Developer Diary #6: Player Choice and the Branching Story
In our previous developer blog, we covered the importance of outposts and touched on enemy A.I. You can catch up on that blog here. This week we are covering the depth of the branching narrative that you’ll uncover as you play though Ashes of Oahu and the impacts of your choices.
When Kai embarks upon his journey through Ashes of Oahu the factions exist in a loose tension with each other. They have motivations that place them in conflict, but they do not live in a state of all-out war. Depending on your choices, they can stay neutral towards each other, become allies, or devolve into open hostilities. This is done to increase player agency and show Kai’s influence on the world around him.
What Kai learns as he interacts with different characters will affect the story as well. What you learn throughout the game can become relevant in later conversations with other NPCs. If you have met one particular character and that meeting is connected to another person elsewhere in the world, you could find new branching dialogue available to you. You’ll also find that some NPCs will be willing to help you along your journey and venture out to support Kai’s efforts if you make the correct dialogue choices.
Ultimately the choices Kai makes and the way he aligns himself with the factions will impact who will help you defeat the Pua’a. Kai can turn missions down directly and risk gating any future rewards from that character, or he can choose to work with all the factions and try to bring them into harmony at the likely cost of never reaching the ultimate in skill rewards from any of the factions.
One early example of how Kai’s choices can have severe consequences is how he chooses to interact with a man named Tacitus. A first glance Tacitus appears to be a member of the Islanders that has been evicted from the Farm. He insists that he was helping the Farm fight off an invading band of Raiders, but the Farm didn’t like his tactics and asked him to go. He appears gravely injured and requests you seek aid on his behalf.
Once Kai arrives at the Farm, doubts are raised about Tacitus’ motivations. Apparently, the Raider invasions didn’t really start until he showed up. Needless to say, the Farm isn’t inclined to give you medical items to aid Tacitus. At this point, you can either steal the supplies and suffer reputational damage with the Islanders (if you get caught), or you can do a quest for the medical staff, and then they will reward you with the items you wanted.
If you choose to help Tacitus, he will reward you with grenades, promise you more in the future, but eventually betray you and attack alongside the Raiders at a later point in the game. If you choose to turn him down, he will become openly hostile towards you. You’ll learn early on that helping everyone you meet isn’t always in your own best interest, nor is everyone always going to tell you the truth, but it is your choice to make. However, regardless of the decision you arrive at, you are guaranteed to have some fun and exciting gameplay moments out of it.
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Developer Diary #5: Outposts and Enemy AI
Outposts are a crucial part of the gameplay in Ashes of Oahu. The more outposts the Raiders control, the stronger they are. You’ll want to destroy the Raiders and repurpose the outposts under the flag of your allies to increase your standing with the other factions on the island.
Once you’ve killed all the enemies and cleared an outpost you can choose one of your allied factions to repurpose the outpost for. Rebuilding an outpost requires materials that you’ve salvaged across Oahu. The new faction will then occupy that location, influencing the encounters nearby. For each outpost rebuilt under the control of an ally, Kai will also be awarded a reputation gain with that faction.
Hanauma Parking Lot Outpost is the first that you will come across in the game. It is heavily guarded by Raiders. In addition to holding the outpost, these Raiders have also captured Jimmy, a member of the Islanders, and are holding him hostage.
There are several ways you can assault an outpost. Sometimes you’ll be best served by sniping guards from long distances, at other times you’ll want to sneak up on guards using the bushes to provide Kai with cover. Each outpost, however, will require slightly different tactics and you’ll want to adjust accordingly. Some outposts may not provide any bushes where you can hide, while another is in a location where the player has no mana to pull from. The Raiders will actively patrol the outposts searching for intruders. You can use this to your advantage and toss rocks to distract a Raider. If a Raider sees something suspicious, it will call out to other Raiders in the area. If they detect a disturbance, like the corpse of another Raider out in the open, they could send up a signal flare to call in reinforcements. You’ll also find some Raiders hiding in structures that prevent you from attacking them at long range, you can use a rock to make a sound to get them to come out and investigate. Additionally, the Raiders have a few other tricks up their sleeves (the ones that have sleeves that is) to prevent Kai from killing them like fish in a barrel, but you’ll just have to play the game and discover those for yourself.
