The Ballad of Old Lake Morovia

The Ballad of Old Lake Morovia is a video-game series based loosely on the Adventures of Dr. Marcus Palchae, a series of novels which tell the story of Captain Ismael Hatch, the most famous of the pirates of the Strait of Haifa.

The title of the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia is taken from the song of the same name, by the Haifan band Creatures of Corum.

Part One

A screenshot from Part One of the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia.

Game Downloads

Linux Download

Windows Download

Synopsis

Setting

The Ballad of Old Lake Morovia is set in the year 34 PSSC, in the Strait of Haifa in central Keltia. Most of the game takes place on Black Hatch Island, an island in northern Lake Morovia near the city of Vaeringheim, though parts of the game occur in Lake Morovia itself, as well as in the Northern Strait.

Characters

The player character in the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia is Captain Ismael Hatch, the famous pirate who dominated Lake Morovia for a period during the early and mid-30's PSSC. Notable non-player characters include the Haifan pirate Vitorro Sagese, the infamous Ergonian spy, Fiorella, and Marcus Palchae, the protagonist of the quasi-fictional novel entitled The Adventures of Dr. Marcus Palchae.

Plot

In the mid-30's PSSC Captain Ismael Hatch struggles against his role as a pawn of the Lake Morovia Blockade Fund, and in the process comes to realize the nature, and intentions, of the dark and insidious forces which truly control the Strait of Haifa

Gameplay

Part One of the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia is an rpg featuring elements of open-world game-play, such that the player is able to explore a continuously increasing number of regions and locations in order to enjoy a broad, engaging, and immersive story-line. In terms of combat, which plays a central role in its story-line, the game features an active combat system.

Development

Part One of the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia was developed during the Summer of 2017, using RPG Maker MV.

Reviews

Although it was not generally received by the community, Part One of the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia was regarded by the few people who played it as a quality effort, and a notable achievement in the history of gaming in the MCS. The game was criticized, with this said, for its generally high level of difficulty - which largely revolved around its central emphasis on combat - as well as for a number of bugs, including one particularly egregious bug near the end of the game which would cause the game to crash. The feedback which was received regarding this game was implemented, to the best of the developer's abilities, in all of the game's sequels.

Credits

Graphics

• Amysaurus
• brunovisk2
• hiddenone, Kadokawa, & Avery
• whtdragon
• Kadokawa

Audio

• “Mary Celeste” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

• "Tenebrous Brothers Carnival - Mermaid" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

• "Tenebrous Brothers Carnival - Snake Lady" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

• "Suonatore di Liuto" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

• "The Path of the Goblin King" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

• "Phantasm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

• "The Ballad of Old Lake Morovia" Creatures of Corum (https://soundcloud.com/user-432091812)

Plug-Ins

• Alpha-ABS
• Common Event Queue MV
• Auto Push NPC 1.1
• LTN Core
• Day And Night
• Time Engine
• OrangeAutoSave
• Ammunition System & Add-on (Crafting System)
• SRCrazy_Core
• Event Indicators
• Copy Actors – MV Plugin
• Custom Colors – MV Plugin
• Natures – MV Plugin
• Sell Shop Plugin - RPG Maker MV
• Terrax Lighting system
• YEP.11 – Item Core
• YEP.29 – Party System
• YEP.18 – Region Restrictions
• YEP.53 – Shop Menu Core
• YEP.7 – Victory Aftermath
• YEP.137 – Item Menu Categories – RPG Maker MV

Part Two

Chapter 1

File:Gamescene2.png

A screenshot from Chapter I of Part II of the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia.

Synopsis

Setting

Chapter 1 of Part II of The Ballad of Old Lake Morovia takes place along the southern Strait of Haifa, in regions including Blore Heath, Mylecia, Jogi, and parts of Haifa and Pontus, as well as areas of the Green.

Characters

The player character in Chapter 1 of Part II of The Ballad of Old Lake Morovia is Dame Gämä, a Diamond Merchant, who after being robbed of her wares, embarks on a journey in the pursuit of justice. Notable non-player characters represent organizations such as the Fleet of Blore Heath, the Order of Rochefort - which plays an antagonistic role- the Maenads of Mylecia, the Ergonian Spy Agency, and several others.

Plot

In the period between the rise of Captain Ismael Hatch and the outbreak of the Strait of Haifa Campaign, a Diamond Merchant named Dame Gämä embarks on a journey in order to pursue justice against the man who robbed her of her her diamonds, and of her very identity. Along the way, Gämä meets a wide range of characters representing all kinds of peoples, nations, and organizations along the Strait, and begins to unravel a conspiracy which extends far beyond her stolen diamonds.

Gameplay

Chapter 1 of Part II of the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia is a text-based rpg featuring elements of open-world game-play, such that the player is able to explore a continuously increasing number of regions and locations in order to enjoy a broad, engaging, and immersive story-line. While combat is not a major central component, the game nevertheless features an active combat system which plays an increasingly important role as the player advances through the story.

Development

Chapter 1 of Part II of the Ballad of Old Lake Morovia was developed between December 29, 2017, and September 1, 2018.