The "core" Options

[Pacal II]

The rpg topic made me think about "the core" of Zenozoik. What I mean is that every setting has some central idea or motive that could in some sense define. The form, by which I mean the history, races, geography is also quite important, but it answers the question how is the world or how does it look like, but not the fundamental one what it is about. Middle-earth isn't about elves, hobbits living in forests and dwarves living in caves, but it is about a fight between good and evil and how power corrupts. Warhammer is about the war with chaos, L54 is about honor, fallout about survival in a destroyed world and planescape about the multitude of realities and philosophies (kind of post-modern).

So now I ask, what is Zenozoik's core? Or is there one at all? Are maybe you can't tell right now .

[Carlos Bordeu]

I don't know if you can call it the core, but a strong theme in the world of Zeno Clash is:

Anarchy vs. Order

On one side you have the Corwids (absolute madness) and Halstedom (no rules, laws or structure). On the very opposite: Golem

Zeno Clash is inspired by punk fantasy, and the punk world goes against things such as order and control.

[Pacal II]

Oh, that's quite interesting. In my own setting, for a pen n' paper rpg I have a similar theme. The difference is that there anarchy is portrayed more positively (more associated with freedom, rather than madness or cruelty). On the other hand order is in some sense destructive, it manifests itself almost in an orwellian or brave new world kind of way. Plus, I also aim to make my world more original than the standard fantasy, but it's not as freaky as yours .

And when I saw your game I knew you must have been inspired by Bosch. Great artist!

[Pacal II]

Will this theme be continued in zeno clash 2? And will there maybe be a possibility of choice between those two in some sense?