Hello again, everyone!!
I hope this post finds all of you well and in good spirits! If the development of Chapter 4 has taught me anything, it is to NEVER take the day for granted. There is a great sense of accomplishment for pushing through adversity, but it's much more preferable to use ones' time wisely! I'm taking a break today so I can discuss a few topics on the horizon, and a few questions I've already received. After working on this game for several years, it's hard to believe I'm at the final chapter of this particular story. It has partially sunk in, but not fully by any means. I find myself abruptly recollecting this fact when discussing Chapter 5 with alpha testers and friends, it's a bittersweet occasion for sure.
So where are we with Chapter 5? How about the plans for Kedemara II? Anything else on the horizon? Let's tackle the topics in bulleted form to make things easier! I also want to clear the air on some FAQs I've encountered thus far.
Kedemara Chapter 5 progress and news
**Progress on Chapter 5**
As stated prior, I'm not taking the day for granted. I took a week off and started up again shortly thereafter. My first step is usually mapping, which I use as a "planning phase" too...it's far easier to build a mental map when you've got something to look at. A few of the regions/cities there were earmarked for Chapter 4 are getting moved to Chapter 5 (as intended). The new tilesets/settings in Chapter 4 were overall favorably received, there will be some new ones to enjoy in Chapter 5 as well! A few I've been saving for QUITE some time will finally come forward in Chapter 5!
I do have text outline, but ironically Chapter 5 is the one with the most pre-existing story material! I've had/known the ending since I started the game, it was just a matter of "getting there" with the rest of the story. There will be a few bridges to build, but we're almost there and it's quite exciting to see the goal in sight! I always try to bring something new to the table with each chapter, but the story will be very impactful (leading up to the story's apex) and I want that to be the primary focus. Everything thus far has built up to this chapter and I do not want to disappoint.
With that, I'll jump into a few FAQs regarding it (without giving any spoilers)...
"This is REALLY the final chapter? As in the story is wrapping up for SURE this time?"
Yes, that is the plan. You can always pad a story out further, but I do need to wrap it up sometime and we're basically there, from a narrative perspective. After writing for Deirdre and her friends for several years, it's very comfortable for me and I know the characters' voices well, however I do feel it's time to move on and introduce new friends who I'm sure you will grow to love as well!! :-)
"Will we see [character name] again in Chapter 5?"
You'll be seeing MANY folks again during Chapter 5. While the "giant reunion" plot device can be a little cheesy in execution, you'll be encountering a sizeable amount of past friends again during the chapter. You'll also be making a few new friends too, ones you MAY see again in Kedemara II.
"When can we expect Chapter 5 to release?"
I do not have a solid date at this time (nor an estimate to how long the chapter will be), but the winter season is usually what I aim for. I am getting a later start than I would like, because of the setbacks with Chapter 4. With some discipline, I believe winter of 2023 should be a reasonable goal at this time.
"What about historical figures like Prince Edgar and Lady Anora? Will we see anything else about them?"
There will be some more information about them and other historical figures in Chapter 5. While we've seen how they first made an impact on the world as we see it, we'll see how they look back on their actions and what they brought to fruition. This will greatly shape Deirdre's thought process as the Chapter goes onward. How will history remember Deirdre? Will they even remember her at all?
"Will this chapter be as emotional as Chapter 4's later half?"
Buckle up, Chapter 5 will definitely be a bumpy ride. I like JRR Tolkein's "Hope without guarantees" approach to story adversity, it will not be free of difficulty, but the light of hope will never go out so long as this story is being told. Emotions will definitely run high in this chapter and it will move to an apogee far higher than Chapter 4 did before we are given resolve.
Through all of this I would remind everyone, we still do not know who Deirdre is telling this story to right now. You can be assured that she lived to tell the tale as the story ends.
"Are you going to charge for Chapter 5 and/or Kedemara I as a whole now?"
Nope, Kedemara was free from the beginning and will be when completed as well. In its current state, I have no intentions of charging for the game.
Kedemara II information and FAQs
Funny enough, I've had more of Kedemara II planned out than Kedemara I when first starting on its development! The following entries in the Kedemara series will be based on D&D campaigns I wrote many years ago. It won't be quite as turnkey to convert them to an RPG storyline, but it'll be farther along than I was when starting Kedemara I. While Kedemara I focused much more on the past, Kedemara II is centered FAR more on the present and discovering the world as it is for the first time. A similar concept to Deirdre's story, but in practice this will feel...different.
So how about that FAQ on Kedemara II?
"What's the synopsis for Kedemara II?" (no spoilers)
Kedemara II will be set roughly 8-10 years after the end of Kedemara I. The events of Kedemara I will definitely leave a mark on the world, but there is still much to see and explore that we never saw in Deirdre's story. It's hard to give any story details without spoilers about Kedemara I's ending, but needless to say, things will be different.
There will be a much bigger focus on exploration, adventure, and a different approach to life in general for Kedemara II. The main characters will DEFINITELY reflect that, which is why I believe the story will have a much different feel than Kedemara I.
"Do you have a title for Kedemara II? When can we expect it to release?"
