KickStarter Encased - isometric post-apocalyptic RPG under the dome

[Fenix]

I don't get this joke... well...

Equipping the ring is like a Fate unlock code.

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-school-isometic-turn-based-rpg/posts/2312971

Encased Kickstarter Update #22: Dragon Katana Unlocked

Hello there, Encased Community!

Just now, we calculated the total Community Points you’ve gathered with your Likes and Shares. Guess what: there are exactly 48 of them! That means it’s time to unlock the next social goal, and today’s reward is an unusual weapon, unique in the game, the Dragon Katana!

We unlocked 48 points
Kimiko Nakamura, head of the New Committee, is constantly followed by an inconspicuous, gloomy man wearing headphones. Practically nothing is known about this man, and even his name, “Henry”, is widely considered to be an alias.

Reliable facts about “Henry” are scarce: he is 194 centimeters tall, loves music, and always wears headphones. He also carries a sizeable katana in a lacquered wooden sheath, about which, perhaps, we know more than about Henry himself.

Gunblade Katana is now unlocked
This sword is clearly of custom design. In addition to the blue steel blade, this katana has an unnaturally long handle. Taking a closer look, one sees a pistol grip and trigger are concealed within the hilt.

There are two more rewards, keep it up!
Eyewitnesses familiar with the design say the katana is capable of firing .50 caliber incendiary rounds. Those who’ve seen this strange weapon in actual combat will probably not say anything - because they are dead.

Two more Social Goals to go. Can we do this?

Important shout out:


Sacred Fire is about to release their Early Preview!
Sacred Fire looks very intriguing and they are about to release their Early Preview! We love its storytelling and well-crafted characters. It’s a choice-driven narrative RPG where you succeed by understanding the psychology of the characters. The story is inspired by ancient Caledonia and the conflict with the powerful Roman empire.

After a successful Kickstarter last year, the creators are running an ongoing late backing Indiegogo campaign. Learn more about Sacred Fire on Indiegogo.

 

[Jenkem]

glad to see this reached the goal, and it's $499 away from free-play stretch goal

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-school-isometic-turn-based-rpg/posts/2314621

Encased Kickstarter Update #23: 72 hours left, unique reward tiers, add-ons!

Encased Kickstarter campaign is almost over. Little time remains. If we use it well - and we will use it well - the Fallen Fortress Encounter will make it into the game and in a few months you’ll be in the desert, holed up in a crashed bomber, fighting off attackers with a high-calibre air-to-air machine-gun.

A heart-warming thought, we’re sure you’ll agree.

We’re fully funded, but we have so much more planned for this game. The more support we can get, the more awesome content we can add to the game. We have a slew of cool stretch goals to hit, and your support will help us get there - and land you some fantastic physical rewards. T-shirts. Hoodies. And an item that’s going to blow your mind.

Spoiler

Welcome to the must-have accessory for the desert under the Dome. No self-respecting barbarian would be seen dead without it.

Behold the Mask of the Raider!

We have only four Masks of Supreme Ruler!
Hand-painted by our artists in an isolated underground complex (our office) deep beneath the scorching desert (in Russia), your mask of the raider stinks (some imagination may be required) of blood, heat, and insanity. Unique in their madness, no two masks are alike. Yours will be one of a kind.

The mask was taken from the Dome, sourced in violence and terror, and delivered to us by a mysterious benefactor at a time when all the lifts to the Spire were out of service, and the radiation alert was at stage 5 - exposure for more than 30 seconds, even in a hazmat suit, would kill you.

Who sent it? And why? We’ve spent long hours staring into those eyeholes in search of the secret. (We’ve found nothing, and now we feel a little… strange. The eyes seem to stare right back.)

At the dawn of CRONUS’s exploration of the Dome, when a new era of discovery and prosperity was upon us, the Foundation was organised and regimented. Much thought went into employee uniform design. Thousands of uniform items were manufactured. Most were distributed. Some were shelved, banished to a warehouse to gather dust. And some were deemed to be just too damn awesome and were never made. We’ve found the patterns for those items, and we’ve had them manufactured as a special thank-you for our backers.

The Committee T-shirt

Before CRONUS gave up on sartorial magnificence in favour of the practicality of the jump-suit coverall, elite designers conceived a range of phenomenal T-shirts to be issued to employees deemed most deserving. Lore would have it that they were never made. We’ve remedied that situation.

T-shirt design prototype
Hand-sewn at Orange Wing factories by diligent ex-prisoners, the T-shirt’s pleasant design, comfortable shape, and soothing CRONUS logo will be welcomed by even the most resentful wage-slave.

Rogues Team Cap

Baseball cap design prototype
One for the fans. The Crystal Sands Rogues are the Dome’s most popular (in fact… only) baseball franchise. Recruited from the ranks of the Orange Wing, their dedication last season let them to a perfect win/loss record, and allowed the entire roster to escape being sent into the Dome. But Lady Luck is a fickle champion - who knows how this year will pan out for our ball-playing heroes?

Explorer’s Hoodie

The nights are cold in the desert. To work at their optimum, CRONUS employees were to be issued with a soft hooded top that would allow them to carry out their duties in comfort, protected from the cold - and from accidental radiation exposure.

Hoodie design prototype
A joint project between the White and Silver Wings, scientists chose materials and color combinations that would allow the employee the highest visibility in the dark of the night-time under the Dome. (After the Maelstrom event, this would become rather a disadvantage, but the hoodies remained prized for their warmth, their softness, and their rakish style.) The Silvers agreed and insisted that a huge CRONUS logo be sewn on the sleeve. This may be the only example of the two Wings working together in perfect harmony.

CRONUS Badge

Badge design prototype
After a lode of a pure and surprisingly workable metal was found in a mine under the Dome, CRONUS celebrated with the creation of these limited-edition souvenir badges, which were distributed to workers considered worthy of reward. Scientists of the White Wing have been unable to identify the metal, but they swear that it’s probably not dangerous.

Hardcopy Lorebook

Feel the weight of the hard-cover tome and inhale the heady scent of ink - a rare and valuable commodity under the Dome. Written and illustrated by highly talented (and in some cases decidedly odd) CRONUS employees, this collection of visions of the world beneath the Dome is drawn from their adventures, their experiences, their research studies… and their nightmares. This is a story about the first days under the Dome, and how a civilization thousands of years old collapsed overnight.

But that’s not all!

In addition to your physical rewards, some rather delectable digital goodies await you - including the opportunity to get your portrait into the game, immortality as a baseball star, access to alpha and beta versions of the game, and a rather spiffing set of army dog-tags - and the quest that goes with them.

Personalized Baseball Card

“Strange how memories work. I was sixteen, my father had just bought me an old car. Where I come from the streets can be dangerous, and I was small and skinny, thinner than your leg, so I hid a baseball bat under the front seat of that old car. One day, some bastard decided he didn’t like my parking and thought he’d teach me a lesson. I grabbed the bat. He laughed at me.

The joke was on him.

That was fifteen years ago now, maybe more. Me and my bat have been through a lot since then. But every time I pick it up, each and every time I feel the weight of the wood in my hands, I think about how we hammered that asshole into the ground in the parking lot of a five-and-dime, and I smile. I reckon that memory makes me the player I am today.”

Casey Molinary, outfield for the Crystal Sands Rogues.

Check out Crystal Sands Rogues Baseball Player tier there are only 40 of these
You, my friend, are the lucky ones. You took the deal and joined the Orange Wing, and made your way to the Dome. But someone read your file and saw you had talent, or maybe they saw you play a pick-up game in a sandy parking lot while waiting for a transport - and picked you up for the Crystal Sands Rogues.

