Untamed Tactics - Interview @ RPG Jeuxvideo

RPG Jeuxvideo interviewed Milan Lefferts about Untamed Tactics:

INTERVIEW – GrumpyOwl Games’s Milan Lefferts talks about Untamed Tactics

(English Version)

Untamed Tactics  is a great narrative turn-based RPG from the team who brought the card-battling game Untamed Feral Factions. Though the game is praised by the players, Furvent shared a more mixed opinion – even if the game still evolves after each update. Grumpy Owl Games’ developer kindly answered some questions about the game and its development.

Please introduce yourself (first name, surname, age, professional background, etc.). What’s your role in Grumpy Owl Games and Untamed Tactics?

I’m Milan Lefferts and I am the Creative Director for Grumpy Owl Games. I end up making all the creative decisions that concern our games, from the artistic side of things to design and development.

How did the idea for the game come about? What were your development influences?

The idea Untamed Tactics was born from a combination of creative inspiration and a love for the genre. Here’s how it all started:

1. Creative Inspiration: The initial spark for Untamed Tactics came from our team’s passion for storytelling and world-building. We wanted to create a rich andimmersive game world that players could explore and become deeply invested in. The idea of a fantasy setting where players could lead a group ofdiversecharacters on epic adventures was incredibly appealing.

2. Love for Tactical RPGs: Many members of our development team are avid fans of tactical RPGs, such as the Fire Emblem series, XCOM, and Final Fantasy Tactics. These games offered a unique blend of strategic gameplay, character development, and immersive storytelling that we wanted to capture inourownway.

3. Market Research: We also conducted thorough market research to understand the current gaming landscape. We saw a growing interest in tactical RPGs and a demand for games that provided both challenging gameplay and compelling narratives. This research reinforced our belief that Untamed Tactics had the potential to resonate with players.

4. Unique Selling Points: To set Untamed Tactics apart from other games in thegenre, we brainstormed unique selling points and gameplay mechanics. These included a diverse cast of characters with their own backstories and motivations, and a deep and engaging combat system that rewarded both strategic thinking and adaptation. One of our innovative features is the ability to parlay with enemies during combat encounters. Instead of always resorting to violence, players have the option to initiate negotiations with opposing factions. Successfulparleys can lead to various outcomes, including demoralization, alliances, or enemies switching sides. This mechanic adds depth to the gameplay and encourages players to think beyond combat.

5. Iteration and Development: Once we had a solid concept and design document in place, we began the iterative process of game development. We created prototypes, playtested extensively, and refined our ideas based on feedback from both internal and external sources. This iterative approach allowedus to fine-tune the game mechanics, balance, and overall player experience. We were very grateful for having a small community that was eager to help playtesting initial concepts.

In summary, the idea for Untamed Tactics was born from our passion for storytelling, our love for tactical RPGs, and our desire to create a unique and engaging gaming experience. We drew inspiration from both classic and contemporary games in the genre while also adding our own innovative elements to make the game stand out in a competitive market.

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