The "Humans" of Apocryphal
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- čas přidán 13. 06. 2024
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✧✧✧ SUBJECTIVELY ✧✧✧
Claire and Jack Burke are two independent artists who share their experiences and opinions in the industry with their fans!
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All content and characters discussed belong to their respective owners. Our content is covered by Fair Use for the purposes of polite criticism, artistic education, and/or satirical purposes. We want to share our enthusiasm for the media we cover, and also engage more people to be interested in the value of art direction and character design. - Zábava
I suggest a multimedia project:
A videogame rpg for “the main story”
A TTRPG for fans to create their own
And a book full of short stories: a few of them mission reports from the hunters hope club, some of them odd and mysterious rumours and tales and a few of them old myths and legends.
Exactly! It doesn't need to be restricted to a singular medium.
this goes without saying but since this is as indie as it can get, focusing effords on one single point seems more possible than taking the risk of spreading their resources too thin
@@gabrieleduardoronlezama7757 exactly. I think the video game should come first, then crowdfund the ttrpg & the book WHEN the video game is successful.
@@gabrieleduardoronlezama7757 I know, but I was more thinking around as "start with one of them and if it works out keep going"
yee
I think having an RPG would make sense. As you adventure, you'd add more and more to your party ala Persona. Each have their own strengths and weaknesses.
I think he could also do it the Ni No Kuni 1 way , which is like pokemon x xenoblade series.
While most people are probably gonna want this as a video game, I’ve gotta put my hat in the ring for a Tabletop Game. Everything I’ve seen so far seems like building blocks not for one singular story with specific goals and gameplay objectives, but a world with a lot of directions that players could take. Making it a TTRPG’ll give you a chance to experiment with ways to play that’ll conflict if you stick to the rigid parameters of what code could provide!
Especially with the multiple gameplay styles you mentioned at the end - each of the Founders’ philosophies feel like they’d make for a video game with clashing genres, and a TTRPG would probably make the genres mesh a little cleaner!
surprise surprise
it seems many are voting for TTRPG approach!
It'll also simplify the making process a bit because they don't need a coder or a team of them to create it, no music composer either, just writing story/world building/game mechanic and illustrations are enough
Preach my ttrpg brethren, ttrpg are collaborative storytelling mediums that promote creativity and experimentation. A perfect fit for this world and community.
I support this option for the additional reason that we are currently starved for creature catching TRRPGs other than the fanmade Pokémon TTRPGs.
Yeah I agree. It could be each of the members he made could sort of represent different classes you could play. I could see it being a mix of dungeons and dragons and call of Cthulhu.
An RPG akin to games like Shin Megami Tensei / Persona feels like it makes most sense. The already established characters and what they stand for also lends itself well to a core story told through a video game with branching endings based on how you approached certain situations
I like the idea you proposed of a game with limited combat where you use Engimorphs to solve puzzles.
I imagine like Pokemon Ranger!
I believe a TTRPG would be cool, but personally a regular RPG game sounds more enticing. Amazing designs and I can't wait for more >:)
True
By "regular," do you mean video game?
both
Yeah not sure about a ttrpg where you basically do all combat through summons
Like Pokemon, you could always make it a bunch of things. A comic, a video game (RPG of some kind), a tabletop RPG, etc. Nothing’s stopping it from being a franchise beyond budget. And one version of the story could well fund another.
I agree, there is no such thing as one path to follow
a TTRPG seems like it would be fitting for a setting like this! Being able to create your own character to fit into this world with their own motivations for joining the Hunter’s Hope Club, and exploring fantastic locations seems fitting for how bizarre the world is. Although, i think an RPG would work on a similar level.
For some reason i see this as a card-based roleplaying game. You collect cards of different enigmorphs or actions during the game and use them to tell a story. No idea how it would work, but a game like this would perfectly combine the creature collection and narrative aspects of your world.
Maybe similar to Gwent: Thronebreaker
or similar to inscryption
I'm actually developing a horror, monster collecting, deck builder and I think it would work for his design approach. Plus the deck building helps lean into the mystery part of battles, since cards don't have to be attacks.
So like a deckbuilder?
@@LoveisStoredInTheLain maybe it'll be like dnd, but spells and features will be divided into cards, and each card type will be a type of enigmorph or certain items/actions/abilities. Sort of like a combo of dnd and magic the gathering
A ttrpg sounds like It'd be a very good approach.
Look at it this way: You'd be getting both parts of the whole.
