Finale and next steps
about 4 years ago
– Sun, Apr 19, 2020 at 02:54:17 AM
What a ride! Time flew by, and here we are, 30 days later.
We want to thank everybody who supported the project so early. It was a leap of faith for some of you, but we promise to dedicate all of our energy into honoring all of that support over the next 2 years.
Hindsight being 20/20, it's crazy to think of how one month ago we were filled with doubt and second-guesses, and even considered cancelling the reveal campaign altogether!
We're all in this together now, so while our main focus will be in dev to bring you a game that's as good as we can make one, you can look forward to cool reveals and high engagement from us on our Discord!
Our vocation is to entertain, and in the current context this mission finds extra purpose in helping people get their minds off of things. Your warm reception to all the reveals has done the same for us, so once again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts <3
As we move into production, the memories from this campaign will carry us.
All the love, and all the best,
Sabotage
Feel free to join us on Discord to celebrate the end of the campaign with the team! https://discord.gg/sabotagestudio
The fulfilment phases
So what’s next? Fulfilment wave 1 is next!
(But before that, the team will take a 2-day break. We’ll be back at full speed next week!)
With over 25000 backers, and the excitingly long list of rewards that comes with it (some digital, some physical, some available now, some available at launch) we need a proper plan to make sure everyone has a good experience. A couple of weeks are going to be needed before we can start the first wave of fulfilment.
Our goal is to make the process as smooth as possible by avoiding unnecessary interactions. But full disclaimer: it is our first time doing that, and the scale of the campaign is huge, so minor hiccups are to be expected.
Talking about waves, here is the current plan, which is subject to change, but validated by experienced people who ran multiple Kickstarter campaigns before.
Wave 1: The post-campaign (ASAP)
- Steam codes for The Messenger will be sent via email.
- Kickstarter wallpapers for backers will be sent via email.
- A unique code for all backers will be sent to you via email. This code will be associated with your pledge level and will be a key to unlock most digital rewards.
- There will be a Discord bot to manage all roles, access to the dev channel, and access to the PC demo (which will be launchable through Discord).
Wave 2: Production (Estimated: Q3-Q4 2020)
- There will be a web app for both Statues and Monuments. For those who pledged these tiers, you will unlock access to it by entering your unique code.
- For monuments, we’ll send you the procedure to submit your moodboard with references and descriptions.
- For statues, you’ll be able to customize your look and save it.
Wave 3: The pre-launch (Sometimes in 2021)
- After everything is announced, we’ll send out a survey to gather your platform(s) of choice for digital and physical, along with shipping details for those who ordered physical goods, and the name you want to appear in the credits .
Wave 4: DLC (Sometimes after launch)
- We’ll send platform specific codes to everyone who has pledged for a copy of the game to get the DLC for free on the platform(s) they chose.
As for the Cryptwalker, we’ll be in touch :)
Backerkit page
Starting next week, we’ll have a Backerkit page up for people who didn't get to support the project during the campaign but would like to get invovled. We’ll do another update with all the details!
Add-ons & Surveys!
The surveys won’t be sent until the platforms are announced, as we can only send one. This means that if you are already a backer, there is nothing more to do at this point. You’ll be able to pick add-ons and increase your pledge level as soon as the survey is released, but please note this could be in a year from now.
Rest assured that we’re keeping stock for everything. If you want a vinyl or a physical edition, we’ll make sure you get one.
So, just to be clear, if you already are a backer of Sea of Stars, there is no need to create a new Backerkit account, you’ll receive an email when we’re ready to finalize the pledges.
If you aren’t a backer of Sea of Stars, you can support the project via Backerkit at any point before the surveys are sent, starting next week.
If anything isn’t clear, don’t hesitate to join us on Discord to ask your questions. We are committed to offering unprecedented customer support: https://discord.gg/sabotagestudio
Once again, thank you for everything.
Playable Combat Character Reveal - Garl
about 4 years ago
– Sat, Apr 18, 2020 at 02:51:48 AM
Garl was born a regular kid devoid of any special powers, though his hometown happens to be Mooncradle, the very place where a small community is tasked with taking care of the Children of the Solstice until they become old enough to enter training. Born during the same year as Valere and Zale, the three of them grew up together as best friends, often dreaming of the day they would leave to explore the world.
