Hi, I’m Micah with Psycho Dragon Gaming. I am the Narrative and Game Designer of the group. And this is a Developer’s Journal regarding the Game’s development. The Game? Necroficer Corrupted Blood. We have been fine-tuning the concept, generating the mechanics, narrative and building a game concept since August 2018.
I am the Design Team lead with eight years of simulator and level design experience in addition to many years of narrative writing, research and study. I draw upon these and my experiences as a Combat Veteran to make compelling and fun games with dominant narratives to keep you entertained. I loved my job in the military, but one day I was told I was too injured to serve and Medically retired in 2016. That lasted one day before I began modding Skyrim, writing and studying history and Mythology until ultimately deciding to pursue Game Design. I have played mountains of games and had a long list of “Gee I wish…” to motivate me in this. Reading Gaming forums, watching Gamer reviews, and pursuing social media I have found many of you also felt the same. And soon I found myself enrolled in Academy of Art University with 50% of my degree plan done thanks to past experiences, where not only was I given more in-depth training, I was encouraged to seek out industry professionals, focus my market and gaming research, yadda-yadda blah blah blah.
Ok, I know, the Burning Question: Why Psycho Dragon Gaming? Well, aside from we are crazy to make our games it is also a joke on my disabilities that people LOVE to stigmatize PTSD. Yes, I have Combat-Related PTSD, BUT I’m not running around like a crazed lunatic. Dragons in Mythology symbolized Intellect, Wealth and Power. Our wealth is our team and fans, they give us the power to make these games, and we are smart enough to recognize that. To that end, our focus not the public but on our fans, our customers: YOU! Oh, wait that’s not the Question? What is a Necromancer? Good Question!
A Necromancer is a Necromancer who uses Artifacts to channel spells like in Mythology (Why else do you think they had wands and staves). It started with me wanting a more immersive Necromancy skill tree and experience for my Necromancer Character. It ended with me having a unique combat, skill progression and crafting tree. But then I had to come up with a use, a reason to have it in a game. Thus Necroficer was Born: You play a villain as told in a hero’s journey Arch (I read your boastings of raiding Settlements in Skyrim, don’t deny).
I went with my motto: Art is Profane, it mimics life and transcends politics. I believe Games are what unifies us. I remember soldiers and Iraqi interpreters playing games like Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and God of war in their downtime together; in the Crusades, Crusaders, and Saracens plaid games of pip and Chess during times of peace (yes; yes, they did). And so, I let the character drive the narrative, show how and when he would use the mechanics and discovered more levels, developed characters and mechanics never censoring while asking why he is doing this.
I began solo development and realized I needed a team. I needed a better engine than RPG Maker MV, and so I hired artists to generate my vision. I also networked with notable AAA Narrative and Creative Leads to learn more on the art of Narrative design and reached out to talent worldwide to fashion a team with the same goal: Create an awesome game uncensored, unfiltered, granting you the fun no one else will: BE THE BADGUY!
I won’t lie. I was very nervous. The content was sensitive, it was raunchy, but it had a purpose. I was very secretive about it but the more I allowed prospective team members to hear it, the more welcoming they were. It didn’t preach, everything fit, and the combat system was fun! Now we needed a programmer, a musician, sprite artists, and funding!
In the beginning, I was balancing school and this project for 20 hours a day with only small, fast food or microwaveable meals because I lost track of time or couldn’t afford to do anything else. Coffee is the key here. But the passion kept me going; the experience made me overcome my weaknesses to ask for help in making this game. Everyone here loves it, we don’t censor it and we probably won’t ever. We are all committed to putting our sweat blood and tears (some even souls) into this project so you can reap the benefit: The experience and immersion of a game you only dreamt of playing.
And now you are caught up on the origin story. This RPG is dark its funny, and it keeps you engaged! We hope you will like it; I will be posting more in the future. But for now, Embrace your inner darkness Necroficers. But Remember; For every choice a price, every action a consequence.
-Micah Lavigne
Psycho Dragon
CEO/ Team Necroficer Lead
Psych Dragon Gaming