1. You'd be able to keep the form of the story being told through word and art all while..
2. Providing a playable game at the same time, allowing people to experience the world and interact with it
theres also the chance of eventually making a video game based on the trpg rules
I genuinely believe that this should be a physical card game accompanied by a novel with illustrations giving fans a way to interact with the world and you the ability to create a story you can love and be proud of. I've never commented on a video before so I want you to know that this is one of the most interesting worlds I've ever had the pleasure to observe. I love seeing what you can create and I am excited to see more.
TTRPG is probably your best bet and I haven’t really seen a good monster taming TTRPG yet so it’s got potential. In general, you can have something of a 80:20 split between the rules of FATE Accelerated Edition (FAE) and Dungeons and Dragons so their are rules that are flexible and customizable but not to the point that players don’t have anything to work off of.
As for how I think it’d work mechanically for the players, you seem to have a basic class system setup, Illusion, Battle, and Study. Each getting bonuses to their respective class.
To further spice things up since there is only three classes, add in a Enigmorph type specialization system based on the Enigmorph types you’ve already got. So they now get a bonus for doing things involving specific types of Enigmorph as well. So now you can make unique characters mechanically while still keeping it simple and players aren’t fighting for spotlight when there are inevitably two Battle class characters.
Throwing my hat into the ring for TTRPG. Not just because i'm a rpg goblin who hordes games I will never play, but also TTRPG are a hell of a lot easier and faster to create in every way. The biggest issue is that if it's not tied to D&D it's really hard to market it, but with the youtube channel that's not as much of an issue.
EDIT: Also there is already an TTRPG that gives a great template for this game: Vaesen. The game is literally about people in the early 20th late 19th century dealing with strange creatures through creative ways other than violence. It gives a great set of bones to build off of.
The ideia of multiple resolutions for encounters, like battles, makes me think of Undertale, since the combat could be solved through other actions besides attacking the target
5:51 THE LADY BONE DEMON
Ah i see you are a man of culture aswell
@@tanxplayer-7108 :))
I would love to see a TTRPG based around forming connections with creatures like the enigmorphs. Some relationship mechanics that differ between the different enigmorphs such as different needs, likes and temperaments would be really cool.
A TTRPG would also work especially well with the idea that there are many ways to solve a problem as they are usually incredibly open. It would also be cool to see different enigmorphs with different balances of in combat and out of combat abilities, though probably none with only combat or only out of combat as that goes against the idea of allowing players to choose their route.
Check out Monsters and Other Childish Things. Pretty much this except you only have one creature, but I'm sure there's some add on to it. (There's even a Persona hack for it that's really good!!) @@bryncristie5602
I love the idea of a ‘coffee table book’, something large and hefty with pages that look similar to the final illustrations in your ‘I designed gods for our monster collection game’ video or drawings from projects like MerMay, SmAugust and apoctober.
It could be framed as an encyclopaedia, textbook, journal, field guide… with that format you could tell the story through more enigmatic means, we’d have to put together a story from context clues and tidbits (similar to earlier MerMay videos - which are my absolute favourites)
Quite honestly, I think this world deserves more than one medium through which to explore it. I think an open world rpg, a table top rbg, and graphic novels are all phenomenal ideas, but as someone partial to tcgs I think a card game would be super fun too.
IMO a Enigmorphs/Aprocryphal game would be something similar to the Digimon Cyber Sleuth games (where the player uses different types and attributes of digimon to use their hacking skills), but maybe less focused in the battles and more focused in puzzle solving. Also, iirc, you mentioned in previous videos that the method of getting enigmorphs would be similar to writing down about them. In some digimon games, instead of capturing or breeding the digimons, you mainly scan the data of the digimon you battle and then you manifest them when have 100% or more scan data of a digimon. So it'd be very nice to see Enigmorphs working in a similar way (tho the actual process would be more "archaic")
Anyways, excellent video as always and i can't wait to see more about this new series you're creating! ^^
Since you pointed out strategy, I think a turn-based strategy game would be interesting given this context. Especially with what you said previously of wanting to have the player avoid combat as much as possible. Maybe a good option would be a turn-based stealth game where the human characters have to investigate enigmorph activity while preventing people outside the world of eldritch secrets from encountering your own enigmorphs. The Human characters would be able to do things such as investigating clues, interacting with NPCs by running distractions, interrogations, or trying to convince people to be in the right place at the right time. Meanwhile the enigmorphs while riskier to use because they can unintentionally cause NPCs to panic if spotted can offer supernatural support such as fae types buffing conversation skills/offering support via illusions, construct types being able to manipulate machine parts, etc.
This way the player would need to consider the whole of the map they're currently on and what NPCs can do to either aid or hinder their progress. IDK I think that would be a good way to make combat secondary to the investigation angle.
