Hi there! I’ve been playing IFs for a few years now on and off, lurking on this forum occasionally, and I finally decided to take the plunge and start working on my own game. I’ve been brainstorming for it for the past few weeks, roughly based around Victorian artists and the artists associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
The setting is a steampunk/gaslamp-fantasy-esque island, which was conquered around 10 years ago by an empire of mages. You play as the child of a deceased, famous painter trying to make their way through the art world. My plan is for there to be some time management elements, and some minor school elements; your MC is in their final year of art school, but it’s at a time when grades don’t matter much. You’ll be able to meet and take on apprentices, go out into the countryside for inspiration, get involved in politics and propaganda, party hard, etcetera, over the course of a whole year.
I have a somewhat nicer, if kind of bare-bones summary below:
Summary
Recently conquered by an empire of mages, the steampunk island of Ensea might be in a more precarious political position than ever, but its bustling art scene continues on. Under the shadow of conquest, creativity is pouring like wine out of brushes and pens and onto canvas and paper. And you and your group of friends are out to make your mark in the world, shunning conventionality and embracing your artistic instincts, no matter what the Academy of Arts says you should do. Your graduation is coming up, after all, and it’s about time you make your own way in the art world.
But things are not as they seem in Ensea. The magic your conquerors brought from the empire may seem beautiful and intriguing, but they never did account for the price such magic takes a toll. And mumblings of a brewing rebellion against the new viceroy are growing into an uproar…
With so much inspiration, where will it take you?
RO’s: Right now I have five planned ones, and I think that’s where I’m going to top off because the idea of adding anymore at the moment stresses me out. There are two gender-selectable options, one female, one male, and one non-binary. My plan is to have the option to play each path as sexual, romantic but not sexual, or purely platonic. No romance will be gender-locked. I believe in bi/pansexuality for everyone! Some of the characters are very loosely based on IRL people.
ROs
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Isidore / Isolde Leone “Leo” Derosier (gender selectable - he/they or she/they) - One of your friends, roommates, and fellow student. Leo is an art prodigy, and probably the most skilled student at the Academy, backed up with an overabundance of charm and quite the brilliant creative mind. Unfortunately, they also seem much more willing to coast by on their natural (albeit abundant) talent than put the work in, something that frustrates Charlie to no end. But they are also the child of a radical academic from the mainland, and they’re more interested in politics than at first blush.
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Charles Elliott / Charlotte Ellen “Charlie” Heath (gender selectable - he/him or she/her) - Your other friend, roommate, and colleague. Charlie comes from a poor family of dockworkers, and only managed to get into the Academy by proving their sheer, hard-won technical skill. Sharp and practical, Charlie has a subtle and teasing sense of humour under their cold and practical mask, but they are much more willing to compromise their artistic ideals if it means being able to survive. Still, though, they’re much sweeter than they seem at first, if a little stubborn and determined to be self-sufficient.
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Lemaire, the Illustrious (genderfluid, they/them) - The second, lesser-known child of the new viceroy, a debonair, dashing noble from the mainland. Also Leo’s ex. You can’t tell if their reason for wanting to be your patron is simply to piss Leo off or not. Still, they’re rich, gorgeous, and have something to prove, and a deep love of art that’s completely genuine, even if they’re a little lost and directionless. They go by their mother’s surname almost exclusively.
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William Jasper Lyndon (he/him) - Sweet and sensitive, Will is a poet and playwright, and an old acquaintance of Charlie’s. When he hires you as the illustrator for his next book, he insists on collaborating with you very closely, maybe for a sense of control he feels like he’s losing over his life. His poetry is also quite interesting too… get closer to him and you may find that he’s starting to write about you…
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Evangeline Pierce, nee Cole (she/her) - Trapped in an unhappy marriage with a much older man, Evangeline feels more like a doll than a human in her current life, forced to hide away her interests and hobbies as the trophy wife of one of Ensea’s leading critics. You meet her when her husband hires you to paint her portrait, and find that under her icy mask she’s quite spirited and determined. You can either just do your job and collect a hefty bonus and a boost to your reputation… or you can encourage her to break free.
