A short vacation for inspiration

As you know, I took a vacation this summer, and I flew to Kaliningrad!

Not only because I wanted to see the sea, but also because I wanted to see the city: the European-style houses, the towers, barracks, forts, and walls. I wanted to get inspiration for creating Saigrad, the city that Rodinka will arrive in in the next episode.

I took a lot of photos, which I will use to create the style and atmosphere I'm aiming for.

There are several elements I want to see in the city:

1 – Water. I want to make Saigrad more of a water city, with rivers, moats, fountains, and cascades. Alas, the standard RPG Maker resources don't have nice-looking water, but I'll figure something out.

2 – Powerful defenses. Saigrad should have powerful walls, embrasures, and watchtowers. It's a fortress city, so it should live up to its name.

3 – Dense development. And inside the walls, there should be dense residential development, with houses standing close together, matching the typical medieval-European style.

4 – Greenery. I'll try to add more greenery – not moss, but different vines on the houses. They refresh the picture and add life to the city.

5 – Moderate size. Kaliningrad and, especially, Zelenogradsk are small cities; they remind me that I shouldn't get carried away and make locations that are too large (like Zalesje). I will restrain myself.

Who knows, maybe Rodinka will have to dodge, parry, and beat the crap out of bosses?! You will exclaim "Dark Souls," and I will reply — "Silent Hill".

6 – Mood. The people in Kaliningrad seemed to me even overly kind and responsive, constantly helping, giving directions, and gladly offering advice; they were relaxed, calm, and content with life. But in Saigrad, I want to create a more oppressive mood, where people are afraid of Church, behave aloofly, are constantly looking for some kind of trickery everywhere, but in their personal lives, behind closed doors, indulge in all sorts of excesses in love affairs and perversions.

I look at these ducks and the melody "River of Life" from "The Witcher" comes to mind.

For Rodinka and the game's plot – this is an important city, which is exactly why I want to do it well

It was the first time in my life I saw the sea! So let this post end with the sea.

Thank you for your attention.

p.s. I completely forgot, I made a patch, you can find it on Discord, Telegram, and also via the game download links.