The Ellis Studios Tribute Thread

[Infinitron]

A thread dedicated to keeping track of the Codex's most prolific indie RPG developer, kieferd20. Because if you aren't releasing a new game every two weeks, you're not a true professional.

Threads

Savage Bliss: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/savage-bliss-an-epic-open-world-rpg.110919/ 13/9/2016
Realm of Darkness: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/another-great-indie-crpg-realm-of-darkness.111038/ 20/9/2016
Humans and Monsters: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/humans-and-monsters.111278/ 2/10/2016
Isinica Clash of Magic: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/isinica-clash-of-magic-is-finally-released.111663/ 26/10/2016
Sacred Blade: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...-upon-the-famous-dungeons-and-dragons.112194/ 10/11/2016
Wheel of Time Legends: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...f-time-legends-based-off-the-1st-book.112146/ 21/11/2016
Secrets of the Guild: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/secrets-of-the-guild.112719/ 26/12/2016
Mines of Grimvale: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...-a-pc-3d-rpg-similar-to-dungeon-maste.113629/ 14/2/2017
Cave of Sorrows: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/cave-of-sorrows-dungeons-and-dragons-clone.113738/ 19/2/2017
Soul of War: https://rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/soul-of-war-inspired-by-dungeons-dragons.132310/ 20/3/2020

Websites

Ellis Studios: http://ellisstudios.org/
Dragon Game Designs: http://dragongamedesigns.com/

Indie DB

Ellis Studios: https://www.indiedb.com/company/ellis-studios
Dragon Game Designs: https://www.indiedb.com/company/dragon-game-designs
Fishdog Games: https://www.indiedb.com/members/fishdoggames

Itch.io

Ellis Studios: https://kieferd20.itch.io/
Dragon Game Designs: https://dragongamedesigns.itch.io/
Lord Blackthorne: https://blackthornelord.itch.io/
Fishdog Games: https://fishdog-games.itch.io/

Kickstarters

Humans and Monsters: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/406176324/humans-and-monsters
Isinica Clash of Magic: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/406176324/isinica-clash-of-magic/
Cave of Sorrows: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/759393997/cave-of-sorrows
Sacred Lands: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sacred-lands-rpg#/

YouTube

Dawn Kiefer: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmd5jRu_TBSxcDtkUNeSG9w
John Wilson: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrZjaie0u_t0TpszacGGEyw
John Wilson (2): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXostWvMUq8z3iSGvcrsd8g
Diana Ash: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCft1BVuPAZMGscVAmHVujYA
Grinding Game Studios GGS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI89TmQIoi7106pAaI0AZqQ
Lord Blackthorne: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcVZ04e-NeloP2S7a4hVhLg
Fishdog Games: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-KY2OzPsSaYMoJBUVuk9RA
James Wilson: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5qG3O9os14Q_zUmBp8trcQ

Twitter

Jamie Ellis: https://twitter.com/EllisKieferd20

 

[Infinitron]

BTW, here's what happened to Wheel of Time Legends:

 

[Projas]

This developer already gave me more joy than Bioware did in the last ten years and I haven't even played any of their games.

 

[Somberlain]

Each of these games is probably better than the shit from Cucksidian and inEptile.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Shit, I bought only three.

 

[Infinitron]

The game "Tides of Wrath" doesn't have a Codex thread, but we did get a message from kieferd20 about it on October 14th:

We have finished Tides of Wrath...Can you put it up when you have time? We are in the process of getting it on steam but right now its on itch and indiegogo
Here is the website
http://ellisstudios.org/tow/index.html

We are getting alot of good feedback on it...Even had people say it reminds them of wow
All the bugs have been worked out and it has been play tested and play tested.

Thank You very much for all your help!

Jamie
Ellis Studios

 

[pippin]

Best thing to happen to indie crpgs since Spiderweb

 

[Infinitron]

From the Humans and Monsters Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/project...ers/comments?cursor=14639642#comment-14639641

Mary Logan on October 12
To those considering backing this project, beware. This game uses content not made by Jamie Ellis. Ellis has taken screenshots of game maps made by others from Deviant Art and claimed that he has made them. Here are some links of maps that can be seen in the screenshots of this campaign:
http://tensen01.deviantart.com/art/Unnamed-Fantasy-World-Map-136525669
http://sillouete.deviantart.com/art/Forest-3-RPG-Maker-Parallax-Practice-425523342

In addition, this "game" is already being sold by Ellis on a couple of different sites, his personal one and itch.io. https://kieferd20.itch.io/humans-and-monsters

The itch.io page shows yet another stolen screenshot, as seen on this DA account. http://hypersnake22.deviantart.com/art/Halterock-Full-view-155359644

This is not an attack or slander, simply a comment to let the buyer beware that this creator is not honest.

Jamie Ellis 2-time creator on October 12
To Mary Logan...All the art belongs to us. It is not stolen, You got it out for us for no reason just because you do not like the game. You have been harrasing us and it should stop.

Mary Logan on October 12
No it's not the case. I'd never heard of your game before today and other than the fact that you took screenshots of maps others made and used them in your game, I know nothing about it. I'm just trying to give a heads up to those who might put their money into this game.

Jamie Ellis 2-time creator on October 12
Yes it is the case....There is not one thing in my game that belongs to anyone else but Ellis Studios. And yes I do know of you...your from that rpgmakerweb.com website, you guys do not like me because we do not create jrpg console style games.

