One year ago I quit my job at EA to create The Iron Oath: A Dark Tactical RPG with awesome pixel art

Aug 11, 2017 6:06 PM

TheIronOath

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After close to a decade at EA I quit my job to pursue full-time development on The Iron Oath, made together with my long-time friend. On August 9th we launched our game on Kickstarter, and so far we are over 20% funded.

The Iron Oath is a turn-based tactical RPG that is set in a dark fantasy world. Recruit, manage, and embark on missions with a roster of adventurers, testing the limits of their mortality. Every decision made carries weight and can have a minor or major influence on your characters and the world that surrounds them. As you and your guild progress, the world changes dynamically, enabling new storylines to discover and resulting in a unique experience for every playthrough.

Tactical turn-based Combat: Deadly foes, traps and destructible objects means one misstep could be your party’s undoing. Proper planning and execution is vital to your success.

A Large and Dynamic Overworld: 9 regions with over 50 hubs to visit. Cities can be overtaken, destroyed and rebuilt; while various factions can emerge, rise and fall. A playthrough can potentially last hundreds of years, resulting in many changes to the initial world state.

In-depth Guild Management: Control your guild's finances, resources, alliances and roster. Your characters will age, retire and frequently die in combat and you will need to recruit and train their replacements.

The Iron Oath is now live on Kickstarter and reaching our funding goal will allow us to continue full-time on the project, with an estimated release of Q1 2019.

So far we've had a great response from the Kickstarter community, and we hope you like what we've shown you here. If so, you can visit and support our Kickstarter at the link below, and if you have any questions we'd be more than happy to respond! :)

Edit: A HUGE thank you to all of you here at imgur. Your response has been absolutely overwhelming and we can't thank you enough. We're now over 45% funded thanks to your outpouring of support! We've tried to answer all the questions that have come up, and hopefully we didn't miss anything! You all are seriously amazing :D

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/312751524/the-iron-oath-dark-turn-based-tactical-rpg

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theironoath

IT LOOKS SOOOO DOPE

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

In the name of all that is good and holy please deliver. I want this bad. I'd give money but I'm a poor college student

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

question: what do you make the game in? unity?

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yeah we're developing it in unity. For a small team its a great engine!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

The gaming universe needs more tactical rpgs, no this isnt sarcasm????

8 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Hell ya it does! :)

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I'm happy for you, but the other half of me.is like *sigh* another Kickstarter forever beta game.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Aaannddd....backed this Kickstarter!

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Much appreciated dude, thank you :)

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I also saw the video of the necromancer timelapse, quite impressed. Can only offer my support and say that the pixel art is amazing.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thanks a lot! We're glad you like our style :)

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Still, a decade at EA...are you allowed to say what you've worked on before? I really liked NFS: Hot Pursuit 2010

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It's in the bio on the KS page :) Madden, NCAA Football & Tiger Woods PGA Tour are a few

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That is indeed awesome pixel art.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thanks bud :)

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm #500 :D

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

@op you had me at decisions

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I mean, you had me at the first image or gif or whatever, but the fact that it's different each time? Nice :D

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thanks :)

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

No problem! :3

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm hoping to build a pc once I have a little more expendable money, and this kind of game is the reason I want a pc to begin with

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

<3 We appreciate the kind words!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Favorited so I can follow this, i love dynamic rpgs and it's rare to find really long ones like this. So keep the updates coming!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Will do man! Ty

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm getting serious Darkest Dungeon vibes. I'm backing this, hope it succeeds!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thanks for the pledge! DD is an inspiration for sure

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This looks amazing. I love turn based rpg games. There just aren't very many good ones out there.

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Thank you, we definitely felt the genre was lacking in numbers!

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

If you won't fuck me over I will donate to the Kickstarter. Can you promise me that @OP?

8 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 2

Also, joking aside, looks great.

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Haha, thanks. We will not fuck you over <3

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

That costs extra. One copy sold here too.

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Lol, cheers dude! :)

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Looks awesome, can't wait to play it when it's out

8 years ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 0

Thanks my man :)

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 2

The real question is what system is it coming out on or is it PC master race

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The kickstater page says pc, mac, and linux for the moment with your choice of drm free or on steam

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Up ye go ya beautiful bastard!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Game looks, freaking dope, I just refuse to Kickstart things. Been burned too many times in the past. When it drops I'll be first in line.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

No worries, we can completely understand :) Glad you like the game :)

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Good luck, hope you succeed. but god damn am i tired of looking at pixel art games. this is amazing looking i just hate the style personally

8 years ago | Likes 33 Dislikes 4

Yes. Thank you. I expect a little more out of something if you want my money

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 19

There's a lot of bad pixel art out there. There's a lot of good pixel art. You know where a lot of people fail? Pixel animation. This doesnt

