of anger over his loss that all of Karak-Hohn could hear him from miles away. Forgeback is only interested in seeing the dragon race extinct, not in their stolen gold or the glory of the hunt. He holds a personal vendetta and nothing but the death of all dragons will satisfy that need. In his old age he’s become unable to hunt the dragons himself, so he seeks a champion to aid him in his quest. In return they will gain the honor of wielding his work.
Nohrged-Kin
A sinister mystery, guardian of the oasis, exile, blasphemer, saint... These are but some of the words used to describe Nohrged-Kin, the shadowy figure lurking by the waters of the Thirst. He goads pilgrims and the lost to drink from it and watches as the consequences unfold. Nohrged-Kin is seen as vicious and cruel, but he cares not for the suffering of mortals, nor does he wish them ill. He merely wishes to test them in their hour of need. If there is something he truly detests, it’s the gods that the mortals of The Four Kingdoms worship, especially Maraika and the Mother of Betrayers, who hold favor in Baga. His obsession is directed towards rare idols of gods, which he desecrates for his entertainment. He will surely test the champion in his own way, and determine if they are truly the hero that has a chance set the world to rights.
We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Which wanderer 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.
Development Update #4 - Creating Real Time VFX in Alaloth
The role of VFX is very important in every video game, because they communicate a lot about the things that are happening within a game’s world, from simple rain to a pool of acid, creating and saying what can be good or dangerous, alive or static. Our VFX, are generally divided into two macro categories, environments and gameplay effects. Environments were introduced in Dev Update #2, which explains how, in order to create a live and realistic environment, VFX such as fire, fog, and particles are added. After the bake phase, every single VFX is moved to the final scene in order to have a living scene with fire, water, dust, lava, all weather events, and much more rather than just a static texture. All environmental VFX derive from a common base: for example, each type of dust or flame starts from a base VFX and our team is able to create variants based on the scene in which it will be placed, changing color, size, duration, etc.
For gameplay effects however, the situation changes. These are the VFX that give impact to the game and gameplay. In fact, before starting the production of these effects there was a long pre-production phase between the designers, coders, audio and tech guys, and the animators, all based on a deep knowledge of the project and game mechanics. Similarly to the animation process, we work from a few pre-made libraries to create a base layer of contents to iterate, change, and adapt to the game and we pair these assets with in-house assets created following the specs of the main Game design document or GDD. Libraries are really helpful but, due to the nature of our game, without proper 3D geometry and pre-rendered environments, there is still a lot of work to do even on VFX that are supposed to work 1:1 with a standard pipeline. In Alaloth, we have to manually tweak everything to have the same effect as intended for a full 3D environment. Not an easy task. In-house-made assets work the same way, always starting from a few benchmarks we reimagine working in a iso-view.
For example, for a dragon's breath of fire, we decide at the beginning of the design phase what the range and duration of the attack should be, then we define the damage system with the code/tech department and finally the graphic part, with a mixture of particles and shaders to give life to the flames. But the gameplay effects also help to inform a player of what is about to happen on screen. For example, in many enemy encounters, a loading VFX alerts the player that the enemy is about to cast a spell or use a special skill. Knowing how to create visual effects also means knowing how to use mesh, UV, and shaders to your advantage; these three elements, together with the particles, are the basis for the creation of effects, in addition to being visually important, and give the sense that they are rounding out animations.
This VFX for example is the combination of a series of elements that will give the enemy who will use it (no spoiler) a devastating attack power. It is based on a mesh with UV designed so that a custom shader can create this dynamic effect; in addition a cloud of fire will follow the mesh, together with craters on the ground that will spit tongues of fire and rocks.
Each enemy, from dragon to skeleton, from golem to spider, will have their own unique set of VFX, designed and studied by the whole team to make the experience as realistic as possible. The VFX creation process is variable and depends on functionality and usage. The process can take a few hours for a simple brazier to many more for an attacking gameplay effect, and require a close collaboration between all team members.
Discover New Content Every Week
If you missed any previous Development Update post, explore them here: https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2961646623389887320 https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/4811498361139642910 https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2924488755434060877
We hope you enjoyed this foray into the making of Alaloth. Did you find this behind-the-scenes look at VFX 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.
We hosted an Alaloth - Champions of The Four Kingdoms AMA with Alberto Belli (Founder & CEO) and Giulia Zamboni (Producer) on our Discord server recently. Many valiant heroes arrived from far-away lands to participate! We’ve gathered some of the most interesting questions and answers for you here, such as: How does the gear work? Can you cook in the game? Why is Alberto such a funny guy? Find out below!
