Serpent in the Staglands - The game where a single fox kills your entire party of adventurers - Games

[B]Serpent of the Staglands[/B] is a game recently released by Whalenough studios, it hasn't received much attention recently but I definitely think it's worth your time if you like these kinds of games. Have some description from the official site. [quote][B]A true role-playing adventure[/B] A 90s CRPG in every way but the release date, Serpent in the Staglands is a campaign within the world of Vol, a fully realized setting inspired by the late bronze age in a Transylvanian landscape, with unique politics, races and gods steeped in history. Featuring a chosen party of five, you take the role of Necholai, a minor god of a celestial body, who descends to the Staglands for a moonlit festival only to find his way home blocked and immortality slipping out of his grasp. Seeking answers and aid, he takes on a mortal body and the guise of a traveling Spicer. While the game rolls the dice for you, you'll traverse the Staglands on a path narrated by your own wits and choices. A true role-playing experience, Serpent in the Staglands doesn't hinder your adventure with auto-populating map markers, checklist quest grinding or rigid story exposition. You'll put the pieces of the puzzle together, and with different ending scenarios and closed off areas of the game based off actions, you'll want to play it more than once. Use your own wits to examine maps, decipher languages, decode runes and figure out how to kill the unkillable.[/quote] [quote][B]A Transylvanian-inspired Bronze Age [/B]A setting historically inspired by the late bronze age in an eerie Transylvanian landscape A huge variety of enemies inhabit the peninsula, including Romanian mythology inspired monsters, spirits, rogue mages and mutilated outlaws Immerse yourself in the highly detailed descriptions of items, language, and ambience of Vol [/quote] [quote][B]Classless Builds [/B]A classless role-playing system where you create builds via any combination of the magic, combat and aptitude skills available to create or find up to 5 unique characters A wide range of combat skills, spells and aptitudes to choose from to build any composition of party you want, from whip wielding wizard slayers to polymorphing wolves. Prepare you party for a myriad of different kinds of encounters that you'll have to switch tactics, spells and items used to overcome. [/quote] [quote][B]Open World Exploration [/B]An unmarked map filled with wilderness, cities, towers, temples, dungeons and caverns to explore. Write your own journal notes for quests, puzzles and leads as you investigate. The game won't hold your hand. Non-linear storyline and open exploration right out of the gate, with branching decisions that cut off or open paths for quests and endings. The story and peninsula is a puzzle you'll have to try to put together. [/quote] [quote][B]Real-Time with Pause Combat [/B]Party-based, real time with pause combat focused on macro tactical decisions and creative party skill combinations Combat designed for minimal pause spamming and without cooldown skills, instead focusing on pre-buffing, positioning, movement and fun encounter designs so you can focus on what's fun. [/quote] Have some screenshots [IMG]http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_ 07.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_ 01.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_ 04.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_ 05.png[/IMG] [IMG]http://serpentinthestaglands.com/global/img/WebImages_b_ 17.png[/IMG] If you're interested in this game, check out the [B][URL="http://serpentinthestaglands.com/demo.php"]demo[/URL][/B] on their official website. The game is purchasable at Steam, GoG and Humble Store. Have a look at the official launch trailer. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmjZYIndaCA[/media] Thus far I have played this game for a few good hours and I'm having a blast. This game just throws you into this cold and hostile world, desperately trying to figure out how to survive. Taking notes and saving at every corner is not an uncommon thing in this game. It's pretty immersive despite it's aesthetic look, yet it has a very unique charm. If you like crpgs like Baldur's Gate or Pillars of Eternity, you might enjoy this as well. Note though that this game has a obviously a lower budget and feels perhaps less epic and expansive. Still there is a lot to explore and it's an extremely rewarding experience, the combat is brutal but each victory is utterly sweet. Beware though that the game is still a bit rough, loading times are pretty long and there are some issues here and there. They're not hindering the game experience though. Definitely a unique game in my opinion. I'll add some tutorials and guides if people are interested in this game.

this is actually really awesome

I'm having trouble with the game crashing when I try to start and the executable deletes itself. Too bad too because this looks intriguing.

[QUOTE=Alxnotorious;47852286]I'm having trouble with the game crashing when I try to start and the executable deletes itself. Too bad too because this looks intriguing.[/QUOTE] I'm afraid the game is quite buggy at times and it has some issues. It works flawlessly for me, what exactly happens? Also did you buy it on steam or gog?

So, judging by the thread title, the game is excruciatingly hard?

[QUOTE=DEMONSKUL;47852358]So, judging by the thread title, the game is excruciatingly hard?[/QUOTE] It's pretty hardcore, the first one or two hours are spent tinkering around with the menus and trying to kill a goblin. But once you get the hang of it, it's not that hard. But every encounter should be taken seriously and your characters have permanent death, it's also extremely rewarding though. But yeah, on my first playthrough a fox killed my party and on my second try the acolytes of the starting temple killed me because I stole a biscuit. It's actually recommended to equip your starting party with frying pans and awls in order to survive, but once you get some actual gear. It's a smoother ride.

[QUOTE=junker154;47852331]I'm afraid the game is quite buggy at times and it has some issues. It works flawlessly for me, what exactly happens? Also did you buy it on steam or gog?[/QUOTE] Oh sorry, forgot to mention this is the demo I'm trying to run. I'll add it to my wishlist though when I'm looking for something to do.

Classless? fucking sold do things scale with your level though?

Your characters get more proficent with certain weapons the more they use them, similar to Darklands or Oblivion. Some skills enhance your efficency with certain weapons as well.

[QUOTE=junker154;47854691]Your characters get more proficent with certain weapons the more they use them, similar to Darklands or Oblivion. Some skills enhance your efficency with certain weapons as well.[/QUOTE] nah i meant is there level scaling do enemies and/or loot scale with your level because that's the number one killer of RPGs for me

[QUOTE=elowin;47855868]nah i meant is there level scaling do enemies and/or loot scale with your level because that's the number one killer of RPGs for me[/QUOTE] Enemies do not scale with your level. I think the devs were even quite proud of that when they presented their game. As for the loot, I'm not entirely sure. Harder enemies mostly just drop better stuff, this is an rpg where you can loot everything from your enemies. So if you kill a guy with a nice armor, you can take it right off his dead body. It's pretty neat.

[QUOTE=elowin;47855868]nah i meant is there level scaling do enemies and/or loot scale with your level because that's the number one killer of RPGs for me[/QUOTE] in this level one forest my entire party got completely destroyed by a single bandit at this little camp off the beaten path, so no level scaling at all

Loving the atmosphere and music in the demo so far. Although I hope there are resolution options in the full game, I have a small monitor and I have to literally squint at times to read certain things.

you can stretch the window out and set it to fullscreen as well

[QUOTE=69105;47858196]you can stretch the window out and set it to fullscreen as well[/QUOTE] The fullscreen mode only increases the width for me. [img]http://i.cubeupload.com/8bUTOB.jpg[/img]

This game has received major updates from the developers since launch, they're quite expansive and fix numerous bugs. Definitely shaping this rough gem into a hidden gem. I definitely recommend this even more now.