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Thank you! There's actually some animations we've shown that still need to be smoothed out, but we're glad you already like them :)

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Personally I LOVE this pixel art style, but dislike turnbased gameplay. Everyone has a different opinion.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I can def understand your feelings pixel art, no worries! Thank you for the well wishes anyway! :)

8 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 2

Dude your character designs really hit the spot for me. One quirk I have though, is the modern text windows. It's like I have to adjust (1/2

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

my vision when shifting between the text windows and the game itself, but perhaps it's a personal problem. (2/2)

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Tldr: OP leaves shit company and makes a more innovative and unique game than shit company ever did.

8 years ago | Likes 136 Dislikes 18

said by someone who doesn't play games, becuase you don't know about battlefield, mass effect, dead space, need for speed, etc etc

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

What about those were innovative?

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 2

And, if you're suggesting EA isn't a shit company then I have many words for you.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 2

Such innovative, much wow. *cough* darkest dungeon *cough*

8 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 2

i will never forget the day they ruined Command & conquer

8 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

For me it was when they killed Dawngate, a game I love that was still IN BETA because it "wasn't meeting their expectations".IT WAS IN BETA!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And posts ad for it on imgur.

8 years ago | Likes 35 Dislikes 6

1) "I made a thing." Like many other posts. 2) Survived usersub on its own merits. => I'm OK with this. @OP I wish you the best of luck.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

Difference is that this is a commercial product, and that they left a purchasing link.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 2

True, but if the community wasn't interested in it then it'd die in usersub.

8 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 0

Sure, but ads like these are not allowed according to the rules. It's a shame that it isn't enforced, though.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 9

Tbh I'd rather see this than half of the still usually on the fp. It's not lazily done or anything.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

$45k seems like a low figure to raise? how optimistic is that or you hoping to raise more? Either way great/fresh concept, I might partake

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It may be a little low,we aimed for a figure we felt we could hit,while still being high enough to fund us until our target release. Thanks!

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Anything further will help us add additional content, add more music, and hire more people then we're planning to with the base funding

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You had me at dark and tactical rpg

8 years ago | Likes 480 Dislikes 3

You had me at "job"

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

He had me at Follow on Twitter

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Same.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

He had me at tactical rpg. My favorite type!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm not sure if I'm ready for these downvotes... but he lost me at turn based.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

You had me at "one year ago"

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

If you haven't yet, also look into Darkest Dungeon. Lovecraftian monsters, planning-intensive raids, and permadeath, so your mistakes count.

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Oh I know all about DD

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You had me at tactical rpg

8 years ago | Likes 49 Dislikes 1

You had me at, not EA.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

you had me at tactical

8 years ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 0

If you say so v

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I'm sure you're happy doing this, but I would think it would only appeal to retro-gamers and aging nostalgic's. Hope you do well...

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

There are a lot of people that love tactics games. I'm sure part of the newer ones would love this style of graphics.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As a huge tactics fan myself, I think this looks very promising. Though I can't tell if it's more a full cRPG or more an XCOM/DD style game.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Get it on the Switch and I'm in

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

It's become a fun portable indie machine

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

We're working on trying to get consoles but nothing to announce just yet but all I'll say is I'm a huge fan of my Switch :D

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

make it a downloadable game for mobile devices.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I want this on my phone?

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The Iron Oath will be released on Steam for PC, Mac and Linux. DRM-free versions will be on The Humble Store. goal date is Q1 of 2019.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

So i guess you could say this is a veefed up Darkest Dungeons on steroids?

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Beefed*

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Yup, Darkest Dungeon is a big inspiration, but we really wanted to have a large overworld that added more depth

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Looks very interesting indeed! Good lucl with the game!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The game looks really great but (and it pains me to say this) I would have been super hyped if it had been diablo-esque. Great work though

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

We do have a diablo-esque loot system at least :) Thanks for the kind words man!

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

No problem, I yearn too much for the days of arcade beat em ups :)

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Armor on the female characters looks like it could actually protect them?! I'm in.

8 years ago | Likes 449 Dislikes 26

Kind of. I saw one girl who better watch out for an arrow to the knee.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

They still have huge tits with armor pockets for the tits. Still in the red here.

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 8

Especially considering boob-plates, in real life, create guaranteed lethal injuries due to the way kinetic energy funnels through armor.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Another pet peeve of mine, seen in the last gif, is breathing animations. It looks like shit in pixel art.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Neither gender seems all too concerned about protecting their legs.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm hoping for less female armor as you level up ;)

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 4

Did you just assume their gender??

