Hey,
First of all, thanks for the support. It’s gotta be an issue on our end. We’ll try to resolve it ASAP. Until then, we’ll try to change some settings on Itch. I can confirm that none of your money was transferred so if you’re willing to try again, try later today. Hopefully we figure out a workaround by then.
Ever since the release of Suton, we knew we'd wanted to expand the story, world, and lore of the game to new places and themes we were forced to neglect in the base experience. Now that the dust's settled and we've grown more comfortable exploring deeper and darker themes within the world, we would like to announce the first of several expansions for Suton.
These expansions will cover five new areas of the world, with stories ranging from the last breaths of a tormented society, to an epic battle between grand armies, and even some classic Twilight Zone-esque escapades in-between.
One expansion will focus on narrative driven stories with a focus on the old world and the consequences of its callous brinksmanship. The other is a prolonged battle where players will have the option to reenact the largest conflict in the post-war world, "The Battle for Olovo".
The first and least narratively challenging of the expansionsm, The Battle for Olovo is a short, fairly self contained adventure that follows the story of a group of soldiers making their way towards the aforementioned battle after a sneak attack on their camp by the opposing raider faction.
Narrative: Players can expect a continuous battle throughout the duration of the expansion, going through three unique areas: the camp, an abandoned lodge, and finally the outskirts of Olovo. As previously mentioned, the story of the battle can not be changed, only the stories of its combatants may. Tonally, players will have the option of choosing either a "propagandistic" or "actual" retelling of the battle. Each of the two approaches will impact certain aspects of the experience and may have a slight impact on the difficulty of the play experience.
Mechanics: Mechanically, player progression will be fixed. Each player will start at level 5 and must choose between a number of roles they play in the battle. This effectively reworks the "origins" and "backgrounds" system of the base game to better reflect the militaristic nature of battle.
Duration: 1-3 sessions
The second expansion "Sins of the old world" contains four new locations and associated stories, each connected to either the main story, or tangentially through lore and inter-location storylines.
The story of Zjenica is one of decline. Following The Battle for Olovo, the settlement was plundered for all its material wealth and left to choke on the noxious fumes the production of that wealth necessitated. The settlement's downfall is set in stone. No amount of player involvement can change that. However, players may be able to save the lucky few that saw the writing on the walls and give Zjenica the send-off they deem fit.
Narrative: The conflict in Zjenica revolves around one key fact. The settlement is dying. A group of refugees have set their sights on new horizons. However, their van has broken down, and it's up to the party to plunge into the poisonous cloud that envelops Zjenica and find the equipment they need to fix it. Along the way they'll encounter the Mad Baron's overseers, their enslaved kin which work the coal and scrap fields, the ivory tower of Lamela, and something nearly supernatural: the cult, the thorn in the Baron's side. Their twisted beliefs have lead them down a path of no return, a path of scorched earth and death for the sake of life. One group must prevail. Which one that is is up to the players to decide.
Mechanics: This module is most similar to the core Suton experience. Quests, combat, and light exploration can be expected, though not without a macabre twist.
Duration: 2-4 sessions
In the murky bogs of Hutovo blato lives a legend. A near-magical being with powers rivaling that of the druids of old folk tales. Yokels of the bogs speak of him with equal parts reverence and fear. None ventured into the mist as they dared not provoke the spirit, until one of them vanished, then another, and again another.
Narrative: Players will be asked to enter the swamplands and search for the missing individuals. They can expect to find horrific chimeras of science and nature and critters unlike anywhere else in the wastes. And behind them all, a doctor, dr. Sulumbasic. Is he the legend the fishermen and trappers fear, or perhaps just a eccentric man doomed to carry the burden of the bog?
Mechanics: The Hut'vo blato module will play out like a scavenger hunt. Players will have to traverse the mystical lands of the bogs to retrieve information, personal belongings, and rare equipment. Some hunts will reveal key information about the swamp, some the world, and others progress dr. Sulumbasic's derangement. Once the doctor has finally gone over the edge, a new zone appears within the swamp, a derelict dungeon. Unraveling the dark past of this dungeon will finally put a stop to the disappearances and put dr. Sulumbasic to rest.
