Of Ash and Steel’s Take on Classic RPGs

Of Ash and Steel Preview
Long before mini-maps, quest markers, and helpful, handholding NPCs, roleplaying games were an exercise in true discovery. Like real life, you went into an area not knowing what you’d find, danger you’d encounter or treasures just waiting to be discovered. Fire & Frost’s upcoming RPG Of Ash and Steel aims to be a synthesis of old-school roleplaying and modern quality-of-life refinements. Recently, I had the chance to spend a little hands-off time with Of Ash and Steel and a few members of the development team. I came away excited and intrigued.

Origin Story
Of Ash and Steel is a low-fantasy RPG, which means a setting and environments very much influenced by the medieval period. Like the classic RPG Gothic — a clear inspiration — Of Ash and Steel is a third-person action-adventure RPG. It’s set in a group of islands that are part of the Kingdom of the Seven. You start your journey as a lowly character without much strength, skill, or savvy. You can barely hoist a sword. Over time, you build your character along three lines: Survival, Crafting, and War. There is no class system, so you’re free to develop whatever fighting style suits your preferences. In our short preview, we didn’t see too wide a range of combat encounters, but even the most basic swordplay looked engaging. Like a few other recent RPGs, players can switch between several combat stances.

Fire & Frost states that they’re going for a “comforting, tranquil atmosphere.” Maybe, if you don’t count the wild animals and hostile humans anxious for your demise. Of Ash and Steel is set in an open world. There’s lots to do. Combat, of course. Additionally, crafting, hunting, fishing, and gathering resources play a part. While the devs didn’t dive too deeply into the story, it sounds like there are competing factions and some political intrigue in the mix.

Fire & Frost is an intentionally small studio. Character faces and animations don’t entirely escape the constraints of a moderate budget. Then again, what we saw was an early build. The world is believable and detailed. A day/night cycle, dynamic weather, and effective lighting make the environments feel alive.

One to Watch
I came to the preview knowing almost nothing about Of Ash and Steel. I came away excited to see — and play — much more of the game. It combines what we love about big, sprawling RPGs with an interface and mechanics that remove some of the old-school frustration. Fans of fantasy RPGs, survival, crafting, and open-world exploration will want to track this one through to release in 2025.

Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.

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