I still think Enigmorphs need more than typing to be able to feel unique to use so maybe kinda like pokemon they have 4 ability slots with each enigmorph having access to different abilities based on type/theming. However, unlike Pokemon not all of these abilities are combat-oriented, some emphasize stealth, others mobility, or other utility, and yes some combat-oriented skills for when the player is caught or finds the enigmorph they're looking for
A TTRPG would be great, as it would make it so people can make their own stories and enigamorphs. It would also make it so that the players could decide their own ways of using enigamorphs.
i think, due to your storytelling skills as a designer, that a visual medium will strongly suit what you have already created in apocryphal. which rules out novels and music, and i can't see any possible way for enigmorphs to fit in a video game, even an rpg, so i think this series suits comics the best, especially since the enigmorphs could lead to some really interesting panel breaking (ex. a fire enigmorph leaving a charred effect on the pages)
I believe perfect inspiration for a game is fear and hunger; you could have a mechanic of your characters being driven mad by some of the creatures or sights and that could increase the levels or stats of enemys you encounter and has a perfect mix of the style you have for your own ideas
I actually immediately thought of fear and hunger when he discussed the potential gameplay for the project in an earlier video.
Particularly on how the idea of turn based battles where your goal is to get stronger and be the very best like pokemon don't really fit with the theme of the project that is more geared towards learning about and exploring with the creatures, solving puzzles and the like.
And Fear and Hunger's approach to combat and just general gameplay loop fits perfectly here.
Enemies are much more powerful than you and you don't get anything from defeating them aside from wasting your limited supply of resources and health, that is if you actually manage to win and not die horribly, which is unlikely.
so engaging in direct combat is almost universally a last resort, instead most of your progression is centered around using your understanding of the game's mechanics to bypass enemies without engaging in combat at all.
Acquiring better equipment and supplies through exploration
And when you do have to fight, understanding how each enemy uniquely operates and using that along the resources you managed to save so far to minimize the tax of Health and resources of the battle.
Through just knowledge of their behaviours and how to find certain items recurring enemies that would once kill you 7 times out of 10 can almost always be killed without a scratch, while bosses start off as downright impossible and with enough forethought can just scrape into being managable.
Is there anything more perfect for the theme of understanding creatures than this?
Oh my god, these mentor-like character's are so awesome. They are all so different and i adore them 😭😭😭
To de honest, I imagine apocryphal as an open-world RPG.
These designs are giving off a "tactical rpg" vibe to me.
The way you described the different types of creatures and their matchups also feel very reminiscent of the "Weapon triangle" from Fire Emblem.
I personally believe that a sort of journal would be a good way to tell the story. Kinda a combination of the journal entries of Celeste and the idea of the "orientation" from the last video. Almost like a field guide of sorts
I hadn't thought for different forms of media but I think either a mystery-adventure RPG or a graphic novel series with the same genre
Since you talked about wanting multiple different gameplay routes, it could be really fun to make it a TTRP. Then players can decide if they want to battle, do some shapeshift/subterfuge/intrigue, role-play things out in social encounters with people or Enigmorphs.
Especially if you make a "template" for custom Enigmorphs, with stats, behavior, vices, interests, etc
A mystery visual novel is what I think this game should be.
I'd love to explore more of this world reading and looking through your illustrations in a book format, but that's just a personal preference.
I also like these videos format too though.
Love this new project. Thank you for making this.
As other said, I think a TTRPG would be a great approach for design. Your designs could shine and be a main part, while still telling the story through them.
I imagine it in a more mystery-style, where you have to reveal whats happening through using the abilities of the enigmorphs, but also through decoding messages or reading old journals or speaking to the locals. You can easily create great stories with this material, game masters and players alike can create characters, that fit into this compelling world and decide how they interact with the enigmorphs (do they "use" them or try to learn from them, etc.)
The only contrary point to it would be, that you would need to build in a combat system, that makes it more engaging to play and also more "realistic". Yet I do not think that it would have to be a big part of the game, only an option to solve some problems.
Table top RPG sounds perfect
Also that Gun enigmorph is awesome and I want one on my team
I know it's probably unrealistic to expect a game like this. But I would love to see AND play an RPG with a fully explorable 3D world with platforming mechanics, hidden items to collect, and enemies to fight. Something like a more horror, Lovecraftian version of botw, or pokemon legends Arceus.
I love these characters!!! It's so interesting to see the kinds of unlikely personalities all united in the same mission. You've gotta be pretty devoted to be part of this club, so of course these people are so unique!
I think a TTRPG would be amazing. It would allow for the still image designs but also allow the playstyle that you've mentioned in previous videos, such as wanting to use the enegmorphs in more ways other than combat. It would allow for people to create their own stories with a constantly evolving plot, centered around the players choices, allowing fir a more catered experience to each player.