The Game
Will there be medieval-inspired castles with their own interiors in each kingdom? Each kingdom has been basically built like this: there is a capital city (of course) where you can meet the ruler of your kingdom (who is actually the one summoning you to help fight Alaloth). Then we have a major city and five other minor cities to visit. Then you have three different points of interest and tons of fighting areas you have to claim in order to find pieces of the Artifact. You need the Artifact to enter the endgame and face Alaloth himself. So we have medieval stuff (especially in Edherest, the Human Kingdom), indoor and outdoor areas to explore, and many different locations you can visit.
How many roleplay systems are implemented aside from combat? You can do a lot of things. We’re happy with our hardcore crafting system which is very well-connected to the world’s lore & logic. For example, you can't find elven stuff in a dwarven shop. The only exception is visiting a specific store at a specific moment of the game calendar because an elven merchant is traveling through that area at that specific time. We have a reputation system and a responsive world that changes along the way (the passing of time is a key factor).
How big will the dungeons be? Will there be some deep dungeon crawls? We have different sizes for fighting areas all around the world map: Small/Medium/Large/Special. Let's say that a Small FA (Fighting Area) can be claimed in a short time, assuming that you are good at the game. Medium-sized FAs are twice the size of Small FAs while Large FAs are twice the size of a Medium FA.
How will gearing work? Are there prefix + suffix systems of random loot drops like in Diablo? Yes, that's the formula, but the drop system is way different than in Diablo. Basically, once you enter a fighting area, you don't get loot from mobs. Our approach on this has always been very hardcore, like the way everything is strictly connected to the weight you can carry with you. We didn't like the idea of having a giant spider dropping a sword (have you ever seen a giant spider? And a giant spider hiding a sword somewhere on its body?). So basically you'll have the chance to take stuff around, but you’ll have access to the "true" loot only once you've claimed the fighting area. There is a chest at the end of each one and you have to wisely choose what you can take with you.
How many gear slots and types of gear are present? An armor set consists of:
A unique piece
A cloak
A belt (with 4 slots to bring consumables to fighting areas)
Two ring slots
A trinket
The main hand
The off-hand
You aren’t able to access your inventory when you’re fighting so you have to choose wisely. Tons of items will be unveiled, cool armor & weapon sets, and many other unique objects.
Is it possible to use any weapon in the game or is it build-related? You choose a fighting style when creating your character, but yes, you can use any weapon in-game, just by equipping it.
Is the Main Character set to a specific arc and morality? (Example: You are a "good guy" and do questing, or can you choose to be a pillager?) There is no main (pre-made) character. You create your own, so you have to choose your alignment at the very beginning. In general, you play the role of a champion who has been summoned because of his/her skills, so we are using morality in a slightly different way than usual. You can hire (or not) companions with the same alignment only. So if you want to learn everything there is about them, you have to play a different character with a different alignment in a different run (a few companions' storylines are strictly connected).
Will there be any ranged build? Yes, you play the role of a heavy armored champion, but you can choose from 36 different skills when you level up and there is a Marksman build which is basically THE ranged build. Anyway, skills are not directly connected with the melee aspect, so you’ll keep fighting with swords, axes, and so on, AND you can use ranged skills as you can use any other skills (cooldown is in).
What about clerical spells & defensive builds? There is a cleric build, of course, and clerics are actually the only ones able to cast healing spells. Defensive builds are a thing, but you can basically mix any skill from any profession, so you can create something in-between or just get skills from random professions mixing warden skills, elementalist skills, cleric skills, and so on.
Is there any stealth component in the game? Not really. Enemies are responsive and will spot you if you don't pay attention, but you can try to sneak here and there. There’s no crouch option or anything like that.
What mechanics have been added to increase replayability? New game plus, different endings, random dungeons? Something else? If you want to fully discover the world’s lore and get everything from the game, you should play as each race at least one time. On top of this, our content/quests are basically "handmade", but we have a layer of randomly generated content that could make any run virtually endless.
Are there mounts in the game? Mounts are useful to move faster on the map and to carry extra weight with you. The map is completely free to roam, so you can move wherever you want. You move faster on roads and slower at the top of mountains or in a swamp, and so on. Mounts will help you to get around in general. So yes, we have special and unique mounts to be unlocked along the way.
Can you cook and have recipes in the game? Yes, we have recipes. Yes, you can cook stuff. Actually, you can use food as a consumable (putting it on your belt) and the buff effect is timed. If you cook stuff before entering a fighting area, the buff effect will last for the duration of the whole area.
Are there secrets to be found in the world? A LOT.
The Development
What games influenced the concept? [Alberto:] Moonstone is one of the main references. It is an Amiga game from 1990 that literally blew my mind at that time. But we basically are RPG people and I think we can say that there is a little bit of everything we love in Alaloth. The idea behind the concept BTW, was pretty simple: bring the 3D fighting mechanics of modern action games to an iso view, inspired by BG & co.
