Plans for the future and additional art
So, I made this little game for the O2A2 jam, but it’s actually just a peek into a bigger story I’ve been itching to make for some time. I talked about it in the comments but I thought I’d sum it all up in a post, too, for better clarity. ^^
So, basically, the whole idea for this game sprung as a Nioh 2 AU for my main game, Quaint, but quickly evolved into something else entirely. The only leftovers from Nioh 2 are the setting and the half-demon protagonist. The characters, though originally started as their equivalents from Quaint, developed their own identities once I filtered them through the story, so to say. (because of different experiences and stuff) And though the story is completely different from Quaint (including the majority of the cast), there are still small analogies and similarities between the two. (which is why I’m hesitant to completely let go of the AU connection)
As for the game structure, there’ll be two storylines: one in the present, with Kyū trying to navigate (and fix?) the relationships with Mahiro and his father; and one in the past, with everything that happened between Kyū and Mairō, presented as a series of tales Kyū would tell Mahiro. (and the scene from this short game, probably slightly modified, would serve as an introduction to the rest of the story)
Ideally, I’d like to set the game in the early Edo, with the Kyū/Mairō timeline still in the Sengoku period. I think that’d be easier to navigate, as I’d rather focus on the day-to-day matters and relationships between the characters than on war and politics. 😅
Still, I need to do more research on the factual side of things before I get to writing. 🫠 I do have general knowledge about this period, or at the very least enough to know that it’s not historically accurate, especially in terms of customs/social stuff. (because that wouldn’t be very exciting) (and honestly, it would never be completely accurate, it has a half-demon as a protagonist lol) But I’d rather learn some more about the historical reality before I completely destroy it. 😅
The past storyline is pretty much planned out, the present… still needs more work. It’s all a bit murky at the moment, and I don’t have a clear vision of how it could all end. I’m not sure what needs to happen for Mairō to get over his aversion towards Mahiro with how hurt and stubborn he is. (but I think the ending wouldn’t be satisfying unless they found a way to have a relationship so I’ll need to figure it out) I’ve got some emotional scenes planned for them, though, so that’s a possible start (and I know Kyū will have a big part in it, too). The pieces are kinda there, I just need to put them together. 🤔
But that’s all a problem for when I’m done working on Quaint, so…
For now, catch some more art because this story lives rent-free in my head and I need to get it out. 🫠
Comments
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
Will we also know things about the mother? (Assuming she's not bad and just a victim of a very strict society)
In true Japanese fashion, I don't have a lot to say about the mother right now. 🤔
I mean, she'd obviously have very little control over her life because of the setting, and I probably wouldn't go so far as to call her a bad person? It's more that her goals would be in total opposition to Mairō's wishes and that'd spark conflict. (so I guess she'd be the villain from his point of view, but not in an objective way)
But I think it'd be interesting to explore women's issues in this context so I might include some of her perspective on things, even if just as a subplot. So thank you for the suggestion. ^^
Thanks for listening to my suggestion even though this story focuses on the relationship of Mairō, Kyū, and Mahiro.
Honestly, this story has a lot of potential and if you play your cards right in the way you write it and create the worldbuilding, you could do something amazing (at least in my humble opinion).
I like that the mother is initially cast as a "villain" from Mairō's point of view since for him, she and Mahiro are one of the main causes that he cannot live freely with Kyū, but when he begins to open up to Mahiro and open up his heart, he also begins to see things more clearly realizing that the mother is as much a victim of the situation as he is only that she doesn´t have her "Kyū" to cope with it (Of course all this is headcanon, if you decide to carry the story or relations to another address, I would love it anyway).
I have a question about worldbuilding: Will the wars be like Nobunaga (Basically region vs region) or country vs country or humans vs demons?
I really love fantasy worlds, so I love that Kyū is a demon<3.
That's a very wholesome headcanon and probably the most positive way this could all go. I haven't decided on any specific conclusion yet, and I'd like to I'll see where the story takes me. ^^ (might be an option if i make branching paths? we'll see 🤔)
I'm thinking the wars would be fought between the human warlords and the human-demon conflict would be a separate issue (with the possibility of warlords recruiting demons for war to spice things up, I guess?). I'll need to find a good balance in terms of the demons' power and motivations though, so that the whole set-up makes sense. (and the demons can't just destroy humanity on a whim lol)
I love the demon thing, too! Both for the aesthetics and the subtle connotation of being not straight in a conservative setting. ^^
Seriously, every comment makes me more excited about what you're going to do with this game <3.
And my advice is to do something like youkai, basically each youkai has different powers and there are some specific ones that are very powerful (probably the most feared or are prayed to as gods) but the coexistence between humans and youkai depends more on a harmonious tolerance and an "avoid each other", and when there is a bad youkai that kills humans, a "god" or a exorcist kills them, and the same if humans start killing or enslaving youkai for their interests, well maybe a "demon" kills all humans to protect defenseless youkai (And if you realize, this is a cycle which is the main reason why youkai and humans can't truly coexist with each other).
My headcanon would be that there is a codependency between youkais and humans, that youkais make the world easier to live in (ecological allegory) and on the other hand, youkais need humans to pray to them to become gods (or fear and become demons). ), but due to their differences and racism this coexistence is very difficult, and since there are a large number of humans, the youkai end up hiding more from the humans while the humans always use the victim card lol.
This is all suggestion and headcanon (I have taken all this from Inuyasha, Ao exorcist, and Dororo), whatever you decide I'm sure I'll love it<3.
I'm glad! I'm very excited to work on this project, too, because it combines a lot of my personal interests. ^^
Oh, I see. 🤔 I want to do some more research on Japanese folklore to see what the bottom line is (or like a general consensus ) but that first bit would definitely play into what I'm planning for the story. There needs to be enough tension for the humans to be unsettled by a halfling like Kyū and the demons need to have their own reasons not to overrun villages and stuff. 🤔
But thank you again for the suggestions, you gave me a lot to think about. ^^