Duration: 2-3 sessions
Imagine if you will, two towns, built on opposite ends of a well-traveled bay, each with their own tragic tale. The world they had fermented and grown in has long since vanished, though the means by which each thrived has stuck. What might these towns do to preserve their survival instinct? Which events had transpired for one to attract ideologues and vanguards of labor, and the other fishmongers and shamans? Could these worlds meet? Should they? What if your very knowledge of these communities had set in motion a series of events that might result in the loss of hundreds of lives?
Narrative: The dual storylines of Pocitelj and Trpanj play a vital role in the future of both. If one were to vanish, so would the other. If one were to thrive and expand, would the other? The prosperity of Pocitelj can be explored by the players and even somewhat impacted by their actions. That is, until, they are asked to retrieve a long-lost artefact, a piece of high tech military equipment, their ark of the covenant, or their Pandora's apple. Searching for this device leads them to Trpanj, a small fishing village turned tribal shamanocracy on the opposite end of Peljesac bay. Their fate is sealed. A storm is approaching and there is no way of stopping it. Unless the tech you were sent for is not all it seems to be.
Mechanics: This adventures would find the players in a mixed dungeon-settlement tempo. Puzzles and light combat would drive quest progression. The aforementioned "tech McGuffin" would be used in most of these puzzles and combat encounters as the pre-war relic contains some awe-inspiring power within. The use of the McGuffin should then be limited to only key decisions the players have to make. Though, what if too many decisions with grave consequences of inaction were to stack up, threatening both the traditions, and future survival of Trpanj and Ploce?
Duration: 3-5 sessions
The final story of the expansions is perhaps the one with most long-term ramifications. Threats unknown to the players and to the world at large loom over the canyon walls of the Tara river. Man-made horrors beyond comprehension and a group of ruffians and outcasts which must risk it all to hold them at bay. The fate of the post-war Dinaric civilization hangs in the balance, that is of course, if the roads you walked weren't shrouded in shadows themselves.
Narrative: Players will encounter an abandoned town built atop an inter-war era viaduct spanning the Tara river. Bullet casings, collapsed beams, and freshly charred bones litter its streets. Before they can piece together the mystery of the Djurdjevica massacre, a rag-tag group of policemen and guards will ask for their help. The community was attacked by man-made beasts. They cannot defend it and so ask the players to bring them the equipment they need to stop the ravenous hordes dead in their tracks. The bridge must be blown. But what if the story you've been sold is not what it seems? Piecing together the mystery of the Djurdjevica massacre is vital for determining the fate of the region, and the world at large. Pray you do not miss any pieces.
Mechanics: The Djurdjevica bridge storyline and its gameplay revolve around a lengthy stealth dungeon through the bridge community's ruined streets and derelict homes. Players will have to find key pieces of equipment such as demolition gear, signal flares, loudspeakers, and any old thing the defenders of the town might need in order to "put on the show" for their enemies. Each location holding these pieces of equipment will also hold one piece of a larger puzzle the players will have to put together in hopes of finding out the true nature of the assault. Successfully finding all the pieces, though difficult, will allow players the option of choosing the execution of the defenders' plan and will reveal a secret location where the assailants are massed. How the plan is executed and what happens to the attackers will have drastic consequences on the world at large, though not immediately. The consequences of your will have to ferment.
Duration: 1-3 sessions
That's all folks. We hope to post updates on the development of the expansion sooner rather than later but the goal of this announcement is to let our supporters know that we aren't done yet. There's more coming from the Suton team and more players can expect from the world we've created. Specifically, Djurdjevica bridge and the consequences of finishing that questline will heavily influence the development of further content for our game 's world.
We'll gladly hear out your suggestions, comments, questions, and theories regarding this expansion as well as others on the way.
Thank you for your time and remember...
We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when. But I'll know we'll meet again, some sunny day.
