Revenge of the Firstborn - a 3.5 SRD turn-based, Isometric RPG inspired by TOEE

[RPK]

I’m excited to announce my new turn-based isometric RPG, based on the 3.5 SRD – Revenge of the Firstborn.

The game features crunchy combat inspired by the likes of Temple of Elemental Evil and the gold box AD&D games. The story will have two different endings, based on the decision you make throughout the game.

It features over 275 spells and 125 monsters from the SRD. In addition, it implements all of the feats and skills you can find in the tabletop version of the game.

You can create your party of 6 from one of 10 character classes and all of the races in the SRD (gnome illusionist anyone?).

It also features what I’m calling the Endless Dungeon. This is a roguelike mode, consisting of 3 different dungeons that increase in difficulty. The challenge is for your party to reach level 20, and includes the classic roguelike traits such as randomly generated dungeons layouts, randomly generated loot and randomly places monsters and a collection of mini-quests to add variety to the dungeon delving. Of course, it wouldn’t be a roguelike mode without permadeath (resurrection magic works, but if your party dies, you’re done).

You can wishlist the game at


You can learn more at the steam page, revengeofthefirstborn.com, or simply reply to this thread!

I've seen also that you created a dedicatedd site and there are several images with the UI too. Looks nice.

Since you didn't tell us about the site, is it "maintained" and update or we shouldn't care about those alpha-images?

Site

It is maintained, yes. Most of the screenshots are pretty recent. I figured I'd just pick one place (steam) to send people to and focus on that with my posts.

 

[RPK]

Looks pretty damn good, level 20 and it's feature complete?

Correct. The engine supports up to lvl 20 at this point - but I'm not sure if the campaign will go that high. The "Endless Dungeon" will, because that's just a bunch of fights with increasingly difficult monsters. A 1-20 campaign is a lot of content...

 

[0sacred]

This could be IWD2/NWN but gud.

 

[Tyranicon]

A 1-20 campaign is a lot of content...

A gross understatement. You already have 10 base classes up to level 20? Even without spells that's a monumental achievement. Is this a solodev game?

Either way, kudos.

 

[RPK]

A 1-20 campaign is a lot of content...

A gross understatement. You already have 10 base classes up to level 20? Even without spells that's a monumental achievement. Is this a solodev game?

Either way, kudos.

It is yes. It'll be 5 years in May since I started. Of course, I've hired out some art, including our own MrBuzzKill to create some 3d models, but it's by and large, a solo effort.

I took the advice of all those game dev gurus who said to start small... and shoved it lol. I mean, sure I made some small things to learn, but this will be my first released product.

 

[Tyranicon]

It is yes. It'll be 5 years in May since I started. Of course, I've hired out some art, including our own MrBuzzKill to create some 3d models, but it's by and large, a solo effort.

I took the advice of all those game dev gurus who said to start small... and shoved it lol. I mean, sure I made some small things to learn, but this will be my first released product.

I thought I recognized that Bulette model.

I don't think I know of another 3.5 level 20 project in full 3D made by an indie, least of all a solo. The last one made by a big dev was what, Neverwinter Nights 2? Perhaps someone more familiar with 3.5 adaptations can help out.

 

[Gandalf]

Looks promising. Amazing stuff, I really like that a door can be set on fire etc.

• Incredibly accurate implementation of the 3.5 SRD, the most popular roleplaying system ever created.
• Compose your 6-person party from the following classes:
  • Barbarian
  • Bard
  • Cleric
  • Druid
  • Fighter
  • Paladin
  • Ranger
  • Rogue
  • Sorcerer
  • Generalist Wizard
  • Specialist Wizard
• Multiclass your character to make the exact build you want.
• Take advantage of all of the combat rules inherent to the 3.5 ruleset from tripping and grappling to feints and sunders.
• Master mounted combat to quickly ride into and out of the fray.
• Customize your character by choosing from over 150 feats.
• Use over 250 spells to boost your skills and vanquish your enemies.
• Battle a bestiary of over 125 monsters, each of which uses its own tactics and can respond to in-world stimuli such as the sound of a door opening.
• Utilize an array of interactive elements to make your way through the world. Disintegrate doors or set them on fire, light or douse torches to mask your movements use wind spells to disperse dangerous effects.
• Customize your equipment via the full implementation of the 3.5 SRD crafting system.
• Explore a large, open map... just be careful where you go, you might find yourself in over your head.
• Enjoy two game modes:
  • An epic campaign involving wars, gods and ancient threats.
  • A roguelike mode with procedural generation of dungeons, loot and monsters along with 'mini-quests', small fetch or kill quests that provide extra challenge and rewards.
• Craft the story the way your characters would. Build towards one of two different endings by making small and large choices throughout the campaign that ultimately shake the world.

