Premise:
The player is the shopkeeper to a shop for all things witchcraft, wizardry, and magic – however they themselves are not able to practice magic (i.e., cast spells, conjure things, harness typically innate magic, etc.). To be taken seriously (and to meet legal regulations for the sale of magical goods), the player keeps their lack of magical ability a secret.
As the shopkeeper, the player attempts to sort out the wishes and problems of their customers – some of which who do so in a manner that tests the shopkeeper’s kindness and patience – and some of which who do so in a manner that threatens to reveal the shopkeeper’s secret. The player learns about the shopkeeper’s problems and life, being alongside them as they navigate their journey.
The story reaches its climax when authorities come to arrest the shopkeeper for distributing magical artefacts unlawfully (due to their inability to practice magic). Depending on the choices made, however, the characters helped will come to aid the shopkeeper, defending their skills and abilities in magic, and challenging the very premise.
Map of Story Space:
Project Plan:
- 10/22 – Completed premise and mapping.
- 10/23 – First draft in Ren’Py, with at least some placeholder/minimum dialogue for every part of the game.
- 10/24 – Iteration and asset-finding.
- 10/25 – Substantially fleshed out Ren’Py game, with at least some fully completed section, with respective dialogue and branching that influences the next section/ending.
- 10/26 – Playtesting/Refined prototype.
- 10/27 – Target audience write-up.
- 10/28 – Iterations and further playtesting.
- 10/30 – Final project write-up.
Of course, I hope there will be no hold-ups or challenges, but with this being my first digital game I imagine there will be unexpected technical challenges. That additionally does not preclude there being further, non-ignorance-based delays! I will plan for some branches/interaction to be able to be cut, if not entirely necessary. I will focus on having the essential personification, middle interaction, and climax – and do my best to keep prettying things up for the end.