Taking an outpost has an impact on the area surrounding the outpost as well. The owner influences the nearby encounters so that you will see more activity from the allied group that you’ve helped, and reduced Raider activity as well once an outpost is secured. Choosing a faction to build an outpost for can be a critical way to earn additional faction rating as well, unlocking higher level skills from that faction.
Outposts are just another way in which the players’ decisions ultimately shape the world of Ashes of Oahu to create a unique experience each playthrough.
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Developer Diary #4: The Factions of Oahu - Lava Dogs, Hawaiians, and Raiders
In last week’s blog, we dove a little deeper into The Research Institute (T.R.I.) and the Islanders. In this week’s blog, we will take a look at the remaining factions that Kai will meet on his adventure throughout Ashes of Oahu. Kai will be able to interact with the Lava Dogs and Hawaiians and gain or lose reputation depending on his choices. The final faction, the Raiders, will always be his enemy.
The Lava Dogs
Before the Hekili Nui Marine Corps Base Hawaii dominated the peninsula that makes up the western coastline of Kanoe Bay. This is the original home of the Lava Dogs. The majority of the base was destroyed, and most of the Marines were killed. Fortunately, a number of the Marines survived because they were in air transport after a field exercise and avoided most of the damage. Shortly after the Event, this military force established themselves as a sort of peacekeeping force for the average Islander, not because they wanted to but because they felt it was their duty to. They had sworn an oath to defend these people against all enemies, foreign and domestic. They have since acted as arbiters of disputes, and helpers in the face of calamity. The Lava Dogs are skilled in the use of automatic weapons, and explosives and will be able to help Kai increase his proficiency with these items. Two of the earliest skills Kai will learn are Sidearms and Craft Bullets. Sidearms will increase Kai’s damage with pistols while Craft Bullets will allow Kai to craft bullets in the field. A later skill Kai will have the opportunity to learn is Automatic Weapons. This will increase Kai’s overall damage with automatic weapons.
Hawaiians
Some Islanders witnessed the Hekili Nui and believed it to be direct intervention by the akua. These Islanders peacefully united behind a family of Kanaka Maoli who claim to trace their bloodlines back to Hawaiian royalty of pre-colonial times. These Kanaka see themselves as the true inheritors of Oahu and believe that they are endowed by the akua with the responsibility to lead and govern the entire island.
The Hawaiians are few in number, and to many, they are merely rumors and stories of the old ways. In reality, they are a fundamentalist culture that views themselves as oppressed and fighting for their very survival. The other factions are keenly aware that the Hawaiians really exist and some actively prey on them. Because of their attunement with nature, the Hawaiians can improve both the body and spirit. If Kai chooses to assist them in maintaining their way of life, he can gain access to skills early on such as Sprinting, and Health. Sprinting will increase Kai’s run speed and prolong his stamina. Health improves Kai’s health pool. With continued support, Kai will gain access to Kapu Kuialua, which will increase his damage with melee weapons.
Raiders
The raiders are the antithesis of all that is good about the island of Oahu. They are the vicious army of the Mad Kupua. Soulless husks with bodies covered in scarification, mutilation, and scrap metal armor. They fight relentlessly until the enemies of the Mad Kupua have all been destroyed or enslaved. They are the embodiment of evil incarnate.
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Developer Blog #3: The Factions of Oahu - The Research Institute and the Islanders
During Kai’s adventure throughout Ashes of Oahu, he will come across five distinct factions. Kai will be able to interact with four of these factions and gain or lose reputation depending on his choices. The fifth faction, the Raiders, will always be his enemy. Depending on Kai’s standing with the individual factions, he will gain access to new skills. In today’s blog, we take a look at two of the factions that Kai can work with to become his friends, or work against to become his foes, The Research Institute, and the Islanders.
