Hello Wargroove fans! I’m Hassan, the creative mind behind the story of Wargroove 2 here to share some insights into my writing process and behind-the-scenes look at what to be expected in the Campaign. We’re not far from the launch day now, [b]so strap in to one of the more spoilery Dev Blogs[/b]. If you want no expectations of what the stories might be about, not all of this blog may be for you. If you’d like to know a little of the thinking behind the story and what was left to work with from [i]Wargroove[/i], read on! Also, don't forget [b][url=https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/16zpp77/hi_were_robotality_and_we_convinced_chucklefish/]we have an AMA session happening today[/url][/b], pop on in on Wednesday, 4th October at 17:00 BST / 7:00 PDT / 10:00 EDT and ask us all about the development of Wargroove 2! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43762587/e4c9070ecda3228b6e7f126d428205e03db85bd9.gif[/img] Picking up the narrative thread from where the first [i]Wargroove [/i] left off was a huge challenge - one I was truly excited to sink my teeth into! With the first game wrapping up so neatly and all the characters becoming the best of friends, creating fresh conflict required some brainstorming. It wasn’t enough to simply rely on poking at old faction wounds. I had to bring something new to the table whilst ensuring fans of the original game got to see their favorite Commanders step back into the spotlight. The lore and worldbuilding of the factions and Aurania left a lot to play with. Wargroove scratched the surface of Cacophony tech. There was a whole lot left unsaid about the ancient civilizations of Cacophony and Silmor, not to mention what might dwell in the neighboring regions of Aurania. When we first considered returning to the vibrant landscape of Aurania, we toyed with the idea of introducing a subterranean species, unknown to its surface-dwelling inhabitants. We imagined Tolkien-esque dwarves or even a slinky, sneaky cat faction living right under the noses of the Commanders of Wargroove 1. However, we realized that this concept didn't quite sync with the existing lore, which didn't permit a secret new faction to reside so nearby. Then, inspiration struck in the form of Terry Pratchett's captivating stories. We found the concept of anthropomorphic mice an excellent thematic fit for the Wargroove universe. Plus, let's be honest, they're pretty cool! So, we decided to bring these adventurous mice-folk into the fold, and we're sure you'll find them as fun to hang out with as much as we have. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43762587/c522aa2223e66710c6a17f3e27ba6963cd16689b.png[/img] Though, the solution to creating conflict didn’t just reside in adding new factions. We also imagined whole new overseas locations, and a deeper delve into the rich lore and world-building that formed the backbone of [i]Wargroove[/i]. If you've been aboard the Wargroove 2 ship since its initial reveal back in March, you'll remember our introduction of a new Commander: Nadia, aka Captain Firebird. This notorious pirate is a force to be reckoned with and adds a fiery spark to the Wargroove roster. If you’d like a refresher, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1346020/view/3722834229453631875]check out my previous spotlight on the dreaded Captain Firebird.[/url] Nadia's creation actually started with her design. Our artist, Midio, drew inspiration from the Brazilian women he grew up around to create her, and even looked to female pirates from South America. After getting well-acquainted with Brazilian culture and its people through extensive research, I felt I was able to craft authentic lore and dialogue for Nadia and her crew. Her character is a testament to the rich tapestry of influences that makes up the world of Wargroove 2. But hey, we won't spoil it all for you. Here's a sneak peek into each campaign's premise, without giving away too much [b](consider this your spoiler alert if you prefer to plunge into the game knowing absolutely nothing).[/b] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43762587/93c5009115ca82768c415f37bdb00e333872bc34.png[/img] Prologue Meet Lytra, a Faahri mage whose lack of magic skills are only made up for by her hearing ability. Lytra’s pretty new to this whole army-expedition thing, but at least she has role models like Pistil Samt-Al Raas to guide her! Arriving in Aurania on an information-gathering mission, Lytra is eager to please, and easy to manipulate. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43762587/fc332ec5e5f7e3776fe42ebe5177c14a24eb5619.png[/img] [b]Breaking Grounds[/b] Breaking Ground is the first campaign which carries straight on from the Prologue and continues the story of the Faahri. I’m not going to go along and spoil every little detail for you, but I will say Lytra finds more than just a role model in Pistil when she meets Rhombus Nadir or “Rhomb” for short. Guided by the gentle General’s grace and strength, Lytra learns much about what it is to be a fellow Commander. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43762587/af9230a33f9452f4bd1417f0c233900c1802e504.png[/img] [b]Rising Tides[/b] Wulfar is tasked by Mercia and Emeric with finding out exactly what the Heavensong Empire is up to. When they ask him to travel to the eastern colonies, Wulfar gets his sea legs, but his motives are a little more personal than they initially seem! The journey brings him face-to-face with the notorious Captain Firebird and her pirate crew, who've been wreaking havoc for Ryota and his army. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43762587/48d4877f12009a56b1c112308bcda92e7caef81c.png[/img] [b]Dark Skies[/b] While enjoying a sleepover in the safety of Cherrystone Castle, Errol, Orla and Koji intercept a mysterious distress call from the South. With their ally in need, they form the Rescue Squad - a troop of daring friends, ready for anything! With the courage only teenagers could muster, the trio take to the skies and journey to the icy-realm of Felheim. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43762587/2efd6e826c7a80a485fee69049e2d7b20eeef21e.png[/img] [b]……[/b] …? I came into the project as a huge fan of the first[i] Wargroove[/i], and I’m glad I was able to expand and explore on the lore already established by Chucklefish. Launch-day is looming ever-closer, if you’d like to reacquaint yourself with Wargroove and its story, check out the [url=https://wargroovewiki.com/Wargroove_Wiki]Wargroove Wiki[/url] - with a whole Lore page dedicated to some information you might find useful when playing Wargroove 2! [b]Remember, it’s your LAST CHANCE to get 20% off on Wargroove 2 ahead of launch. Get it while the discount’s hot![/b] https://store.steampowered.com/app/1346020/Wargroove_2/ Have fun, Hassan