Legend of Zelda: Valorbrand Chronicles [Interest Check]

[Sho Minazuki]

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Premise

In the founding of Hyrule, the Valorbrands were the first Knights, the basis for the Hylian Knights today, many generations later. After some time the group was disbanded when the Hylian Knights were properly established, and since then they have become history. Today in the wake of horrific and grotesque killings and massacres in fringe villages, the "Valorbrands" have been formed once again to investigate these mysterious and violent events.

The group would be formed and led by the knight Afira, a pious lady of noble birth who seeks atonement, and had been allowed to do so by leading the Valorbrands, and she would be given the authority to recruit anyone she required. A recruitment push for it has been put around the Holy See of Hyrule, and the lands beyond, seeking any who wished to join their number, with the only requirement being that they wish to protect Hyrule.

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What is this?

This is a work in progress, but there's enough I think I can start showing it to people who might be interested in this. For the record, your character will have to be one that is starting out in some form, and follows the story of the Valorbrands and the coming darkness to take Hyrule. The idea of this AU that is inspired by the Souls series and Elden Ring is to take place before the Hero of Prophecy (Link) would appear. This is a somewhat linear story with some opportunities to explore and quest, such as when arriving to new hub areas, or when the story reaches a point where you are to go and investigate things.

The reason I'm showing it now is not just for finding interested people, but also for a little feedback to help with the viability of the systems, and whether or not they're fun. Also because sometimes I miss some things and find myself needing to fix them in the middle of play, gets kinda awkward.

Anyhow, as of moment, Character Sheet and Mechanics are ready to show, Combat Styles, and Magic Schools are around 70% done. Special Armaments will be coming much later.

To make things more manageable, I am looking at 6 players tops, but I could be convinced to go beyond that. I'm pretty lenient. If you just wanna give feedback, that is also welcome.

Speaking of which, players cannot make new spells and new techniques (at least not at the start). So whatever is available here is all you will get. If you wish to submit new techniques and spells though I can consider them, but do not consider that the norm.

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Character Sheet

Mechanics

Combat Styles

Sorceries and Sacraments

Special Armaments and Gear (WIP)

Locations

Regional Information

[Sho Minazuki]

I've added a section on Regional Information, though that isn't done yet, there is substantial information for Hyrule Region, Eldin, and Faron so far.

[Sho Minazuki]

All Sorceries and Sacraments besides the two forbidden ones are in a complete state. Do say if something is off.

Well, it's been awhile and not even a single expression of interest, so I suppose no one's interested.

I'll still complete a lot of the info though before I move on, so do expect to see this getting bumped for awhile.

[Darkmoon Angel]

A souls-style Zelda rp? Well, looks like you got your first member xD

[Sho Minazuki]

Oh how fortunate. As not everything is done, do express what areas you want to know more about, and I'll go chip away at those.

Just a note, the overall system might get simplified further, so stayed tuned for that too.

[Darkmoon Angel]

I was thinking of doing a spellblade esque Zora. Rapier + Magic. The one thing I’m curious about though, are catalysts or staves a thing for magic or are they cast from an empty hand?

[Sho Minazuki]

Catalysts and staves are generally required for sorcery and sacraments yes. For sorcery it's staves or wands, and for sacraments it's religious items or symbols, the common ones being a pendant or talisman you'd hold while casting.

It may be good to note that I plan on having weapons that can be obtained that double as weapon and catalyst.

[Darkmoon Angel]

I was thinking something similar to the Frozen Needle from Elden Ring would work perfectly for a Zora. Obviously a special weapon, but just an idea.

[Sho Minazuki]

There'd definitely be something like that, considering Zora's Domain and Lanayru in this is crystal, water, and ice themed. Special weapons and such are still early, rather I've barely started it, so I'll definitely put that down as something you can obtain.

[Mistress Dizzy]

I stumbled across this. You've got interesting stuff down so far! I was thinking that some of the fighting styles that aren't Hyrulian are kind of thin.

What would your thoughts be on:
Goron bare handed technique akin to wrestling? Some power mix of sumo and judo. Gorons pushing the limits of their strength the only way they can. By matching against other Gorons!

The Gerudo one sounds incredible too. But I am thinking about desert heat and how the locals beat it. Bringing me to war fans and a 2 handed style. Main hand dagger and what looks like a pretty hood/ cloak to keep the sun off your neck. But it's actually used as a sidearm of sorts. The cloth used to distract, entangle, parry opponents.

Idk. Let me know I'm spitballing ideas

[Sho Minazuki]

Good you mentioned Goron barefisted fighting, because somehow I didn't consider that. I'll add something for that, it certainly fits under Unorthodox.

Gerudo in my mind generally have pretty good resistance against the heat overall, but do wear white, thin robes to stave off the heat. The current style listed there is based on acrobatic movement that rarely changes direction and constantly flows and spins.

War fans are interesting though, I do need more misc weapons, but I imagine they'd be a Sacrament catalyst and weapon combo, because it certainly sounds a lot more suitable for Din followers.

I realize there's a lack of spear styles, so I will add one or two of those too.

[Mistress Dizzy]

@Sho Minazuki Cool! I like what you have going. You've clearly put a lot of time and thought into this.

Have you considered putting this on the Advanced side too? Maybe with the caveat that it's less about "arbitrary word count" and more "complex character building"?

I can't join currently because I've got stuff going on that has cut my free time to about a quarter of what it was. But I don't see why all your work has to be tabled.

[Sho Minazuki]

Oh, yeah it's just easier to organize them like that.

Also I had been considering that, it's definitely not a game about word count but there's a lot of in-depth character stories going to be occurring, particularly in regards to Afira, and some key members of the Valorbrands that will be introduced as the story goes on. I do want players to interact with that side a bit too.

I'll put that in some consideration.

EDIT: I have the realization Hybrid Styles may become bigger than expected, so I won't require that to be completed for this RP to be done. They are meant to be highly advanced styles afterall for anyone seeking to master magical and physical arts and combine them.

[Sho Minazuki]

All Regional information is finished, including information on culture and military. There may be more to add as time goes on, but it's in a presentable state. Feel free to peruse.

[Sho Minazuki]

Special Armaments have been added. Though not complete, there are some you can view right now.

[Mistress Dizzy]

*reading the current list* Hmm. Very interesting so far.

1. Are specialty gloves worth considering? Although, there are only 2 (?) hand to hand combat styles... I guess that would make them rare indeed. Unless you want to get creative with it. Gloves that let the wearer deal elemental damage? To keep with with what you wrote, I will give an example.

A set of soft, seafoam white gloves that are somehow always cold to the touch. Legend says they were worn by an emissary who caught the eye of a Zoran noble, who would always greet them with a gallant kiss to the hand...
Catalyst (Sorcery), lowers the cost of Aquamancy.

[Sho Minazuki]

Like as fist weapons? Yeah. I plan to have a little bit of everything to start with. As the RP progresses and people make requests, I'll add more stuff.

I also added a simple weapon upgrade system as the easy logical next step. Can be found in the armaments document.

After that though I'll figure out what to do with mechanics. I've been meaning to simplify it somehow.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Mechanics are where you'll lose me, haha. I don't know how that part works.

[Sho Minazuki]

Yeah that's what I'm hearing a lot of, so I'm going to see how I can change it. At the moment I know stats and magic bar will stay.

[Darkmoon Angel]

For misc items in the Special Armaments section, might I suggest scales based off the three great dragons in breath of the wild? They could serve as special tools that you could use to imbue your weapon with their respective dragon’s element.