Lords of Nysera (Demo)

Lords of Nysera is a brand new Tactical RPG that was funded on Kickstarter and is currently in development! I have a few details on my Website: lordsofnysera.com, but if you really want to get a good idea of how the game looks you should check out the Kickstarter page. 

If you'd still like to support our work you can donate an equivalent amount here to receive on the same release date as the Kickstarter. While you won't be included in the Kickstarter updates sent out to backers, you'll be notified from a separate list when the game launches:

• 20 USD - A key for Steam/Itch on release.
• 10 USD - The Soundtrack for Lords of Nysera
• 5 USD - The Digital Artbook for Lords of Nysera
• 5 USD - The Supporter DLC, a small addon to the base game.

Now that that's out of the way, here's the details for the game!

Magic

While Lords of Nysera is greatly influenced by titles such as Fire Emblem, its world is built from the ground up, and hence has many differences than it's original inspirations. The most notable difference is the magic. There's 12 elements to choose from, each with their own benefits in battle.

Here's a few things you can do just as an example:

• Fire spells will burn enemies, create patches of fire and ignite buildings and forests, burning down both if left for too long.
• Earth spells easily destroy castles and buildings, and can rend the earth, making it difficult or even impossible to pass through.
• Water spells can freeze rivers, douse fires and buff units with enchantments.
• Spells have a variety of AOE shapes that can devastate entire swathes of units.

Tactics

While the core gameplay is likely very familiar to  TRPG veterans, there's some distinct differences that bring new challenges to the table:

• Stealth - Players and enemies can hide in locations that provide defensive cover. While hidden, units cannot be targeted directly, and gain a significant bonus to their next fight.
• Aerial Combat - On every overworld map there's a 2nd aerial map that flyers can ascend to. While ascended only air magic and other ascended units can target them. This makes flyers especially good at flanking and capturing locations.
• Structures and Height - Castles and buildings aren't just there for decoration. Large castles and buildings will elevate units, preventing them form being attacked by melee combatants. You'll have to break down the walls or capture the gates to storm them.
• Cohorts - As a leader of a true army, you're allowed to recruit and field generic units. These can be part of a cohort, which is a group led by an officer (i.e. a unique unit). Cohorts will contribute EXP they would have normally gained as a portion to their leader and the overall arm instead.

Upgrades

I've spent a great deal of time working out numerous ways players can improve on their units however they like. Here's a few of the things I'm most proud of:

• Equipment - Unlike some TRPGS, units in Lords of Nysera can equip armor, shields, and a whole assortment of trinkets. Each has their own benefits and downsides, some even requiring advanced training to use properly.
• Skills - Each class has their own unique skills they learn as they level, and most skill improve as the unit progresses in levels, making them continue to be useful even late game.
• Enhancements - Most items can be enhanced with powerful augments. Some will simply improve the stats of a weapon, while others can make them regenerate durability, or even become summon-able companions.
• Research - Lords of Nysera takes place at a time where much of the old worlds knowledge is being recovered. Players can consume valuable Army EXP to recover these lost advancements, allowing them to craft new items, learn new spells and make army-wide improvements.
• Companions - Companions are the equivalent of Supports in Lords of Nysera. But like everything else there’s a touch of “extra” in my game. Companions levels are increased through interwoven conversations that often require other units to be present. They also provide extra bonuses, such as new crafting recipes, skills and even side quests to explore.

Characters

In Lords of Nysera you'll find a wide assortment of characters from all over the world. There are no “Good Guys” and “Bad Guys” in Nysera, merely people with motives, aspirations and grudges. Each warrior you face has a reason for their actions, each grave left is a story untold.

Story

There's a huge timeline of events in the world of Nysera, and the game only takes place in a small portion, and not even during the present time! Like I mentioned, Nysera is a world built first, developed after. I spent a great deal of time realizing the setting to ensure that it felt unique and well thought out and not just a blank space to throw a Fire Emblem clone onto.

• The Gods - Like the 12 elements, Nysera has 12 gods who play a significant role in the world. Not only did they make it, they once spoke with the denizens and shared the secrets of magic, life and creation with them.

• Usurpers and Inheritors - Nysera was once dominated by the 12 mythic races of the Ahnvala, a people created from magic by the gods. However, in an age now long since passed they were usurped by a 13th race that could not commune with the gods. This 13th race, the Gashyn, is the closest analogue to humans in Nysera, and constitutes much of the player's army.
• The Age of Silence - The story takes place here, at a time where the gods of Nysera have gone silent. The ancient Lords of Nysera, the Ahnvala of old, stir in their exile as the Gashyn fight over the emergence of new and powerful god-touched bloodlines.
• An Empty Throne - Evallia, once the greatest leader of the new world, has gone missing. With her bloodline gone the relatively young Nation of Evallon struggles to maintain control as the western provinces rise up in revolt.

But I could write a freaking book on all the stuff going on... So I'll leave it at this for now. If you're curious please ask any questions you like. I post lots of updates to my little subreddit over at r/Secrets_of_Nysera, where I include other stuff related to the world itself (not just the game).

Thanks everyone! ~ The Lazy Warlock