About this project
There was a time when only Celem danced upon the roof of Skara… that time has passed .
Skara is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), available for PC, next gen consoles and portable devices, and developed by a small team of Spanish digital artists, coders, and gamers. Skara aims to revolutionize all the mmo/rpg/fps varieties of game already in existence. We want to create a totally new experience by blending never before seen fps-style hand-to-hand combat into a compelling story that is at once exciting and artistic. Imagine an experience with the action of a Versus Fighting Game inside a story and land like RPG´s, all blended into a fast-paced FPS style arena.
We are not a traditional gaming company. We are just a group of developers trying to reach their dream and create a game just as we always wanted to. We have worked before in several big gaming companies, and we know about the stuff in the industry that we want to avoid. Gaming experience is more important than stocks. Gamers are more important than money.
Imagine what it means to have a role in the game creation process... helping to define the characters and stories and how they all develop for the future of Skara. Would you like to integrate your personal story into the story of a mystical land? Would you eventually like to command an army of talented fellow gamers from around the globe as troops to rule that land?
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If you feel this sounds exciting... there is a place for you in Skara.
Thanks to Unreal Technology we are developing a combat system that will be highly intuitive and accurate at the same time. Players will have absolute control over their characters movements. Repeatedly pressing buttons will not do the work. Skara is a dangerous land, and it will be easy to die. Thus, players will need to be aware of the timing, the scenery and their opponents' attacks and guards.
Yes, very nice, but... How does it actually work?
You choose the style and direction of your attacks. Your opponent must block or hint at the exact moment to avoid being impacted. Attack is about dexterity. Blocking is about reflexes. Every movement can be counter-attacked, happening to become into an instant kill as result. Some of these attacks may be combined in combos. And we've got at least one additional special movement for every race, available only under specific circumstances.
Any one of these attacks can kill any player, no matter his rank. But if you die in Skara you will respawn almost immediately elsewhere in the arena, and return to the battleground in just a few seconds. What we get is a fast and furious crazy action, allowing skilled players to defeat a lot of enemies in a short time. So forget about the life-bar over your character’s head: in Skara any impact may kill you. Simple.
We want to focus Skara on direct competition among players, because you need a lot of skills, practice and experience to master our combat system. It´s not about spending money, raising the level of your character or owning the fanciest armors and weapons. It is about becoming the best warrior.
Will it be the same for all characters?
Of course not. Every character will be different in terms of relative strength, speed and movements. Every race will also have different combos. All the characters will be managed in a similar way, but the style and the techniques will be unique for every race. For instance, Shinse warriors are the fastest and have plenty of combos, while Khärn warriors are the strongest but have just a few of different combinations. Finding the one that best suits your fighting style will be your responsability...
What about distance weapons?
Every character will be able to use distance weapons, and every race will have different ones. You will find bows, but also slings, crossbows or throwing axes. We're preparing an accurate system for the players to shoot. But be sure to not waste your ammunition, because it will be hard to find more during battle.
Will there be any sort of leveling system?
Absolutely not. We love RPG's, but this is not one. In Skara, everything depends on your ability. A newcomer will be able to defeat a veteran, because the characters will not be leveled up. Experience points will be used to unblock new features or weapons. Honor points will be the measure of your ability playing the game and will determine your position in the players and factions rankings.
We are working on several online and offline modes to allow all sort of players to enjoy Skara. Those more challenging will join a faction and try to do their best in battles among factions. Those who like it simple will enjoy playing just a couple of games per day in the fast battles, because Skara has lots of fun to offer.
FAST BATTLES
Every player can join a Fast Battle and have fun just running through the arena brandishing his weapon and defeating enemies. Fast Battles are short, and are designed to have a great time competing against players from around the world. You'll find a great variety of game modes, like Duel, Deathmatch, The Last Standing or Capture the Flag. In adittion, every arena hides primary and secondary objectives that will give you extra Experience and Honor Points. For example, throwing a giant rock off a cliff and over your enemies.
FACTION BATTLES
Those players aiming to reach a higher goal will feel the need to join a faction and try to rise their ranks inside the faction´s hierarchy. As you increase your rank, you will gain access to new attacks, special equipment and weapons. Extra features will be unblocked only for the most capable players, such as founding a new town inside Skara, building up your own arena and defending it against the enemies' raids.
