Most western RPGs are enjoyable because they allow you to live out a life as someone else, someone you could never be, and honestly, probably wouldn’t want to be. They give you the chance to live as a sword swinging hero out to save the world, or a gun toting mercenary making his way through a post apocalyptic wasteland, or a cybernetically enhanced commando. Notice one thing though? All of these fantasies revolve heavily around the use of weapons and force as a means for solving conflict. Admittedly, this is pretty awesome, and I enjoy these sorts of power fantasies as much as the next guy, but sometimes it seems like it would be fun to play a different sort of character.
Admittedly, there are other approaches available in some games. Deus Ex: Human Revolution did a great job giving you the option to sneak around, and even on occasion use diplomacy. Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines also allowed for a lot of sneaking around and diplomatic solutions. But the game still revolved primarily around combat.
So, Tot Voltus is my attempt to create a game that allows for a different sort of character. The player takes on the role of an infiltrator trained in social manipulation and deception. The game takes place in a large city, with many forces vying for power and control. The player takes on missions of sabotage and espionage. The player will have the option to choose who to take work from, what sort of jobs to do, and what friends to cultivate.
Mechanically this will work by giving the player a map of the city, each day will represent a space of time, and the player will be able to spend their time doing missions, going to meetings with characters, or even just relaxing at a night club, where new friends and enemies might be met.
If nothing else, it should be different, and I’m hoping that it will be something very enjoyable different.