To Garl, the call of adventure is an excuse to taste all the flavors life has to offer, and to challenge himself in preparing wholesome meals despite the daily unpredictabilities of being the devoted friend and caretaker of two Solstice Warriors on a mission.
Eager to prove themselves at a young age, the trio once ventured into the forbidden cavern. On this fateful day, Garl lost his left eye to a monster, learning the hard way that it was not the place of the common folk to engage in combat with The Fleshmancer’s minions. As punishment, his two best friends were taken into Zenith Academy right away, separating Garl from his friends for the remainder of his childhood.
Even though the only official training he would receive was in the art of cooking, Garl never doubted that his strong innate constitution would make him fit for any challenges.
When trouble comes, he acts as a defensive fighter, wielding his cauldron lid as a makeshift shield. He always tries his best to protect his friends, who he sincerely believes will become the finest Solstice Warriors the world has ever known.
Outside of combat, Garl always keeps an eye out for unique ingredients to use at the campfire, always making a point to feed his companions while also boosting their morale using varying perfumes and textures. Anyone he can get to set aside their worries and connect to the moment by enjoying a good meal is a win in his book!
The Elder Mist hesitantly approves of him as a travel companion for Zale and Valere, on the promise that he would be mindful of his limitations when it came to combat. He was uniquely gregarious, that one, choosing to let his scar show openly, and somehow having a smile big enough to make up for it. Plus, Garl's indomitable inclination to care for others would certainly provide much needed moral and nutritious support for the hardships ahead.
There was also something peculiar in the stars about him, as it seemed his heart just might be warm enough to “soothe a long tormented soul”.
As always, join us on Discord if you want to chat with the team! - https://discord.gg/sabotagestudio
Prologue - The Two Alchemists
about 4 years ago
– Fri, Apr 17, 2020 at 01:38:32 AM
At first revelling in the bright side of their bittersweet eternal lives, they spent centuries protecting the world, nurturing it, and creating wonders to inspire its mortals. Over time, however, Aephorul grew increasingly jealous of the ephemerality he would never taste again.
Thus began his wicked journey into the forbidden schools of alchemy, a journey through which every last bit of good within his heart dissipated as he experimented with soul, bone, flesh, and blood alike.
As fate would have it, Aephorul eventually embraced evil and emerged as The Fleshmancer, a wicked immortal who bore no second thoughts about cursing the world with his monstrous creations. Resh’an tried intervening as best he could, causing unspeakable chaos and collateral damage to the world as the two former friends fought their endless war.
After much struggle, Resh’an discovered the flesh minions’ only weakness to be Solar and Lunar magic, a power gifted to humans born during a solstice. He began training these children so that they would become Solstice Warriors, tasked with culling the presence of The Fleshmancer’s creations.
But Aephorul’s knowledge was also gaining ground, and he eventually started creating oddities of unlimited potential known as Dwellers. Dwellers were impervious to all but Eclipse Magic, a special kind of power available only to Solstice Warriors during a total eclipse. Time was always of the essence, as Dwellers would, left to their devices long enough, turn into World Eaters, spelling doom for all.
Armed with knowledge and power, Solstice Warriors were patrolling their world, tracking Dwellers to determine which one would have to be taken down during each eclipse. If they kept their guard up, there may never be a World Eater, but Resh’an knew it was only a matter of time until The Fleshmancer devised an even more wicked plan.
In a desperate attempt to get ahead, Resh’an boldly performed transmutation alchemy on the very space-time continuum, breaking reality down into countless timelines and parallel universes. He then hung up his alchemy vial and took up the mantle of Archivist, setting out on an endless journey across all realities, cataloging every single possible outcome in search for a resolution to the throes of The Fleshmancer. Meanwhile, Aephorul rejoiced at the seemingly infinite potential for destruction he had just been offered.
And so this game of cat and mouse, played by Dwellers and Solstice Warriors on one level, and by Resh’an and Aephorul on another, took place across seemingly infinite timelines. While some were getting lost to World Eaters, others were being cleansed and reclaimed by heroes who would know lasting peace, provided The Fleshmancer never set foot in their realm again.