When playing Faction Battles you will also be able to customize your matches choosing among several appealing game modes, including some specific modes available only for battles among factions, such as Siege or Kill the King.
Available both online and offline, you will play on one of the available maps trying to survive against numerous waves of enemies. The difficulty increases as the players advance through the waves, facing ever more enemies. Playing offline you must resist by your own. Playing online will be even more exciting, given that you will be able to invite your friends and have a great time defeating hundreds of enemies together.
STORY MODE
Skara is not just another MOBA. We aim for players to feel totally immersed in the story of the inhabitants In this dying world. For that reason we are planning to create a Story Mode for every one of the five races in Skara. It will be offline and completely for free.
We are preparing a big surprise for all the players supporting Skara on Kickstarter. All backers will obtain an opportunity to actually create one of the five main characters of the Story Mode. You heard right: If you are one of the lucky ones, you get to name and design the protagonist of one of the races in Story Mode. The lucky ones will also be able to write the story and the background of the character - an amazing opportunity to define how Skara is played by everyone else!
How are we giving away this amazing opportunity?
· The Backer who donates £5000 will have a secured place.
· Three spots will be Chosen by lottery, where every backer has a chance to win, based on the amount he or she has donated. Even with £1 you get a chance to win one of the spots.
· The last spot will be picked at our booth at E3. Every visitor to our booth can enter, and the winner will be Chosen on June 28th out of a hat.
Once the places are gone, they are gone. Do not miss out on a chance to be one of the creators of Skara!
After every game you will receive Honor Points according to your success on the battlefield. You will get them defeating your enemies and not being killed, but also achieving heroic deeds, like fighting against three enemies at the same time, or obtaining main and secondary objectives, being the first man to assault a fortress or capturing a strategic position.
In Skara Honor Points are an important factor for every player, as they can unlock special features only available for the best figthers. We are looking for the most skilled players, those warriors able to confront a whole bunch of enemies by his own, or to lead the troops to victory due to his valorous actions. For that reason, honor points give you access to special skills, equipment and ranges, and can not be obtained in any other way: only on the battleground.
Our backers will obtain Honor Points with their fundings, and they will be able to be the first ones to get these special skills, equipment and ranges. They will distinguish from the rest of the warriors on every arena, spreading fear and respect among their enemies.
There are several ranks in Skara for the soldiers to accomplish in order to serve their army.
Foot soldiers will not be allowed to do the same things sergeants or marshals do. As your rank within the army increases, you will unblock new features and become a respected member among the Skara community. For instance, as a sergeant you will be able to take part in battles among factions and fight for the honor of your kingdom against all the others. As a lieutenant you will be able to acquire new equipment.
There are a lot of awesome features to unblock inside the game to become one of the most respected players inside Skara that will be unveiled soon. And finally, only marshals will be allowed to found new cities. Wouldn't you like to find a city with your own name inside the game?
In Skara every sword can kill you... but a few of them kill you better. It is important to have the best weapons, shields and armors to be safe in the battlefield, and as you increase the rank of your character you gain access to special equipment only destined for the best skilled players.
A sergeant weapon does not inflinge more damage than a foot soldier´s one, because every figther with every weapon can kill you with a single stroke if you are not alert. But some of them may be lighter, more resistant or shatter an specific type of armors. In adition, a few locked weapons give you special attacks and movements to confront different situations.
Special movements give you an small advantage in certain situations, but they are also truly spectacular, and will cause fear and respect among your enemies. And remember, they are very limited, so other players will recognize you instantly.
The backers of Skara The Blade Remains will get access to the Founder´s Armory, a secret and exclusive place where they can exchange their Honor Points for sole weapons, shields, armors or special attacks. Those limited edition equipment will not ever be repeated, and they are made to award our funders and give them a special recognition.
In Skara there will be rankings in which players will be able to compare themselves to the other players. The players will be divided into races and factions. They will only be able to accomplish a higher position inside the faction according to their performance in battle.
What's up with factions and races?
There are at least five different races in Skara, and two factions within every race. There will be special game modes in which the different factions will fight against the others in order to try and rule over the land of Skara. Besides, those highest ranked players will be able to found new cities other players will later be able to join, constituting a sort of new faction of any race. And those factions will compete for the dominant position among all the factions of the same race, or against factions belonging to other races.
