Well, this is sort of a recruitment thread, but I mainly came here to gather ideas from people, attempt to advertise shamelessly, and encourage feedback =).
The Imperium Project, or TIP, is a current project me and a group of friends is working on. This project has been in design for about ~3years under myself (mostly as a fiction and a campaign setting) until this January when I started forging a team to bring the production to a game.
Genre: Scifi-Fantasy, Romance/Drama, Military
INTRODUCTION:
Twenty-five years have passed since the Third World War which devastated the world, a nuclear holocaust which pushed Earth to the brink of destruction, and the worldwide famine which followed the wiped out nearly ninety percent of humankind. Life has finally settled down to a resemblance of the former normality which existed before the war, but the peace just as brittle. Exelar (the main character), the son of the now famous general and war hero Diedrich Celkosen, was still enjoying the last precious years of a mostly carefree youth, occasionally worrying about the future when he must step into the bitter reality of society. However the smiles and happy days would not last, for a menace was looming on the horizon, bringing forth a chain of catastrophic events that would push Exelar and his friends into a journey worthy of epics and a fate he could never imagine.
OPENING:
CHARACTERS:"The idea of a flawless ruler has lived in the dreams of men throughout the ages. It was a concept presented again and again, in philosophy, in literature, in art, spread by cultural exchange and romanticized by common popularity."
"For man, society, and civilization, it was an image of perfection, a symbol of hope."
"It was not a completely utopian dream, for there were indeed rulers like that throughout the ages. Benevolent and wise, they brought unification, stability, and prosperity to their land and people through their life and decades to come."
"Many would claim it to be the ideal form of government. Yet, perfection cannot endure, for man was not immortal, and there were none who could predict their coming, none who could pinpoint their presence amongst the masses."
"They came and left by the whims of fate alone, and in the shadows of these legendary kings followed imposters, tyrants, and warmongers."
"...and with them came war, calamities, atrocities... even genocide."
"Mankind had enough."
"As the sands of time trickled, we began to seek out new methods of governance, new systems of administration. We fought against fate, attempting to control it, to seize the future as our own. It may be our folly, our undoing..."
"...or it may be our salvation."
"Our abilities are no longer limited by the same bounds. Our technologies are more advanced than ever. Our knowledge unlocking even the deepest mysteries of the universe."
"It was no longer a dream, for we will make this reality..."
"...we have made this a reality."
??? : "At last, it is done."
??? : "Now... only time awaits."
Listed in order of documentation to confuse people on who the heroines are ( xD ), also edited some spoilers out. The main characters are listed earlier, but not necessarily in precise order of importance =P.
Reginberaht 'Exelar' Celkosen [Main Character]
Class: Soldier, Diplomat
Age: 17
Bio: An unsuspecting home-schooled 'college' student. He has an outgoing and agreeable personality, and is also keenly perceptive of others' emotions and intentions. However, that does not stop him from teasing others as a favorite pastime. Already accepting what he imagined would be a life in the shadows of his father, Exelar's childhood wish was to become a civil administrator and help make living conditions better in the postwar world. Yet just as numerous other teens learn as they mature, a child's perception of the world could often be brutally wrong.
Aoric Zanaikin
Class: Soldier, Tactician
Age: 21
Bio: Introverted but authoritative, Aoric is the oldest of the heirs and a childhood friend of Exelar. He left early to enroll in the Steel Legion's training academies at the mere age of thirteen, and became one of the youngest Generals in the history of mankind at the age of nineteen. Focused only on achieving results, Aoric is notorious within the Federation Armed Forces for his unconventional tactics and ruthless decisions. However, once outside his field of profession, Aoric becomes socially awkward and finds himself having difficulty expressing himself. Surprisingly, his hobbies are daydreaming, sleeping, and lazying around, which he tries hard to keep others from finding out.
Clotaire 'Lothair' Staufen
Class: Knight, Diplomat
Age: 20
Bio: The Knight Procurator of the Shining Cross squadron, Lothair is the direct successor to the Grand Master of the Arcanum Order. Completely unlike his father, Lothair seems to be one of a lax and easygoing nature, and is often prone to laziness. Yet despite the public image which makes others wonder about his competence in the line of work, Lothair is highly inquisitive and capable of becoming dead serious within a moment's notice, when his every action is guided by a strong sense of responsibility and morality. Raised in the Arcanum's hidden society at Saalfeld, Lothair's interactions with the other heirs have been few and far in between until he started working within the Federation.
