Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

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PsyRob
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Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#1 Post by PsyRob »

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On December 31, 999 AD, the Pope Sylvester II, an infamous blasphemer, who received his post by beating the Devil at dice, solemnly celebrated the last Mass. The bell rhythmically tolled the last moments of mankind before the Judgment Day. “Our Father in heaven, save and protect us sinners from the infernal flames and the hellhounds that bared their fangs to tear our souls.” It didn’t help. The end of the world came right on schedule and showed no mercy.

Only a few fortunate managed to escape the cataclysm on a remote and unknown island. This community subsequently spawned the first Pastor, the hierarch under whose government the new state grew and flourished with time.

Eventually, new Pastors came, and with them changed the flock. Changed until the handmade paradise was stricken with the deafening thunderclap — a murder was committed. Then another one and another one… At that time arsons, cattle rustling and robberies began. Gradually, the darkness superseded the sunlight…

Lambs grew weary of being laid under a hatchet, so they cried and crawled to their Pastor, begging the Father to hurriedly deal with the flayers, restore order in the common house. Thus, the Devoters appeared, the hope and support of ordinary people, their defenders and protectors, making silver linings seen to the hearts tormented by injustices.

There is no cold fierce enough, no heat hot enough, no storm or hurricane deadly enough to stop the Devoters from fighting the wicked with seething zeal and ready swords. They live for the sake of their people. And for the sake of their people, they would die. This is their story, unveiled and unadorned, exactly as the Pastorate chroniclers told it over many generations.
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Howdy, dear ladies and gents. So, that's how it starts. How it ends will depend on your choices made during the game. As of now we're about 80% ready and plan to release the first episode in april. Yeah, it will be episodic unless we manage to find a publisher like asap. Still looking, and there is a slight chance that we'll get picked up by someone.

YOU CAN ALREADY CHECK OUT THIS DEMO ON ITCH.IO
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate

It's worth giving a shot I promise.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/VRBaSJEJyfY[/youtube]

To cut is short: you serve in a special force service that resembles both FBI and Inquisition. You're given an elder partner who is really street-smart and has been doing these drug busts and crib raids for too long. Together you gotta figure out who offed the Prefect of the province and why they did it.
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That's you, the protagonist - Leonard Pinterro
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That's your partner - Vinnie Boyd
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A gameplay gif
Also we do have a battle system. It's done in the form of a card game. Instead of adding some mini-games it seemed that implementing some actual fights would look more appropriate for this game.
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To reveal more info about the setting we decided to include the Velvet book which is the encyclopedia of the world. It encompasses most important concepts and notions.
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Any feedback is greatly welcome. Every opinion really matters. Every idea is very important to us.

Please stay tuned for updates and new info for Project Pastorate.

Thank you very much for your attention, ladies and gents.

Our Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob

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Last edited by PsyRob on Sun Apr 01, 2018 4:33 am, edited 2 times in total.

gekiganwing
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#2 Post by gekiganwing »

You have a distinct art style, which can be a plus if you're selling your story. I think that your drawings can help you find an audience of people who are ready and willing to buy downbeat crime fiction.
PsyRob wrote: Mon Mar 26, 2018 8:21 am Yeah, it will be episodic unless we manage to find a publisher like asap. Still looking, and there is a slight chance that we'll get picked up by someone.
Be sure to talk to the people at Mangagamer and Sekai Project. Especially if you already have a portfolio of finished stories / comics / games / other artistic endeavors.
PsyRob wrote: Mon Mar 26, 2018 8:21 am... you serve in a special force service that resembles both FBI and Inquisition. You're given an elder partner who is really street-smart and has been doing these drug busts and crib raids for too long. Together you gotta figure out who offed the Prefect of the province and why they did it.
I think these three sentences are a good story pitch. Consider writing at least a few alternate story pitches. Summarize your conflict in one or two sentences. De-emphasize proper nouns. (I say this because a potential reader might not care about the name of the city where events take place, or who's in charge, or what the protagonist's group is called.)
PsyRob wrote: Mon Mar 26, 2018 8:21 am Also we do have a battle system. It's done in the form of a card game. Instead of adding some mini-games it seemed that implementing some actual fights would look more appropriate for this game.
Think about whether gameplay is a central aspect of your VN, or whether it's a less important part. Another way to phrase this: "Is this a story-driven game? Is this a story with occasional battles? Or something else?"
PsyRob wrote: Mon Mar 26, 2018 8:21 am Any feedback is greatly welcome. Every opinion really matters.
Something that I mention quite a bit... I like seeing ambitious visual novels. It's encouraging to discover people who want to create lengthy or groundbreaking stories that happen to use this somewhat obscure media format. However, I often worry. There have been many instances of people starting to make an impressive or fandom-changing visual novel. Then months go by and the creators post fewer updates. Then the project gets quietly canceled. There is a lengthy forum thread about this topic. I recommend reading it when you have time.

I noticed that you posted on r/visualnovels. I was active there, but my opinions were often different from other people who posted on the sub-Reddit. For instance, they maintain a list of recommended titles, which are mostly OJLVNs available for Windows. I've started about nine of them, but only finished a route in two of them.

PsyRob
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#3 Post by PsyRob »

Thank you very much for such a detailed response, gekiganwing!

Ok, I've talked to Sekai and they turned us down. Just sent a note to Mangagamer now (I knew about them previously but didn't think it was appropriate to contact them with that particular game), who knows - maybe someone reads it.