Ok, that sounds pretty interesting. But shouldn't the new factions, founded by the players, have their own arena, like the original Skara factions?
Good point. We hope to obtain enough money to develop an arena editor, which players may use in order to build their own arenas. The inhabitants of every city will be allowed to propose their arena for the city and vote for the type of arena among those proposed by the faction’s players. The arenas belonging to highest ranked cities will be placed on the Skara map, and so will become available to every player in the game. We fully hope players will be eager to fight for their city to appear on the Skara map.
Will it be possible to customize your character?
For sure. Attack, defense and distance weapons will be fully configurable. And there will be plenty of amazing options concerning dressing and clothing for every race. This way, the players will be able to configure their characters according to their personal preferences. Of course, some of the weapons or clothes will not be available for everyone. Players will need to gather experience to unblock them all, so, some concrete clothes or weapons will distinguish the most talented players among the others.
Will players get any advantage for wearing customized clothes or weapons?
No. We want a gaming experience relying on the players ability, not based on gathering equipment items. The items will bring mostly personalization, and only a very few of them will add very little advantage for the characters.
The idea was born in Barcelona four years ago when Pablo began sketching a map for a Land he called ‘Skara’ in his free time. Pablo’s sketches eventually became an entirely new, cataclysmic universe with two suns and a planet occupied by five distinct races. These live everywhere from Skara’s frozen north to its burning south; they have their own histories and characteristics that come out of the land itself.
As Skara took form, Pablo called Cesar, an old gaming buddy and friend from the south of Spain, and asked him for help with turning his new world into a new kind of game. Cesar said, ”Let’s do this” and game development began in 2012. The partners started by raising some small funds from friends and family, renting an office space in Barcelona, and recruiting a team.
Building a good team is always difficult, but in this regard Skara has been quite fortunate. The first decision was for Art Director and it turned out to be as simple as Pablo calling his mate David Güell, with whom Pablo worked in the video games industry for the last three years AND incidentally who is the guitarist in the same band that Pablo plays drums.
David is a master artist, art historian, and writer. He has provided the ideal foundation and perspective for inspiring a players imagination and placing him into a world that is fantastical but real. Pablo and David spent months painting the visual identities of each race and the ambience of the landscapes that would become Skara. The first month they literally “lived” in the studio of David´s father, Fernando. They occupied one of the meeting rooms and covered the tables and walls with thousands of drawings, history novels, and art books.
The second addition to the team required a move cross country. Jesús Luengo was perfect for the role of Game Designer, having collaborated with Pablo already on the initial plans for the game design. The only problem was that Jesús lived in Madrid--almost 400 miles away from Barcelona. As they developed the game, Jesus finally couldn’t resist Skara and he moved all the way to Barcelona to join.
Through a series of further coincidences, a full team emerged. Every member who has joined came highly recommended from one of the top European game studios. They all joined in order to create the next generation game with the best in the industry, and in a short time have formed a true gaming family.
...Soon all in this new land will know, and fear the Sons of Fire.
The people of Cêlea arrived at the southern coast of Skara from far lands across the sea, where the hot sun burns the land to ashes.
When the other races saw these new “Sons of Fire”, they feared immediately what kind of warriors they were. The Cêlea are a fierce people, able to walk across the golden desert sand without burning their feet or feeling the heat.
They have boundless energy, fighting all day and dancing all night. Cêlea men march to battle with a short lancet to keep their enemies away. They can throw a fiery substance in front of themselves, and they protect themselves with golden bucklers, using the reflection of their shields to blind their enemies. In battle they are merciless.
The Cêlea are also master sailors and their ships maintain control of the southern seas.
...Thus came the Durno to be masters of Skara. [excerpt from the Chronicles of the Kings of Jotheim]
The Durno believe their First Father was carved out of the Mountains and brought down by the Eagles. They were the first to settle central Skara, the first to build a city, learn trades and crafts and become wealthy. They were the first to learn the use of metal in the arts of war and the first to seek to conquer Skara and enslave its people.
The Durno’s greed led to their trouble. By moving into their northern neighbor’s territory, the Durno began an age long struggle with the Tamvaasa. Eventually, by entering into a pact with the Shinse, the Durno managed to push the Tamvaasa far away from the good land.