If this comment gets 1k+ likes Subjectively has to do a monster frog illustration.🐸
Join me in raising the voice of this hero, comrades!
@@thevioletbee5879 wow. U get a frog 🐸:)
Commenting so the algorithm keeps this towards the top
@@youhavegottobekidding u get frog too 🐸:)
@@TheTheorizingFrog Frog? 🐸
You mentioned in your first video on the series that part of Pokémon's success was it's multimedia approach. I feel like Apocryphal would also work well in many forms. Short stories, comics, and videos (like this) pique curiosity and excitement. I, personally, would love to see an open world exploration/collection video game version where one makes their own discoveries (a la Legends:Arceus). However, that feels like it could be just one avenue of many to explore.
The great thing about developing the world first is that you're not restricted by mechanics or medium. You have many, many stories to tell, not to mention the stories others will write in your world. Wherever you go, however you get there, I (and many others, I'm sure) are excited to join you on this journey of discovery.
I see this world through the lense of a JRPG. The stage-mechanic of the enigmorphs would translate really well into turn-based combat, and with the themes of subterfuge and non-violent solutions for situations you could also use the turn-based mechanic for conversations and other things, kind of like Undertale and Yokai Watch
I love the idea of this being a game, the idea of making a team based of utility is very appealing to me and something I already do making pokemon OC’s with specific roles and jobs instead of battling
"In a World of Chaos, Mystery and Unpredicability, there is no one answer to solve every problem. Sometimes you must Fight, sometimes you must Flee and sometimes your Wits will be your weapon" is already enough to build off of, that I've already come up with something!
A TTRPG would be a FANTASTIC route to go down, still keeping all of the artistic and design aspects, whilst all the elements from the games and media it spiritually takes from would be an interesting story AND game. There are module books in TTRPGS; Curse of Strahd with DnD for example, so going down the route of a planned story is totally doable and SO damn fun, with still room for people to do their own stories down the line.
Using one full set of Polyhedral Dice and a one-to-two-page Character sheet could be all you need to play, with a similar dice-for-stats system that Kids on Bikes uses. Confront (Physical) Connect (Emotional) Constitute (Defense) Conceil (Magic) and Concentrate (Knowledge), placing a D20, D12, D10, D8, and D4 on each stat, rolling a D6 then adding one of the stat-dice for when the situation calls for it.
Three of the 5 Stats already connect to the 3 Co-Founders in the video. Kane with Confront, Malacostra with Conceil and Caorain with Concentrate. And depending on the configuration of dice, that could give a Class or Trope- showing the kind of Hunter you would play as!
With the creatures and factions, this is giving off some Eldritch Horrors board game vibes. Solve the mysteries before the big bad completes its plan, where you then enter the endgame. Combine the gameplay of that with more roleplay elements and you've got yourself something. I will also say, if it does end up being a traditional board game, there's nothing stopping you from making said board game digital. You would have the benefit of more people being able to connect and play, while at the same time allow for more storytelling than what a traditional board game would allow, especially if it has a single-player campaign.
Disclaimer: Hi! I'm a new fan and not much of a comments person, but this project really caught my interest so I'm hoping it can be as good as it can be. I also apologize for the essay, I wasn't planning on to, but the ideas and interest just kept coming.
I was introduce to your channel by your introduction video for Aprocryphal. The idea and the art that you had really caught my interest so I'm hoping for your success and a good result. The idea of a ttrpg seems very enticing as I've played my share of them, but originally being from outside of the States I imagine it'd be hard to ship or take people out of the country into account. Therefore I think the idea of a video game seems to be and feels a lot more valid as an idea. I understand that your demographic is people in America, but having it available worldwide is always a bonus. Now, regarding what type of game it could be, there are so many ideas that could work and be amazing that I'm hoping as long as you make "something" out of Aprocyphal the majority of people will be happy. As for what I think is a good medium is some sort of main story line either in an rpg or some sort of visual novel as your method of portraying the world, Aprocryphal, but the idea or gimmick for the game itself I think should be some sort of card-based game. Card-base games have generally not been in the limelight of games recently, but there have been some resurgences such as that indie game Buckshot Roulette, so people are aware of card-base games there just aren't that many that catches ppls interests. And also Im just a big fan of card-base games and there aren't any fun good ones that are available.
Soooo, TLDR I think a good idea would be a simple yet difficult original battle card game, with a sort of visual or more interactive rpg for world and story building.
I really love your drawings and way of thinking characters!
Everyone's saying TTRPG but part of the fun of TTRPGs is the GM's ability to make every game unique, with a different story and even an entirely different world.
