About
Potions: A Curious Tale
$64,506
1,107
Potions: A Curious Tale is an adventure-crafting game where your wits and ingenuity are your greatest weapons, and combat is not always the answer. Play as Luna, a young witch who overcomes obstacles with the potions she brews.
Encounter fairy tale characters and stories from around the world in new settings and situations as you guide Luna on her quest to become a potions master.
Growing up is hard, and it’s even harder when you’re a witch! As Luna, you’ll solve devious puzzles and battle monsters with your arsenal of mystical potions. With a little help from your grandmother (a powerful witch in her own right), you’ll explore enchanted lands inspired by your favorite fairy tales – often with an unexpected twist!
As powerful as your potions are, you’ll find yourself up against monsters that can shrug off your most powerful attacks. You’ll have to think on your feet and act quickly to sidestep danger. Manage your resources carefully, or you may find yourself with an empty satchel when you need your elixirs most.
"Put the kettle to the meddle."
- Conflict resolution that goes beyond pure combat—calm, charm, tame and scare your enemies
- Strategic combat—use potions, the environment, and even other monsters to defeat your enemies
- Quirky storyline featuring rich characters from folklore around the world – all with a unique spin
- Crafting system that rewards experimentation
- Countless environments to adventure and search for rare ingredients
- Resource management, with a vast number of potions and ingredients
- Luna—Your resident witch-in-training and strong, female lead
- Beautiful, illustrated art style reminiscent of your favorite storybooks and animated tales
"Potions: A Curious Tale is a wonderfully charming visual delight that promises a tongue-in-cheek storyline and lovely characters. While still in its early stages, gamers who love crafting and exploration should keep an eye on this game." - SIX Judge
“What struck me most about Potions: A Curious Tale is the beauty of the sprites used throughout it.”
- Spong
“Potions: A Curious Tale makes players re-think the standard hack-n-slash, kill-the-monster gameplay.” - MMORPG
"It brought back a sense of nostalgia -- it reminded me of a cross-breed of old school games." - SIX Judge
"Something wicked, this way. Fun!"
Combat is fast-paced, non-linear, and highly customizable. Set your own play style with the potions you use and the way you choose to face threats. Go full-throttle with an arsenal of deadly potions that burn enemies to ashes, or drop a confetti bomb and escape before they can blink.
Potions’ effects can work together, allowing for powerful combinations of different attacks. They can also trigger helpful and deadly reactions in the environment.
Timing is key, any pause taken in battle to throw one of your potions leaves you vulnerable as your enemies barrel down upon you. You’ll have to time attacks just right to take down tougher enemies. All potions are friendly-fire, so be careful where you point that incendiary vial!
Some creatures will even need to be coaxed by other methods to share their goods. You must think carefully about which monsters to engage with and which to avoid or trick. Sometimes, using your enemies against each other is the most efficient solution.
Get too carried away fighting and you’ll use up your precious potions and have to re-arm before your next adventure.
"Every problem... has a solution."
On Luna’s path to master potion brewing, she must gather rare ingredients to craft new potions. While her grandmother will teach her some potion recipes, most recipes must be discovered through experimentation with ingredients.
Each ingredient has descriptive text that hints towards its potential use. These descriptions, along with additional hints from characters in the game, can lead Luna to craft undiscovered recipes.
Luckily, Luna also learns from her failures. So, while an unsuccessful experiment may ruin her ingredients, it also provides her insight that will lead to the discovery of new recipes as her skills grow.
If she’s just refilling her potion satchel, Luna can use her trusty recipe book, where she records all of her previous concoctions.
Luna must manage her potion supplies by avoiding unwanted trouble and exploring to find ingredients for recipes, or go out and hunt exotic monsters to gather rare ingredients for experimentation!
Enchanted creatures, large and small, dwell in the forests, caves and mountains around Old Haven. Some are harmless or even benevolent. Others are licking their chops at the prospect of having a lovely young witch for supper.