Once a lazy people, in more recent times the king recognized the need to preserve his new lands by constant show of strength. He provided his army with the newest and best swords, shields and crossbows. Ever since, all of the Durno have been well trained for battle. They march together as sorted troops and act as an army.
For a long time, and through-out the alliance with the Shinse, the sons of noblemen from Durno would spend three years in Nagaco, where under the guidance of Masters learned the most accurate and lethal of Shinse techniques. These sons became a new elite amongst Durno people.
Durno lands now extend over most of the land to the east of the Rhozsa mountains, and for more than fifty years they have ruled with an iron fist over the region.
Fear comes from the belly
So Khärn cut the belly to let it out.
All in Skara fear the Khärn. Parents can frighten their children into obedience by merely mentioning the name.
The Khärn are the strongest and wildest people in all the land. They follow no order when they charge into battle but neither do they require it. They fight to the death always in the name of glory. Success or death is their mentality.
Khärn warriors wield the largest and heaviest of swords. It takes only their presence on the battlefield to intimidate all around. More than a few warriors of other races have run from just rumors of a sighting.
The Khärn inhabit a volcanic region of the Rhozsa Mountains. Their legends and stories have been passed around Skara for years and no race ever dares cross the line into their territory without desiring their own death.
"Anger that sits burns its bearer, Anger that moves burns others” --Shinse proverb
The Shinse are like the stones in a river… hard and smooth, polished by the flowing waters of fortune. They are a highly spiritual race and strongly connected to the earth and the tides. Possessed by an emotion sensibility, Shinse see where others are blind.
They don’t fear for their lives—Shinse fight with two swords: one always longer than the other. Add to their natural speed and training that starts from childhood, the Shinse are stealthy assassins on the battlefield.
After the Cêlea arrived in the south, attacking them violently and the Durno betrayed their promise of mutual defense, the Shinse had to leave their warm coast lands behind. They have since lived on the northern steppes, in the area around Syvse Lake, upon which they built Nagaco--the floating city--to keep their women safe from the Khärn raids out of the mountains.
"Bül said the first Tamvaasa came out of the water. He said like a fish Tamvaasa swam and breathed and ate below until the day came and Celem called him up."
There was a time in which the Tamvaasa ruled over the northern half of Skara. They were always wise and sensible, whilst being just as brave as others. So long as they were feared and respected, their kingdom flourished and prospered.
They live mostly in the woods, for they feel strongly connected to the habitat of the Icy North. Their main weapon is therefore a huge axe they use both to fight with and as a tool for their ordinary forest life.
When the Durno arose as the new dominant kingdom in Skara, a great battle took place close to the seat of Hiria. The Tamvaasa were bitterly defeated, and since they love peace more then the other races, they retreated ever further north. Since then, they live off of what the forest provides them, always patrolling their borders in order to secure their people and property, never letting anyone break through amongst them.
NOTES
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· Each individual pledge includes all the previous digital and physical rewards, except specifically mentioned in the description.
· The Digital Copy of Skara includes the five Story Modes and the Horde Mode, available to play both online and offline. This also applies to the Physical Copy of Skara packed in a special box.
· The Skara Digital Manual includes Instructions and the User´s Guide, but also detailed maps of all the arenas, equipment lists, and tips and strategies to become a successful warrior.
Risks and challenges
We recruited the best in the Spanish gaming industry. They are passion driven people who left jobs at bigger companies. Combined we have great experience in creating games but we know it will not be easy.
Our latest accomplishment was releasing the alpha version of our game. We have two characters and one arena, fighting and running animations, and the core of our game in the Unreal Developer Kit (UDK). There is still a lot of work to do.
One of the concerns we have is related to the server infrastructure for multi-player battles. We have a clear plan for how to support massive online battles although we won't know the specific solution until we begin testing the game with large amounts of players. We plan to start focusing on managing servers when we release the open beta of the game.
Another challenge is implementing all the unique animations for each race of Skara, as they have different fighting styles and movements and we have just one 3D animator. We hope to add a couple of more animators this June to help David Llopis in the humongous task that he has and to keep up our artistic quality.
The respawn areas are a big concern for the Programming and Game Design team, specially in small arenas, where you may respawn just in front of your enemy, but the laughs in the office when we test the game indicate that fun is guaranteed. But off course we are going to handle this concern with a lot of care.
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