Hikari Kuribayashi
Class: Soldier, Engineer
Age: 19
Bio: A genius blessed with both insight and creativity, Hikari is fascinated by virtually all fields of technology and mysticism. She exhibit a strong of responsibility and practicality, but has a tendency to ignore others should she find them uninteresting. Also, she is absentminded and constantly preoccupied in her microcosm, yet shows an unparalleled degree of coordination and instinctive judgment. When not absorbed in work, Hikari displays a creative counterbalance to her normally practical nature in the forms of her gadgetry and cosplay hobbies.
Canan Comnenus
Class: Assassin
Age: 18
Bio: Outgoing and playful upon first glance, Canan is a girl who knows how to manipulate others to get what she needs. However, hidden underneath her cheerful external appearance is a calculating mind, a willingness to resort to any means in order to achieve objectives, and a number of sinful secrets in her past and present. Despite her actions, she is neither selfish nor malignant, merely willing to accept the stain herself when others could not. Although she understands and accepts her role, she harbors strong feelings of distaste and contempt towards the job, a notion only shared with close others whom share a common dilemma.
Aorin Zanaikin
Class: Knight
Age: 17
Bio: Earnest and devoted, Aorin is a childhood friend of Exelar and his closest companion. She takes exceptionally good care of him, but can also be rather pragmatic about his activities, particularly on days when his mother is away. She is hardworking, selfless, gentle, and despite numerous near perfect qualities, has low self-esteem. This is because Aorin hates what she is, fears what she is capable of becoming, and dreads the day when Exelar may find out.
Sofiya Katukov
Class: Mage, Tactician
Age: 16
Bio: An exceptionally intelligent but quiet girl, Sofiya is natural born seer, although she cannot consciously control her abilities. She has an incredibly detailed and precise thought process, which allows her to analysis a complex problem faster and better than anyone else. However, this also causes her to become exceptionally slow when it comes to simple activities and social interactions, which is only made worse by her shy and indecisive nature. Once in thought, she becomes oblivious to the world and hard to interrupt until she finishes. However, unlike Hikari, Sofiya does not have good instinctive coordination and tends to be klutzy.
Rika Ye
Class: Scout, Pilot
Age: 16
Bio: The smallest of the heirs in both age and stature, Rika appears to be a cute girl who is cheerful, energetic, and outgoing. She is perceptive and intuitive about human behavior, and is an excellent source of advice. However, she is also impulsive and extremely straightforward, and does not hesitate to make her opinions known once she becomes annoyed. True to her own beliefs and thoughts, Rika has a tendency to act instinctively, but is by no means reckless or irresponsible. Due to the early death of her parents, Rika was raised by Aleksandra in the Celkosen household and treats Exelar as if an older brother.
Exam
Class: Assassin
Age: ?
Bio: A promising cadet at the Steel Legion’s Sverdlovsk Academy, Exam possesses skills, experience, and toughness far beyond what her youthful appearance would suggest. Exam is pleasant, polite, and values the well-being and company of others, although she is keenly sensitive to unfairness. She has a strong connection with Canan that dates to before her time in the Academy.
Faramond 'Farad' von Salza
Class: Knight, Artificer
Age: 25
Bio: A skilled artificer and archivist of magic lore, Farad is Lothair's friend, confidant, and second in command in the Shining Cross squadron. He has a quiet nature and prefers to observe more than involve, but at the same time is also helpful and willing to provide advice to those who seek it. Farad is responsible for making many of the party's magical equipment.
Kayeten Rudel
Class: Scout, Pilot
Age: 23
Bio: A mech ace-of-aces with an easygoing and extroverted personality, Kayeten is a handsome young man in his early twenties, making him one of the youngest commanders in the Legion. He loves to tease others and flirt with girls, and makes a hobby out of giving nicknames to others. He is also a direct subordinate and close friend to Aoric, and would often pull the insociable Heir out to 'have fun'. Despite his typical happy-go-lucky appearance, Kayeten is the commander of the infamous Crimson Blades brigade, an elite unit which served as Aoric's former command and is notorious for their bloody tactics and callous nature.
