New release: Telepath Tactics

After many years in development, the strategy RPG Telepath Tactics has now been released. Developed by Chicago-based indie Sinister Design*, Telepath Tactics is modeled after Fire Emblem (albeit with mod support, largely deterministic mechanics, and a wider variety of tactical systems).

The main game consists of a single player campaign; the premise:

It was deep winter when young Emma and Sabrina Strider fled slavery in the mines of Kovit. Exhausted and on the verge of starvation, they were found and taken in by a tribe of Lissit, reptilian warriors, who raised the sisters as their own.

Now Emma trains tirelessly, bent on revenge and the prospect of rescuing their ailing father from bondage. But the years are never kind to a miner, and time grows desperately short. The sisters will need all of their wits–and the help of some unlikely allies–if they are to succeed…

Story aside, the biggest thing that sets this game apart from other tactical RPGs is its systems design; Telepath Tactics combines determinism with numerous mechanics to offer the player a high degree of both control and tactical flexibility. This trailer offers a whirlwind tour of some of the game’s available mechanics:

On top of its breadth of tactical mechanics, Telepath Tactics also offers mod support, with a map editor you can use to create your own campaigns (and tweak existing ones). There’s an ongoing series of tutorials on how to do that on the developer’s website.

Some of the game’s remaining features:

• Build an army from among 23 different classes! Learn more than 110 distinct attacks as you level up your units, then promote them to powerful prestige classes!

• Confront aggressive enemy AI that reacts to your moves, grabs items, breaks down your barricades, doggedly pursues your most vulnerable characters, and shoves you into the lava every chance it gets!

• Deal with merchants to keep your army well-supplied; make hard choices about your priorities both on and off the battlefield as you march against the slavers who imprisoned your family.

• Undertake missions in both hand-crafted scenarios and procedurally generated dungeons and forests!

• Tired of single player? Play 2-6 player hotseat multiplayer matches with randomized item drops, multiple play modes, and support for team matches!

Telepath Tactics is $14.99; Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can get it direct from the developer (Windows/Mac/Linux); on Steam (Windows only); and on GOG.com (Windows and Mac only). Linux versions will be coming to Steam and GOG at some point, but it’s not yet known just when; likewise for Mac and Steam.

*that’s me. I’ve tried to keep this post objective and fact-based, but I’m naturally going to be sort of partial to this game. Just a heads-up.