 

[Serus]

Looks pretty damn good, level 20 and it's feature complete?

Correct. The engine supports up to lvl 20 at this point - but I'm not sure if the campaign will go that high. The "Endless Dungeon" will, because that's just a bunch of fights with increasingly difficult monsters. A 1-20 campaign is a lot of content...

Exactly. Go smaller at first. If you really want You can always, if all things go well, later make a DLC with (very) high level content - a post-game or epilogue kind of scenario.
Even teams of medium sized studios can be too small for a level 1-20 game where every part of the game is equally well done. Hell, even BG3 is supposedly "unfinished". There is a reason in Gold Box game you had series divided in several games. People should more often consider that even today.

 

[RPK]

It is yes. It'll be 5 years in May since I started. Of course, I've hired out some art, including our own MrBuzzKill to create some 3d models, but it's by and large, a solo effort.

I took the advice of all those game dev gurus who said to start small... and shoved it lol. I mean, sure I made some small things to learn, but this will be my first released product.

I thought I recognized that Bulette model.

I don't think I know of another 3.5 level 20 project in full 3D made by an indie, least of all a solo. The last one made by a big dev was what, Neverwinter Nights 2? Perhaps someone more familiar with 3.5 adaptations can help out.

I think Pierre's engine goes to 20 for KOTC 1 & 2 doesn't it? Granted, he's added a lot of homebrew to it, but still.

 

[Tyranicon]

I thought I recognized that Bulette model.

I don't think I know of another 3.5 level 20 project in full 3D made by an indie, least of all a solo. The last one made by a big dev was what, Neverwinter Nights 2? Perhaps someone more familiar with 3.5 adaptations can help out.

I think Pierre's engine goes to 20 for KOTC 1 & 2 doesn't it? Granted, he's added a lot of homebrew to it, but still.

You could say it's 3D but Pierre himself describes it as 2D.

Regardless, the market is pretty open and medieval fantasy is always the most lucrative of the genre. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

 

[Abu Antar]

I am secretly both hyped and disappointed at the same time. No 5E is great, multiclassing is subjective, but I like it. Six characters, and turn-based is excellent.

But... where is my

Spoiler

 

[RPK]

I am secretly both hyped and disappointed at the same time. No 5E is great, multiclassing is subjective, but I like it. Six characters, and turn-based is excellent.

But... where is my

Spoiler

lol, sorry, man. I have just never been much of a fan of monks. That, and all of their special abilities that would be a PITA to implement have kept me from adding the class to the game.

Never say never, but it's not likely.

 

[Abu Antar]

I just watched the videos linked in this thread.

Is combat taking place on a grid?

Is your party stuck together, or can you control single characters for positioning?

Following up on that, can you be the one who initiates combat if enemies don't see your characters, or does it immediately start upon seeing enemies?

Do you use an AP system, or is it one move phase, and one attack phase?

How is turn order handled? Is it a the player goes, then the enemy goes, or is it based on initiative rolls?

Expect more annoying questions in the future.

Seeing a turn-based, party-based rpg that doesn't use the 5E rule set makes me happy.

Start an OnlyFans, get money from there, and pour it into this project.

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

This looks janky enough to be a passion project. Color me intrigued.

 

[Litmanen]

Looks promising. Amazing stuff, I really like that a door can be set on fire etc.

• Incredibly accurate implementation of the 3.5 SRD, the most popular roleplaying system ever created.
• Compose your 6-person party from the following classes:
  • Barbarian
  • Bard
  • Cleric
  • Druid
  • Fighter
  • Paladin
  • Ranger
  • Rogue
  • Sorcerer
  • Generalist Wizard
  • Specialist Wizard
• Multiclass your character to make the exact build you want.
• Take advantage of all of the combat rules inherent to the 3.5 ruleset from tripping and grappling to feints and sunders.
• Master mounted combat to quickly ride into and out of the fray.
• Customize your character by choosing from over 150 feats.
• Use over 250 spells to boost your skills and vanquish your enemies.
• Battle a bestiary of over 125 monsters, each of which uses its own tactics and can respond to in-world stimuli such as the sound of a door opening.
• Utilize an array of interactive elements to make your way through the world. Disintegrate doors or set them on fire, light or douse torches to mask your movements use wind spells to disperse dangerous effects.
• Customize your equipment via the full implementation of the 3.5 SRD crafting system.
• Explore a large, open map... just be careful where you go, you might find yourself in over your head.
• Enjoy two game modes:
  • An epic campaign involving wars, gods and ancient threats.
  • A roguelike mode with procedural generation of dungeons, loot and monsters along with 'mini-quests', small fetch or kill quests that provide extra challenge and rewards.
• Craft the story the way your characters would. Build towards one of two different endings by making small and large choices throughout the campaign that ultimately shake the world.