Apocryphal has a really established lore, though. It's hard to make a new story without breaking the current lore of enigmorphs since it's really pretty set in stone.
I saw one guy say that a book accompanied by a TCG works, and I honestly really agree; the combo of lore and player interaction seems cool. Maybe some sort of collaborative board game could work too, though; maybe there's one secret-unveiling main objective everyone's working towards but there's ways to take eachother down? Some hybrid between a board game and a TTRPG, where the story made is the mystery they're uncovering?
Keep up the good work jack, I can’t wait to see more!!
You should make this a mystery puzzle game where the creatures are used to solve puzzles that unlock more of the story and lore . Maybe some combat vould be necessary, but i think a game where you have to solve complex puzzles in unique ways sounds really fun.
Some inspiration i feel could be used:
- Dr. Lautrec (3DS)
-the last guardian
-Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
-Cookie and Cream (PS2)
Basically any game where you have to control two things at once to solve puzzles and navigate areas.
I think a visual novel style with investigation elements (like Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright) would really suit your concept. Especially because those types of games already have a nice mix of exploration and mystery, something you've mentioned in your videos is a key part of Apocryphal. Hope this helps!
Apocryphal could be the first eldritch horror creature collector game where you use creatures to aid you in solving mysterious phenomenon and getting the bottom of the instability showing up in the world!
You mentioned ttrpg and my head was immediately filled with possible mechanics to represent monster collection games and how to best allow players to express their characters, both stat and roleplay wise. I also feel like a different system to the standard dnd system would probably work better for this game should you choose to make a ttrpg system for this universe. I feel like something close to lancers accuracy/difficulty system would work pretty well for dice modifiers.
I could also see the three leaders roles influencing the tone of multiple small modules for players to engage with. Like one where their battling against the shark mob (I forgot their name), one where they have to infiltrate an elitist club to find a prime enigmorph cult and a third that is themed around a dark disturbing city bursting to the seams with bizarre enigmorphs.
Or better yet with the research themed module, they have to investigate a small costal town for a hidden unknown enigmorph that they have to track down both through the field and piles of old tomes and papers.
Honestly at this rate I might just start building the modules and ttrpg because my head is just overflowing with ideas that I want to get on paper fast
I love me some normal humans (seriously, I'm so used to you drawing monsters, I'm blown away but how characterful your human designs still are)
This is so exciting! I really need to see more of this project, and an RPG would be so fun to see come of this
I don't comment on videos very often, but I've been following the channel since before your pokemon videos took off, and it'd seriously be a dream come true to see apocryphal become a TTRPG. I'm constantly homebrewing strange and eldritch creatures for systems not necessarily built for that kind of gameplay, and i have faith in you as a designer to come up with something fun and bouncy while still dread inducing! It especially could be fun to tie the different forms of enigmorphs to different dice, with Nascent Enigmorphs inhabiting smaller dice like D4s and D6s and the numbers going up along the evolution chain. A D20 gives you more margin for success, yes, but a 2 on a d20 is so much worse than a 2 on a d6, introducing a strategic element to the types of enigmorphs you choose for different encounters that could somewhat mimic the original creature collector concept.
Whatever you end up landing on, I'll always support the channel and I'm hyped for this project even if it lands in a genre I have no personal interest in :]!
Story building is so fun in and of itself I’m happy to watch these vids
Excited to see another Apocryphal post! You announced you were making it into a game around the same time I decided to revamp my own worldbuilding project into its own game - another collectible creature entry that draws a little bit on the Lovecraftian aesthetic. You've made me realize that while I'm building my monster roster, I haven't populated the NPCs nearly well enough. I have the barest skeleton for a few late-game characters, but I've truly neglected the villagers you grow up with over my game. Which is a serious problem, given I'm focused on a game where you are the rising tide that lifts all ships. It's all about collecting salvage and using it to craft monsters that make life better for the village.
I think a videogame is still the way to go, but maybe you would start as a non-believer. But somehow you notice (for instance a enigmorph that could function kinda like a starter pokemon), and you would discover parts of text and images to tell the story, rather than straight up work with the club. You would discover the world alongside the in-game caracter
I personally love that this is set in the time period when people historically began constructing motorcycles
I personally LOVE the sound of a ttrpg, I think the combat system would lend itself well to that format, and it would be a lot of fun
Mysteries and the solving of them feels like it's pretty core to the whole theme so far. I think a puzzley detective game where you're trying to figure out what enigmorph is behind strange occurances would fit best.
I love this story and love seeing more of it!
All of your cosmic horror art is so good
Wasn’t expecting Regiclam but it’s a welcome addition
I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING!!!
