Shroud of the Avatar: Story Influences, New Concept Art, New Stretch Goal

An update to the Shroud of the Avatar Kickstarter campaign today offers us a new piece of concept art to marvel at, which can be seen above…or in full on the Concept Art page.

Accompanying the image is an interesting examination of how the game’s backstory is being developed, influenced by the game’s design process:

This piece of concept art, by Stephen Daniele, was a truly collaborative piece and has gone through multiple revisions. It started with the ideas that the statues could have been part of a large promenade that led to the citadel at the base of the volcano. That is where a closer look at the lore introduced the idea that they were part of an ancient culture that had harnessed the power of the volcano using it as an energy resource.

That idea led us to contemplate; if this ancient race of monument builders were able to harness the power of the volcano, what were they like? What imagery and symbols would appeal to that society? Perhaps Dragons and Succubi!

But these powerful, ancient society flourished during a time long past. Now, the statues are in a semi-ruined state, cracked and somewhat broken up with rock caked around their bases. They are standing in the lava because they have been there since before the lava flowed freely from the volcano. So what would compel adventurers to traverse the dangerous landscape?

Riches beyond imagine.

As well, a new stretch goal was announced in the same post: Pet Taming will be added as a skill tree for characters to develop if the campaign successfully raises $1.4 million between the Kickstarter campaign and the Shroud of the Avatar website (which allows PayPal pledges).