Developer Fool’s Theory is currently working onThe Thaumaturge, a narrative-driven, supernatural RPG set in 1905 Warsaw, Poland.The Thaumaturgeis a brand-new IP where players take on the role of protagonist Wiktor—a Thaumaturge, or magician, capable of taming demon-esque entities known as Salutors—as he has been drawn back to Warsaw following his exile.
Fool’s Theory is itself based in Poland, while also working onthe remake of the first game inThe Witcherfranchise, originally developed by fellow Polish developer, CD Projekt Red. Game Rant recently spoke to Fool’s Theory design director Karolina Kuzia-Rokosz about the significance ofThe Thaumaturge’s Warsaw setting, the variety of cultural influences that will shape Wiktor’s story, and their aspirations for representing Poland.
The Thaumaturge Tells a Strange Story in a Familiar Land
Fool’s Theory began development with the broad concept of “a story about a ‘magician,'” but stated that coming up with the specific setting was a “pivotal moment” in development. Settling on a backdrop that captures the story’s aesthetic and intended themes obviously provided the team with a foundation for flavoring the game and giving it a distinct identity beyond an anonymous magician’s story. But Fool’s Theory’s personal connection to the setting also brings realistic gravity to the narrative:
“We care about telling stories that feel close to us, narratives that could be true given certain circumstances, resonating with what we know, what we’ve learned, or experienced. Placing the game’s action in a location where some of us used to live or still live is our way of expressing how we perceive our reality.”
The old creative adage “write what you know” refers to crafting narratives that speak to personal experiences. Those experiences lend the story the sort of authenticity that can only come from a personal perspective. Obviously, investigating mysteries with the supernatural aid of demonic helpers is a considerable embellishment, but Wiktor’s story appears to bea family dramaat its core, which is a more universal theme that all players can relate to at some level.
In addition to allowing the devs to express their own experiences, Poland—especially in the early 1900s—remains an untapped backdrop for video game narratives. WhileThe Witcherfranchisebased on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novelswas itself shaped by Polish folklore and monsters, the game’s fanciful sword and sorcery setting is more of a reflection of Northern Europe as a whole, rather than Poland specifically.
“We believe that real-life Poland remains somewhat unexplored in the realm of video games, so we aim to shed light on our history, places, and people—inevitably gone, but not forgotten.”
Scored for the Polish Setting
One of the ways Fool’s Theory plans to bringThe Thaumaturge’shistorical setting to life is through music:
“We invested in folk influences from the Warsaw of 1905, a multicultural, diverse, and dangerous city. Polish, Jewish, and Russian tunes intertwine and meld together in the brew we’ve prepared for you. "
Few artistic mediums depict a sense of place more accurately than music. Combining the influence of folk songs with classical compositions from the era is a surefire way to make Warsaw a character in the narrative. Some ofthe best soundtracks in video gameshave historical roots, likeRed Dead Redemption 2, and others borrow from distinctive time periods to portray a sense of mood, likeHalo’s now-iconic, solemn Gregorian Chant.
Gamers with a fondness for history, or players who are simply looking for a new experience with a distinctive look and sound will want to keep an eye out forThe Thaumaturgeearly next year.
The Thaumaturge
WHERE TO PLAY
The Thaumaturge is an isometric, story-rich RPG with a unique take on turn-based combat, character development features, and investigation mechanics, facing you with morally ambiguous choices – set in a world teeming with mysterious powers and strange ethereal beings called salutors.The year is 1905. Warsaw lives under the yoke of imperial Russian tsardom. Its inhabitants constitute a diverse group of different ancestries, views, and beliefs with often conflicting interests: Russian soldiers, Jewish merchants, Polish townspeople, and more. Despite the circumstances, the city is a buzzing metropolis, where one can attend a breathtaking party with the high society, and later get robbed in one of the dark alleys of the Praga district. A city of great hopes and dreams on one hand and dark desires on the other.A thaumaturge bears both a gift and a burden at the same time. This parallel holds true for Wiktor Szulski, the game’s titular protagonist, who is drawn back to the tumultuous streets of 20th-century Warsaw by family matters. The gift of thaumaturgy is intertwined with family legacy, passed down through one’s ancestors. This mystical inheritance significantly shapes Wiktor’s life journey tied around a pursuit of unearthly entities and their hosts. As only a thaumaturge can tame these ethereal entities - known to a select few as salutors - utilizing their mystical abilities to discover secrets hidden within the human soul and speak to the Darkness, no one understands quite like Wiktor how everyone suffers their own demons.