The Research Institute
A secretive scientific collective, the Institute for Research at Oahu, colloquially known as The Research Institute (T.R.I.), has identified an elusive energy field that they believe holds the key to unlimited power. This privately owned and operated non-profit organization believes that by harnessing this energy, they may find the key to Oahu’s salvation. In their attempt to restore Oahu and undo the damage of the Hekili Nui T.R.I. has been suspected to infringe upon the livelihood of the other factions. Believing their ways superior, if not the only way to do things.
If Kai chooses to assist the T.R.I. on his journey, he will gain access to skills dealing with energy weapons and n-dimensional technology (N-Tech) augmentations. Two of the earliest skills Kai can unlock are Chemistry and Educated. Chemistry will increase the duration and effect of drugs on Kai. Educated will grant Kai bonus experience points throughout Ashes of Oahu. One of the later skills Kai can unlock is Penetrating Round. This allows Kai’s shots to punch through enemies.
The Islanders
After the cataclysm that shaped the events preceding Ashes of Oahu, survivors of all kinds came together to support one another. This group of people has come to be known as the Islanders. While not willing to be subjects of the Lava Dogs, return to the ancestral ways of the Hawaiians or adapt all of T.R.I.’s technology, the Islanders do attempt to live in relative peace with the others on the island. While they aren’t as traditionalist as the Hawaiians, they attempt to treat others with respect and live in harmony with their neighbors. Still, flare-ups are known to occur along their borders. Over the years they have grown into a loose collection of agricultural communities working together tirelessly to do more than just survive. Befriending the Islanders and helping them advance their cause will grant Kai access to skills that specialize in medicine, rifles, and horses. There are twelve skills in all that Kai can choose from and learn. Two of the earliest are Hunter and Riding. Hunter elevates damage against animals. Riding increases Kai’s mounted speed as well as the maximum stamina of his horse. As Kai increases in faction standing with the Islanders, he will eventually be able to unlock skills like Mounted Weaponry. This skill allows for extended firing with higher accuracy of mounted weapons.
Check back next week when we discuss the Hawaiians, Lava Dogs, and go more in-depth on the Raiders.
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Developer Blog #2: The Power of the Akua
In Ashes of Oahu Kai undertakes a perilous journey through the post-apocalyptic Hawaiian wilderness to rescue his son from an unfortunate fate and liberate the island from its evil oppressors. While Kai can silently creep up on a foe to whack them with a pahoa or take them at a distance staring down iron sights, run and gun warfare will only get him so far. This is where the Akua can lend a hand.
No mere mortal could face the threats that challenge ‘Oahu. Empowered with the gifts of the Akua, however, Kai’s strength can grow to rival the grim shapeshifting kapua that ravage his island. Kai does not begin the story with these skills. Along his adventure, he will come across heiaus (shrines) dedicated to six ancient Akua. After restoring their heiau and proving his worth, Kai will have these abilities conferred to him and gain the strength to strike down even his fiercest foes.
Spirit Vision is the base for several of Kai’s Akua granted skills. Kai sees into the world more directly with Spirit Vision and can see the aura of other character’s mana. In this mode, if Kai places his crosshairs on a target long enough, he will tag them. That character will then become visible to Kai even if they go behind something that would obstruct Kai’s normal vision. Kai can also see the footprints of where others in the area have been. This way Kai can observe the patrol routes of enemies and plan his next move.
While using Spirit Vision Kai can activate new Akua abilities at the cost of his mana. One such skill is Bullet Shield. Exploiting the veil between Oahu and the spirit world, Kai can twist space around himself, so bullets that would typically inflict mortal wounds deflect harmlessly away. While this only lasts for a few seconds, it is a powerful ability.