I think a TTRPG would REALLY work for this game. Having the actual, physical book, illustrated by you sounds fantastic, and then having the freedom to fully, fully explore a world themed around discovery and exploration sounds amazing.
I feel like this could be a great puzzle/mystery type video game! I like the concept of it also being like a dungeon crawler, where you set out on expeditions and solve puzzles until you’re attacked. Maybe the farther you go into the expeditions and the stronger you get, the more weird enigmorphs you encounter.
I’ve been watching subjectively’s video for a while now and I’m so glad I finally have an actual account for CZcams so I can subscribe and comment on videos! This channels has inspired a lot of my own work and is part of the reason I finally got around to making my own channel, even if it is still in the beginning stages, Apocryphal has especially helped with some of my more horror/Eldritch based designs (even if it’s hard for me to strike a balance with my certain art style 😅)
i would adore it if you shared more of the conceptualisation and brainstorming aspects of your character design process!
Also 4 year of watching this work and it get better everyday please don't stop because you inspired me work on my own worlds thank you
i honestly really like your idea of making it a ttrpg, that sounds so fun
I am very intrigued of this whole project and can’t wait to see where this goes! I see this both working as a video game and something tabletop, so might as well throw my two cents in just to help generate some ideas.
For a video game, definitely an RPG, like what most people have said. Leaning into more horror, mystery, and discovery more than anything. For a main gameplay loop, what you’ll be doing most of the game, whether it’d be combat, puzzle solving, resource management, I’d say a “Whatever’s in your fridge” kind of gameplay could be interesting. Just so we’re on the same track, imagine I told you to make me a five-course meal with whatever’s in your fridge. Depending on what you have, you’ll either definitely be able to do it, you might be able to do it but you’ll have to get creative, or you won’t. Along with that, you can definitely do it if you have a steak stored in the fridge, but definitely not with a smidge of sauce.
You’ll have the creatures in your party, the Enigmorphs (I hope I spelled that right), and they each might be useful for something else. Some might excel at combat and defense, some at stealth and luring away enemies, some at exploration and scavenging. Yes, you can go out guns blazing, but not everything can be solved with punching things. Hell, you might not even find a creature that’s good at combat for a while so you’ll have to make do like a burger without a patty. It could even heighten the horror aspect of the game because you might not be able to do anything to the big scary monster right in front of you. Overall, I personally think a game based on this idea could work really well.
On the tabletop side, definitely a TTRPG, sort of a Dungeons & Dragons-like game (and warning, I am a D&D nerd). This way could give the players a level of creativity that a video game would never reach. Creating your own character with their own needs, wants, and motives, freely exploring an imaginary world that, while cool, is trying to kill you 70% of the time. I could see the main goal of this, besides the main story, is survival, seeing that there’s a lot of Lovecraftian inspirations in this and a lot of games and media put that on their lists of priorities. Maybe you can start with a basic Enigmorph with your character that’ll help you get through the first sessions of the story, and depending on which one you pick and maybe a class for your character, it makes doing certain things a lot easier. Got one that emanates light? Now you can see in the dark easier, opening up new areas. Got one that has control over plants? Now you can grow crops and harvest plants easier. There’s a whole lot you can do with this (even creating your own Enigmorphs for a specific campaign), and I’m excited to see the direction this project goes in!
Sorry if I was a little wordy, I just love providing feedback and ideas on creative projects like this.
The way you describe this world make me think that a comic or Graphic novel would be the best way to present this story and characters.
If you go with a game however, i think it could be mostly a detective / mystery game, you would use the magic and abilities of your character and enigmores to explore, investigate and find secrets.
When combat happens, my mind flies to Devil May Cry 5 and the character V, who has summons that attack for him while using abilities to help them kill the demons they fight, an interesting approach for a hack and slash game
A TTRPG would be quite good for this, because then it provides a myriad of tones unbound by a singular narrative, providing a firm basis in world building and design
Great stuff, Jack!!
I hadn’t considered a TTRPG for this project but I love that so much. Not sure that it’s the best format but it’s the one I want the most
I love the idea of this world as a TTRPG. Especially with the three founders you designed, I could see each one of them representing one of three main classes to play. Something along the lines of hunters, infiltrators and archivists.
Anyway, you're building a very strong foundation for this world and all the mediums you mentioned could definitely work. Big fan of the project!!!
Honestly, I see this project being a puzzle and/or visual novel more than anything. I know writing various routes for a game is difficult, but I personally find it very interesting to see each route focusing on one type of philosophy each one of the leaders of the hhc believes. And each route showing wherr these phylosophies are great to follow, or where they come short
Good point, but it would also works as an rpg style game 🎮
NGL I feel a comic series for this would go soo hard, or even just like a story told through a journal, with like sketches and photos taken by the hunters hope club.