Each creature in the Deep Dark Forest has its own strengths and weaknesses. While your potions of flame may burn spiders to ash, they’ll have little impact on the lava-loving salamander. Think of each creature you encounter as a tiny puzzle, with abilities, vulnerabilities, and behaviors you can exploit to your strategic advantage (and monetary gain).
Although many monsters hold the ingredients you need to brew more powerful potions, most will be reluctant to part with them. Some may be persuaded by force, others by charm, still others by guile. It’s up to you to brave the wilderness while using tricks, cunning, and an arsenal of arcane connections to win the components you’ll need to become a potions master.
A good witch chooses her battles wisely! Remember, not every creature needs to be defeated, and picking the wrong fight may be the difference between being the cook and being the meal.
"Go stir crazy!"
Not only will your wits and potions help you with the monsters you encounter on your adventures, they will also be key to solving the countless puzzles strewn across the lands. Some obstacles will need a special potion to pass, while others will require creative problem solving to unlock their secrets!
Hidden items are scattered all over this mystical land, so don’t be surprised if any rock or thicket conceals a hidden artifact or ancient potion recipe forgotten over the ages. Even your talks with characters can unveil important pearls of wisdom.
Luna lives in a world inspired by fairy tales and folklore from around the globe, from African folklore to Western nursery rhymes. Luna's wit and intellect help her overcome challenges posed by these enchanted lands. However, in her quest to become a Potions Master, she also learns important coming-of-age lessons in the tongue-in-cheek story line. Respect is earned, advice can be deceiving, and adults aren't always right.
Luna never quite fit in with her peers as she was always off exploring and experimenting. When one of her experiments explodes spectacularly, Luna learns that she has an aptitude for brewing magical potions. Unable to train Luna herself and desiring to keep the young girl out of further trouble, Luna’s mother sends her to live with her grandmother to learn potion crafting.
Granny lives in a small village to the north on the edge of the Deep Dark Forest. Her little town, Old Haven, is the last stop for adventurers on their way to find fame, fortune, and glory in the enchanted lands beyond. A respected Potions Master, Granny has more than enough business selling potions and remedies to the townsfolk and travelers. However, with her advanced age, she is happy to take on an apprentice who can venture into the enchanted forests, mountains, deltas, and grasslands on her behalf.
Whether it’s helping Mary Muffet with a spider problem or assisting the monk, Tripitaka, and his unlikely crew of disciples on their pilgrimage, Luna finds a way to lend a hand with her cunning wit and, of course, her potions.
Full Release
The full release will be available for Windows, Mac, and Linux via direct download (DRM-free) and Steam.
Alpha/Beta Access
Access to the alpha and beta will be granted on Steam for Windows initially, with Mac to follow. We intend to also do a beta release for Linux, but cannot guarantee it at this time.
Other Platforms
We are in talks with various platform holders to release Potions: A Curious Tale on their platforms. We are very interested in releasing on consoles.
Renee Gittins
Matthew Endsley
Wesley Eldridge
Joshua Du Chene
Jake Neal
David Dunne
Carol Gittins
We want to create a rich, expansive world with compelling stories and characters for our players to explore. In order to complete this task, we need the following resources:
- A Strong Team - We have hired a diverse and competent team to work on Potions: A Curious Tale, and we need to ensure that they are compensated for their work.
- Tools/Licenses - To have a timely release and to ensure the best quality, we need to have access to good tools.
- Quality, Feedback & Community - We believe these three are closely related. We want to maintain strong connections with our community because we believe that all of us together will be able to make the best game possible. Funds will help us establish quality forums, meet our community in person at events, and spend the time needed to polish Potions: A Curious Tale into a masterpiece.
The Game
A digital downloadable copy of Potions: A Curious Tale (PC, Mac, Linux) when the completed game releases on Steam! Retail price is expected to be $20.
Beta Access
Play the game before it is released into the wild! Access new features and content the moment they go online. Beta is planned for PC, Mac and Linux.
