Guide a new age of magic, at any cost! The Fool's Apprentice - coming to Steam in Q1 2025!
Bespell your many apprentices as you build science and the arcane arts alike in this upcoming sandbox wizard academy management sim.
Golryon, The Planar Danse - [February 4, 2025] Indie studio The Planar Danse is delighted to announce wizard academy management sim The Fool's Apprentice, set to cast a spell on Steam in Q1 2025. As the director of a newly-formed magical academy, get ready to welcome clueless would-be wizards, guide them through scientific research, and ensure the future of arcanoscience–at any cost! Some apprentices may die, but that is a risk mages are willing to accept!
As an Arcanist, your own skill and research have given you prestige and reputation among the elite wizards of the Arcane Conservatory. Now, it is time to begin your very own research, to build the future of magic! With a slew of new applicants at the door of your wizarding abode, the fate of the city of Golryon, and the lives of your apprentices, are entirely in your hands.
Cast spells on your students to gently nudge them in the right direction, including levitation, mind control, and disintegration, all in the name of educating them in the ways of magic... and more importantly, adding to your name and tenure. The most promising among your pupils will surely thrive - as for the rest, the greatest of discoveries were not made without a few tragedies, now were they?
Your stature and fame as an accomplished Arcanist give you the freedom to forge your own path. As your wizard's tower grows, you can choose to research long-forgotten powers, run increasingly risky experiments and become the ultimate guardian of the arcane arts–far from the eyes and ears of the chaff citizenry of Golryon, of course.
Or, will you decide to defy the Conservatory altogether and customize your school to become a welcoming, peaceful place of study? In The Fool's Apprentice, you must balance the path of your academy, all while responding to narrative dilemmas and making new discoveries to spread magic among the populace, or keep it for yourself.
Remember; the city's eyes are upon you, your actions will affect your reputation! Help shape the future of mankind and you will earn the love of the public, but claim every spell in the name of the magocrats and the inhabitants of the tumultuous city of Golryon will be quick to riot! Your arcane research shall know no bounds, just try not to get imprisoned for arcane malpractice!
Key Gameplay Features:
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Spell-Slinging Studies: Educate hapless apprentices by directing their studies, managing their magical skills, and using them, in turn, to research new arcane sciences.
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Designs and Dilemmas: Make your academy truly yours through cosmetic and eldritch decorations, workstation upgrades, and by solving narrative Dilemmas. Each of which will react to your choices and shape the future of magic.
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Can You Meet Golryon's Demands?: Your background does not make you immune from the demands of the city's ruling class or its spell-less paupers, you'll need to fend off (or fulfill) requests for resources, such as choosing guilds to side with, being forced to take in a nobleman's inept child, or managing which side to craft magical weapons for during a war.
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Magic for All! (Or Just a Privileged Few): Captivate the citizens of Golryon by bringing the arcane sciences to the people. Or, run the risk of riot by keeping it all to yourself.
The Fool's Apprentice will be released on Windows PC via Steam in Q1 2025. A playable demo is available via the Steam page.
For more on The Fool's Apprentice follow The Planar Danse on Bluesky and subscribe to the official YouTube channel.
About The Planar Danse
The Planar Danse is a cooperative creative studio built on the premise of developing expansive worlds, providing value to players, and creating job security for developers instead of bottom line profit.
The Planar Danse is the developers' fantasy universe of the same name and comprises both games and novels, with more than 1.5 million words written within them so far. In addition to the wizard school management sim The Fool's Apprentice, launching early 2025, three previously released games and novels are available, all connected to the setting, with more planned for the future
