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Solasta: Crown of the Magister

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Solasta: Crown of the Magister
Developer(s)Tactical Adventures
Publisher(s)Tactical Adventures
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)
Release
  • Microsoft Windows
  • May 27, 2021
  • macOS
  • November 4, 2021
  • Xbox One, Series X/S
  • July 5, 2022
  • PlayStation 5
  • March 6, 2024
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multi-player

Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a role-playing video game developed by Tactical Adventures and released in 2021. It is based on the 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons rules, which it uses via the System Reference Document. A sequel, Solasta II, is set to be released as an early access game in 2025 for PC.

Gameplay

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Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a tactical role-playing game with turn-based combat. It is set in a fantasy world that was nearly destroyed in an apocalyptic event a thousand years ago. Players create a party of four adventurers to search the ruins of an Elven empire for the jewels needed to empower a powerful artifact.[2] Players can use pre-made characters or make their own.[3] Each character has their own personality and can answer questions by non-player characters[4] or engage in banter with the other party members.[3] Character creation follows the fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons rules and includes five races and seven classes.[3] The plot is generally linear.[5]

Players can create their own adventures using a tool designed to be easy-to-use.[6] Player-made adventures have a level cap of 16.[7]

Development

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Tactical Adventures is an independent studio based in Paris that was founded by Mathieu Girard, formerly of Amplitude Studios.[8] They announced Kickstarter funding for Solasta: Crown of the Magister in September 2019.[9] The game entered early access in October 2020[10] and was released for Microsoft Windows on May 27, 2021.[11] The macOS version was released on November 4, 2021. The Primal Calling downloadable content released at the same time adds two new playable classes, along with 3 subclasses for each. Primal Calling also adds one ancestry and a new character background .[12] The game was later ported to consoles on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on July 5, 2022.[13] A version for PlayStation 5 was released on March 6, 2024.[14]

On April 14, 2022, Tactical Adventures released the Lost Valley paid DLC, a separate campaign for Solasta. A free update with this release enables multi-player co-op mode and adds a new sub-class to each of the character classes.[15][16] The Inner Strength DLC, released November 15, 2022, adds three additional classes and the dragonborn ancestry to the game. A free update with this release added 17 new feats and three new backgrounds.[17] The Palace of Ice DLC adds a new, higher-level campaign; new spells; gnomes and tieflings as new playable races; and other changes. A bundle of the base game with all released DLC, called the Lightbringers Edition, was released simultaneously on May 25, 2023.[18]

A new Tactical Adventures subsidiary team, named Talyon, was announced on June 10, 2021. This Lyon, France based studio will develop a tactical RPG based on the same setting as Solasta.[19]

Reception

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Solasta: Crown of the Magister received "generally favorable reviews" on Metacritic.[20]

Rick Lane of PC Gamer rated it 70/100. Lane criticized the writing but praised its tactical combat and accessibility to newcomers.[5] Writing for RPGamer, Phillip Willis called it an excellent introduction to both D&D and role-playing games, though he said the story is too cliched. Willis rated it 3.5/5 stars and concluded that it "provides a fun, if somewhat short, ride that most will enjoy".[3] Abraham Kobylanski of RPGFan wrote, "Solasta's combat and systems make for an excellent foundation, but until it gets a compelling story, it will feel a bit empty."[4] Writing for PC Gamer, Jody Macgregor praised the continued evolution of Solasta. After multiple DLC were released, he said it now features a wide variety to choices in character customization, including the option to create oddball parties reminiscent of his own tabletop adventures.[21]

Sequel

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A sequel, titled Solasta II, was announced by Tactical Adventures at The Game Awards 2024. It is currently set to be released as an early access game in 2025 for PC.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Director's Log #2 : Adapting the Ruleset". Solasta-game.com. July 22, 2019. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  2. ^ Zamora, Gabriel (2020-05-27). "Solasta: Crown of the Magister (for PC) Preview". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  3. ^ a b c d e Willis, Phillip (2021-11-09). "Solasta: Crown of the Magister Review". RPGamer.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  4. ^ a b Kobylanski, Abraham (2021-06-16). "Solasta: Crown of the Magister". RPGFan.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  5. ^ a b c Lane, Rick (2021-06-02). "Solasta: Crown of the Magister review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  6. ^ Watson, Eric (2021-03-25). "This RPG's dungeon builder is Neverwinter Nights meets Super Mario Maker". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  7. ^ Macgregor, Jody (2023-03-09). "D&D RPG Solasta is getting gnomes, tieflings, and a high-level campaign". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  8. ^ McAloon, Alissa (2018-11-26). "Amplitude co-founder sets up RPG-focused studio Tactical Adventures". Game Developer. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  9. ^ Fuller, Alex (2019-09-18). "Kickstarter Check-In: Solasta: Crown of the Magister, Wheel of Fate". RPGSite.net. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  10. ^ Macgregor, Jody (2021-04-08). "D&D game Solasta: Crown of the Magister will exit Early Access with its next update". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  11. ^ Beckhelling, Imogen (2021-05-27). "D&D-based RPG Solasta: Crown Of The Magister has left early access". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  12. ^ Vitale, Adam (2021-11-04). "Solasta: Crown of the Magister's Primal Calling DLC now available". RPGSite.net. Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  13. ^ Smith, Rebecca (2022-07-06). "Solasta: Crown of the Magister Xbox Version Joins Game Pass on Day One". GameRevolution. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  14. ^ "Solasta: Crown of the Magister now available for PS5". Gematsu. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  15. ^ Russell, Mollie (April 28, 2022). "Solasta: Lost Valley review". wargamer.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  16. ^ "Lost Valley Subclasses Detailed". solasta-game.com. April 13, 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  17. ^ Fuller, Alex (2022-09-23). "Solasta: Crown of the Magister's Inner Strength DLC to Add New Classes". RPGamer. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  18. ^ Fuller, Alex (2023-05-16). "Solasta's Palace of Ice Opening Next Week". RPGamer. Archived from the original on 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  19. ^ "Tactical Adventures announces new videogame development studio Talyon". Games Press. June 10, 2021. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  20. ^ a b "Solasta: Crown of the Magister (PC)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2021-11-24. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  21. ^ Macgregor, Jody (2022-12-14). "Finally, an RPG let me make the weird D&D party of my dreams". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  22. ^ McGlynn, Anthony (December 12, 2024). "DnD inspired RPG Solasta 2 is coming to challenge Baldur's Gate 3 in 2025". PCGamesN. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
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