Close your eyes and imagine this: you are the son or daughter of a fallen Viking village leader. But now you must earn the right to become the new leader by making choices that will, ultimately, decide your fate.
This is the basis of Expeditions: Viking, a new history-based RPG by Logic Artists, which lets you begin your journey by creating a character. You will make numerous decisions during character creation, including gender, appearance, personality and wardrobe. And when it comes to appearance, this is about as historically accurate as it gets in video games.
"We're trying to make them visually really interesting, colorful and larger than life," Logic Artists Art Director August Hansen said in a press email. "But at the same time, keep them grounded in reality and in historical authenticity."
In other words, don't expect to see any stereotypical (and historically inaccurate) horns on any of these characters' helmets.
A new developer diary uncovers how Logic Artists worked on its character design and creation tools and outlines the many choices players will get when they start playing the game.
As the video states, Logic Artists did a lot of research about what Vikings really wore: colorful clothes made of wool, linen and other fabrics that were often heavily embroidered. Those Vikings also wore a lot of jewelry.
But a character is more than just how it looks: the video also speaks about making sure that each character, including NPCs, has a personality, as well as good skill sets for gameplay.
"As the new leader of a humble clan of farmers and fighters, players must adventure into the unknown lands to the west to raid and/or trade their way to wealth, fame and glory," the game's official description reads. "Will you rewrite history as a peaceful and benevolent trader? Or pave your road to Valhalla with the treasures and bones of your fallen enemies? Experience choice and consequence as never before in the much awaited addition to the Expeditions Series, Expeditions: Viking."
Expect Expeditions: Viking to land on PC in fall 2016.
