Fool's Theory, the team behind The Witcher 1 Remake, has announced a new "story-rich" RPG called The Thaumaturge, and it's set to release exclusively on PC.
The Thaumaturge is set in Warsaw in 1905, several years before the outbreak of WWI. The player takes on the role of a titular Thaumaturge, which is Greek for one who performs the supernatural and is able to wield demonic beings called Salutors.
Fool's Theory wants these creatures to be more than monsters the players control, however. The studio hopes to use the creatures to explore "the complex theme of inner demons" and provide "morally ambiguous choices" to drive players to think about their actions. Each Salutor represents different elements of people's inner demons, anger, pain, suffering, and more giving players different ways to manipulate the world as well as its inhabitants.
Fool's Theory has stated that the game will take place in a heavily researched version of Warsaw, where players will be able to meet with historical figures who have an impact on the story. The city is described as both a city of extravagance but also one of crime and violence, a place where evil can thrive.
During the early 20th century Warsaw was under the control of the Russian Tsar who was a ruthless imperialist, this occupation created conflict with the local Polish townsfolks as well as traveling merchants. This turmoil is also the perfect breeding ground for Thaumaturges, as they are the only people who can see the Salutors, who are born of/drawn by these negative human traits. By taming these creatures Thaumaturges have found a special place in society, using their power to manipulate their way to the top. Fool's Theory warns that using the powers of Salutors should be done with caution, however, as it seems even power has a cost.
The game's Steam page describes the gameplay as a turn-based RPG where the player can use both physical attacks with their character as well as psychic strikes from their captured Salutors. This could mean combat is a mix of both other Thaumaturges and regular humans, who can't see the tamed demons.
Combat won't be the only way in which the player interacts with the world as the game will also have conversation and investigation mechanics. Conversations can be influenced by the player using the power of the Salutors to bend the will of the NPCs. While the player characters' connection to the world of shadow allows them to investigate crime scenes in ways that regular humans would never be able to pick up on. These systems are all working together to create a rich world where every action will have unfolding consequences.
The Thaumaturge is available to wishlist, but no release date was given. Fool's Theory has stated that more details will come during GDC in San Francisco in March.