The Necromancer's Tale - narrative-driven RPG about about necromancy and descent into madness - coming July

[GentlemanCthulhu]

You can't spell necromancer without romance, after all.

 

[Erebus]

Romance, Seduction and Deviousness in The Necromancer's Tale with romanceable NPCs.

Just to make sure : the romanceable NPCs will actually be living people, right ?

 

[santino27]

Build-your-own-sex-doll with actually animated parts. That does seem new and innovative.

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

It's like this game is taking notes from some campaign scenarios I've created. I've made a couple that take place durring a ball. Very ideal situation for adventuring. It's a crime that it doesn't get used in CRPGs. Incline.

 

[Beastro]

You can't spell necromancer without romance, after all.

Necromance of the Three Kingdoms

 

[Infinitron]

Key moments in the narrative of The Necromancer's Tale by ‪@psychicsoftware‬

 

[Infinitron]

Meet some of the guards of Marns in The Necromancer's Tale by @psychicsoftware

 

[Gargaune]

I'm not sure all these tiny promo videos are doing the game any favours. I get that the devs want to keep the public aware, but there's not much to them and it's making the project come across overly amateurish, like the studio thinks they're showing something impressive. Take this last one, did we really need a minute-long spot of the PC clicking random characters who tell him the gates are closed? What am I looking at? I think they'd be better off posting less frequent but longer and more substantial gameplay showcases.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

I am still cautiously optimistic. Everything looks like it's there. Fingers crossed that execution isn't amateurish. That's really my only concern.

 

[Infinitron]

Stefano di Gradi is a minor noble from Venice, ambushed by the player and their allies!

 

[Infinitron]

Demo is part of "Steam Scream Fest":

 

[Mr. Magniloquent]

These people speak like reviewers but they're clearly actors. Also, not one mention of the combat. Concerning. I will try the demo this weekend. I run Linux though, so we'll see if it works.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[Gargaune]

I remain skeptical of their promotional approach with these bite-sized videos - I like what they're showing, but I don't like how they're showing it. It comes across very rough and cheap and I've seen free mod crews with better production values to their advertising. I really hope they don't end up playing themselves with this strategy.

 

[Ibn Sina]

I remain skeptical of their promotional approach with these bite-sized videos - I like what they're showing, but I don't like how they're showing it. It comes across very rough and cheap and I've seen free mod crews with better production values to their advertising. I really hope they don't end up playing themselves with this strategy.

Try the demo for yourself. It has interesting ideas but the execution is very bad imo. You will spend hours running around like headless chicken because it is not clear how to proceed to next objectives.

 

[Gargaune]

Try the demo for yourself. It has interesting ideas but the execution is very bad imo.

Ah, so the promo shortcomings do reflect the actual game? That's a shame, I liked the premise. I might give the demo a go if it stays available past this Halloween shtick, got no time right now.

You will spend hours running around like headless chicken

Spoiler

 

[Spike]

Try the demo for yourself. It has interesting ideas but the execution is very bad imo.

Ah, so the promo shortcomings do reflect the actual game? That's a shame, I liked the premise. I might give the demo a go if it stays available past this Halloween shtick, got no time right now.

You will spend hours running around like headless chicken

Spoiler

He said headless not headful.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

 

[cyborgboy95]

Release Roadmap
Fans and supporters, we are resetting the game release date and this announcement contains a full status update including the rationale for the new date. A huge thank you to the team who have at this point implemented over 350,000 words in the game narrative, over 180 unique NPCs, a robust combat system, and an incredible city and environs.

The bulk of game content is now in place, and has been heavily tested from a bugs point of view, but we need some more time to do playthrough testing, balancing, and content tweaks. Please continue to report bugs in the demo, in particular the specific places where you find you can run through walls - this has been an ongoing challenge since we implemented and continue to improve free-movement with WASD/joystick control. We would like to say a huge thank-you to our supporters who continue to help us improve overall quality.

We want to ensure we release the game to our highest achievable standard and trust therefore that your patience will continue as we endeavour to bring you the best experience we can.

Narrative
We have implemented over 350,000 words in the game narrative, with about 25,000 words left to write. Books, lore, and journal notes are complete and add about 25,000 more, bringing the game to around 400,000 in total. This has been a huge undertaking over the last 4 years, involving a writing team of 8 part-time writers/editors.

Characters
Over 180 unique NPCs are now in the game, playing major and minor roles in the game plots, as well as many having their own sidequests. Almost all have partial voice-acting, from our 25 voice actors.

Combat
The combat system is core-complete, having undergone some major revisions in the last 2 years. A few battle-magic spells and crafted battle-potions remain to implement- these generally require knowledge that you pick up while exploring dungeons, forests and ruins.

Open-World
The over-world is complete, including the city and its environs (forests, cemeteries, canyons). Building interiors are complete, as are most of the underground and arcane areas (caves, crypts, catacombs, realms of the dead)- some small underground regions remain to complete.

Dates & Release Plans

Development
End-2024: Core content complete - main quests and sidequests.
Feb 2025 Controllers & Steam Deck finalising & certifying.
March 2025: Completion of voice and ambient sound.
April 2025: Completion of additional narrative and open-world side content.
May 2025: Completion of Battle-magic and Potions.

Testing
Balancing (trust and tension systems, skillchecks, combats) to run Feb-May 2025.
Coverage playtests to run Feb-April 2025.

Release
May 2025: Release-Announcement Trailer
May 2025: New Demo (with unseen content)
June 2025: Steam NextFest
Late June/early July 2025: Game Release.

 

[Infinitron]

The Royal Ball where you meet a colourful cast of characters including an Ottoman Vizier and his genie, and the great poet Alexander Pope!

 

[Infinitron]

Eccentric scientist Boerhaaven re-animates the dead using chemistry in The Necromancer's Tale.