8 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 11

I'm sorry. Armor on the figures with prominent chests looks well constructed

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

It was a joke not a dick, don't take it so hard.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 10

Dude, if I were buff and hot, I'd show off like I was hired to climb out of a giant cake.

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

""Dude, If I were buff and hot, I'd show off a glaring weak point to my vitals in the form of a boob hole."

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 3

Loincloth, banana leaf, speedos. I'd wear nothing else.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

the one who looks like a fighter has a boob window and a form-fitting top - that's not protective at all.

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 4

It's just really light brown armor

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There is no boob window.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

except when there is.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

It could just be the shading on the top part of the boob-plate looks like it. The purple chick has the same shading but different color.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

same boob shape, but one has armor/fabric covering it and one has a boob window; not that i care, but this kind of armor (flashy, but >

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Now do a sexy male armor for shit and giggle

8 years ago | Likes 34 Dislikes 2

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Plate jockstraps coming right up! :P Kidding aside, our Grappler class will actually be a little revealing: shirtless and ripped af!

8 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 1

no armor is my armor. sexy as it can get

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

... I assure you if you put a plate jockstrap into the game as an easter egg you will win the affection of the gaymer community.

8 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

Victory pose is turning around and doing a double lat spread pose.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

For how much some people complain about boob armor, it's awfully strange that the #1 mods for most games is... boob armor/nude mods.

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

I feel sorry for the poor sods, dont they know that pornhub exists?

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The people complaining and the people making the boob armor are different people

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Right? It's almost as if people find the female form attractive.

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

No man, it's about REALISM. In video games.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That's a pretty absurd reason to pick a game. Normally I look for good gameplay.

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 8

I know what you mean, but honestly for a lot of people suspension of disbelief is a huge deal breaker too

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You wouldnt think its that ridiculous if every game humiliated your gender.

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 10

I dunno, I feel like I might.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

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8 years ago (deleted Aug 12, 2017 1:46 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

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8 years ago (deleted Aug 12, 2017 4:49 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

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8 years ago (deleted Aug 12, 2017 1:46 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Thank you!Def trying to do that for all the female classes(I know the Valkyrie is a bit of an exception but her torso is fully protected!)

8 years ago | Likes 145 Dislikes 3

Romans yo.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Well the men's armour isn't any better/worse, and that's just fine! :D It's okay to have it be stylised!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You should add skimpy armor for both sexes but have it give as little DR as such armor actually would.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I very much might need to get involved in those looks better than pretty much any EA game as of late

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

You could argue historical rendition of that, Valkyries weren't depicted as the most armored (iirc they had Odin's blessing for that)

8 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 1

Yup you're absolutely right. It just felt correct to design her that way.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Could we have an option to turn off the "everybody constantly heaving like unmedicated asthmatics" thing?

8 years ago | Likes 54 Dislikes 2

I like it now. It's become endearing.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I tried copying the motions and I think i broke something in my shoulder.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Play it only on screenshots, almost the same thing.

8 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 1

Animation needs adjusting IMO, It'd be better with a pixel stretch and slight enlarge, rather than a horizontal bob...

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

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8 years ago (deleted Nov 8, 2017 7:33 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

Why did this get downvoted?

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Because its just as easy as saying "im offended"

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

No worries there, our design mentality won't be changing any! Hopefully people like the designs we have so far, as the rest will follow suit

8 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 1

Oh, I only mention it as a small point. The game is right up my alley in design and gameplay. Good work and glad you do something you enjoy!

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Can we have at least one female class that uses armor(lingerie) for protection?

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 17

If we also get a male that has the same armor because i wanna see a man in an armor bakini

8 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

Looks like Banner Saga meets Dark Souls. Graphically it's very reminiscent of Blasphemous. But you've got me interested. One copy sold.

8 years ago | Likes 107 Dislikes 4

Banner Saga AND Dark Souls... I'm interested.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I'd say the art is incredibly similar to Duelyst, in a good way.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Our spell effects are inspired by the amazing ones in Duelyst :)

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm with this guy, make that 2 copies

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Much love <3 Thank you!

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I was gonna say Shadowrun meets The Darkest Dungeon

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

That's a really sexy combination. I would play the shit out of that.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The world & lore of Dark Souls is definitely an inspiration :) Thank you for support!

8 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 1

The manga Berserk was an inspiration for the Souls series. Recommend checking it out. (Stay away from the new anime adaptation)

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

I'm a HUUUUGE berserk fan. I definitely plan on doing some playthroughs of my game with my guild named Band Of The Hawk

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Saw that you got Alex Roe to do the music. I'm looking forward to the finished product.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Be sure to listen to the 3 tracks on the KS page if you haven't yet :) He's doing some excellent work!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0