You’re famous. You’re popular. Your face on a baseball card is a collector’s item. You’re a star and a hero - as long as the team keeps winning. Lose, and you’re going into the Dome as a nobody - you’ll have to find some other way of being a hero.

In-game Portrait

We know that many of you RPG fans set out to make a character that’s as close as it can be to yourselves. (We know this because we do it too.) Want to play the game with a character whose portrait matches yours? This pledge is for you.

Check out CRONUS Wing Director - Portrait Edition
(We’ll also send you a high-res download of the picture.)

You want this. You want the T-shirt. You want the hoodie. You want the baseball cap. And you want an extra copy of the game or a Beta Access. Obviously. Here’s what you need to do.

You need to pledge CRONUS Corporal tier or above to be able to include add-ons
- Extra digital copy of Encased - $22 / €18.5

- Alpha Access + Beta Access - $20 / €17

- Beta Access - $10 / €8.5

- Printed Lorebook - $30 / €25.5 (Shipping costs $4 USA, $6 Rest of the World)

- CRONUS T-shirt $20 / €17 (Shipping costs $4 USA, $6 Rest of the World)

- CRONUS Hoodie $45 / €38 (Shipping costs $4 USA, $6 Rest of the World)

- CRONUS Rogue Baseball Cap $25 / €21 (Shipping costs $4 USA, $6 Rest of the World)

- CRONUS Employee Badge $50 / €42.5 (Shipping costs $4 USA, $6 Rest of the World)

You probably know very well how to increase tier level (Please consider it!). If not we will help.

Now, how to add an Add-on:

Step 1 - As a backer of this project, the amount you’ve pledged will display on the campaign page. On the right-hand side of the screen you should find a button that reads “Manage your pledge”. Click it.

Step 2 - Two buttons shall appear. Click the one that says “Change your pledge”.

Step 3 - Increase your pledge in the "Pledge Amount" box by the total of the add-ons you want to add (including shipping). Don’t change the reward tier, we’ll look after that together later.

Step 4 - Once you’ve set the amount, click continue

Step 5 - Kickstarter will ask for confirmation to ensure the changes you’ve made are correct. If you are happy with them please press “Confirm”.

You’re all done - for now. When the Kickstarter campaign ends we’ll send you a survey asking how you’d like the add-on money assigned.

The Encased Kickstarter campaign is almost over. As the recruitment materials for the CRONUS operation were fond of stating, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Don’t delay.

We’re looking forward to having you join us. And we’ll see you on the other side.

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-school-isometic-turn-based-rpg/posts/2315103

Encased Kickstarter Update #24: 48 hours to go and the Fallen Fortress is Funded!

Hello everyone! We are reaching the very end of the campaign and have unlocked the first stretch goal! Let’s keep it up! There are other great features and add-ons ahead which may not happen without your help!

First one unlocked! Keep it up!

The Fallen Fortress was first introduced in KS Update #12; today we talk a bit more about the background of this special encounter.

***

The private military contractor Eidolon had a mixed reputation.

Most serious people considered Eidolon’s existence a myth. However, really serious people knew how to send them an encrypted message with a very strong chance of a reply. And those communiques, as a rule, were about really serious matters.

According to a classified CIA document which fortuitously escaped its scheduled destruction, Eidolon had a part in every significant conflict of the era - from the Rimon 20 operation to Black Saturday and the fall of Phnom Penh. In each case, Eidolon’s personnel had up-to-the-minute knowledge and skills in every branch of military science. Apparently it’s true that Progress is the father of Efficiency.

It’s no surprise that shortly after the discovery of the Dome these mercenaries contacted CRONUS.

The true nature of this interaction is known to no one, except at the highest levels of CRONUS administration. But one particular rumor persists. Allegedly, everything ended with the last flight before the Incident. That flight was an armed transport converted from an Army bomber. And on that transport, together with ammunition, equipment, and medicine was something very important to certain people.

Something very valuable. Something from under the Dome.

Radio contact was lost a few hours into the flight, and moments later the craft disappeared from radar as well. At the same time, all contact between CRONUS and their Eidolon liaisons was severed. Even the emergency channel fell silent… But then Maelstrom broke loose, and survival became the chief priority.

***
No one expected that this same lost bomber, staffed and piloted by a shadowy organization which may or may not have been an urban legend, would be discovered in the drifting dunes of the Dome. The craft was surprisingly intact, though it had obviously made an emergency landing. Of the crew there was no sign. The cargo was abandoned. And now two factions are ready to tear out each other’s throats for it.

Whatever it is.

***

Once again - thanks to each and every one of you for your generous support!

If you missed our rewards preview from yesterday, check it out in KS Update #23. Consider upgrading your pledge level or adding some extra rewards as add-ons!

Please like and share these messages on Twitter and Facebook - this will help us raise some extra activity on these two last days (we will count those into our Social Goals too!).

 

[YanBG]

Congratulations!

 

[Urthor]

There's so many good video games being made lately it's absurd.

People shitting on Kickstarter games as failures get fucked, we've had so much incline out of "Kickstarter generation 2" this year, and look here's another one in the bank that will come out in probably 3 years that will be great.

 

[Fenix]

Well, I can't say there so MANY of them...

 

[HoboForEternity]

The free play mode sounds awesome, i have always think it would be neat if an RPG ends with exploration, going back home after your adventure , whetr the fate of each town/people arr shown not by slide, but by the player actually visiting them and see what their actions caused and they are missable/skippable if the player decide to not visit, the place, and if you piss people off and run, they will be waiting armed for some extra fights.

 

[Black Angel]

Yeah, their free play mode on paper sounds like how all those 'play after the ending' bullshit in other games should've been. In Fallout 2, there's very little reason, or even none at all, to play the game after final boss fight, considering the ending slides pretty much showed us what happened with all the people we've met in the wasteland, so even if you don't do any of the sidequests (or didn't do it optimally), the ending slides pretty much sealed their fate. So why would you want to play after the ending slides in Fallout 2? Doing stuff that weren't directly beneficial to those around you or stuff that doesn't affect the ending slides at all, like becoming a pornstar or a prizefighter? Maybe becoming a pornstar is beneficial somewhat, but still... Heck, even Fallout 1 could have been the better game for playing after the ending, provided the Vault Dweller joined the Unity, be dipped in the vats, become a super mutant AND goes on to invade and conquer Southern California.
And then, we have Fallout 3 where the Broken Steel DLC allowed you to play after the ending. Once again, I don't see any reason whatsoever for any sane mind to do so... and Fallout 3's gameplay are one of the shittiest. There's also no reason whatsoever to play New Vegas after the ending, so I don't understand why that mod which allows you to do so even exists or why a lot of people liked it.

 

[CadmusLabs]

Yeah, their free play mode on paper sounds like how all those 'play after the ending' bullshit in other games should've been. In Fallout 2, there's very little reason, or even none at all, to play the game after final boss fight, considering the ending slides pretty much showed us what happened with all the people we've met in the wasteland, so even if you don't do any of the sidequests (or didn't do it optimally), the ending slides pretty much sealed their fate. So why would you want to play after the ending slides in Fallout 2? Doing stuff that weren't directly beneficial to those around you or stuff that doesn't affect the ending slides at all, like becoming a pornstar or a prizefighter? Maybe becoming a pornstar is beneficial somewhat, but still... Heck, even Fallout 1 could have been the better game for playing after the ending, provided the Vault Dweller joined the Unity, be dipped in the vats, become a super mutant AND goes on to invade and conquer Southern California.
And then, we have Fallout 3 where the Broken Steel DLC allowed you to play after the ending. Once again, I don't see any reason whatsoever for any sane mind to do so... and Fallout 3's gameplay are one of the shittiest. There's also no reason whatsoever to play New Vegas after the ending, so I don't understand why that mod which allows you to do so even exists or why a lot of people liked it.

