Greetings Carants!  It’s that time again. Today, we delve back into the lore of the factions within the game: this time, the Bridge Alliance. Marching forth with a thirst for knowledge in their hearts, they make their grand return in GreedFall 2. Forged by War, Bound by ScienceA group of nations under one banner, the Bridge Alliance is formed by three: Thynea, Thraxis, and Morsinia. Created 200 years ago to resist Thélème’s ever-growing religious imperialism, a nation with whom they’d warred for centuries, they hoped it would create a more effective resistance against their would-be conquerors. Their capital became Al Saad, home to the Alliance Council and their most prestigious universities.  Doing so would provide boons outside of a united front - the economic, cultural, and military prowess they gained transformed them into one of the most powerful states on the continent. Gaining both a technological and scientific advantage, highly valued within their nations, putting the Alliance at the cutting edge of technology.  An Island DiscoveryAll members of the Alliance have retained their own political structure: Morsinia is a parliamentary monarchy; Thynea a meritocracy; Thraxis an elective monarchy once tributary to Thynea. Each sends representatives to the Al Saad assembly, where all decisions affecting the alliance take place.  Seeking to further their knowledge, they were the first nation to settle on Teer Fradee since the Congregation's failed attempt. A city, Hikmet, was constructed and ruled over by Governer Burhan. From there, they spread out over the island as their exploration began.  Stunned by the flora and fauna, scholars were dispatched to study them in the hopes they’d find a cure for the Malichor plaguing their people. Not only that, but they also hoped it would replenish their depleted finances, eaten up by their endless war with Thélème. Of Questionable EthicsThat said, when it comes to ethics, their devotion to science is often their downfall. One such example, Doctor Asili, falls prey to intrigue and begins kidnapping natives to experiment on in far-flung labs. Believing he can use them to find a cure for the Malichor, he later discovers they’re immune to the disease when he feeds them the blood of the sick; however, when trying to discover the reason behind their immunity, his sole reward is death after his test subjects perish from exhaustion.  But this is just one of the Alliance’s inhabitants – not all share the same views, some of whom will join you in game.  Revolts and AdvancementBeing home to so many scholars allows a far greater grasp of science and technology compared to the rest of the continent. Thynea in particular is a shining example of a country where they abound.  Once ruled by archons elected by the nobility, revolts eventually spread across the land and caused their downfall. Following this, a constitution is created in its place, allowing its citizens to vote by region. They vote in several Logists from amongst the Sages, who then mostly act as administrators for their region. Because of this, the country is essentially governed by assemblies of scholars, philosophers, and occasionally the military.  Competitive examinations are also held throughout the country each year, allowing all citizens to prove their knowledge and obtain the title of sage.  Trouble Brewing on the HorizonNow, there’s whispers of a fringe yet growing faction within the Alliance. Imperialist in nature, and tired of the war ravaging their home for centuries, this faction seeks to build a Bridge Empire. With the aim of a unified empire, ruling over both the continent and the islands, they’ll stop at nothing to achieve their goals.  You’ll encounter this faction during your travels across Gacane. How are they involved in the story? Only time will tell. As for the next lore post, we’ll be entering a land held by this Alliance’s rivals: Thélème. Are you ready to seek enlightenment?  Follow @greedfall and join the discussion:DISCORD X REDDIT FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

Greetings Carants, What else could have you sat in front of your screen, frozen in indecision other than... decisions? The ‘evil’ choice is in front of you, and this NPC has done enough to warrant it, but part of you can’t help but hesitate. Can you really pick this dialogue option? What if the NPC swears revenge on you and tries to take out your family? What if they pull off the hurt puppy-dog look?  What a conundrum. Yet, it’s one you’ll experience in game (assuming you’re of this inclination and don’t want to see the world burn). Today, we delve into some of the places where you can make these very decisions. Your honour, my next piece of evidence is ... my attorney’s badge! It’s proof I’m an attorney.  Your choices, of course, impact the various quests themselves. When travelling across the world of GreedFall 2, you’ll come across various NPCs in need of help. Paths, both hidden and visible, will then present themselves to you – will you solve the quest through stealth, diplomacy, exploration, or will you take matters into your own hands and force your way through?  Uplift characters as you free them from their burdens or watch them crumble as you expose their darkest secrets to the world. You can even leave them sitting at the bottom of a pit they fell into if you so please.  Some of you may die. But it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.  Companions, your ever-judgmental friends, will approve and disapprove of your actions depending on how you react, resolve the quest, or speak to someone. Careful not to be submerged under disapprovals or it might end badly! Or perhaps, in all your chaotic genius, that’s what you want to achieve...  In the spirit of a beloved rpg character, Nilan greatly disapproves.  These aren’t the only places where you’ll find yourself thrown into making choices. Companion quests also ask you to make decisions that will decide the fate of your companions. Ignore them or lend a helping hand, and watch their stories play out before you.  This is just a small peek into what awaits you. Who knows where your journey will take you? The choice is in your hands – so pick what calls to you and witness the outcomes unfold before your very eyes.  Speaking of where your journey will take you. Here's a WIP of an area the team is currently working on... Follow @greedfall and join the discussion:DISCORD X REDDIT FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

