Hello, hello!
We’re Traian and Florian Cazacu, two brothers with a lifelong passion for playing and making games. This shared love for gaming is what drives us and what we hope will resonate with you, future players of Valor of Man. As we approach the final stages of our development journey, we wanted to share with you how we reached this point and what inspired us to start this project.
Origins
Our gaming journey began nearly 30 years ago on the HC (Home Computer), and while some might call us "kinda old," we prefer to say we’re experienced! We’ve got a deep well of nostalgia for the games that shaped us, with some of our favorites being Diablo 1 & 2 for their dark, gothic atmosphere, Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2 for the epic power fantasies and tactical combat, Fallout 1, 2 & Tactics for that wasteland grit, Icewind Dale for its grand battles, and Starcraft for the thrill of teamwork and real-time strategy.
Of course, that’s just a taste of the games we love. We’re drawn to profound, complex experiences that reward curiosity, ingenuity, and cooperation. We also love board games, with some of our top picks being Eldritch Horror, Robinson Crusoe, Shadows over Camelot, Space Alert, Descent, and Kingdom Death: Monster.
The Modern Era of Gaming
Modern games feel pretty different from those we grew up with. Maybe we’ve been spoiled by years of gaming, but now we tend to “see the Matrix” quickly: understanding the structure of a game and then reducing it to a transactional grind (play X hours, get Y reward). That approach doesn’t hold the same appeal for us anymore.
There’s also the matter of speed. Many games today cater to fast-paced play, but we remember the thrill of spending hours struggling to beat a red dragon in Baldur’s Gate 2. While it took time and effort, the eventual victory felt incredibly satisfying compared to today’s flashy bosses that often fall in minutes.
The call
As technical people, we naturally gravitated toward problem-solving careers. We’ve spent years developing software and automating systems. But games have always been a constant in our lives, and that passion is hard to ignore, no matter how exciting other fields can be.
Over the years, we talked endlessly about games and game design. Then, in March 2023, something clicked. After revisiting an idea repeatedly, we decided to build a prototype. At that point, we were on a personal journey, searching for what truly inspired us, and we found joy and freedom in what would become Valor of Man. After almost two years of work and countless hours of fun, we’re nearly ready to bring it to life.
Our vision for Valor of Man is to combine the excitement of real-time games with the strategic depth of turn-based combat. But here's the twist that we're sure will pique your interest: enemies react to your attacks, making the battlefield dynamic and adding a layer of strategy to every encounter. Each enemy has its distinct style and personality, with tailored tactics and reactions, which keep the game moving and ensure that no two battles are the same.
To better explain this, imagine the start of a battle: Your initial strategy might be similar most of the time, but look how your enemy reacts differently each time you hit him. There isn’t a set order for this. So you know how you will start the fight, but you never know what’s coming next.
We need you!
Wow! Have you reached this point? We started to think we were talking alone! Anyway, we wanted to thank you for taking the time to read about us and our journey towards the launch of (how we call it) “our first child”.
Reaching this point has not been easy, and we know the most exciting yet challenging phase is upon us. Together with you, fellow gamers, we want to make sure that Valor of Man meets the expectations of those who, like us, are missing something in this new era of gaming.
Stay tuned to join upcoming playtests and beta phases and help us give Valor of Man the final tweaks. Furthermore, if you want to discuss our game (or the gaming scene in general) more deeply, find us on our Discord Server! We are eager to hear your opinions!
See you soon!