Arkhtide: Origins

We are thrilled to unveil “Arkhtide,” our first in-house developed game, which has been two years in the making. This game represents not only a labor of love by our team but also an invitation to gamers everywhere to dive into a new, exhilarating world.

We thought we’d start by sharing a little about how we reached this current milestone, which was launching our Website. So here’s a glimpse into the evolution of Arkhtide.

The seeds for Arkhtide were sown over six years ago when Andras, dissatisfied with the existing offerings in the card game market, embarked on creating something extraordinary. What started as a solo endeavor has evolved through more than fifty iterations into a full-blown passion project. As the game’s complexity grew, so did our team. Dávid joined Andras, and together they established Brightlance Publishing, dedicating themselves wholly to Arkhtide.

Creating the rich tapestry of Arkhtide’s world was our first and most daunting challenge. Andras, Dávid, and a team of dedicated role players, writers, and fantasy aficionados poured their hearts into conceptualizing a universe filled with everything from sleepwalkers and draconic conflicts to steampunk empires fighting sun-nazies. After much creative (and sometimes wierd) iteration, we settled on a dark and corrupted, yet hopeful fantasy realm where players become saviors, using the Arkhtides – sources of creation energy known as Pure Arkhé – to heal and protect the land.

In Arkhtide, morality isn’t black and white. Each of the four initial factions – and the numerous ones planned for future expansions – views themselves as the protagonists of their own story, with motives and methods that may appear heroic or nefarious, depending on the perspective. For instance, Lord Korovin and the Scarlet Legacy see themselves as protectors against the encroaching Corruption, valiant knights campaigning against the evil Arkhons, sacrificing themselves to save everyone else. While to the Roseborne Justicae, Korovin is just a tyrant whose quest for power leaves death and devastation in his wake.

Capturing the essence of Réa required a specific visual style, something dark, powerful and cool. And we were really fortunate to collaborate with artists who excel in this kind of dark fantasy aesthetics. Dorka, already known for her work on other card games, joined us, bringing her unique vision to the fore. We also partnered with Ziga and Tjasa from Freecompany Publishing, renowned creators of Eldfall Chronicles, who contributed significantly to both the artistic and mechanical aspects of Arkhtide. Additionally, we enlisted the talented Dat Phan, known for his stunning illustrations in Gloomhaven, to bring key characters like Lord Korovin and Emery to life.

Arkhtide needs a community of Seekers – players like you who are ready to explore and save the world of Réa. Join us on Discord, Facebook, follow our progress, engage in community playtests, and help us harness as much Pure Arkhé as possible for a victorious future together!