https://www.winterwolves.net/blog/2020/07/a-clarification-about-loren-2/

to avoid confusion, I will probably close this forum and open new ones with each of the 4 games names (once I have them, that's it).



Personally I'm happy with the solution we found since it means that finally I'll be able to release something, even if I'm sure many won't like this system. But I'll try my best with each of those games as usual! Having a smaller cast like this, might even allow me to do a RPG part again (something I wasn't sure at all before).

I'm really glad to hear this. Both because it means I'll get to play it sooner, but also because I've always preferred stories with a bit of a tighter focus. Loren already had a huge cast, and adding on top of that would pretty much guarantee a lot of characters getting lost in the weeds. And to be honest, I just don't have the time to sit down and play like I used to, so I'd probably be happy paying full price for a shorter game so long as it's reasonably dense.



Also, I know they're minor characters, but I'm lowkey most excited to see these two whenever they get to show up. It's probably my optimism getting the better of me, but I can't help but hope that the shorter, more focused games might give them a chance to stand out a bit more.

Those images were done a lot of time ago (2 years ago I think!). In recent times I added more variety, like Krimm in SOTW, and I have also commissioned some more amazons with different body builds:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMMAb2nWgAEfTxf.jpg" style="max-width:100%">

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMMAb74WgAAHeUU.jpg" style="max-width:100%">

Cool, indeed another bonus of making several "spin-offs" (or however you want to call them) instead of a sequel is that originally those were designed as "NPC guards", with minimum lines.

Now since one of the 4 games will be focused on amazons, slavery, etc I'm thinking they could become secondary character but having much more space than originally planned

Yessssss!!!

I have them also already finished/colored, will post them when the time comes, they turned out good (beside those there are also more amazons variants including some older ones, etc)

I'm so glad to hear we'll get to see more of the Amazons. As far as the cultures of Aravorn go, theirs were always the one that felt the most unique and interesting to me. All the more reason to get excited about the split!

Havent posted anything in a while, most i was just too busy to follow updates here, in fact i just recently picked PS2 even true i had been waiting for it for years, and it was only now I read this news regarding Loren 2, and if you don't mind I have a few questions.



I really don't mind game being split into more parts than originally planned, in fact there is one VN I read a few mounts ago that that originally had 5 romance interest and than squeal is split into 5 new games each continuing a story from ending of one of romance interest. Additionally dev said he also plans to release something like a spin-off/DLC but as a separate game where he would add new romance interests that ware side characters in a original game. Honestly I thought this is a rety good idea as in the end there will be far more content than it would be possible to put in a single game, and it;s prety interesting that we are getting more of that game a lot more offten as each character will be getting a shorter game of it's own. Also I think this is probably a prety good marketing strategy in several ways.



That said I am a bit confused because you said Loren 2 won't be a sequel but a spin-off, I get how that could happen with new romance interest, but what about old ones? Will it not be a sequel of their romance but...? Could you give us a bit more detail about that? Will Elenor still be protagonist at all? I think most people would like to know more about it.



Also will one of those games be the first next one to come out in Aravorn universe? I really miss games in that universe.

Yes all the 4 games will have Saren/Elenor as protagonists, also because I have already all the art done for the romance CGs etc.

I say spin-off but you can call them episodes or whoever you want in practice they are 4 stories taking place after Loren's events, each one focused on a theme/setting, featuring Saren/Elenor and 2 old romances + 2 new romances.



The only sad news (for some players) is that because how I split the romances, the first game won't be LGBT but only have straight romances (which would be the first time for me). All the other 3 would have more LGBT romances than straight ones though. I am still looking into it but I don't think will manage to split them in any other way (it's compex since for example there's a game with amazons and slavery and obviously you want both Loren and Karen in it, etc).



I think the first COULD come out next year towards the end of it, but it's unlikely since I also need to finish Curse Of Mantras. However I have been working on other smaller games in that universe, I can't say much for now but there could be one surprise release



I'll make another blog post when I have decided on more stuff, maybe describing the cast and the theme of each game.

Out of curiosity, could we play through say the first episode, enjoy its story, but not romance anyone? Like if we wanted to play through all the episodes but just romance Karen as Elenor or Loren as Saren in a single episode, while keeping a consistent canon story for everyone's own individual Elenor/Saren?

Yes of course since the main story is not impacted by the romance option. So if you want to remain loyal to only one character from the original cast you can.



BUT IT WILL BE HARD WITH SO MANY HOT GUYS AND GIRLS!!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhD67bKWoAIKAYH?format=png&name=360x360" style="max-width:100%">

Feeling better recently, and I'm taking care of not overworking myself. But I've already designed the foundation of the first game (or maybe of all the 4, since they'll share same system). I am going to try experimenting once again, this time I'll add an "overdrive" system. Each character will have an ultimate skill (very powerful obviously) but that can be used consuming this overdrive value, which currently I put at 3 (so max 3 uses).

That overdrive value remains from battle to battle (I think, not sure yet) so in practice people could want to save it for later and more difficult battles and so on.

Another feature will be the reintroduction of the front/back row system, and each game will have max 6 party characters (so you can fill a whole party with it with no reserves), which will solve the problem of "unused characters that lag behind", since you'll use all the characters for most of the time

https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b34aad421b9814a4cd8326086ecd19b/59dba0c736579a78-0e/s2048x3072/a2e469f0d58ba9d8aada91052d0df5233d334e7d.jpg" style="max-width:100%">

NEW SUPERSLICK character creation screen! and yes you can play also as Mage this time

Haha it's still going to take ages. Luckily I'll have only 6 party members this time!

Yay!!!! I loved the front/back row system, so I'm really excited to hear it's coming back. Overdrive also sounds really fun, both from a gameplay strategy perspective and as a way to give characters their moments to shine. Also, that character customization looks tasty.

Thanks I plan to use same system for all the 4 games, so I need to design it well. I'm not sure if to give the player specific skills every game or not. I mean, same skills could get boring? but on the other hand having different skill in each of the 4 games could look strange. Not sure yet!

You can keep some old skills and replace others with something different.



I am happy about the return of front/back row since it opened up more tactical options.

Yeah, I think PS2 worked fine without it (and also made sense, since the first game didn't have it) but for the 4 Loren spin off games I definitely wanted to recreate the "original feeling" and the front/back row was an essential part