Greetings Carants!  In an earlier post, we’d given you a small preview of our character creator. Now, we’d like to go a little more in-depth and show you just what we have in store in what’s an exciting first for the studio. Please keep in mind that the content shown here is still a WIP, so things might change or be tweaked down the line.No—wait. Her nose is off. Back to the drawing board.  The character creator. Where dreams manifest and strange monstrosities are created. A hell in which you spend hours trying to get your character’s nose just right. After all, there’s nothing worse than seeing your character in a cutscene and realising something is slightly off.  For the first time ever (and, potentially, to our peril), we’ve handed you the power to freely create your very own character thanks to the team’s hard work.  1 hour of sleep, 23 hours of trying all the different settings in the character creator.  Unlike the original GreedFall’s presets, here, you have a myriad of choices. With the sliders, you can edit aspects such as the face shape, the chin, and, naturally, the aforementioned nose. Scroll through various hairstyles and decide on the eyebrows – you can even add a scar to your character to reflect battles won in the past. How did they earn it? Why, that’s up for you to decide.  This is it. This is the one. What if character creation isn’t your style? No problem. There are many different presets for you to choose from. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can even press the randomiser button and let the game spin the wheel for you. Who knows what it’ll come up with...  Why yes. This is the 50th time I’ve tossed my favourite DnD character into a new game. Once you’re all set, make sure you’ve packed your bag, and get ready! You can now explore the world with the character you’ve carefully and lovingly crafted (or not). Dress them up with fashion found in far-flung regions, select a skill tree you think fits them, and jump right into their story.  This new feature will be added in GreedFall 2's next EA update, so we hope you look forward to it. We also have plenty more to come!P.S: When you get your hands on the character creator, don’t forget to share your creations with us by @’ing our accounts on social media. We’d love to see! Follow @greedfall and join the discussion:DISCORD X REDDIT FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

Greetings Carants,  In GreedFall 2, the VFX – also known as Visual Effects – are the particles and effects you can see in the game. They are created in response to design, scenery and illustration needs, and will often go through a reflective thought process before being produced to make them coherent in the universe. Today, we’d like to take the time to present all the magic hidden behind this art form and show you what we’re working on.  GreedFall 2’s universe is vast, and its different biomes call for contemplation, exploration, and mystery. Behold the lush forests of Teer Fradee, Thynia's Mediterranean climate, and Olima’s Byzantian architecture – all serve as inspiration to the VFX team who use them to breathe life into the world around you.  This can translate into elements as unassuming as they are effective: leaves tumbling from trees, flames dancing atop the campfire, or rising smoke acting as a sign of misfortune...  But the environment isn’t the only element that requires VFX. You can find it in combat, where spells benefit from the team’s knowledge to make the visual experience both enjoyable and impactful.   There too, visual effects leave nothing to chance and generally respond to specific requirements for design and consistency. Before you begin working on the more creative side of VFX, you need to ask yourself the right questions. Are the effects of alterations and spells cumulative - how are they prioritised and how can they be made visually comprehensible? Such are the questions that can arise before embarking on a VFX project.  While the latter often responds to technical constraints, it’s also often a question of giving voice to the game's immersion and narration.  One of the more evident cases to illustrate this is the magic used by characters in combat - that is, both native magic and the magic used in Thélème. The inspirations for these are directly linked to the game’s lore, making the visual effects consistent with the universe. The natives' magic is connected to nature. This is reflected in the use of gentle oranges and greens, as well as in the physical characteristics: stone, tree roots, water, and so on, are all present within the spells used.On the flip side, Thélème’s magic is ethereal. It plays on light and shadow, with spells that allow you to inflict damage or curse the enemy falling into a darker palette. Meanwhile, healing or support spells tend towards lighter colours, using white or gold.  Whether it's to animate the environments and scenery, make the combat feel more impactful, or simply give a cool edge to the cinematics, VFX is omnipresent in the game and, thanks to the team’s work, brings an extra touch of life to the universe around you. That's all for this week. We have a lot to prepare and share with you, especially in this coming September - we hope you're all looking forward to it! Follow @greedfall and join the discussion:DISCORD X REDDIT FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

Greetings Carants! With the arrival of companion quests in the previous update, there's much to discuss. Today, we'd like to talk about some of aspects of this feature, including what to expect at full release. As your companions travel alongside you and help push back the evil threatening the land, they will eventually approach you with a task at hand... If you say 'boat' three times into a ship's mirror, you'll summon an angry Naut. After reaching a certain point in the story, you'll be able to approach your companions aboard the Constanzia and set off on their personal quests. These are a unique chance to aid your companions with their various problems and goals, all while getting to know them. Scour through different parts of the land, learn more about the world you inhabit, and unearth various secrets along the way as you accompany them.You can, of course, also choose to ignore them and see where their stories go without lending them a helping hand. Will they be able to escape what haunts them without you, however? Only time will tell. She's all about adventuring, not romance. Romance is also an important aspect of the game. Many companions have the potential to be romanced ( a few politely declined when we asked if they’d be interested, so they aren’t romanceable ) and will be available regardless of the gender chosen at the start of the game. Furthermore, unlike the previous installment, unique final scenes made with motion capture have been created to really seal the deal and make each romance feel more fulfilling."Yes, that's right. You'll need to kill a thousand boars to unlock my first friendship level."Though the full versions will only become available at the game’s final release, each character will have a fleshed-out personal quest for you to discover. Perhaps you’ll gain a friend, foe, or love will blossom... in the end, it’s up to you, your choices, and how you wish to see their stories end!  Follow @greedfall and join the discussion:DISCORD X REDDIT FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM