Realms of Antiquity: The Shattered Crown - Ultima-like retro RPG

[adamantyr]

New Retro RPG Roundtable up:

 

[ohmosie]

Currently 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1539750/Realms_of_Antiquity_The_Shattered_Crown/

 

[adamantyr]

Just a heads up...

Realms of Antiquity is now 50% off for one week, at both Steam and Itch.io!

 

[CryptRat]

Thanks, I'm not sure when I'm going to play the game but I just bought it.

 

[Rincewind]

Buying now. I want to support such efforts.

I find it perplexing that there is so little activity in this thread while there are megathreads about silly "current day topics". But then, the screenshots thread is full of FPS crap...

This is front page worthy material.

 

[Butter]

Buying now. I want to support such efforts.

I find it perplexing that there is so little activity in this thread while there are megathreads about silly "current day topics". But then, the screenshots thread is full of FPS crap...

This is front page worthy material.

Yeah, this game is really good. Easily one of the best games of the past 5 years. I get the impression the Codex is evenly divided between people who slurp AAA action games and people who don't play anything newer than Bloodlines.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Buying now. I want to support such efforts.

I find it perplexing that there is so little activity in this thread while there are megathreads about silly "current day topics". But then, the screenshots thread is full of FPS crap...

This is front page worthy material.

Yeah, this game is really good. Easily one of the best games of the past 5 years. I get the impression the Codex is evenly divided between people who slurp AAA action games and people who don't play anything newer than Bloodlines.

Actually, I've been on the fence about this one and my backlog is fuckhuge.

What are the highlights of the game? I mean, I get that it's something of a technical achievement, but on its own merits as an RPG factored against other RPGs on whatever system, what's the draw? I think the art and presentation is fine, just wondering about some of the specifics.

I assume it isn't overly mechanically deep and is more of an adventure quest, like early Ultimas?

 

[Rincewind]

Actually, I've been on the fence about this one and my backlog is fuckhuge.

The trick is to drop the concept of a backlog and treat it as a list of games you're interested in. Then just pick something you feel like next.

I have ~1800 games on my list...

 

[mediocrepoet]

Actually, I've been on the fence about this one and my backlog is fuckhuge.

The trick is to drop the concept of a backlog and treat it as a list of games you're interested in. Then just pick something you feel like next.

I have ~1800 games on my list...

Oh I already do that. Hence why I'm asking instead of just going with the realization that I will die before I complete them all.

 

[Butter]

The world is really well structured and exciting to explore. That's the #1 point in RoA's favor. It starts out somewhat linear but quickly opens up and allows you to chart your own course. The progression system supports this by not having health and stamina increase with level, so you don't get bitch-slapped by enemies with 10x your health and damage if you go to the wrong place too early. Instead it's like Age of Decadence where you get better at avoiding or mitigating damage, and the itemization is strong. I also really like the classes; you have things like Bard getting a discount at shops, Rogue getting the Detect Secret effect with 100% uptime, Fighter being able to use Firearms, Hero being a giga-chad who can do everything (but it forces you to start with a party size of 1). And yet the progression system being mostly about skill training makes it feel classless. Warlocks are naturally suited towards Violet magic, but you can still teach them Blue magic if that's what your party needs.

 

[adamantyr]

Buying now. I want to support such efforts.

I find it perplexing that there is so little activity in this thread while there are megathreads about silly "current day topics". But then, the screenshots thread is full of FPS crap...

This is front page worthy material.

Yeah, this game is really good. Easily one of the best games of the past 5 years. I get the impression the Codex is evenly divided between people who slurp AAA action games and people who don't play anything newer than Bloodlines.

Actually, I've been on the fence about this one and my backlog is fuckhuge.

What are the highlights of the game? I mean, I get that it's something of a technical achievement, but on its own merits as an RPG factored against other RPGs on whatever system, what's the draw? I think the art and presentation is fine, just wondering about some of the specifics.

I assume it isn't overly mechanically deep and is more of an adventure quest, like early Ultimas?

As the author, I have to limit myself, as I'd rather others talk about their experience and I'd consider myself a bit biased there.

What I can say, though, was my target "CRPG" for inspiration for the complexity and value was Ultima V. Equal or better. Whether I was successful is for others to decide.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Actually, I've been on the fence about this one and my backlog is fuckhuge.

What are the highlights of the game? I mean, I get that it's something of a technical achievement, but on its own merits as an RPG factored against other RPGs on whatever system, what's the draw? I think the art and presentation is fine, just wondering about some of the specifics.

I assume it isn't overly mechanically deep and is more of an adventure quest, like early Ultimas?

As the author, I have to limit myself, as I'd rather others talk about their experience and I'd consider myself a bit biased there.

What I can say, though, was my target "CRPG" for inspiration for the complexity and value was Ultima V. Equal or better. Whether I was successful is for others to decide.

Eh, what the hell. I'll take a punt. If nothing else, it's good to support indies like yourself. Most anything that's actually worth playing in the RPG space these days comes out of indies.

Besides, Butter's posts intrigue me enough to pass my "meh" threshold.