Mary Logan on October 12
Yes, I am from that site, which is how I learned of your game and that you are using materials that are not your own, when a member provided proof that one of the maps in your screenshots was in fact his. I have provided links with evidence. If I am wrong, please, by all means prove me wrong.

And please note, I am not acting in any official capacity from that site. I'm simply someone who gets irritated with others trying to make a fast buck by stealing from others who have put time and effort in.

Jamie Ellis 2-time creator on October 12
Well...All i can say is you are wrong, nothing i have is from anyone else. but thats ok you keep doing what your doing. please refrain from turning my comment page into a forum!

Mary Logan on October 12
Then provide the proof. I will happily apologize if you can show some evidence.

Jamie Ellis 2-time creator on October 26
Thank you to all my backers but I have decided to close this down, due to lies in the comments. Mary Logan has been found out to be lieing, but the damage has already been done. and kick starter would not take her comments down, I just felt it very unfair that someone can leave any type of comment they want just cause they do not like you or your project.

Those images appear to have been removed from the Kickstarter page.

 

[Zdzisiu]

From the Humans and Monsters Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/project...ers/comments?cursor=14639642#comment-14639641

Ah a classic case of quick cashgrab with stolen assets.

If only I would not be so honest, I could have been rich, I tell you!

Also, the whole Studio is weird as fuck, they keep pumping shovelware quality games every two months, trying to earn a buck here and there, spamming the codex with different accounts. I have this sneaking suspicion that they might be somewhere from Eastern Europe.

 

[Infinitron]

I have this sneaking suspicion that they might be somewhere from Eastern Europe.

Nah, they're actually a weird old couple from rural Pennsylvania (I found their Facebook profiles, but won't post here because it's not relevant to their games).

Made me feel a bit sorry for them TBH - trying to make ends meet by putting together bits and pieces of RPGMaker games and selling them like garage sale knick-knacks. It's possible the reason they're not on Steam Greenlight is that they can't afford the $100 fee.

 

[Bester]

It's possible the reason they're not on Steam Greenlight is they can't afford the $100 fee.

With Steam's DMCA system, they wouldn't last there even a day.

 

[Infinitron]

Looks like the drama leaked onto RPGWatch too: https://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1061418363#post1061418363
https://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1061418897#post1061418897

 

[an Administrator]

Dramatic couple

 

[Drowed]

And Cleve did all his drama using just one game. Phsss... Amateur.

 

[Mustawd]

Well…I would like to say one thing, then you all can go about saying whatever you want. We did not steal any maps or art! nothing in our games is stolen! Humans and monsters is a totally different game than Isinica the battle systems are not even close to the same. We had used some images of maps that came with our packages just to show off the maps, and Mary Logan over at the rpgmaker website already did not like us cause she thinks we are damaging jrpgs we had it out with them months ago. They hate old school rpgs. if its not anim they don't like it. She told lies and said we were using stuff that was not ours in our games, it was not true. everyone who plays Isinica has loved it. We took Humans and monsters off kickstarter because of her lies she told. And to you Ripper you are doing the same thing she was doing over at rpgmaker site months ago. no matter what we post or what we say about anything you got something against us. It really does not matter to us what anyone thinks. We won't be responding to this post anylonger take it down as far as we care! All we were doing was showing off art thats it. and we did not copy and paste from one kick starter to the next so stop spreading more lies. Isinica is not humans and monsters it has been in development for 1 year!
And the reason we have a kickstarter project is for help with promotion and marketing there is nothing wrong with that!

Reminds me of:

 

[Nekot-The-Brave]

I'm not sure how you could write a 300+ hour adventure every 2 weeks. Unless they've discovered the secret of time...

 

[k0syak]

Came upon the WoT-game thread, tried googling it - nothing, so I reported the poster, but now kinda feeling sad for them rather then smug.
Did anyone here play/finish something of theirs?

 

[Infinitron]

They're baaaaaack: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...-a-pc-3d-rpg-similar-to-dungeon-maste.113629/

 

[pippin]

butt biting rpgs

 

[Infinitron]

And just five days later, another one: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/cave-of-sorrows-dungeons-and-dragons-clone.113738/

 

[Keye_]

What's their most acclaimed game on the codex? A good starting point for playing their games? Are they available on steam or GOG?

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

I have Sacred Blade and Secrets of the Guild. Haven't played much of SotG yet, but I had a few first impressions for Sacred Blade.

Sacred Blade impressions - https://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34843

I can say that the games appear to use a D&D-style ruleset, with similar spells, stats and that sort of thing. I also noticed some weirdness in the game, such as some balance issues, typos and repeating characters from game to game.

I dunno. honestly can't figure them out. The developers, I mean. I chat occasionally with one of them and they seem nice enough, so I guess just take it for what it is. Try a game of theirs and see if you like it. Keep your expectations low.

And their new game, Caves of Sorrow, actually looks and sounds pretty promising, IMO. I'd play it.

 

[Projas]

What's their most acclaimed game on the codex?

Impossible to determine, as there probably isn't anyone who played more than one. Most of them seem to be slightly different version of the same game.

 

[Deleted Member 16721]

crpgnut on the 'Watch has played them all. He says they are alright and worth the money, but have repeating content from game to game.

 

[Projas]

That's some impressive dedication. I thought most of them couldn't even be finished because of game breaking bugs.