This will be an ongoing series of MEET A DEV where our team chimes in on various aspects of the game's development. It might be showing off what we're building, crowd sourcing some creative choices, talking about what we had for breakfast, etc.
FIRST UP..... Jon, our Head of Game Design to talk about FOLLOWERS!
Hey!
I’m Jon, the guy behind the game design on JOIN US. Today I want to talk about how we make every cult feel unique, starting with your Followers. In JOIN US, your most valuable resource isn't rocks and wood -- it's human beings.
When Followers die in combat, they usually stay dead. Emphasis on usually.
Running a doomsday cult actually means taking good care of your people. A real cult leader doesn’t bark orders. They inspire. Lead the vibe, don’t micromanage it.
There’s no main playable character in JOIN US. Anyone who joins your cult can be controlled/possessed as the player. We’re all just different tentacles of the same cosmic octopus called life. Some tentacles are weaker than others… but that’s part of the fun. You'll find your favorite cult members.
Just some cultists out for a drive. Perfectly normal, perfectly healthy.
You manage your cult in two ways:
- Swap into a Follower and take direct control
- Or let them live their daily lives, guided by your teachings
And when you do swap into one of them, you actually see the world through their eyes—equipment, skills, experience level, etc. What’s cool is that they keep progressing even when you’re not piloting them. We expect players to bond with someone, leave them alone for a bit, then come back and go: “Uhh... Mrs. Moonlight… you’ve changed since last time. What did you get yourself into?”
Praising the fledgling fruit trees under a full moon. Because, why not.
This isn’t an RTS where Followers wait for your next click. Your Followers have their own needs, goals, and personalities—and you influence their behavior through the beliefs, rituals, and the lifestyle you define for the cult. The Followers in a meth-addicted cannibal cult do not behave like a chill vegan deer-riding commune. Some followers will be jamming peacefully around a drum circle. Others might decide that same circle should become a violent mosh pit. It gets weird fast.
In co-op it gets weirder even faster-er.
Party rocking with the buddies.
Every follower has their own personality, skills and quirks. You’ll end up with favorites… and other Followers you may or may not use to test the efficiency of those plastic explosives you just built. No judgment.