Probably because you have developed your character for 40 hours, and want to keep evolving it. You have seen the core story, now it's the time to grind up. There are people who don't need it, but definitely, there are people (I think those who don't care about core story that much, they are more interested in combat and exploration) who need it.

 

[toro]

Congratulations! Black Geyser and Encased are the only titles I've backed this year.

Encased looks absolutely bonkers but at this point I just want a decent release. Fuck the stretch goals or all the additional mumbo-jumbo. Just make sure you release a complete 30h product which can be played from beginning to the end.

Look at what is happening with Pathfinder Kingmaker and Insomnia: The Ark. Tons of bugs means tons of retarded reviews which result in lost sales. Yeah, games can be polished after release but first impression do count and a second chance is not always guaranteed.

Just saying.

 

[CadmusLabs]

Congratulations! Black Geyser and Encased are the only titles I've backed this year.

Encased looks absolutely bonkers but at this point I just want a decent release. Fuck the stretch goals or all the additional mumbo-jumbo. Just make sure you release a complete 30h product which can be played from beginning to the end.

Look at what is happening with Pathfinder Kingmaker and Insomnia: The Ark. Tons of bugs means tons of retarded review which result in lost sales. Yeah, games can be polished after release but first impression do count and a second chance is not always guaranteed.

Just saying.

Makes sense

 

[YanBG]

Black Geyser and Encased

This can evolve into a strong competition and possible divide in the Codex.

 

[CadmusLabs]

Black Geyser and Encased

This can evolve into a strong competition and possible divide in the Codex.

Why?

 

[BEvers]

Black Geyser - Dark Crystal
inspired by Baldur's Gate - inspired by Fallout
tactical real time with pause combat - tactical turn-based combat
fight or exploit the dangerous psychic influence of Greed - fight or exploit the dangerous psychic influence of Maelstrom
inspired by a fantastical world created in the 70s - set in a fantastical version of the 70s
raised 108k Euros - should raise ~108k Euros

 

[CadmusLabs]

Black Geyser - Dark Crystal
inspired by Baldur's Gate - inspired by Fallout
tactical real time with pause combat - tactical turn-based combat
fight or exploit the dangerous psychic influence of Greed - fight or exploit the dangerous psychic influence of Maelstrom
inspired by a fantastical world created in the 70s - set in a fantastical version of the 70s
raised 108k Euros - should raise ~108k Euros

Well if you put it like this

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-school-isometic-turn-based-rpg/posts/2315928

Encased Kickstarter Update #25: 24 hours countdown, details about 'Ursula' HQ

A little more than a day is left till the end of our Kickstarter campaign. Thanks to your activity, less than 24 hours passed from achieving one stretch goal to unlocking another! Now, not only will Encased include the Fallen Fortress encounter, but the game will also have an extended freeplay mode, entertaining you with additional quests and content after the initial playthrough is over.


Very little funding is needed until we unlock the next stretch goal: the auto-train mobile HQ.

We’ve already talked about Ursula in an earlier update, but a few more details remain to be revealed.

We need to rush to get it!

Ursula was designed before the Incident, and when Maelstrom was unleashed on the world the project had to be modified in a hurry. The engineers worked furiously to protect the machine and its crew from waves of damaging psychic energy, and they were quite successful: one of Ursula’s cars is equipped with a special air-tight compartment shielded by thick lead walls. This allows you to navigate Ursula through those rare sectors where Maelstrom is so strong that no exposed character, no matter how high his Psyche score, can survive.

Ursula will grant you access to places you cannot reach in any other way.

***

To survey areas made uninhabitable by raging psychic energy, you can use a special drone with weapons and a manipulator arm which allows you to retrieve small objects, press buttons, and open doors.

Researchers were certain these autonomous robots would be very useful: according to maps compiled before the catastrophe, several unexamined complexes were located in areas with the highest Maelstrom activity. Perhaps the increased concentration of psychic energy has some relation to their contents, but... what could that be?

