November - Focusing on the Divine

Dear Backers,

Bonjour from France! I'm finishing this month's update in Paris after Games Week. Little Orbit was here working with our European Distributors, many of whom will be helping us release the retail version of Unsung Story next year.

During the show, I got a small break to stroll around and visit Notre Dame.

Standing in the cold October air under the shadow of such an amazing structure, it was easy to imagine what it must be like for the citizens of Hodh in Jelamond, home of the School of Divine magic.

This month I'll be giving a general update and walking through early conceptual work for the locations and classes of the Divine.

General Update

We've been expanding. In October, we added two designers, one character technical artist, and several more developers to the project.

The Storyboard work I mentioned last month is progressing well. We're now complete with Chapter 5 and part of Chapter 4. This is much more than redoing elements of the whiteboxes, it also includes all the dialog, intro and outro cut scenes, and extra objectives. I looked for a small snippet to share, but it's filled with notes and spoilers.

The developers are building out some of the more boring systems like Dialog, Audio, and Streaming based on requirements from the design team. They will also be starting all of the character customization systems in November, since our character technical artist just started.

In addition to the Storyboard and level layouts, the designers have been polishing up abilities and progression, so I'm going to share the class unlock tree. This shows the path for player units to progress from the starting classes through to late stage classes.

Class Unlock Tree

The art team is mostly done with conceptual work. You'll see the last major chunk in this update. They are focusing now on 3D modeling, texturing, and animation based on the requirements from the Storyboard.

Music Update

There has been a lot of back and forth on the music tracks this month.

I've listened to 20 unique tracks so far. This includes the main theme plus one lighter variation. Some main battle music themes, and then some of tracks for each chapter. This has been incredibly fun, and I am anticipating a trip to Tokyo before the end of the year to help provide final feedback to Mr Sakimoto.

Like I said last month, I'm working on a format that will allow us to share a teaser to some of the music.

And now for the rest of the class and location concepts...

Jelamond & Divine Classes

Jelamond and it's capital city of Hodh are among the most “ethereal” of the locations in Unsung Story. Built as high as possible in the Northern most peaks, this country is situated more evenly between the cosmos and the earth.

It is home to the School of Divine, which reveres the soul. Practitioners of this School use the resonant quality of the “ethereal body” or soul to transfer, store, magnify, and unleash magic. It is a reverent culture of sacred ritual, ecstatic song, and spiritual devotion. Practitioners of the School of Divine do not fear death and believe in reincarnation.

Jelamond Cathedral Section

Cathedral detail sketches

We have previously introduced you to the Guardian class concepts. To round out the School of Divine here are the rest of its classes.

Bladesinger

This class unites the arts of swordplay and spellcraft, creating a wholly unique fighting style that can baffle opponents, if they managed to live long enough to consider it. Bladesingers are masters of all weaponry, summoning whichever blade they deem appropriate at a whim.

Divine Bladesinger

Necromancer

Necromancers are masters of death, within others and themselves. Often considered deplorable to those unfamiliar with their creed, in truth Necromancers bear no ill will toward the dead, instead opting to utilize that power to its fullest potential in aiding life.

Their primary weapon is a Scythe. They can manipulate corpses and debuff opponents.

Divine Necromancer

Necromancer 3D Model

Echo Knight

This class wields an unusual and incongruous power, warping the very fabric of space around themselves and their foes. The Librarians sing of Echo Knights who have stopped whole legions, all without shedding a drop of blood.

Their primary weapon is the Greatsword.

Divine Echo Knight

Shadow

Shadows are the unspoken and unseen hand of the Divine, dealing with matters that the public face of the School would deem reprehensible. When the seemingly healthy enemies of the church drop dead in broad daylight, citizens tend to assume it was by an act of God, rather than the immoral act of subterfuge.

Their primary weapon is a Hook and Chain, and they can 'mark' an enemy to perform extra abilities.

Divine Shadow

Shadow 3D Model

Like last month, we thought it would be cool to show you a line-up of the Divine classes, so you could get a feel for them all together.

Divine Line-up

Nature Classes

We completed Alionne last month, so we'll finish off with the last of the Saxtel classes. Here they are along with some gender swap concepts.

Archer

This class is unlocked early in the game. They are a simple but effective long-range attacker, capable of striking distant foes with ease - the backbone of any successful army. Archers maintain a backline, pelting foes with debilitating arrow attacks using their primary weapon, the Bow.

Nature Human Female Archer

Animation Test - Nature Male Mercenary

Animation Test - Nature Male Mercenary

Gender Swaps

Nature Horned Male Wildlord

Nature Horned Female Berserker

And here is a line-up of the Nature classes.

Nature Line-up

This month I'm also going to show off two of my favorite creatures.

Gravemother

An alluring female siren with a snake lower body. She has snake hair like Medusa and is covered with thick scales down to her snake body. Holding her small magical harp, she can attack with her tail or by her strumming an evil chord.

Gravemother Concept

Hive Lord

A large knuckle walking spore beast with a giant bee hive growing out of its back. When casting spells on enemies, it sends its bees out to swarm and sting the enemies or plunges its arms into the ground with roots spiking up under enemies.

Hive Lord Concept

As always, we appreciate your continued patience and support.

Sincerely, Matthew Scott