I know what you're talking about when you say that some (if not the most) of ambitious project run out of breath during later stages of development. However, I'd like to think that it's not our case. Mainly because we spent over a year making it, too much time and money to waste if we cancelled it. So, I hope in april we will get it out to Steam.

How about you? Did you play the Demo? What did you think about it? What do you think about the story in general?

Thanx again for your time )

PsyRob
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#4 Post by PsyRob »

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Howdy dear ladies and gents. While we're working on the full game to list it asap, I thought that sharing some our pre-pro materials may be fun.

Few words about myself. I'm an author and have so far published 3 books, here in Russia. Being keen on history, I usually tend to draw my inspiration from the times long gone. So this project was not an exception in this sense, only this time it's a game, not the book.

We started in February last year as soon as I had the script for the first Episode ready (it's supposed to be episodic project, although there is still a chance that we'll make one whole big 10+ hour game). Back then we didn't really have any visual or stylistic concept in mind.
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That's how the Guardsman looked at first. Well, I mean that's how the artist thought he looked. However I had a different vision. If I knew one thing for certain that was me not wanting your typical, trivial elf-knight-orc-dragon kinda stuff. That's too cliched at the moment, I think. What we needed was some fresh wind, the universe which could resonate in a new way (if that's possible at all).
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That's what the Guardsman was transformed to.
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What do you guys think about this costume design?

Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob

PsyRob
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#5 Post by PsyRob »

Few more sketches for today and a bit of new info.

Since we have the special service here, we must develop some kind of uniform for these guys, right?

But first let's see what our main protagonist looked like at the beginning.
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These were the first sketches that the artist had shown to me. As you can see we went on with the first variant.
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This is what Vinnie Boyd - his senior partner - looked like initially. He was read but then turned gray (due to his job probably)

The Devoters have ranks and according to these ranks their uniform differs too.
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You can see 3 stripes on his left shoulder. Each rank has different marking.
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Lenny, being the Acolyte at first, has his own collar gem. Later on, as he works his way up the hierarchy, his outfit will change.

Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob

PsyRob
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#6 Post by PsyRob »

Introduction of introductory cards. Pun not intended)

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PsyRob
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#7 Post by PsyRob »

Here is how this guy from above looked initially. Few sketches to observe.

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Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob

PsyRob
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Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:44 am
itch: https://psyrob.itch.
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#8 Post by PsyRob »

Quick update. Updated introductory card.

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Last edited by PsyRob on Wed May 16, 2018 10:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

PsyRob
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#9 Post by PsyRob »

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VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

WE GOT THE STEAM PAGE ROLLING!

PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND ADD THE GAME TO YOUR WISH LIST.

THANX GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOU'VE BEEN GREAT. BUT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FULL EPISODE)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/8112 ... Pastorate/



Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob
Last edited by PsyRob on Wed May 16, 2018 9:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

PsyRob
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#10 Post by PsyRob »

New card here. What do you think of this guy?
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We've already got the Steam page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/8112 ... Pastorate/

Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob
Last edited by PsyRob on Wed May 16, 2018 10:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

PsyRob
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#11 Post by PsyRob »

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Phlox Slums, the vilest place in the entire League. Even rats refuse to die here, spreading far away as a thick gray mass. Nauseating stench grimly creeps from the backstreets; rarely do the deeply lined faces of the natives appear in the dim-lit windows. Somewhere in the distance, an old mongrel is straining a lingering howl out of hunger or the continuous beating. After a moment, a mutilated figure appears out of the shadows walking sluggishly, ringworm covering him from head to toe like a shroud. The prowler briefly stares at the Devoters with indifferent eyes and fades into the darkness.
We've already got the Steam page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/8112 ... Pastorate/

Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate
https://gamejolt.com/games/projectpastorate/335801

FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProjectPastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob
Last edited by PsyRob on Wed May 23, 2018 9:49 am, edited 2 times in total.

PsyRob
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itch: https://psyrob.itch.
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#12 Post by PsyRob »

Now, it's time to meet the protagonist. Does he remind you of anyone?

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We've already got the Steam page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/8112 ... Pastorate/


Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate
https://gamejolt.com/games/projectpastorate/335801

FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProjectPastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob
Last edited by PsyRob on Wed May 23, 2018 9:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

PsyRob
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Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:44 am
itch: https://psyrob.itch.
Contact:

Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#13 Post by PsyRob »

Another guy who plays very important role in the upcoming series of events.

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We've already got the Steam page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/8112 ... Pastorate/

Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate
https://gamejolt.com/games/projectpastorate/335801

FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProjectPastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob
Last edited by PsyRob on Wed May 23, 2018 9:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

PsyRob
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Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:44 am
itch: https://psyrob.itch.
Contact:

Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#14 Post by PsyRob »

A small excerpt from our intro.
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We've already got the Steam page
https://store.steampowered.com/app/8112 ... Pastorate/

Did you already try the DEMO?
https://psyrob.itch.io/project-pastorate
https://gamejolt.com/games/projectpastorate/335801

FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProjectPastorate

Any feedback is really important to us.

Please stay tuned for future updates.

Oh, also we're on Twitter now:
https://twitter.com/Psy_Rob


Image

DirkB
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Re: Project Pastorate [Dark adventure in the land of crime and sin] DEMO INCLUDED

#15 Post by DirkB »

I played through the demo.
The intro music is awesome. It really motivated me to play the story.
The intro screens with animated drawings look very cool.
The animation in the background environments is very well done and gives a bit more real life experience, which is great.
For the mini game I would suggest giving two lives for each opponent. I found myself skipping after two failed attempts because it's a bit too much hit and miss for my taste.

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