Yes, the intended title (as planned) will be "Kedemara II: Savage Tides". There will be a very big focus on naval exploration and stories centered around it. Not to sound like a broken record, but the cast of characters will be very well-suited to this type of story.
I am uncertain at this time, the preliminary setup for the game may take some time. I need to organize how I'll manage variables, overworld travel, plugins, etc. so that's a big unknown as I'll be taking a different approach this time. Could be a couple of years or a few months...not sure yet.
"...Anybody we know that'll be in the main cast?"
The main character IS somebody you'll (kind of) know! I won't post it outright, but this is a story about sailing, adventure, and fighting pirates...anybody you can think of who'd finally be old enough for that in roughly 8-10 years? I'd say he's certainly been preparing for such a task for several years! ;-)
"Will this be in RPG Maker too?"
Kedemara I was built in RPG Maker MV, which was replaced by RPG Maker MZ a couple of years later. I was too far into Kedemara I to start over again in MZ, so I went ahead and finished it out in MV. The difference between MV and MZ is pretty minimal, there are some UI editor changes and a few other features, but it's a very easy transition from a creation perspective.
I've entertained the idea of using Unity or Unreal Engine from now on, but I spend most of my time at work improving skills in SQL and Powershell, which are still rather new to me. Not to come off as rude, but focusing on that will help with my actual career, so spending less time on that to get familiar with a new game engine doesn't seem like the best use of my time right now. This segways into another related question...
"How much will Kedemara II cost?"
Kedemara II: Savage Tides is going to be free, as far as I currently intend. This is related to the "Why not use Unity or Unreal Engine" topic, but I am NO artist in any capacity, so the asset packs have been very helpful for me in creating Kedemara I. I intend to use them (and some new ones I'll acquire) for Kedemara II, since I've already purchased them and there's plenty of room for creativity and variation with them. Many of the asset packs won't allow you to use anything other than RPG Maker or (sometimes) Game Maker studio...legally. I don't have the spare time to engage in a legal battle with anyone, so I'm just going to follow them to the letter for now.
So far, I'll be working on Kedemara II: Savage Tides alone too, just like with Kedemara I. Other than some promotional art commissions, I don't intend to outsource much on this project either...I'd rather use the resources I have and can utilize in RPG Maker already. Telling the story in a presentable format is what I'm really after here, if it's only going to marginally improve the experience for people (if at all), there's no point in rocking the boat too much right now. This is, again, one of the reasons I'm able to offer this game for free. If collaboration becomes a viable option in the future, I will re-evaluate as needed.
"In what ways will this be different than Kedemara I?"
While Kedemara was released in "Chapters" akin to an expansion pack with each release, Kedemara II: Savage Tides will be more of an episodic nature. They'll be designated as campaigns, which will probably consist of an introductory questline (to open the campaign's story), 2 or 3 different mission sets you can do in whatever order you'd like, and then a conclusion quest to close out that particular campaign.
These will likely be 2-5 hours of story content per campaign, so it won't be as large as a Kedemara I chapter release, but there'll probably be more released during the year. It will also make the story more "flexible" and easy to follow. The will be SOME overarching story across the campaigns, but the idea will be to make release more digestible for newcomers, and easier to develop too.
"Ok...what kind of characters can we expect in Kedemara II?"
**Look away if you don't want to know ANYTHING about Kedemara II until it's released!!**
You'll have some wonderful shipmates to share your adventures with! Names and cast MAY get shifted up, but here's the crew thus far:
- Koda Grimshard: Daughter of Captain Brahma Grimshard, a former pirate from Broughton. After discovering he was a father, he changed his ways and raised Koda on the high seas as a Privateer. She may not be the tallest crewmate, but she knows her way around a cutlass and pistol. However, she fancies studying alchemy, navigation, and playing with her pet owl Orville too.
- Alice Greyhood: This quirky young rogue is out to make a name for herself! She enjoys subterfuge, stealth, sabotage, and other things that start with "S". Alice also likes hanging upside down while talking to people, as it's good for working out your core. She names all her daggers and remembers their birthdays too.
- Throgg: The jury's still out on how the whole "half-orc" thing happened in the first place, but that's how Throgg came to be! A giant, stoic fella with skin of green and a heart of gold. He doesn't crave adventure, but would like to make real friends he can spend his days with! True to his ancestry, Throgg isn't the brightest, but he means well and is a bang-up workout partner for Alice.
- Wynndi Briarheart: Someone's gotta heal this bunch of dimwits....right? This young Wood Elf woman studied druidic magic for decades and wants to expand her intellectual horizons through travel and exploration. Hoping to find iconic tomes and sacred monuments, Wynndi is only here because she needs cheap transportation...it's not like she wants to get to know everyone or anything, you know.
- Mina Hiiragi: Hailing from Wakeru City, this young Kassian woman has a deep love for munitions, firearms, explosives, and collecting butterflies. She has exceptional skill and deadly aim....so long as she doesn't lose her glasses.
I hope all that you've seen here makes the waiting worthwhile! I look forward to seeing what everyone thinks of our new friends when the time comes. Here's to many more adventures to come with new friends and new stories to tell!
Thank you all!
- Andrew (Creator)