Airship Syndicate, developers of the upcoming online co-op RPG Wayfinder, love colorful worlds. No wonder why. The team’s co-founder, artist and creative his director Joe Madureira traces its roots to the equally vibrant world of professional comics.
It’s a legacy that can be clearly seen in the bold and vibrant character designs of the famous Wayfinder itself. These are the heroes brought back from the dead to push back against hostile forces in an ever-expanding and thriving online world when Early Access launches on August 15th.
On the way to the first release, we sat down with Joe to discuss how Wayfinder came about and what makes it so special for both of us to play. and create.
Where does the design of Wayfinder start? Does it start with an idea of what the character should look like, or does the design come from gameplay?
Joe Madureira: It’s definitely both. Sometimes I start with a theme in mind, like with Venomes. we say “Wouldn’t it be cool if we had some kind of poisoner character?” Do we already have characters that deal damage over time? Do we want that too?
Other times, we take a step back and realize we don’t have enough ranged characters or feature enough specific types of weapons to show players what’s possible. Sometimes we take advantage of those kinds of concessions to at least narrow things down.
But sometimes I start drawing something cool and see where it goes.
Why did you build a game based on Wayfinders instead of traditional custom RPG characters?
That’s because I actually started with a more blank slate, with generic characters choosing a class such as Rogue or Warrior. We first started with a warrior design with a classic sword and shield, and from there we started developing very basic combat. He then embarked on the Rogue archetype and eventually he became Silo.
What actually prompted the change was sketching what would become Silo with a slightly more modern feel. His shoes are a little more sneaker-y, and look a little more “sporty tactical gear” rather than the typical Fantasy Ranger kind of thing.
At that point, everyone who saw it said that Silo had more personality than a blank mannequin. We wanted to feature characters with their own backstories. Working on a game like Ruined King at Riot Games, we realized that we didn’t rely on our strengths enough.
So we re-evaluated the other classes in Cooker and thought, “What if this was a Paladin?” What if he wasn’t a 30-year-old stallion, but older and grizzled? What can we build from it? “
With these early pieces in place, the rest of the puzzle begins to make sense.
Is there anything about Wayfinder that you’re particularly proud of?
At this point, I think we’ve done a good job of telling each character’s story in-game, but that’s something we’re always looking to expand.
This discovery system now also exists outside of each character. More lore and some rewards can be obtained by visiting different locations and interacting with certain objects. Within that system, each character also has its own quest that starts a new chapter based on how many discoveries you make.
They’re all personalized, so Senja has its own questlines that Silo doesn’t, but we want them all to culminate in a special way. However, even if you complete it, that’s just the end of the first chapter. We plan to add more in the future.
I know it’s hard to choose, but do you have a personal favorite Wayfinder so far?
To be honest, it was probably Nith, but I think Senja was more unexpected. I wasn’t sure if she could combine her abilities with her personality, how her audience cheered around her and how her rose petals fluttered every time she attacked.
I think she was the first wayfinder that felt so unique. “She has to push other people a little bit more…” she said. Senja set the standard and it really encouraged us to stick to it, so we’re going to try more fun things like that.
Wayfinder enters early access on PS4 and PS5 on August 15th. Season 1 puts the spotlight on Venometh, a wayfinder who loves to play with his prey, easily switching between ranged and melee combat. Her chemicals can poison her enemies and strengthen allies, and her thrusters give her tremendous mobility.
You can support Wayfinder’s development and enter early access by purchasing any of the four Founder’s Packs available on the PlayStation Store. In addition to early access, the Founder will unlock a series of exclusive, limited-time rewards that will never be available again on Wayfinder, including characters such as Hyroic Kyros, his skins, unique weapons and vehicles. You can also upgrade your Founder’s Pack at any time via the PlayStation Store.
