The time has come to explore the final part of the differences between our games: the key gameplay distinctions.
The Tempest Legacy
We know how frustrating it was for many players when they lacked just a single point in a parameter needed to make a choice—the kind of choice that could determine the fate of their character. We did this intentionally: it was important for Sir Brante to feel the limits of his abilities and face defeats.
With Prince Jerian, the story is different. The power granted to him by birth and inherited from his ancestors allows him to solve almost any problem and achieve his goals in the moment. He can rely not only on his own skills, knowledge, and abilities, but also on his heritage.
Players will therefore have more opportunities to overcome restrictions and barriers in specific scenarios. But the question remains: how to use ancestral power wisely? And what will it demand in exchange for the strength it provides?
Character Model
Sir Brante had no inner model—his traits, qualities, and beliefs were entirely shaped by the player. This allowed him to be flexible, inconsistent, and free to choose what seemed right in the moment.
Prince Jerian, however, does not have such freedom. In a sense, he is one with his state and dependent on it. His inclinations and character development will be tracked through specific parameters, which will open some paths and close others. Players must consider not only the world around the hero, but also the hero himself.
These limitations are not insurmountable. Jerian can act against his own nature to do what he deems important and right. But acting against himself comes at a cost: his reasoning, integrity, and sense of self.
Where the Power Lies
For Sir Brante, the answer was simple: the higher his stats, the wealthier and more prestigious his family, the more options he had.
For Prince Jerian, it’s much more complex. Yes, there are attributes that clearly help him live and achieve his goals: personal skills, ancestral legacy, the power of House Tempest.
But much else in the life of a ruler is less obvious: which social estate should be strengthened, and which weakened? How to avoid becoming a hostage of one’s own favorites? To what extent should technological progress be encouraged, and when would change threaten the foundation of society itself? Which courtiers should be cultivated as allies or friends, and whose interests can be ignored?
A ruler’s power lies in the strength of his allies, and in that lies his weakness. Finding and preserving this power at the crucial moment is perhaps the most important question for Jerian as a politician.
Strategic Gameplay
Sir Brante’s political life was relatively simple: he knew what he wanted whether in terms of goals and conscience, or in terms of provincial welfare and work success. His limited set of influence options made this manageable.
For Prince Jerian, we’ve created a far more complex political system. Many parameters interact with one another, and goals can be achieved through multiple strategies, reflecting the state of different societal forces rather than a single target attribute. Jerian always has choices and multiple strategies to reach his aims.
We hope players will not only make choices in individual scenes, but also understand how, why, and where their decisions reshape the Empire. And that they will be ready for both the pleasant and unpleasant consequences of their actions.
Focused Narrative
Sir Brante, over time, explored the world, sought his path, built his destiny, and chose his duty. He could live almost three different lives and see the Empire through very different eyes.
Prince Jerian does not have this privilege. From the start, he has a Name, a Duty, and a Lot—the lot of a ruler. We focus on this lot and aim to explore it deeply, giving the hero opportunities to find nuances, discover unusual solutions to seemingly insoluble problems, and secure a future for his country that he sincerely believes in.
Or he might find a path beyond the boundaries defined by his birth or the laws of this world.
Jerian cannot live the multiple lives that Sir Brante did, but his life will always be rich in nuance, shades, and multiple possible endings to his unique story.
Together, we’ve explored the many layers of comparison between The Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian and The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante. We hope you enjoyed this journey!
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