The Thaumaturgeputs a lot of focus on the supernatural, but via a method where what is real remains as such. There is no way to prove or disprove Thaumaturgy, allowing developer Fool’s Theory to have a lot of fun within itsstory-driven RPG. This mysticism sits on par with a certain degree of realism, as the developer played along with history instead of changing it and wanted to recreate Poland as accurately as it could.
Because of this,The Thaumaturgemanages to bring together many unique elements: a realistic setting with a magical plot, a take on real history with unreal events, and a family dynamic, as complicated as any but for different reasons. For this reason alone, any fan ofstory gamesshould keep an eye onThe Thaumaturge. Game Rant recently had the chance to talk about The Thaumaturge’s characters, its setting of Warsaw, and more with design director Karolina Kuzia-Rokosz.The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: Apart from his thaumaturgic abilities, what can you tell us about Wiktor as a protagonist? What do you think his most defining characteristics are?
A:Wiktor is a character who undergoes growth alongside the player throughout the game. Despite living in his world for 30 years, he still has much to learn about being a Thaumaturge. Troubled, lost, and filled with doubt, he is imperfect in every way. Yet, simultaneously, he strives to become a better version of himself.Depending on the player’s choices, he may also succumb to his inborn pride.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about Wiktor’s relationship with his family?
A:Wiktor’s family relations can be quickly summed up in a short phrase: it’s complicated. His father, Stanisław, shared the gift of Thaumaturgy, yet they were never close. Banished fromWarsaw15 years ago for stirring trouble as a young lad, the only family Wiktor can turn to is his twin sister, Ligia, who earnestly wishes for her brother’s return to Warsaw, and his uncle, Alexander. Throughout the game, players will unravel more about the Szulski family and their secrets, with the opportunity to make their own decisions about them.
Q: Why did he leave Warsaw to begin with, and what did he do in that time?
A:As mentioned earlier, Wiktor was ‘removed’ from Warsaw by his father, and for 15 years, he held a deep grudge against him. The exact reasons for his exile, however, must remain a mystery for players to unfold. Wiktor, being an ambitious Thaumaturge, spent this entire time away from home trying to prove his father wrong bypursuing powerful Salutors. This pursuit, however, has its consequences, as you’ll witness in the very prologue of the game.
Q: Can you tell us about the supporting cast of characters beyond his family? Who plays an important role in the game, are there things like love interests, and do players encounter other thaumaturges?
A:We’ve prepared a variety of characters for you to meet, each with their agendas. They can play the role of both friend and foe, depending on your decisions. Keep an eye out for other Thaumaturges as well.
Q: We’ve seen Rasputin as one of the historical figures in the game. Could you talk about research done on him, his role in the game, and how you settled on his overarching design?
A:As mentioned earlier, during the initial stages of development, we initially chose a different time frame, about twenty years earlier. During that period,Rasputinwas a significant part of our story, and we considered his timeline carefully. Even when we shifted to 1905, we conducted thorough research on him. Maintaining his original age of around 36 years old, we adhered to events that happened to him during that time or events that could plausibly occur if he encountered a young Thaumaturge from Warsaw back then.
Q: What other historical figures appear in the game, and could you talk about their roles a little bit?
A:We introduce both major and minor characters who lived in the city during that time or possibly visited it. I prefer to keep their identities secret for now to avoid spoilers. In addition to them, we also mention personas likely morefamiliar to the Polish audience.
Q: Can you walk us through the research and design put into recreating Warsaw in The Thaumaturge?
A:We primarily rely on digitized archives, old paintings, photos, and diaries of people who are no longer with us. Our research has involved extensive study of maps, and we have visited the city. Our goal is to recreate the most probable and closest-to-original image of the city that was lost during the war.
Q: Because of things like Thaumaturgy, how differently has history unfolded up through this point in time in the game?
A:The best illusions are those closest to the truth, so we did not alter history; instead, we played along. All the events mentioned in the game either happened or could easily happen, but we lack sources on them. Thaumaturgy is a subtle craft, lingering between unspoken words, unvoiced thoughts, unseen sights, and so on. There is no proof for ‘outsiders’ that Thaumaturgy is real, and there is no proof that it isn’t.
Q: How do you onboard players into the mysterious setting and lore of 1905 Poland?
A:Steadily, I would say 😄 But on a serious note, this story is about you and your choices. The reality of 1905 is there to provide context, to either assist or stir chaos, but never to play the main role. Gradually, through events and characters from that period, we want you to experience the lives of people as they were—to have a window into the past.
Q: The game’s slogan is ‘Everyone has their own demons.” Could you explain what this means and its significance to The Thaumaturge’s story?
A:This holds various meanings.What defines a demon? We each have our own interpretation. Throughout the game, we aim to illustrate that demons wear different faces. Sometimes, these are the faces of Salutors; other times, they are the faces of people, the human psyche, or the internal struggles we grapple with every day.
Q: The Thaumaturge describes Warsaw as a setting with “great hopes and dreams on one hand and dark desires on the other.” How does Fool’s Theory explore that duality in gameplay and the narrative?
A:We structure our systems based on this principle. InThe Thaumaturge, you have the freedom to choose your path, and it’s up to you to decide how you’ll navigate it. We’ve crafted dark experiences, though not always grim. Through the game’s systems and the decisions you make, you shape your character and determine your vices.
Q: Can you specifically talk about how the neighborhood of Powisle was designed?
A:During that period, Powiśle was a shanty town, engulfed in mud—a perilous area populated by those less fortunate in life or seeking refuge from the world. We aimed to create a stark contrast between this and other parts of the city.
Q: There’s some contrast in the game, between Powisle and the high-society elements of Poland. What was it like trying to capture that, and how does it thematically serve the setting?
A:Each district you visit in the game has its unique vibe, with its own mood and people focusing on matters unique to them. It’s like stepping into different worlds. Warsaw, during that time, was a complex city where poverty could be found right next to splendid, newly built tenements. The city was a vibrant and popular destination for those who had lost their land or sold it, seeking better fortune in the urban setting. We witness the emergence of the first worker unions, encounter underground fighters, delve into theworld of the mafia, and meet common, decent people just trying to earn a living.
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The Thaumaturge
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The Thaumaturge is an isometric, story-rich RPG with a unique take on turn-based combat, character development features, and investigation mechanics, facing you with morally ambiguous choices – set in a world teeming with mysterious powers and strange ethereal beings called salutors.The year is 1905. Warsaw lives under the yoke of imperial Russian tsardom. Its inhabitants constitute a diverse group of different ancestries, views, and beliefs with often conflicting interests: Russian soldiers, Jewish merchants, Polish townspeople, and more. Despite the circumstances, the city is a buzzing metropolis, where one can attend a breathtaking party with the high society, and later get robbed in one of the dark alleys of the Praga district. A city of great hopes and dreams on one hand and dark desires on the other.A thaumaturge bears both a gift and a burden at the same time. This parallel holds true for Wiktor Szulski, the game’s titular protagonist, who is drawn back to the tumultuous streets of 20th-century Warsaw by family matters. The gift of thaumaturgy is intertwined with family legacy, passed down through one’s ancestors. This mystical inheritance significantly shapes Wiktor’s life journey tied around a pursuit of unearthly entities and their hosts. As only a thaumaturge can tame these ethereal entities - known to a select few as salutors - utilizing their mystical abilities to discover secrets hidden within the human soul and speak to the Darkness, no one understands quite like Wiktor how everyone suffers their own demons.