Were you drawing from any well-known inspirations? And if so, how do you plan on making your product unique to set it apart from them? We are trying to stay in-between old school classics (for the visuals, the iso view, the pre-rendered stuff) and modern masterpieces (3D mechanics brought to an iso game). That's how we plan to make a unique product. In terms of inspiration, we are not reinventing the wheel: this is high-fantasy with all the good things high-fantasy lovers (as we are) love.
When did the development of the game start? We announced the game back in 2017, but at that time we just had a working prototype and we were still actively in pre-production. Pre-production ended mid-2018 and we can say we officially started full development at the beginning of 2019.
Does the current game match the original plans? Development is hard, so during a full dev cycle lots of things usually change for a number of reasons. You can face tech problems or any other kind of issue (i.e. an unexpected pandemic -_-"), but we kept the same original vision and I can say that probably, we raised the bar when All in! Games jumped in, having access to extra resources we didn't have at the very beginning.
What are the design ethics behind how you wanted to approach the difficulty of the game? [Alberto:] I think games have to be fun. I personally don't like games that leave players frustrated, but I don't like "easy" games either. I think a good balance is getting a reward if you fight for it and putting the right effort into mastering systems. I would like to deliver a demanding combat system which does not end in a frustrating game. You have to die fighting the dumbest mob if you approach it the wrong way, correct. But you should be able to defeat Alaloth with the right effort if you master your skill set and combos.
Is it Unity or Unreal? Unity!
The Future
Will the game be released in Early Access or will it have a full release only? There are no plans for Early Access right now. The current plan is to have a full release in 2021 on PC, XONE, PS4, and Switch. That is if 2021 isn't a scam and we don't wake up on December 32, 2020, as some people predict.
What are your plans post-release? We would love to see the world of Alaloth - Champions of the Four Kingdoms grow. We have some ideas in mind, but it’s still too early to confirm or announce anything. We’ll wait to see your reception of the game first!
What about the comic book you've announced? WIll it be a prequel? Alaloth - The Tempest is a prequel comic book, yes. It will be 3 Trade Paperback in the US and will be available in bookstores/comic shops worldwide soon. We’ve just finished working on it, so physical copies are actually in production. P.S. It's amazing.
BONUS: Why is Alberto such a funny guy? He's working on Alaloth. How could anyone not be happy about it all the time ^^? Also, he eats a lot of pasta. SECOND ALSO: Because he is actually drinking his 5th glass of prosecco.
You can catch up with all the questions and answers from the AMA here (make sure to swear your allegiance to one of The Four Kingdoms first!). The discussion continues on Discord as we’re there for you every day to chat, hang out, and share a virtual glass of prosecco.
Learn more about the world of Alaloth
Check out a new piece of art in the Steam Artwork section every Monday*: https://steamcommunity.com/app/919360/images/
Every Wednesday* on Steam, you can discover new Lore Updates which introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you a full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. Read the latest issue: https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3062978883683506393
Every other Friday* we share Development Updates which 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. Check it out: https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2961646623389887320
*Based on external and internal factors, the frequency may change.
Dragons are competitive creatures. It is because of this that the four dragons remaining on the continent each claimed a kingdom for themselves. Having branched out and settled in their own kingdoms, the dragons are able to hold dominion over all the lives in a territory untouched by the other dragons. They use their environments almost to exhaustion, corrupting the land against its inhabitants.
Last week we spoke of the Dragons of Black and Gold. They were introduced as the dragons of the realm of humans and the realm of dwarves. The remaining two dragons that we’ll discuss today sought other prey...
Viainne
Hidden in the dense forests of Larastir, the green swift tailed dragon, Viainne, bides her time, hunting in silence as to not attract the attention of the elves. She is a prideful and vengeful dragon, but patient in her need to exact revenge on those who wronged the dragons so many years ago. She sees herself as superior to the other dragons and often does what she can to undermine them in her goal to reign supreme. The cave which she dwells contains a scent that enthralls mortals as they approach, allowing Viainne to enslave them, consume them, or slay them as she wills. Being the fastest of the dragons, she is one of the most dangerous opponents on the continent.
Pyre
Heat like the abyss, hell on earth...that is what the red dragon, Pyre, brings to all orcs as he ravages the lands of Baga. Pyre cares nothing for the traditions of old, he doesn’t hold grudges or fear anything, he just feels the need to burn everything in sight until the world is consumed by fire. He arbitrarily switches between two extreme personalities, one brooding upon the ashes of a dead fire and the other like a great inferno of hatred that he unleashes upon the land. Pyre is the lord of everlasting fire, and those who try to venture into his obsidian cave will find it very difficult to avoid his devastating flames much less kill him.
