Line #20 VideoGame/GrimoireHeraldsOfTheWingedExemplar


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/grimbanner.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''[[SavedFromDevelopmentHell Two decades in the making.]]'']]
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4	The land of Hyperborea [[CrapsackWorld has long been plagued by conflict]]. It was not until the [[GodOfGood White Owl]], guardian of the world (and the Winged Exemplar mentioned in the subtitle), created the [[CosmicKeystone Metronome Mysterium]] that Hyperborea was able to achieve a lasting peace. However, the great clock is beginning to wind down, and with its location recorded on [[MacGuffin nine hidden tablets]], the world may soon plunge into chaos once more. It's up to [[PlayerParty you and your band of adventurers]] to find the tablets, learn the secret location of the Metronome Mysterium, and preserve the peace and tranquility Hyperborea has enjoyed.
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6	Grimoire is a [[DungeonCrawling dungeon-crawler]] [[RoleplayingGame RPG]] created by Cleveland Mark Blakemore, a former employee of Creator/SirTech, under Golden Era Games. It is [[SpiritualSuccessor intentionally evocative]] of the [[GenreThrowback "blobber"]] format used by Sir-Tech's [[{{VideoGame/Wizardry}} most famous series]], the creator citing those games as well as the likes of VideoGame/MightAndMagic and VideoGame/EyeOfTheBeholder as inspiration. In the game, you play with up to eight adventurers of varying species and profession, and set out on a quest to various far-off locales in search of the tablets that will help you SaveTheWorld, fighting enemies, solving puzzles, and speaking to various important people along the way. You [[MultipleGameOpenings can choose from five different beginnings]], and can recruit [[OptionalPartyMember a number of [=NPCs=]]] into your group as you progress. [[TurnBasedCombat Combat is turn-based]], and the game's style is highly reminiscent of old-school role-playing games, with 2D sprite graphics and MIDI music.
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8	The game has garnered some infamy online for its [[DevelopmentHell comically long development cycle]], having been first announced in 1997, with an October interview claiming it would be released later that same year. ScheduleSlip ensued to a tremendous degree, and Blakemore missed stated release dates so frequently that many considered the game {{vaporware}}. However, on August 4, 2017, twenty years after the game's announcement, [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell Grimoire was finally released]] on Steam-albeit in a somewhat flawed state. Blakemore has promised further updates to fix the bugs as well as provide a manual to explain how [[GuideDangIt certain stats and abilities work]]. [[HereWeGoAgain Some players have asserted they won't hold their breath]], but the manual finally came out in 2019, nearly two years later.
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11	!!Tropes regarding ''Grimoire'' are:
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13	* FantasyCharacterClasses: Grimoire has eleven base classes, and an additional four [[PrestigeClass prestige classes]].
14	** Base classes include: [[CloseRangeCombatant Warrior]], [[WhiteMage cleric]], {{necromancer}}, [[TheSneakyGuy thief]], {{berserker}}, [[WanderingMinstrel bard]], [[FunctionalMagic sage]], [[BlackMage wizard]], [[NatureHero thaumaturge]], [[ForestRanger ranger]], and [[TheEngineer metalsmith]].
15	** For [[PrestigeClass prestige classes]], you have the [[ThePaladin templar]], the {{pirate}}, the [[CourtJester jester]], and the [[ProfessionalKiller assassin]].
16	* FauxFirstPerson3D: In keeping with the games that inspired it.
17	* GradualRegeneration: Your party regenerates health, mana, and vitality over time, based on their race and Metabolism score.
18	* LastChanceHitPoint: The "Destiny" attribute determines how likely a character is to survive an otherwise lethal hit. If it works, the character will live, but their Destiny score will permanently decrease by one, lowering the chance of it happening again.
19	* MassiveRaceSelection: There are fourteen playable races in the game; [[HumansAreAverage human]], [[OurElvesAreDifferent drow]], [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame barrower]], {{wolf\|Man}}in, [[OurFairiesAreDifferent feyfolk]], [[LizardFolk saurian]], [[SnakePeople naga]], [[DraconicHumanoid drake]], [[RatMen rhattu]], [[CatFolk leonar]], [[HumanoidAliens aeorb]], [[BeneathTheEarth durendil]], [[LooksLikeOrlok vamphyr]], and [[OurGiantsAreBigger giant]].
20	* MenAreStrongWomenArePretty: Played straight; women start with 20% less Strength at first level, but have 20% more Fellowship, which makes it easier to deal with {{Non Player Character}}s.
21	* NintendoHard: Similar to the old {{VideoGame/Wizardry}} games, it doesn't pull punches.
22	* SquareRaceRoundClass: Discouraged by the bonus multiplier mechanic. While there's nothing stopping you from making a character a particular class or changing their class so long as they meet the attribute requirements, choosing a class that doesn't fit their race will result in penalties to your bonus points and racial resistances at character creation, and your skillpoint gains every level-up. Conversely, choosing an appropriate class will instead confer bonuses.

Context VideoGame / GrimoireHeraldsOfTheWingedExemplar