Game Overview

The Game Overview below will go over the key in character details including the setting, features, and more. We know there's a lot to take in so please don't feel like you have to have everything memorized! This page will be a great reference for you as you go along, and we're always happy to answer questions or help point you in the direction of the right resource(s) whenever you need help or have questions.

The World

• Our game is set in the world of Kinship. This world was originally created by the Primordial Gods as a neutral ground for their divine children to settle disputes without harming populated worlds.
• Some deities used the world as a testing ground for various experiments while others began "borrowing" lifeforms to fight on their behalf; some actually abducted individuals/groups from their homeworld, while other lifeforms were recreated using "blueprints".
• All native life, including flora and fauna, stem from these early transported and created populations; as such, the wildlife is often a peculiar blend of familiar and alien.
• Kinship's history of divine meddling has made it a cultural patchwork of different eras and worlds -- remnants of ancient dialects and futuristic argots pepper everyday conversations while songs, stories, and names carry echoes of both familiar and foreign origins.
• On Kinship, magic and technology intertwine in surprising ways. Wands and laser pistols are common tools. Mystical ruins hide behind force fields, while magic imbues mechs and motors. This blend of swords and sorcery, ancient and futuristic, creates a world where the mystical and mechanical complement one another.
• Kinship's kaleidoscope of cultures means social mores and material goods vary wildly between realms. A wizard may wear mythril robes and dwell in a tower topped with astrolabes in one country, while a cyborg bounty hunter dons graphene armor in the minimalist skyrise of another. People's views span the spectrum from mystical to pragmatic, traditional to progressive, fatalistic to ambitious.

The Island

• The island of New Ognos is the primary setting for our game. For centuries, it was an isolated nation preoccupied with internal conflicts and wary of outside influence; this changed when a divine war between Ognos' patron gods broke out at the same time as a slumbering god woke up. The combination caused havoc on Kinship, decimating Ognos and forcing its inhabitants to evacuate.
• With their homeland destroyed, the surviving Ognoshu became refugees. Some integrated into foreign realms that took them in while others chose to remain nomadic, living permanently aboard ships and vessels either solo or in wandering fleets.
• After some time, the Primordial Gods became aware of what was happening on Kinship and personally made a visit to Ognos to intervene; unfortunately they were unable to completely repair the damage done to the world -- the many layers of ancient divinity already present in the land were too complex even for them -- however, they were able to make the island livable again.
• The warring gods came together to build the first town on New Ognos
• After restoring the island, the first town was built and divine messages have gone out across the world announcing Ognos' reopening and asking the Ognoshu refugees to return home.
• Most characters joined this version will be new arrivals coming to the island of New Ognos in the third wave of returnees; the third wave will primarily consist of adventurers, crafters, farmers, etc. who are here to help remap, rebuild, and resettle Ognos.
  • We've set the above to help you with character creation and to hopefully help you We are open to having a few characters who arrived during the first or second waves however, we are open to having a few characters who arrived during the first or second waves -- please contact Signe to discuss prior to joining.
• Most characters will be
• The island is forever changed, and it will take a long time for all of the secrets, dangers, and transmutations to be discovered. There is a strong emphasis on adventuring, exploration, and discovery in this and future versions.

• • For example, for some a few months to a few years may have passed, while others may be from an entirely new generation (up to 20 years).

Races

• Players can join characters from one of our two primary races, Valka and Humans, for free.
  • Some characters and Astrofel may be transported to Kinship from other places or times, typically after stumbling across ancient traps or tools left behind by the gods on their homeworld. Upon arrival, they will always become one of our core races unless the appropriate purchases are made from the Marketplace.
• Residents of Ognos, regardless of race, are called "Ognoshu"; this term can be used for things that apply to both/all races, or when discussing a group consisting of individuals from multiple races.

Humans

This versatile core race may allow some new players to more easily immerse themselves in our fantasy world; they provide a comfortable starting point to learn the mechanics and stories of the game before venturing into more complex options.

Other Races

Additional races and unique core race lineages may be purchased from our Marketplace; while anyone may buy access to them, they are often better suited for seasoned players who want to go beyond the basics of our setting. We suggest playing a character from at least one of our core races for a bit before taking the leap with a new race, so you can fully engage with and immerse yourself in their unique traits and backgrounds.

Valka

Valka are shapeshifters with two base forms: a True Form and a human form.

• • A Valka's True Form is typically a single ordinary Earth animal.
  • Valka in their human form may have 0 - 2 carryover traits, appearance-only features that are based on their animal form. A wolf Valka might have canine ears and a wolf tail, for example.
    • Additional traits may be purchased or earned as rewards from mini-game participation.
• Valka are able to use magic; this is an innate connection with the natural world that can be channeled in many different ways.
  • A character's magic will usually develop between the ages of 8 and 10; once their magic develops, they can choose to specialize in a specific type of magic.

• Astrofel: Explain companion familiars and their role

Core Features

• Plot: Teaser about main in-game story and conflicts
• Progression: Explain levels, skills, abilities
• Rewards: Overview of prizes, coppers, mini-games

World of Kinship

• Magic vs Tech: How they coexist in this realm
• Environments: Types of areas to explore

Character Creation

• Character Creation: Brief instructions to start playing

Deeper Dives

• More Details: Links to full guides on each topic

Next up...

You can check out the other Essential Guides using the links below!

• Guidebook - a brief look in to game setting & mechanics
• Getting Started - your character creation companion

When you've read everything over, you can get going by joining your character here.

Don't forget to join our Discord!