Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
Alpha Two Realms are now unlocked for Phase II testing!
For our initial launch, testing will begin on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific and continue uninterrupted until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific. After January 6th, we’ll transition to a schedule of five-day-per-week access for the remainder of Phase II.
You can download the game launcher here and we encourage you to join us on our for the most up to date testing news.
Alpha Two Realms are now unlocked for Phase II testing!
For our initial launch, testing will begin on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific and continue uninterrupted until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific. After January 6th, we’ll transition to a schedule of five-day-per-week access for the remainder of Phase II.
You can download the game launcher here and we encourage you to join us on our for the most up to date testing news.
Comments
Then the reverse of that: religious celebrations where a certain ingredient is considered "holy" so everyone prepares a dish that uses that ingredient.
We have discussed this in another thread long ago, though I'm not going to go bother Azherae to find it with her code.
We also know a lot more about the various races sense then.
Elves:
Pyrai could be vegetarian, but I doubt Empyrian are. I'd expect them to be more so renowned for their Pastries, custards, charcuterie, and other refined foods. French cuisine is probably the best parallel.
Dwarves:
Fried food? In this economy? I could sort of see it but I figure mountain dwelling Dunir would be potato/tuber centric more specifically. But sure that still fits fried cheesy goodness. Nikua on the other hand... Presentation and ingredient purity are the more likely focus. And fish. Fresh and wriggling (then grilled to perfection.)
Orcs:
I hard disagree here. Renkai fit what you are talking about... Kind of. But calorie density is super important for Renkai physiology and lifestyle. Probably lots of meat and dairy. Insects fit tulnar much more. Vek otoh are probably much more focused on gathering but with a large emphasis on fruits and fungus.
Humans and Tulnar were mostly in agreement.
Brewing was an absolutely essential trade in the old days, and not just for the production of the alcohol itself! Yeast needed by bakers was sourced from brewers - without a brewer to provide the yeast, only tough unleavened breads could be made (or they would have to resort to other, less effective forms of leavening). But of course the brewers themselves focused on their own craft, and there was no shortage of variety with so many possible ingredients. Today's apple (or pear, or many other fruits') juice is next month's cider, sweet and sticky honey yields smooth mead, grains such as barley and rye become malt for beer or can be distilled into potent liquors, sugarcane makes rum just as well as it makes desserts, and we can't forget the humble grape becoming wine.
The best part is that each of those ingredients which can be used for making beverages can also be used to make food items as well, creating multiple options for every resource and facing players with meaningful choices in terms of how they process them. How much of a farmer's corn crop should they dry and grind into cornmeal vs fermenting and distilling into whiskey? Would those wild blueberries you harvested be better in a fresh pie, preserved as jam, or turned into wine? There are so many options - make them all viable and see what choices the players make!
Roast goblin, smoked wyvern, the gizzards of giant lizards stewed with an exotic blue grain and a vegetable that looks like an unripe banana on the outside but peels apart like a leek.
Are there fishy Tulnar? Tulnar fin soup ;P
Predictable. Yet humble.
Titus Andronicus style.
Also release a RL paper cookbook of Verran Recipes (that can be recreated with actual ingredients) in say October 2027 when the game's been out for a few months. Fans will eat that up.
I’m nothing if not consistent, my friend.
I actually enjoy some versions of Wood Elves like the Pyrai, where they are so protective of plant life and forests, that they are actually more carnivourous, and even cannibalistic, wasting nothing.
Not sure if others enjoy this darker take on wilder Wood Elves like the pyrai.
But I like a traditional even violent protection of the land from Wood elves, rather than a high minded one.
Certainly gritier than their high elf counterparts in the Empyrian.
Much love. ❤️
How very scandinavian! I would go with pickled herring, a fried egg sunny side up, mayo, and on rye bread with butter. Sprinkle chives on top if so desired.
Oh man, great, thanks, now I need that for lunch.
Tradewind Sea Breeze - Mixed with berries. Light and refreshing.You'll be sheets to the wind after a few of these.
Sandsqual Sea Sway - This coconut rum will make you feel a little dinghy.
Avaric Ocean Motion - Good for room spinning but often ends in bringing up stuff from the depths.
Fortunic Stout - Many a Dunir's favorite beer. Served in short tankards.
Umbrel Rumble - (Also called the Umbrel Swell.) This ale is served in iced mugs, but it WILL thaw out your bones.
Turquoise Sea Swill - Many claim to turn blue after too many of these sailor favorites.
Misty Sea Fogcutter - (Also called the Salty Dog) Served with a splash of seawater
Sea of Falling Stars - (Also called the Harbinger Special) Better than a conk on the head!
Dorin's Port and Starboard - Not to be confused with Doren's Port which will leave you exploring the bottom of your bottle.
Squall's End of the Road - Perfect for those with a dry to the bone thirst.
The Toren Half Elf Tavern presents 10 under the table drinks menu:
Winstead Wallop - You'll be the first to "level up" with this classic beverage.
Howling Gale Ale - Made with a secret grain, it causes you to pass gas. Expect the tavern to be filled with more than drunken laughter.
Brinebarrel Roller - You'll need a caravan to haul your friends away after a pitcher of this.
