Of Ash and Steel

Of Ash and Steel is a role-playing adventure in an open world, where the center of the story is not a famous warrior, but an ordinary cartographer. His name is Tristan, and he finds himself on the bleak island of Greyshaft after a shipwreck caused by a cataclysm called the Blight. Being a person not accustomed to battles, the protagonist is forced to adapt to harsh realities and learn to survive in a lawless world. He will have to master the basics of sword and magic in order to withstand the dangers of this inhospitable region.

The project consciously abandons the usual map markers and compass, encouraging careful exploration of the environment. Navigation in Of Ash and Steel becomes a separate challenge, forcing you to remember landmarks and listen to the advice of characters. The combat system emphasizes Tristan’s inexperience: his movements are slow, his attacks use up a lot of stamina, and learning new techniques requires finding mentors. Battles with even ordinary opponents require a tactical approach and caution.

Character development is based on improving basic attributes such as strength and agility, as well as unlocking skills in several skill trees. The talent trees, divided into the categories of survival, crafting and warfare, offer a wide range of customization options. However, the progression is deliberately slow - unlocking abilities requires not only skill points, but also significant amounts of gold, as well as the services of teachers.

Interaction with the world is not limited to battles and includes an extensive dialogue system. Decisions made in conversations can affect relationships with factions and individuals, opening up new tasks. Greyshaft Island is filled with characters, each with their own personalities, making exploring the world feel more alive. Despite the high complexity, the title rewards curiosity, providing a genuine sense of freedom and satisfaction from finding solutions on your own.