The answer to this question we leave for the player to uncover.

***

Although rigorous testing showing the shielding to be effective, there was something even the research scientists did not know. The weird psychic energy affects not only organic matter, but technology as well. In sufficient quantities, the radiation will manifest itself by altering the behavior of onboard systems.

The change in Ursula’s “personality” poses many difficult questions: is this new development dangerous, or is it an opportunity to make direct contact with Maelstrom? What are the possible threats, and are there any positive effects?

This event could turn out to be a serious crisis, but it’s also one of the many interesting, major quests associated with the auto-train HQ.

***

Ursula is unique, and there are many people in the desert who would like to lay hands on her. Sooner or later you will have to raise your defenses and fight against raiders intent on taking over your auto-train.

That's how stationed camp looks like

In the previous update dedicated to the mobile HQ, we talked about converting the train’s armored hull into a wall. However, that’s not all: the train can be equipped with stationary turrets directed by the on-board computer’s defense protocol. This program itself can also be edited by the player for maximum effectiveness.

The turrets must be serviced and repaired, and their ammunition replenished of course. Upgrades will be available.

***


Prepare questions for AMA

It's time to ask us anything! We're doing AMA on Reddit with Developers team. Answers on any questions about Encased, our studio Dark Crystal Games and others which you may be interested in. The date is Monday, 15th October (11:00 PM CET/ 03:00 PM PDT!).

And finally, a bit of math. To date, campaign funds total $113,488, which means we need a bit more than $6,500 to unlock Ursula.

If you're still on the fence about pledging or increasing your pledge, take a look at this physical rewards update. Perhaps a researcher hoodie, a branded CRONUS t-shirt, or a specialty metal badge would motivate you to support us further.

 

[Infinitron]

Four hours to go: https://www.kickstarter.com/project...-school-isometic-turn-based-rpg/posts/2316513

Encased Kickstarter Micro Update #26: Reddit AMA

There are only a few hours to go. We just finished answering questions on Reddit AMA. If you missed it - check it out via the link below.

***
We were answering questions for a couple of hours and covered about fifty of those. Once again thanks everyone who came by.

Also, we've updated the Social Points chart. We are really close to the next reward!

We have reached 61 points, one more point to unlock Bloodbath perk

We are still moving towards Stretch goal #3: 'Ursula' Mobile HQ - we just need $4,500 more and we still have 13 hours to go. Let's push it!

 

[bataille]

3 hours and 500 bucks to the next stretch goal. You can make it happen!

 

[Jimmious]

Will be "fun" to not implement Free Play Mode for 300 bucks

 

[HoboForEternity]

i hope the free play mode gets funded, but not the other, it's impossible by this point anway. the other stretch goals seems to be bloated feature that's gonna take more time and resources than they expect to be implemented. we dont want another pillars 1 forced castle management.

 

[Feyd Rautha]

They are one point away from the Bloodbath Perk. One point. There's still 2hrs left to get that point. Just like some shit on facebook, twitter and discord and get some sweet blood & gore.

62 Points - Bloodbath Perk

Perhaps the most nostalgic perk of them all. Watch your enemies blast their allies into a pile of red chunks as grenades blow up in their hands… but don’t get too excited: the next critical failure might be yours.

e: Should be a trait and not a perk.

 

[rohand]

Congrats CadmusLabs !

 

[santino27]

Congrats on a successful kickstarter!

 

[Jenkem]

i hope the free play mode gets funded, but not the other, it's impossible by this point anway. the other stretch goals seems to be bloated feature that's gonna take more time and resources than they expect to be implemented. we dont want another pillars 1 forced castle management.

free play mode already made it well before you made this post, it's in.
the actual kickstarter was in Euros but the stretch goals were listed in USD (and that is what they did indeed go by)

Stretch goals reached were:

• the fallen fortress encounter
• free play mode
• "ursula" mobile HQ