Diedrich Celkosen
Class: Tactician
Age: 65
Bio: A renowned commander of the Storm Wars and Field Marshal of the Federation Steel Legion, Diedrich is the father of Exelar and one of the three initial founders of the Imperium Project. A general of the German Bundeswehr since before the war, Diedrich personally experienced the loss of the fatherland, the desire for vengeance it brought forth, and the pointless slaughter of both sides that followed. Since the end of the war, Diedrich has been a devote supporter of the peace policy, but his hatred seems to have been redirected towards the various terrorist factions who are consumed by their own wrath. Now well into his sixties, the patient and cunning commander continues to do his best in prolonging the peace, borrowing time to allow for his life's greatest work to mature.
Aleksandra Apraksin
Class: Knight, Tactician
Age: 49
Bio: A hero of the Storm Wars with the Centurion title of Saber, Aleksandra is the mother of Exelar, as well as both the spouse and security commander of Diedrich. Nicknamed The Last Knight for her trademark sword, Aleksandra is a follower of the traditional ideas of Chivalry and one of the few commanders whose name were never tarnished by the horrors of the war. Selfless and caring, Aleksandra is not only a mother to Exelar but also numerous other orphans whose parents died in the service of the Steel Legion, many of whom now serve under her command in the Marshal Guards Battalion.
Tae Kobayashi
Class: Pilot, Tactician
Age: 46
Bio: A hero of the Storm Wars with the Centurion title of Typhoon, Tae is the mother to the two Zanaikin siblings and the foster daughter of Diedrich. She joined the JSDF (Japanese Self Defense Force) during the onset of the Storm War and later became the Federation's best gunship ace. Tae lost both her younger sister Aya and her own humanity during the war, the former killed during FOCAN's nuclear bombardment, and the latter to an experimental procedure whom few know the details behind. As a result she was left bitter and cynical after the war, a trait she tries hard not to affect the children with.
Alarick Staufen
Class: Knight, Diplomat
Age: 59
Bio: One of the three initial founders of the Imperium Project, Alarick is also Lothair's father and the Grand Master of the Arcanum Order. Alarick is always stern-faced and has a strong sense of responsibility and morality. Serving as Grand Master through the Storm Wars, Alarick was responsible for gathering the other magical organizations of the world to contain and minimize the global effects brought forth by the German Maelstrom. After the war, Alarick initially lead the confrontation against the Steel Legion, but was also the primary negotiator and supporter for the cooperation that followed.
there's actually more... but I figured that's more than enough for now as it is.
PROJECT GOALS:
- A large scope story featuring a main path with three sequential 'arcs', along with three parallel heroine paths, all of which portrayed in VN format. Thus this is a partially ren'ai game, given that there'll be a good central story even if one decides to stay out (or flunk out lol) of the affairs of any of the girls.
- Endings to fit the story includes a main ending and six path endings.
- An isometric TRPG implementation of combat featuring a unique battle systems, which'll emphasize heavily upon early and late game tradeoffs, position of commanders amongst units, and a balance between battlefield locality and overall battle situation.
- An item creation/upgrade system.
- No H =P. This project is partially sponsored (pending confirmation~!! xD) by my University's Comics & Animation Club and Student Game Developers club, which the three core members belong to.
STAFFERS:
(Currently 13 members)
Zanaikin - Project Leader, Writer/Editor, Scripter, Coder
Honya - Graphics Lead, Writer/Editor
Citrus - Writer/Editor
Sajuuk - Weblord, Coder
Dokper - Graphic Artist (coloring/shading)
Garmana - Composer
Raide - Graphic Artist
Blue123 - Composer
Piyush - Coder
Yangyang - Coder
Wolf - Coder
Zi - Designer
Nick - Designer
CURRENT PROGRESS:
1st Arc Story Scripting, Graphics Work in CCGs, Beginning Coding Work.
Intended finish date: July 2009
RECRUITING:
- CG artists, particularly for background CGs ( since char CG have more of a problem of fitting with existing art style ).
- CG artists willing to do coloring ( my graphics lead made a special request for this ).
- Anyone with experience in coding isometric games or has good coding experience and willing to learn isometric game development ( python, although it's pretty simple to grasp if you have coding experience in other languages, knowledge of C++/python or jython bindings is a plus =D ).
- Music, the one thing no one on my team knows a thing about. I wonder where everyone here finds their music artists.
I'll post some updated artwork once my Graphics lead's internet connection is restored lol!
This top post will be used as an archive of sorts for whatever that starts going in this thread =).
and looks like a big project o_O...
Are you aware that there's a free and open source TRPG engine on renpy, made by Chronoluminaire right now? It'll be much easier to just use that than to make your own engine from scratch, anyways.
let me know if you'd prefer other colors or a different hue on the light/shadows or whatever.