Our story begins in such a world, visited by The Fleshmancer decades prior, causing much turmoil and leaving a mark that has yet to be fully cleansed. Indeed, the threat remains as the infamous Dweller of Woe gains power with each passing day, getting ever closer to morphing into a World Eater.
With only three Solstice Warriors left, a ray of hope appears as two Children of the Solstice are born during the same fateful year. If there is to be any chance for this world, they will have to complete training at an early age, and unlock their powers in time for the next eclipse...
As always, join us on Discord to discuss with the team! - https://discord.gg/sabotagestudio
New Music Track Release - Jungle Path
about 4 years ago
– Fri, Apr 17, 2020 at 12:27:50 AM
A lot of you have been asking for more music, so here we are!
Jungle Path is an outdoor dungeon and the starting area of Watcher Island, where the demo takes place. Here is the music track for it, which you might have heard glimpses of in our Kickstarter video. It starts off with the day version of the track and switches over to the night version around the midway point.
So feast your ears, and give Eric's commentary below a read:
- I wanted a very percussive, rhythmic soundtrack, because you don’t really get that in an RPG. Especially a retro RPG, you might have a tambourine, and a bongo, that’s about it. There are literal hundreds of thousands of percussion instruments in the real world, and each region of our world has unique instruments and rhythms, I think it’s only right that the game world feels similar in that respect.
- We had several discussions about finding a “signature instrument” for the music, and I kept coming back to various types of Bells. Not only is there a large enough variety to never run out of options, they do sound rather “starry” which is theoretically appropriate for a game called Sea Of Stars. And they’re a percussion instrument.
- SNES soundfonts. It is my correct opinion that nothing makes a true retro gamer’s ears perk up more than the identifiably sultry sounds of the S-SMP audio subsystem. Given that the SoS art style has a lot more depth than The Messenger, 8 bit chiptunes would not be appropriate here. But it’s still supposed to feel retro, and the best way to make that happen is to use actual sounds from actual SNES games.
So this tune came about from exploring many different possibilities, and I’m reasonably pleased with the result. The drums in this song are a little more deliberate than some other areas of the game, but it’s the jungle level, so more tribal beats were necessary."
As always, join us on Discord if you want to chat with the team! - https://discord.gg/sabotagestudio
Area reveal - Mooncradle Village
about 4 years ago
– Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at 02:42:14 AM
We still can't believe the million dollar mark has been passed! To celebrate, we are dropping all social media stretch goals (which we quite frankly overestimated), and will be offering three updates here in the form of lore primers for those who want to learn more about the world of Sea of Stars.
First up is the reveal of the game's starting area!
Sitting on Evermist Island's crescent-shaped peninsula is the town of Mooncradle, where a humble community prepares welcoming ceremonies at every solstice, expecting The Great Eagle to bring them a newborn baby.
For time immemorial, Mooncradle's villagers have been nurturing these Children of the Solstice until they were of age to receive training at Zenith Academy, ascending into warriors of either the sun or the moon, and devoting their lives to the war against the armies of The Fleshmancer.
Solstice Warriors usually travel as a pair of complementary powers, to ensure all enemies can be fended off. Free to roam the world's many islands, they help its denizens and follow their instinct to assess any growing threats.
It is always a pleasure for the people of Mooncradle to see Solstice Warriors come and go as they periodically report to Zenith Academy's Headmaster, who compiles intelligence in order to plan the next eclipse's gathering.
Indeed, some very rare elite creations of The Fleshmancer, known as Dwellers, are impervious to all but a very potent power available to Solstice Warriors exclusively while the moon completely blocks out the sun. Tradition has it that all Solstice Warriors would gather at each eclipse, to ensure swift and decisive victory over the targeted Dweller.
Our story begins in Mooncradle, where Valere and Zale live a happy, albeit secluded childhood, getting into all kinds of trouble with their best friend Garl, a regular kid who simply happened to be born in Mooncradle directly.
As they would soon find out, the world was down to only three Solstice Warriors. For there to be any hope of removing the growing threat known as the Dweller of Woe, our two heroes would need to show potential quickly...
Join us on Discord for more details: https://discord.gg/sabotagestudio
