Hi folks, This first development journal will discuss creating your hero in Erannorth Renaissance; whether it is to customize Eric or Diana's initial traits or create your custom character, the process is similar. In RPGs, character creation is a critical yet complex phase. Always preceding a complete understanding of the game's mechanics. Traditional RPGs compound this with intricate layers like standard attributes primarily used to derive modifiers. For Erannorth Renaissance, I wanted character creation to be more intuitive. Aligning your role-play choices with game mechanics and personal playstyles. This streamlined approach allows for a more accessible and engaging character-creation experience without sacrificing long-term depth. To begin your adventure, a narrative will introduce your character's backstory and initial traits. Your responses to various scenarios will shape your character's strengths, weaknesses, and abilities, making your hero's origin feel personal and unique. There are no right or wrong answers; your choices will determine the type of hero you want to role-play. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44786997/7849051e813ba3a053bd7b20957dd3dff038f981.jpg[/img] There is also the option to skip the narrative character creation and get the LP to assign them to your initial skills manually, which is probably something you'll want to do in future playthroughs. As you progress, your early decisions will continue to further influence your initial skill set. Eventually, the game will adapt to your playstyle, and you will no longer see choices for skills or attributes that don't align with a character of your skills, tailoring the experience in a broader sense and adding replay value. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44786997/3b5b6620c7fc893b05716860cd6f22906e0760ad.jpg[/img] Aside from the core narrative you experience, skills and attributes will affect your tactics. Ie. Making them more deadly or efficient to use. Here is how the character sheet looks at the moment (alpha build 0.4.5). [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44786997/241c54562b73bb418d008555e9bc421a3d536037.jpg[/img] Aside from your perks, your equipment can provide additional tactics. In this case all the 4 tactics Diana has come from her equipment: her Wand and the Grimoire she has equipped. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44786997/5db527756fb2de9a44316a98014b7af729089ac6.jpg[/img] The four core attributes in Erannorth Renaissance, Might, Intrigue, Esotericism, and Nature, are direct modifiers. Instead of the attribute affecting the skills, it is influenced by them and increases automatically as you increase the respective abilities. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44786997/939e18f233772a96475f12c73d60241c4b1af94d.jpg[/img] [list] [*] [b]Might[/b] is more than just physical strength. It includes your combat experience, leadership qualities, resilience, and ability to intimidate. Improving your Might requires refining your warfare tactics, asserting your authority, overcoming adversity, and gaining control over others. This attribute represents your ability to use force during battle and when commanding others. Might is derived from Authority, Warfare, Coercion, and Stalwart skills. [*] [b]Intrigue[/b] reflects your proficiency in manipulation, diplomacy, and perception. It encompasses your ability to negotiate, gather intelligence, execute covert operations, and detect deceptions. As you develop and enhance these skills, your capacity for Intrigue increases, enabling you to sway the social and political landscapes in your favor. Intrigue is derived from Diplomacy, Connections, Subterfuge, and Perception skills. [*] [b]Esotericism[/b] measures your proficiency in arcane knowledge, religious mysticism, and secret rituals. It increases as you gain knowledge in alchemy, sacred doctrines, the hidden laws of magic, and ritualistic expertise. A high score in Esotericism indicates a character who is deeply knowledgeable in the mysteries of spirituality and the arcane and can influence both the physical and metaphysical realms. Esotericism is derived from Alchemy, Religion, Occult and Rituals skills. [*] [b]Nature[/b] measures your ability to attune to the natural world and its elemental forces. It considers your survival skills, understanding of the primal essence of the environment, knowledge of herbs, and ability to connect with the most fundamental aspects of life. This attribute reflects your capacity to thrive in various natural settings, harness the power of the environment, and effectively utilize natural remedies. Nature is derived from Survival, Primordial, Herbalism, and Primal skills. [/list] As you progress through odd levels (3, 5, 7, etc.), you'll earn Level Up Points (LPs), providing more options to improve specific skills. Investing in Warfare, Perception, Occult, or Survival can tailor your character's development and influence their evolving attributes. These decisions will have a direct impact on your character's abilities. Erannorth Renaissance features a unique character progression system that is partially classless. This means that although your character begins at the same starting point as others, they can have different outcomes. Your attributes determine the perks you can unlock, allowing you to mix and match archetypes. This system enables you to create any archetype you can imagine, allowing you to customize your character to suit your playstyle. Additionally, your character always starts as a human. That's all for today. I will dive deeper into various game systems and mechanics in my next journal. Stay tuned, and feel free to ask any questions in the comments below.