I've always enjoyed your human designs as much as your creature designs! I think it's important to help the players/viewers get involved with the world with the beings that we'll likely resonate with the most, being our friends to welcome us into the world and what not.
Of this batch, I'm really enamoured with Abigail!
As for your question about what direction to take it; I feel like a tabletop approach or even a visual novel approach would be really something cool to see and fit into your skillset! I really appreciate how open you are with this project and what it could be and not planning to make it a Pokemon-like because that's what's most expected.
Keep it up Jack!
I think a comic book could be fun, but your ability to write narration is incredible. I wouldn’t mind some book that acts as a larger, physical version of the month challenges
The idea of a monster collecting ttrpg sounds like it would best fit this project. So many stories can be told in this world and the idea of going on adventures with your friends and their partner Enigmorphs sounds AMAZING. Plus it could inspire more people to draw and make art mayhaps? Tabletops are what inspired my to learn how to draw and I'm sure it has been the same for countless others.
Super Eyepatch Wolf's video on "Fake Games" has my mind fixated on this sort of "collaborative world building" that fakemon and adjacent projects already have, and I think they're already cool just being art projects...
But, for something tangible, one thought that came to mind was some sort of investigative, choices matter, immersive sim RPG where your enigmorphs more than ever are tools to solve problems, like specs in a character sheet, and less just combat tools. Immersive sims have a really big scope even if each individual system is very simple as there's a very complicated narrative structure, but nonetheless a boy can dream.
I gotta go with the ttrpg, running around in the amazing world would be fun as hell. Plus as weve seen with Finch every aspect of this world can be explored, if the oceans can as complex as they are what about the arctic, deserts etc, etc, id love ot play a camping about that!
I appreciate how even though this video focuses primarily on human(oid) characters you still slipped in several quality Enigmorph designs. Slightly obsessed with Araminta's revolver 'friend' in particular, but every design here is great, human or otherwise.
I would love to see this either as a RPG or TTRPG
I think a book can give more of the mistery and a better storytelling than other medias
As a TTRPG enthusiast I think this project fits very well with them. One thing I love about these games is that you can take on encounters in different ways, being able to avoid combat through a more diplomatic means. I think that, in addition, the mechanics of having different elements that counteract others like in Pokémon is something that has been seen a lot in video games but not so much in board games. As a recommendation, I think that a format similar to Keys From the Golden Vault (which is a D&D module) could be good, which could be like small stories independent of each other but that end up being united by the same common thread. In this case I imagine it as a kind of "ghostbusters" role-playing game in which each story is like an assignment in which the party has to go to a haunted house or some catacombs or...
In short, I think it has a lot of potential and I would play it.
PD: Sorry if my english is not the best 😅
I think this is a project that deserves multiple mediums, its clear you have alot of love for the story and characters as you have been developing it for many years, I think books. a comic, and a ttprg and video game are all a great idea and Id love to see them all come to fruition. Personally I lean towards video game, as my irl friends are not interested in table top gaming and Im too shy irl to really ever get into that, I would love it to be an exploration based game with multiple avenues you could take for the story. I would want to fight with the creatures but also to be able to interact with them outside of battle and to see them as friends. it would take many years but I dont see why you could focus on one project in this universe and then pursue other avenues of it as well as time goes on.
First of all, love all of this. ❤ The intricacies of your story, the unique characters, and of course the art is so exciting, that I can see how/why it has been hard to narrow down. Apocryphal feels like a multimedia project to me. I personally like the idea of a video game with accompanying short story novellas or webcomics/comic issues that extend the world’s story. The artist Trent Kaniuga with his Twilight Monk series did this. He created art books & comics and is currently creating a metroidvania game for it. League of Legends also did this, but in reverse; considering you’ve done a lot of LoL designs/fan projects, following their footsteps could serve as a good model for you (not specifically in terms of your game, but marketing/content strategy). Anyway, this story has a lot of love craft horror & mystery vibes, that would make for a great detective-like side-scrolling adventure & puzzle game where you have to craft, collect/tame enigmorphs , and solve puzzles to unlock or solve some grand mystery left behind by the professor. Perhaps the player character is a hunter who discovers a relic, or comes into the procession of a relic which ties them to the world of the enigmorphs, and leads them down a separate path from the usual hunter way. Perhaps they get wrapped up in a global conspiracy, or end up in the enigmorph’s home world and have to stop an invasion, or put an end to an evil. So many great ideas you could go! Some side-scrolling, adventure puzzle games I’ve liked were: Forgotten Anne, Spiritfarer, Jenny LeClue, Little Nighmares. Obviously, your game doesn’t need/have to be cute or have platforming in it, but a game like these is what I’m thinking. This project also has a potential of an animated series-now, I’m sure you may want to avoid this, but it is something to consider. Even if it’s just promotional shorts for the game, or the comics/books.