 

[Rincewind]

The world is really well structured and exciting to explore. That's the #1 point in RoA's favor. It starts out somewhat linear but quickly opens up and allows you to chart your own course. The progression system supports this by not having health and stamina increase with level, so you don't get bitch-slapped by enemies with 10x your health and damage if you go to the wrong place too early. Instead it's like Age of Decadence where you get better at avoiding or mitigating damage, and the itemization is strong. I also really like the classes; you have things like Bard getting a discount at shops, Rogue getting the Detect Secret effect with 100% uptime, Fighter being able to use Firearms, Hero being a giga-chad who can do everything (but it forces you to start with a party size of 1). And yet the progression system being mostly about skill training makes it feel classless. Warlocks are naturally suited towards Violet magic, but you can still teach them Blue magic if that's what your party needs.

Sounds very interesting, thanks for the writeup. I'm a massive fan of Age of Decadence and I love these unique little twists the author had devised.

Hero being a giga-chad who can do everything (but it forces you to start with a party size of 1)

That's really cool and sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[Ladonna]

That's really cool and sounds like a lot of fun.

You still get to recruit NPC's throughout the game with their own little personalities.

 

[Ladonna]

What are the highlights of the game? I mean, I get that it's something of a technical achievement, but on its own merits as an RPG factored against other RPGs on whatever system, what's the draw? I think the art and presentation is fine, just wondering about some of the specifics.

This video sold me on it originally. You just have to skip past some of the Ti-99 specific stuff he rambles about at the start (unless you have a spare Ti-99 you plan on using).

 

[rikkles]

I bought the game about 3 months after it came out, and it was 3 months too late.
It’s a truly exceptional huge old style RPG.
There are so many ways to play, so many tactics you can use. Some have managed no-caster party wins, or wizard-only party wins. Me I’m more of a solo guy and that’s also fun (but you miss out on recruitable PC banter).
The only negative is that in certain late game areas the encounter amount was too high but I believe the latest patches mitigated this.

 

[Taxnomore]

How long is the game ?

 

[Rincewind]

What are the highlights of the game? I mean, I get that it's something of a technical achievement, but on its own merits as an RPG factored against other RPGs on whatever system, what's the draw? I think the art and presentation is fine, just wondering about some of the specifics.

This video sold me on it originally. You just have to skip past some of the Ti-99 specific stuff he rambles about at the start (unless you have a spare Ti-99 you plan on using).

Just watched it, nice review. It made me quite excited for the game.

 

[CryptRat]

How long is the game ?

Everyone who completed it seemed to say it's a bit more than 100 hour long.

 

[rikkles]

How long is the game ?

Everyone who completed it seemed to say it's a bit more than 100 hour long.

That’s about right, and if you want to meticulously map everything probably more. My fastest speedrun was around 3-4 hours, at highest emulation speed.

 

[Ladonna]

My fastest speedrun was around 3-4 hours, at highest emulation speed.

You nut. What was your fastest speed run of Deathlord?

 

[rikkles]

My fastest speedrun was around 3-4 hours, at highest emulation speed.

You nut. What was your fastest speed run of Deathlord?

Heh. I never even tried. I was too wiped out developing Deathlord Relorded to play it over and over.
I did Nox Archaist in 19 minutes though.

But back to RoA. Awesome game. Anybody on the fence should buy it and put it in the front of the “next to play” queue.

 

[Ludwig von Eisenthal]

How long is the game ?

Everyone who completed it seemed to say it's a bit more than 100 hour long.

That’s about right, and if you want to meticulously map everything probably more. My fastest speedrun was around 3-4 hours, at highest emulation speed.

Wow, 3-4 hours? That's extreme. I played it at least for 150 hours. By the way I never understood how one can have the wish to haste through these games, I always try to experience them slowly and with all senses. Speedgaming for me is like you have, after a long and ardeous path of courting, the most beautiful woman you really deeply admire and imagine to build a future with in your bed for the first time - but then plough her like the cheapest pornhub whore in about 2 minutes just to squeeze the juice out of your sorry little prick. But maybe I just don't understand the sportive aspect of speedgaming. And of ploughing.

 

[Serus]

Buying now. I want to support such efforts.

I find it perplexing that there is so little activity in this thread while there are megathreads about silly "current day topics". But then, the screenshots thread is full of FPS crap...

This is front page worthy material.

Ridiculing people and games in "current day topics" is a prestigious endeavor!


This one looks interesting, I had it on the wish/follow lists in Steam for some time but I have so many games, old and new to play that it's pointless to buy this one now.

 

[Ludwig von Eisenthal]

...

Heh. I never even tried. I was too wiped out developing Deathlord Relorded to play it over and over.
I did Nox Archaist in 19 minutes though.

Deathlord Relorded is a magnificent remake! Why is there no way to spend you some bucks for it? The work must have been herculean.

edit: and I do agree. Every man, woman, child and sentient or insentient being not already having played this game is to be brandmarked as a irredeemable heretic against the holy order of the universe and treated as such. Buy this game everybody, it really is a marvel and a wonder. Can't praise it enough (Why else would I own it digitally multiple times and even physically as CE with both cloth map designs?)