No Monk, no party.

 

[RPK]

I just watched the videos linked in this thread.

Is combat taking place on a grid?

Is your party stuck together, or can you control single characters for positioning?

Following up on that, can you be the one who initiates combat if enemies don't see your characters, or does it immediately start upon seeing enemies?

Do you use an AP system, or is it one move phase, and one attack phase?

How is turn order handled? Is it a the player goes, then the enemy goes, or is it based on initiative rolls?

Expect more annoying questions in the future.

Seeing a turn-based, party-based rpg that doesn't use the 5E rule set makes me happy.

Start an OnlyFans, get money from there, and pour it into this project.

Combat does not take place on a grid, it uses real distances to calculate how far you can move etc.

The party is not stuck together, each person can move independently a la the classics of the genre like BG I & II. So, it's possible to, for instance, move your rogue behind someone before combat starts if he can manage to remain undetected.

You can initiate combat by clicking on a monster, should you happen to see them before they notice you. In the example videos, someone in the party is detected by the monster, which started combat.

There is not an AP system. It uses the 3.5 rules for action economy. So, free actions, swift actions, move actions, standard actions, full actions

• Free actions cost nothing: An example would be dismissing an active spell
• Swift action: I'm actually drawing a blank on what players would do as a swift action off the top of my head, but some monsters have spell-like abilities that are swift actions
• Move action: Move up to your base speed. draw a different weapon
• Standard action: cast most spells. Make a single attack
• Full action: move 2 times your base speed. Some spells such as sleep take a full action to cast. If you get multiple attacks per round, it takes a full action to make all of those attacks
• I should mention to those that know the 3.5 ruleset well, that 5 foot step is a thing here too

Turn order is based on initiative rolls at the beginning of combat. It's based on a d20 plus your dex mod, plus any feats such as improved initiative that add a bonus.

I suspect I would have to pay other people to subscribe to my onlyFans :D

 

[Hagashager]

Threads like these remind me why I love Codex

 

[NJClaw]

It's way too early for my birthday gift, but I'll take it! That's great news!

 

[mediocrepoet]

I suspect I would have to pay other people to subscribe to my onlyFans :D

No OnlyFans plzkthx

 

[rojay]

I should mention to those that know the 3.5 ruleset well, that 5 foot step is a thing here too

I already added the game to my wish list but if I hadn't, that would have done it. Hope you can pull it off.

One piece of advice: hire an editor once you have a solid draft of the narrative/dialogs. It'll be worth the money to get someone who knows what they're doing to make sure everything works and, of course, to find typos. Journalism being dead, there are lots of people freelancing.

 

[mediocrepoet]

I should mention to those that know the 3.5 ruleset well, that 5 foot step is a thing here too

I already added the game to my wish list but if I hadn't, that would have done it. Hope you can pull it off.

One piece of advice: hire an editor once you have a solid draft of the narrative/dialogs. It'll be worth the money to get someone who knows what they're doing to make sure everything works and, of course, to find typos. Journalism being dead, there are lots of people freelancing.

Just don't pick up any ex-Bioware. Though they're probably going for cheap, the market's flooded with them.

 

[RPK]

I should mention to those that know the 3.5 ruleset well, that 5 foot step is a thing here too

I already added the game to my wish list but if I hadn't, that would have done it. Hope you can pull it off.

One piece of advice: hire an editor once you have a solid draft of the narrative/dialogs. It'll be worth the money to get someone who knows what they're doing to make sure everything works and, of course, to find typos. Journalism being dead, there are lots of people freelancing.

I am lucky enough to have a good friend who's done some professional editing in the past.

 

[S.torch]

Wow, this looks genuinely impressive. You did all of this by yourself? How much did it take you?

 

[Tyranicon]

Wow, this looks genuinely impressive. You did all of this by yourself? How much did it take you?

It'll be 5 years in May since I started. Of course, I've hired out some art, including our own MrBuzzKill to create some 3d models, but it's by and large, a solo effort.

 

[RPK]

Wow, this looks genuinely impressive. You did all of this by yourself? How much did it take you?

Pretty much. All of the art was commissioned or bought from asset stores. I bought a few coding assets to save me time, such as a fog of war system, an inventory system etc.

It will be 5 years in May since I started.