Game Mechanics

So you want to be a… Bounty Hunter

~ victoriarachel ~ 3 Comments

So you want to play Chronicles of Elyria? But what do you want to be?

This new series looks at some possible professions, trades, and ways of life, giving you inspiration while looking at the detail we have for the mechanics of the game. It is available both in video or text depending on your preference. They are the same, mostly, so no need to read and watch! Please do remember that Chronicles of Elyria is in development, that means the information we have is not always exhaustive but is always subject to change.

This week’s profession will appeal if you have an interest in Player vs Player combat out in the open world. In being a defender of justice bringing lawbreakers to face trial. A blade for hire that can aid those who have had personal contracts broken. What about being the muscle that helps enforce the contracts that might not be of an entirely legal nature.

So you want to be a… Bounty Hunter? Continue reading →

Journal Abridged – Bolstering & Earn-to-Play

Assassin and King concept art from Chronicles of Elyria.
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With just days left until the KickStarter, which is on May 3rd so get ready, we have been given an incredibly interesting Developer Journal to chew over. Like the last Developer Journal, this one too concentrates on the business model to an extent, however, perhaps an anti-business model might be more accurate. This is about balance. Balancing those who have less time but more money with those who have more time but less money in a way that ends up with everyone having a darn good time!

If you want to read the Developer Journal in full it can be found on the Chronicles of Elyria website, or you can read on for the Journal Abridged. Because we will be diving in with the far shorter bullet pointed version. Continue reading →

Mega Muster – The Team, Children and Snow!

A narrow street with carts and goods rom Chronicles of Elyria.
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Yes, it has been a quiet few weeks here at the Echo but Soulbound Studios have been far from silent. In fact, we have an awful lot to cover including two videos (which has now become three while I was writing!), two Q&As, loads of social media and there has been chatter on the IRC too. So you better get ready, grab some tea, and settle in because this is going to be a long one!

In chronological order we are going to be covering, deep breath now; priests, barbers, tattooists and who are those people over at Soulbound Studios and what are they doing? Children, self-defense, artifcats, relics and of course snow! Continue reading →

The Muster – Power, ‘Head Start’ and Titan’s Steppe

A dark street in Chronciles of Elyria.
~ victoriarachel ~ 4 Comments
Another week closer to the KickStarter. A week in which we have had a newsletter and forum posts, IRC chatter and general banter going on across social media. This post is here to Muster up all that news and put it all into a convenient package for you!

This week we are looking at the news the official newsletter brought, and how you can get the next issue delivered to your inbox if you missed out. We also look at power vacuums, what exactly a Chronicles of Elyria ‘head start’ is, and where is Titan’s Steppe. Continue reading →

The Muster – Sacrifice, Skills and Different Stories

Ruins by the road from Chronicles of Elyria.
~ victoriarachel ~ 5 Comments

Well, there was some darn big news this week that has stolen most of the air time, and rightly so. If you have not watched the pre-alpha first look video and caught up on the KickStarter news, then you really need to do so. However, the Muster is still here to pull together a few of the other news stories that were missed in all of the excitement.

Videos were not the only new media this week, we have a whole host of new screenshots to look at and some members of the community began to question exactly what it is we are seeing. There was also a magazine interview over at Gaiscioch which covered a lot of interesting topics, including some information about changes to the skill system. Finally, is starting with high influence ruining the fun of the game? Spoiler: Only if you treat Chronicles of Elyria as a typical MMO. Continue reading →

The Muster – Protection, Bandits and Theft

A rocky outcrop in Chronciles of Elyria.
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This week was the quiet before the storm. A storm that is due to hit the coast of Elyria very soon indeed. The Muster brings together all the parts of the news that I think really stood out. From the official forums, the IRC and also the live-streamed Q&A from the beginning of the week all the good stuff is brought together in one place.

This week we are looking at community members who want to know how they protect themselves from bandits, those that want to become the very bandits the others are avoiding, and people looking to retrieve stolen items. And just to through in a curve ball, a bit of a thought about an air of mystery in games. Continue reading →

The Muster – Community Milestones, Influence, and Seasons

A ruin in the forests a screenshort from Chronicles of Elyria.
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The Muster is a weekly gathering of all the news and announcements for Chronicles of Elyria. This week one of the main things that happened is you arrived. Thank you for coming into the community, it is a nice place to be as you get to be involved early with a studio that actually seem to listen to us. If you are a longer term community member then you get a shout out too because you have helped Soulbound Studios reach quite the milestone this week.

We also bring you a reminder about Influence Points, do not try to cheat they are on to you! As well as some other interesting topics, can ban players or guilds from your Kingdom, should seasons be longer, and also a little bit about the games AI. Continue reading →

The Muster – New Office, Game Access and Canis Rabbits

Canis rabbit concept art from Chonicles of Elyria
~ victoriarachel ~ 1 Comment

This week we are mustering up news from what has been a slightly quieter news week for the community. However, there has been big news for Soulbound Studios themselves. All the news from the forums, IRC and interviews have been gathered up and ready for your perusal. Jump to the Muster Point at the end if you just want the headline story!

The office move is one of the big topics, along with shedding some light on to what they have been up to in it! We get a hint of how we might be able to get our hands on the game multiple times before launch. Learn who is the funniest and scariest in the office. Oh, and you might have noticed there is some new concept art out! Continue reading →

The Muster – Vitality, Healing and Feature Creep

~ victoriarachel ~ 5 Comments

The end of another week means it is time to sort through the spoils. Gathering together all the news from across forums, interviews and the chat room so that you do not miss out on any of that good stuff. If you want to know what one thing I really think you should know from this week just head straight to the end for the Muster Point.

Vitality and healing are our two top topics this week. However, they are accompanied by a whole host of other intriguing tidbits such as another new name, perishable foods and unique creates. Also a quick, but meaningful, comment from Soulbound Studios on how the scope of the game might change based on KickStarter, or more accurately might not change. Continue reading →

The Muster – PvE, Welcomes and Fame

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Join me as we gather up all of the highlights from the last week. We are pulling from all sorts of sources; from forums and the Q&A to discussions had on the IRC. Aiming to bring together a whole host of information and point you in the right direction to find more. As always, well as since last week, ending with the Muster Point, the one thing you really ought to know from this week’s collection.

So what have we got for you this week? Well, last week we spoke a bit about PvP so only fair we address the balance with a look at PvE. We are also welcoming some new staff members over a Soulbound Studios, talking about fame, guild tools, how you know you are going to die, and some interesting battle mechanics. Oh, and I have included something Jeremey ‘Caspian’ Walsh told us about Liches in the IRC… Continue reading →