Development Forums and Polls
Ensure your voice is heard and direct the game’s development with your feedback and opinions! Vote to choose which lore and monsters are included in the game by participating in polls!
Digital Map
A high resolution digital copy of a map showing the lands featured in Potions: A Curious Tale.
Diploma
Show off your rank as a supporter of Potions: A Curious Tale with a gorgeous diploma featuring your name or a name of your choice.
Wallpapers
A digital pack of exclusive backers only Potions: A Curious Tale themed wallpapers with stunning art for your computer and phone!
Credit
To thank you for your support, your name will appear in the final credits of the game in recognition of your pledge level. Each backer from Journeyman up will be recognized in their specific reward tier.
Art Book
Enjoy an art book of the concept art and beautiful finished illustrations from Potions: A Curious Tale. The physical version is bound in a handsome hardcover.
Original Soundtrack
Listen to high quality, lossless tracks from Potions: A Curious Tale’s original soundtrack! Physical copy is screen printed and comes in a jewel case with art insert.
Collectible Postcard
We love the art from Potions: A Curious Tale and we are sure that you will, too! Send a gorgeous postcard featuring some of our wonderful art to your friends and share the love!
Exclusive Backer T-Shirt
Show your support for Potions: A Curious Tale with this exclusive, backers only t-shirt! Men and women’s cut t-shirts will be available.
Alpha Access
Play the game before anyone else! Be the first to try out new features, play through the stories, and give your feedback to the Potions development team. Alpha may only be available for PC.
Signed Poster
A beautiful full-sized poster of Potions: A Curious Tale artwork, signed by the developers!
Limited Edition Numbered Print
Showcase your very own gorgeous linoleum print carved by our very own graphic designer. Display your Potions appreciation with this classic art and be one of the few owners of this exclusive piece! Numbered to show edition and print order.
Name a Potion
Help name a potion in Luna’s arsenal and leave your mark on the game! Subject to approval (no naughty names!).
Folklore of Your Choice
Do you wish your favorite childhood fairytale would be included in Potions? Ensure your wish comes true and choose a tale for us to include in the game!
Your Likeness and Name in Game
We will include a character named and designed as you (or your favorite person of choice) in Potions: A Curious Tale. Exist in the magical world of Potions and brag to your friends when they see you in game. Be a part of this fantastic world as how you chose to appear, whether as a witch practicing her studies or even a nymph in the woods. Check out our team images for ideas as ways to appear in Luna's world! Subject to approval (George Washington and Flavor Flav have to stay at home for this one).
Design a Creature
Bring a creature to life in the magical world of Potions: A Curious Tale. Whether it is a harmless sprite or a terrifying monster, you get to decide! Work with our developers and artists to create a truly magnificent creature. Also, you will be credited as “Additional Creature Designer” in the game! That’s right, you’re a designer on our team!
Release Party Invite
Come hang out with the developers of Potions: A Curious Tale and a plethora of game developer friends at the Potions: A Curious Tale release party! Be our guest of honor!
Design a Quest Line
Spin your own threads of fate by collaborating with the Potions team to design an entire quest line! Help test Luna’s skills, logic and resolve with tailoring the creatures she encounters and difficulties that she must overcome! Additionally, you will be credited as “Additional Designer” in the game!
We aren’t just making a game for ourselves to play, we want you to play it and love it, too! If you think Potions: A Curious Tale sounds like a fun game, you can help us bring it to life:
Risks and challenges
Creation of a video game is a difficult task that combines the technical complications of software development with the creative challenges that come with art and design. The biggest risk of this project is that Potions: A Curious Tale will take longer to develop than planned. Development time has its costs, though, so the project taking significantly longer than planned may cause financial stress. We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to finish the game, even if it means embracing a ramen-based diet.
Fortunately, the Stumbling Cat has a set of advisers and team members that have plenty of experience developing and releasing games. Additionally, Renee has a background in project management, and she is confident in the ability of the team to make Potions: A Curious Tale a wonderful game.
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Support
Funding period
- (32 days)