Greetings, Magicians and Technologists!
Today we want to tell you more about magic and its place in the world of New Arc Line. As we have told you previously, there’s a duality to our world - a simmering conflict between technology and magic. And even though technologists have the upper hand at this point in history, becoming a magician can still grant you awe-inspiring powers. So, let’s peer into the magic’s glorious past, and then see what its present has in store for you as well.
Glory Days of the Arcane Arts
In days long gone, magic and its practitioners ruled the world; and the most talented and dedicated mages could challenge and overcome the very laws of reality - imagine making a waterfall flow upwards, or constructing actual Penrose stairs leading to someone’s house. The most powerful among the arcane practitioners, those achieving the absolute pinnacle of magical excellence and performing true miracles, became known as the Weavers - godlike beings whom others worshipped and followed.
The Weavers' power was almost limitless; they weren’t just wielding magic, they were its very embodiment. With a wave of their hand, the world could change, and they ruled it without opposition. It was brimming with wonders and mysteries, but also teetered on the brink of chaos, and regular people were nothing more than shadows to the powerful sorcerers, just pawns in their grand games.
But a hero arose - Reus the Lawbringer, who wanted to bring justice and balance to the world, and while the sorcerers were blinded by their own grandeur, he worked in secret and discovered the true source of their power; he managed to erect a barrier that severely limited the power of magic and with that decisive act, caused the downfall of the Weavers. This event allowed technology to develop and thrive, bringing prosperity to the people, allowing them to shape the world by non-magical means.
Unfortunately, while magic no longer impeded technology, this only turned the situation around - as it was the spreading of new mechanical inventions that was now causing magic to fade even further from the world. And with harmonious coexistence an impossibility, the Mago-Technology Wars became inevitable - bloody and devastating conflicts from which the technologists emerged victorious, solidifying their status as the ruling class today.
Magic in the World Today
At the time the game's story takes place, magic is but a shadow of its former self. In places where Reus’ barrier is worn thin, entropic rifts can appear and from those, a magician can glimpse a fraction of the old knowledge, growing their powers. Some say that in doing so, they can hear faint whispers of the Weavers themselves, defeated but not destroyed, trying to regain their strength and rule the world once more.
Magical Corruption
Even the relatively limited access to magic (compared to its glory days, anyway) and its use comes at a price, however. Due to the effects of Reus’ barrier, spellcasters risk transforming into distorted, vile creatures - the abhorrent. This happens gradually and there is no clear threshold; but while using simple cantrips is relatively safe, casting powerful, devastating spells greatly increases the danger of becoming corrupted by the magical energies. Maybe the risk is worth it though, as your increasing magical corruption can even grant you unexpected benefits, even while turning you into a monstrous being of malevolence and rage.
Societal Implications
Magicians in cities are, by and large, relegated to the outskirts and poor districts, living in destitute slums. This is only partly by choice, as they cannot thrive when surrounded by technology; and it is the ruling technologists who control the bustling metropolitan centers. They are also blamed for all the world's troubles, especially the scourge that is the Iron Plague (more details about that can be found in our previous devlog). Consequently, many mages choose a life outside of urbanized areas, away from what technologists would consider "civilization," congregating in secluded enclaves where technology has no place, and they are free to practice their magical and occult rituals.
Yet many still do decide to reside in cities such as New Arc, and eke out a meager living - some do their best to improve the status of mages by lawful means, but quite often, they end up so alienated that they join the various underworld, illegal (and even downright terrorist) organizations, working to undermine the system and return the world to what they see as the proper order; giving some truth to the prejudice they face, forming a vicious cycle.
Choose your Path
Even so, perhaps this adventure of becoming a magic-wielding underdog in the world of New Arc Line is alluring to you, despite all its risks. In that case, be ready to select the arcane profession that best suits your spirit - what kind of a spellcaster will you become?
Celestial Sage
Celestial spells are the arcane manifestation of the forces of order. The wise sages practicing this discipline prefer healing and empowering themselves and their allies with various buffs; and they like to wear bright colors. But don’t be fooled by their angelic aura - masters of celestial magic are perfectly capable of causing serious bodily harm to their (typically technologist) enemies when necessary. The power of celestial spells increases with the character’s wisdom.
Hellfire Occultist
The most aggressive and outright violent of the magical disciplines, hellfire spells conjure forth scorching flames and all things demonic into the world. Masters of the Hellfire school of magic are not the kind to back away from a fight, and they are willing to do everything in their power to come out on top. To that end, they can often be seen sporting heavy mace-like scepters; just in case their fiery blaze alone isn't enough to obliterate their foes. Even the efficiency of the occultist’s spells relies on the character’s physical strength.
Voodoo Shaman
Voodoo is an ancient, primeval magical discipline, connected to nature and death. Its masters can be easily identified by their macabre outfits and accessories; they specialize in cursing and weakening their enemies, and overall making their day rather unpleasant. The strength of voodoo spells is connected to the character’s "perception" attribute.
Thank you for joining us on another brief foray into the world of New Arc Line – we hope you enjoyed it! We will soon share even more details from the development of the game. We know that by far the most asked question is "When will we see some gameplay?" - well, let's just say we have a surprise for you all planned for next week.
Stay tuned, and don't forget to wishlist & follow the game here on Steam and join the New Arc Line Discord server, so you stay up to date on all news and announcements!
Until next time!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2458310/New_Arc_Line/