Kai also gains a level of control over the natural elements around him. While it does come with high mana cost, Volcanic Eruptions can cause massive amounts of area damage. These volcanoes spew fiery debris. The higher Kai’s skill level, the longer a volcano will last and the more overall damage it will do.
Kai may also learn from the Akua how to modify the type of ammunition he can fire from his spirit bow. Kai can turn a spirit arrow into a ball of flame that explodes when it hits his target with Explosion Arrow.
Not all of Kai’s Akua granted abilities are focused on destroying his enemies. Kai may also learn to shapeshift himself, becoming a Mano to swim the ocean as a shark. He can also be taught to Soar enabling Kai to fly through the ‘Oahuan skies in the form of a bird.
With powers like seeing into the spirit realm, the ability to manipulate the flow of lava around him, and deflecting bullets Kai has some game-changing options at his disposal. We don’t want to spoil all the fun so that’s just a sample of what Kai can learn to do. We look forward to sharing more about Kai and Ashes of Oahu with you as we march towards launch.
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Developer Blog #1: What is Ashes of Oahu?
This is the first in our series of developer blogs leading up to the release of Ashes of Oahu. Before we start to deep-dive into systems or any other specific topics we thought we would get things rolling by taking on the challenge of answering the question, what exactly is Ashes of Oahu?
Many action, adventure, and fantasy role-playing games are steeped in fictional history drawn from Western or European influences. We here at Wyrmbyte decided to do something a bit different with Ashes of Oahu.
As a small team, there are currently only five of us, we made the crazy decision to create an open world action-adventure game, leveraging third-person shooter mechanics. Only, Ashes of Oahu focuses on the rich history that can be found on the other side of the world from Europe.
We chose the lore of the indigenous cultures of the Pacific islands to inform our game’s storyline. Specifically, we drew upon the stories and culture of the Hawaiian Islands for our narrative inspiration. How could we bring some of the powerful histories of the pre-colonial Pacific islands into a post-apocalyptic future? What would a post-apocalypse even look like in a place that is a paradise? Our developers have traveled to the island, consulted with experts, and studied extensively to ensure that these considerations make Ashes of Oahu a dramatic fictional departure from other games in this genre.
In Ashes of Oahu you’ll play as Kai. Set in the not too distant future, tragedy has befallen the Hawaiian Islands and an ancient evil has risen to exploit the opportunity. The adventure takes place on the second largest island of the Hawaiian archipelago, and the game’s namesake, Oahu. This setting presents a vast and engrossing stage upon which these events play out. Will Kai raise an army to liberate his friends and family? Or take on the raider army alone?
Drawn into the conflict by the abduction of his son, aided by his aumakua (spirit guide), and awakened to the strength of his mana, Kai will rise to drive the opposing force from his 'aina (country), and rescue the children of the island. Or will he? Player agency is a core tenet of Ashes of Oahu. Will you shoot first and ask questions later? Or choose to carefully navigate the tension between the islands fractured communities? Each decision that you make can impact your standing with these different factions and the choices that you make inform the many challenges that Kai will encounter as he navigates the villages and rainforests of a post-apocalyptic island landscape.
During your adventure through Oahu, you will collect items, craft new gear, and learn new skills. You may also encounter on your exploration environmental puzzles. But don’t worry, you’ll never be able to make a wrong turn, though you are absolutely free to make decisions that are not pono (good karma).
As Kai, the world will react to you and time will move forward at your pace. You are free to play in and explore a sandbox interpretation of Oahu, painstakingly recreated to include places that are real locations on the island today. All of which are presented via a 3rd person cinematic camera. Only when you interact with key gameplay sequences will time in game advance. Between these moments you are free to explore the island at your own pace.
With this level of player agency and the number of potential narrative choices to be made, it’s guaranteed that you’ll never be able to experience everything Ashes of Oahu has to offer in a single playthrough. And with over 100 potential endings to the game, are you ready to find out which you will reveal?
Be sure to Wishlist us on Steam now, and subscribe to our newsletter to get notified as soon as we reveal the release date.