Discover New Content Every Week
If you missed any Lore Update post, explore them here: https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3062978248987410802 https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480314900440 https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480286416728
We hope you enjoyed this foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Which dragon 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.
Champions! Today is worldwide Wikipedia day. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate people’s contributions to open and free knowledge sources.
We’re excited to announce that we have partnered with Fextralife to bring you The Official Alaloth Wiki. It will grow with time, as we unveil more and more Lore Updates, but you can already read the available articles and submit your own (based on materials we’ve shared in the past).
Fextralife is a video game news resource and gaming hub fueled by a team of dedicated gamers with a focus on the RPG genre as well as innovative games. We are here to share detailed game mechanics and information via our Video Game Wiki Hub, and news, previews, reviews, articles, and guides from our contributors on our blog as well as lively discussions and debates on our forums.
Learn more about the world of Alaloth
Check out a new piece of art in the Steam Artwork section every Monday: https://steamcommunity.com/app/919360/images/
Every Wednesday on Steam, you can discover new Lore Updates which introduce key characters, companions, guilds, places, monsters, stories, gods, legends, and so on, to give you a full picture of the work we’ve done to bring this epic world to life. Read the latest issue: https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/3062978248987410802
Every other Friday we share Development Updates which 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. Check it out: https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/4811498361139642910
Imagine a world on fire, where mortal lives are forfeited to any beast that craves their flesh, where dwarves can be buried beneath their mountains forever in an instant, and the gold of The Four Kingdoms lies amassed in the lairs of great dragons. This is every dragon’s dream, and an objective that was set to them eras ago. At first, there were many dragons fighting alongside the Mother of Betrayers, burning and pillaging the lands of Karak-Hohn, Baga, Larastir, and Edherest. They destroyed countless halls and cities, and killed many in their rampage, an accomplishment they are proud of. But after years of being hunted by the dwarves and the fall of the Mother, most of the dragons have flown away from the continent, back into their homeland.
Now only four remain, each having carved out their own domain in the Split Kingdoms. They are each more vicious than the other, competing amongst themselves for the honor of being the greatest dragon that ever lived, a legend along with their mother, Geis. Today we’ll discuss two of the four dragons, Shadis, the dragon of Black and Razen, the dragon of Gold.
Shadis
Shadis lives in darkness, in the depths of a cave, waiting for those dim enough to venture in and meet their end. He is different in appearance from other dragons and it is rumored that there is more to him than meets the eye. He is after all, a lord of the shadows. Unlike his vicious and bloodthirsty siblings, Shadis prefers magic to combat and uses his skills as a necromancer to defeat his enemies. He then resurrects his slain enemies to serve as his personal guard and watch over his treasure as he hunts. Many tales have been told about Shadis, speculating about his strange appearance and the oddness of his powers that surpass the magic that dragons usually have. Whether he is really just a dragon or perhaps a demon in disguise remains a mystery.
Razen
Nestled at the top of a dwarven mountain, a golden giant keeps his eye on all that happens below and terrorizes anyone who is foolish enough to approach, leaving no survivors. Long ago, Razen came to the continent, thirsty for dwarven blood. The dwarves made a plan to bring an end to his rampage by trapping him in molten gold, poured from above so that it would envelop him completely, but the trap failed. Razen emerged with his scales as hard as metal with a new armor of gold, a golden dragon. Ever since, he’s continued to devour hapless dwarves, descending from the top of his mountain to attack unsuspecting caravans. Razen’s golden coat has exacerbated his greed, making him horde more treasure than any other dragon.
Discover New Content Every Week
If you missed any Lore Update post, explore them here: https://steamcommunity.com/games/919360/announcements/detail/2948134480314900440 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 foray into the rich world of Alaloth. Which dragon 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.
Development Update #3 - The animation process of Alaloth
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.
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.
Journey through Plamen
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.
Points of interest in Edherest
The Sea of Stars
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.
The Tears of Light
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.
The Turquoise Ice
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.
Points of interest in Larastir
The Sentinels
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.
The Gloworm Caves
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.
The Waterfalls of Wishing
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.
Points of interest in Karak-Hohn
Bingel, The Hawk
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.
The Bloody Lake
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.
The Eye
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.
Points of interest in Baga
The Spoor of Gorbag
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.
The Well of Baga
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.
Kima, The Volcano
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.
Discover new content every week
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.
Discord Kingdom Allegiance
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.
To end this particularly strange year on a positive note, we are hosting an Alaloth - Champions of The Four KingdomsAMA 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:
Discord Kingdom Allegiance
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.
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