Hopefully some of this was helpful! Can’t wait to see what this becomes in the end. 😊
I feel like it would be great for a sort of puzzle game with story elements, the concept reminds me a lot of a dragonology game i played when i was a kid, it was a game where you were playing a young dragon researcher and had to complete diffrent research tasks all around the globe, first identifying the species and then locating a dragon to fotograph, retrive a stolen item or capture the creature and return it to it's natural habitat.
But it could also work well for a detective pikachu style game where you investigate enigmorph activity with your enigmorph companions.
I’ve definitely been thinking this would be a sick ttrpg since day 1, I’d love to see more exploration in that direction!
I think a combination of a TCG and a TTRPG would be a cool niche for Apocryphal to occupy. Players could choose one of three jobs that correspond with the three founders and gain benefits corresponding to how they interact with Enigmorphs. The Enigmorphs themselves could then be cards with art as well as three abilities: one for combat, one for exploration and one for studying. This would give Pokemon fans the ability to collect monsters and battle while still being a narrative-focussed game that has multiple ways to solve problems and progress the story.
A detective game a really good for world building, introducing characters, and the enigmorphs collected could point out specific clues or details that may or may not matter but whatever fits with the creature's theme.
This project is absolutely great!
As much as I initially liked this idea being in the form of a video game, the more I learn about Apocryphal (I hope I spelled that right) and your way of storytelling and vision for this passion project, the more I realize that there are other forms of media that I think suit it better.
First option, is a graphic novel. The way that you've illustrated some of the pages of the, for lack of better term "pokedex", reminds me of the journals from the animated tv show "Gravity Falls". And I think following a story with the characters you've introduced into this strange and intriguing world would be really awesome and could really give you the opportunity to flex your creative muscles as much as you want.
Second option, I do think this would work as a TTRPG as well. I've recently got into TTRPGs and I do think this sort of setting and genre would be sought after and played by many people, me included. Now, personally, I think the Graphic Novel is more suited to the idea that you have currently shown us. However, this could work in a TTRPG setting. I feel like for that to work, some outside help/advice/playtesting would need to happen to ensure that your game is balanced, fun, and makes sense as a TTRPG. I love the world you have built so far and I do think that fans carving their own place out in that world for themselves is a really fun and unique idea.
Either way, whichever option, or neither option, I am excited to continue watching this journey and learning more about this wonderful world. It's honestly just really refreshing seeing something new in the creature collection genre, especially something that looks really cool!
I think this would make a really cool TTRPG setting because it would really support the themes of exploration and discovery. I imagine it would be similar to the GUMSHOE system with a focus on investigations and sleuthing rather than being combat focused. I also think it would be fun to make characters who are members of the Hunter's Hope Club sent out to look into strange circumstances to see if an enigmorph is responsible.
I feel like a linear visual novel with battle-based puzzles would really suit the Apocryphal world, and fit really well into your strengths as a designer. You wouldn't need to design an entire function world with billions of side quests, but would be able to guide the player along the story you want to tell. Switching between narrative moments of characters/Enigmorphs and Enigmorph ability-based puzzles and battles would be a satisfying game loop, and would encourage players who 'tame' (idk how this mechanic would work lol) different Enigmorphs to approach the world in a slightly different way.
I'd love to see a comic for this honestly.
I think your own personal artstyle lends itself well to that medium and would be a great way to showcase your intricate designs.
Alternatively I think a TTRPG would be really cool, though I think it might be hard to show off the designs in that setting, unless you use standup portraits or something.
i feel like this could be a really cool artbook where you can slowly piece the world together while reading.
I love this project so much, it hits all of my creature design check boxes. If you were to turn this into a novel/comic/book type thing, I think you’d need to have multiple points of view to highlight the unique “branching paths based off your choices” thing. I don’t think having just one point of view for this concept suits in well, especially in a book setting where there’s only so much to go off of. An RPG or possibly an mmo RPG would probably suit this best, but that’s just my two cents :p
I only subscribed to your channel for this story, and I'd love to see it fully fleshed out! Personally I always imagined a animated series
I love all these characters! Id this stayed a videogame, I think it'd be cool if whoever you befriend the most having effects on the stats of your enigmorphs, or maybe it changes which ones you encounter, like if you and The Bone Lady are besties you'd encounter ones more suited for combat ect.