Greetings, adventurers!
Thank you for all the questions you left for us on Steam and Discord for Of Ash and Steel. Welcome to Part 2 of the Q&A Session!
Q: Will the main story be divided into chapters?
A: Yes!
Q: Will there be multiple endings?
A: There will be one main ending, but the world’s final state will reflect your choices, making the conclusion feel unique to your playthrough.
Q: Subterranean exploration: Will there be mines, ruins, or keeps in the rock?
A: Oh, yes! Expect dungeons, underwater caves, abandoned temples, mines, and crypts. Bring a torch — you’ll need it!
Q: What kind of magic will the game have? Are there schools of magic, or is it limited to support magic/melee-magician hybrid styles?
A: Magic works similarly to how Jedi use the Force in Star Wars games or how Geralt uses signs in The Witcher.
Q: Will there be secondary abilities such as alchemy, blacksmithing, or horsemanship?
A: Absolutely! Hunting, leatherworking, alchemy, blacksmithing, armor reinforcement, weapon sharpening, fishing, and more. As for blacksmithing, you can even become a master smith and create unique swords from special metal using your own designs: choosing sword parts, accessories, and even customizing the scabbard to your liking. And then you can upgrade it all further!
Q: Will the game have elements of hardcore modes, like “one life, one save”?
A: We may add Iron Mode after release.
Q: What about replayability?
A: From the start, we’ve designed the game to encourage multiple playthroughs to fully experience it. At the very least, you’ll want to play through it with different factions. And when it comes to different builds, the options for replayability expand even further.
Q: How important is a good story and rich lore to the team?
A: There’s nothing better than immersive gameplay reinforced by a strong story. The story is one of the three core pillars of Of Ash and Steel: narrative, exploration, and progression. We’ve carefully crafted not just the small, everyday details (like holidays and people’s attitudes toward life), but also political, legal, and religious aspects.
Q: Which game engine are you using?
A: Unreal Engine 4.27.1
Q: Will there be secret quests (not noted in the journal)?
A: Yes! We categorize quests into three types: classic (logged in the journal, with dialogues, etc.), hidden (not logged in the journal but can involve dialogues and unique mechanics), and exploration-based — where you’ll solve small (or sometimes large) puzzles to access new areas or find treasures. Plus, we’ve prepared over a hundred different random events in the world, some of which unfold over the course of the main story.
Q: Will there be some sort of morality system for the protagonist or factions?
A: The hero's reputation grows as the character develops and as events unfold in the world. If, at first, people treat you with, at best, condescension, as your influence increases, ordinary people will begin to treat you with greater respect.
Q: Will there be permanent or temporary companions?
A: Yes, from time to time, you’ll have companions traveling with you.
Q: Will it be possible to create hybrid builds?
A: Millions of possibilities! A berserk with no HP and a high chance of critical damage, a tin can with no damage but virtually impenetrable, a rogue armed with a dagger with high stamina and high attack speed. You have full control.
Q: Will there be quests that allow you to get unique equipment, additions to characteristics, unique skills?
A: Yes! Especially if you pay close attention to the world.
Q: Will there be random events on locations without player intervention?
A: Of course! The world changes, and with these changes come new events.
Q: Tell us about the crafting system, if it is planned.
A: We’ll provide more details later, but in short: we have a rich variety of items — from food to weapons and resources, as well as armor reinforcement and weapon sharpening (which grant permanent bonuses). For experienced crafters, you’ll be able to create your own sword from your own designs, customizing everything, right down to the scabbard.
Q: Will there be in-game books in the game, like in Morrowind and Skyrim?
A: Absolutely. For those who want to dive deeper into the world of the Kingdom of the Seven, in-game books will be an excellent resource.
Q: Are there plans for early access or a full release?
A: Full release right away.
Q: Will there be set armor, which if you collect it all, gives a boost?
A: Yes!
Q: Will there be boss fights?
A: Yes!
Q: Will it be possible to climb anywhere, or almost anywhere?
A: Of course — we have free climbing. Just be careful not to fall!
Once again, thank you for your questions and interest in the project!