Talismire Crier - Served with a side of raw onions. This fine wine will bring you to tears.
Carphin Barfin - This magical drink will give you a glow, unless you eat food along with it. Many have made this mistake, to their ruin. (Pun intended)
Riverlands Rapids - (Also known as Cyclops Drops) You'll feel a rush, but pay for it in the end.
Atrax's Golden Chalice - Don't be fooled by the taste. After a few drinks you'll feel the corruption creeping in.
Sanctus Hurl - This hard liquor will either make you feel like you've been flung through a portal or reel from motion sickness.
Bodabodaga - One shot of this heady brew and you'll be seeing vanishing Kirins all day long.
Tulnar Toe Jam - This gooey grog is dark brewed. Many cannot "bear" this. Makes you want to hibernate in a cave.
Summoner Gone Ranger Tavern presents 10 beverage beasts to master:
Yeti Unsteady - This white wine is served on ice. It will give you the shivers.
Minotaur Growler - This grog will bring out the beast in you.
Yaagoth Broth - You should never drink alone. This goes for Yaagoth hunters as well.
Najash Temple Throb - This brew will slowly slither up on you, but you will have a headache in the morning.
Cindersteer Beer - More of a punch than a beer. It is best lit with a flame before serving.
Lamont's Lament - This tasty hard cider will make you feel like the undead as you stumble out of the tavern.
Collywobble Gobble - This disgusting gunk, more of a stew than a drink, is favored by hunters. It's been said to tame the wildest of beasts or orcs.
Sladeborne Shuffle - A strong herbal tonic. It will make you want to fly... but, of course you can't.
Quarrior Claw - A distilled alcohol good for getting stoned.
Whispering Watcher - A purple plum wine for the flighty personality. Those seen drinking it are often told (in jest) that they have a good head on their shoulders.
The Lightpact Sixpack Tavern Presents 10 drinks you'll never forget:
Rum Runner - For when you are sure there is an archer on the hill.
Potion Launcher Chaser - It's a blast!
Paladin's Might Light Beer - If you want to keep your wits about you before going into the battle.
The Drifter - You'll feel like you've warped space and swapped your loccation. Many imbibers of this often say, "Where the heck am I?"
Apocalypse Sip "We will never forget." Unless you drink too much of this...
Erinthia Forest Lager (Pun Intended)
Catfall Boot - A distilled spirit. You'll feel like you're floating on air.
Legendary Bow Headshot You'll forget all about the approaching corruption storm with just one shot of this.
Gateway Gargle - Similar to the Salty Dog but with a Potion Launcher Chaser
Emderstorm Dragon Flagon - This is a hot item!
Also there should be both a dwarf and an orc beer recipe with an unofficial competition between those races over who did it better.
But if there's a spare gin and tonic knocking about, well, then send a raven and I'll be there.
Discord
Forum
Prickly Apple Pie - Cactus and Apples
Seaweed Flangglers Sushi Rolls
Rabbit and Medley(Various Greens)
A Bone Marrow Stew or Appetizer
For the daring:
The Otter Wolved Bear - A Otter shoved in a Wolf shoved in a Bear cooked slowly over fire - Feast Sized
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hákarl
Overall, I just really hope the cooking system allows us to discover the majority of what we do, perhaps with the odd chance of finding recipes in the world here and there. I'd really like it if cooking components were their own "recipes" to discover. What's the right combination of base ingredients to create a pastry crust instead of bread dough? Will a dash of flour separate blueberry jelly from blueberry pie filling? Will I have to source a mirepoix to create savory cooking stocks? Will there be a good variety of spices and seasoning blends to distinguish desserts and regional/race-specific flavor styles? These are the kinds of things I love thinking about in cooking systems.
If I can approach the system almost as I would approach cooking in real life, I have a lot of fun. But, for an example, if making spaghetti and meatballs is as simple as slapping together some wheat, a slab of meat, and a tomato, I'm not particularly motivated.
For food:
How about some food that tells a story? Not so much about a great recipe, but is more theatrical in presentation.
How cool would it be to get some lore from the food we eat? Here's a few things my group cooked up for Game of Thrones day every week.
This was after Battle of the Bastards. Homemade cheese sticks that tell the tale of the phalanx that pressed the Stark army inward.
Heads on a spike. This symbolized the beheading of the Ned and any Winterfell loyalists that were decapitated when the Lannister family took the throne.
Nothing exciting here, but some 'bloody' cupcakes to symbolize the brutality of the Boltons.
The Flayed man hot dogs. Food resembling the sigil of the Bolton family.
And don't forgot about Reek. Always have to include the vegetarians.
I know the world of Verra doesn't have the same level of history as most fantasy settings since it has been abandoned for a very long time. But it would be cool if the food we ate told us stories about the world to a small degree.
Several types of alcohol including wines, spirits, beers, meads, etc. Don't overlook the types of drinks that can be crafted! Even non alcoholic things such as teas!
You should give each race their own influence on food through their culture. This can be reflected by your inspirations of design for the races you already have incorporated. You can even vary the meal times and number of meals that are considered normal amongst each race (what about second breakfast?)
I will say that Nikua should make a Loco Moco for sureeeee.