VOYAGE (Voguelike Story Mode)

In the enigmatic and treacherous Starfall Sea, a collective known as the "Starfall Travelers" thrives—beings who have mysteriously descended from the sky. Their otherworldly existence demands that they consume Bloodstones each day; without this essential sustenance, their bodies threaten to dissolve into pools of blood. Furthermore, they rely on Starlight to nourish their souls; without it, their spirits may dry up, leading to a complete loss of their essence.

Even under these harsh conditions that seem unfit for existence, the Starfall Travelers strive to survive. A sanctuary known as Starfall Haven has quietly emerged, becoming a refuge for these wanderers. Within this safe haven, they nurture, support, and protect one another, creating a beacon of hope amid despair. It is here, in this warm embrace of camaraderie, that our tale begins.

Voyage Mode details to be disclosed before Beta Testing!

But here's a ChatGPT's brief of Voyage Mode to give you a taste of what it's like:

In "Voyage," players set sail from their base, Starfall Haven, and face a variety of encounters and challenges across treacherous seas. The journey is full of dynamic, choice-driven events and tactical battles, where success depends on careful preparation, fleet management, and understanding enemy strengths and weaknesses.

At Starfall Haven, several key structures offer powerful upgrades:

• The Blacksmith allows players to strengthen mercenary classes by enhancing main attributes and maximum health, or improve stats like critical damage, evasion, and speed using bloodstones and stardust.

• The Temple offers both Character Enhancements, which boost individual mercenaries' overall stats, and Attribute Enhancements to improve the entire fleet’s performance. These require starlight and bloodstones.

• The Sanctuary is essential for reviving fallen mercenaries and setting powerful Relics found during expeditions, which provide permanent bonuses to battles and the fleet. Players can also summon back lost mercenaries using starlight.

• The Shipyard handles ship upgrades, reinforcing ship durability and effectiveness in battle, while the Tavern focuses on enhancing the crew’s unique traits or removing detrimental ones.

When setting off on an expedition, players select a difficulty level and an area to explore, bringing five mercenaries to form a fleet. Along the way, players gather Bloodstones, Starlight, and other crucial resources by winning battles, making choices in events, and facing encounters like:

• Pirate Ships that ambush fleets in hopes of stealing loot.

• Ghost Ships, eerie vessels that appear from the fog, offering rare treasures but posing dangerous risks.

• Merchant Ships, where players can trade supplies or gain crucial intel for the journey ahead.

• Hostile Factions and Mercenary Fleets that challenge the player's fleet in brutal, tactical battles.

• Explorers or Mystery Islands, offering unknown events that could provide resources or set off chain reactions of encounters.

Players will also face a variety of sea and land events, each with options that test the fleet’s attributes. For example, while some events call for attribute checks, others allow players to make strategic decisions, affecting future battles or the fleet's morale.

Combat itself is varied and requires strategic thinking. Blade-to-blade combat pits your fleet’s mercenaries against an enemy fleet, with each fight offering rewards in the form of new upgrades and traits. Some encounters can be resolved through cannon fire, consuming ammunition but avoiding direct conflict. Alternatively, players can attempt to dodge encounters using the fleet's agility, though failure reduces morale and leaves the fleet exposed.

Each expedition progresses through up to five areas, culminating in a boss battle at the end of each sea region. Defeating these bosses brings hefty rewards, including powerful relics and resource caches. However, players may encounter the final twist—a Malevolent God—a godlike figure that offers extreme challenges. Players can either retreat with half their treasure or risk it all for incredible rewards.

As expeditions progress, ships and mercenaries gain access to upgrades:

• Fleet Traits and Ship Equipment enhance your fleet's performance. For example, some traits might increase scouting range or boost cannon damage, while certain equipment reduces ammunition consumption or increases ship durability.

• Mercenaries themselves can acquire traits, like the Veteran Sailor, which enhances the chance of dodging dangerous encounters, or the Seasoned Navigator, improving the fleet’s speed and maneuverability.

In the Voyage, your fleet's ideology plays a crucial role, influencing events and battles throughout the journey. This ideology is shaped by the collective decisions and actions of the players each season, creating a dynamic experience that reflects the values and choices of the fleet.

Ideologies

There are three main ideologies your fleet can embody:

• Chaos: Your crew’s overall attributes are enhanced, increasing their combat effectiveness.

• Neutral: Your fleet takes reduced damage and receives enhanced healing, ensuring greater survivability during long voyages.

• Lawful: The rarity of equipment found during battles increases, allowing you to build a stronger fleet through better gear.

Players' choices during various encounters, events, and battles will collectively steer the ideology in one direction or another, impacting the outcomes of future challenges.

Moral Alignment

Additionally, your crew’s moral alignment (Good, Neutral, Evil) will affect resource acquisition:

• Good: You’ll gather more Starlight, a crucial resource for upgrading characters and relics.

• Neutral: More Bloodstones will be collected, essential for enhancing your fleet and mercenaries.

• Evil: Your fleet will deal extra damage in battle, ensuring quicker victories and reducing the risks of drawn-out fights.

Ships You May Encounter

Throughout your voyage, you will encounter a wide variety of ships that test your fleet’s readiness like:

• Pirate Ships: Aggressive vessels seeking to plunder your resources.

• Enemy Factions: Well-trained fleets from rival organizations or countries.

• Friendly Factions: Ships that offer aid, resources, or critical information.

• Ghost Ships: Mysterious vessels offering rare treasures but presenting significant challenges.

• Merchant Ships: Opportunities to trade for much-needed supplies or rare items.

• Guild Ships: Powerful vessels aligned with various organizations, presenting unique quests or opportunities.

• Mercenary Ships: Neutral vessels that may attack, assist, or offer their services based on your fleet’s standing.

• Explorers: Adventurers who may provide valuable information or share uncharted locations.

Locations to Explore

You will also explore various locations that hold unique opportunities and challenges like:

• Mysterious Islands: Uncharted land masses with ancient treasures or hidden dangers.

• Shipwrecks: Abandoned vessels containing valuable loot, often guarded by powerful enemies.

• Supply Points: Locations to restock on vital supplies like food, water, and repair tools.

• Ports: Safe havens for ship repairs, reviving fallen crew members, and resupplying.

• Taverns and Inns: Offer side quests, recruitment, or rumors about treasures or threats.

• Landmarks and Wonders: Unique locations that provide powerful relics or significant lore.

• Lighthouses: Reveal hidden dangers or safe routes, guiding you towards resource-rich areas.

Success in Voyage depends on mastering these resources and upgrades while adapting to the unpredictable encounters that await. The thrill of collecting rare Relics, achieving powerful mercenary builds, and building an ever-stronger fleet brings a deep sense of accomplishment, while the ongoing upgrades and strategic depth allow players to enjoy the satisfaction of creating an overpowered, unstoppable force.