Terrain of Magical Expertise (RPG)

Terrain of Magical Expertise is a RPG video game adaptation developed by 1C Entertainment, Neo-C Productions LLC and Chris Niosi, based on his well-known series of the same name. This adaptation bears an alternative timeline separate from the TOME series and it's TV TOME Adventures incarnation with new designs and a new storyline.
The game consists of the player, who will play a nameless semi-customable White Hat Hacker character, joining alongside the Dandy Alliance to face off against new enemies and learn new techniques. The game is stylised and played similarly to Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario, and Mario & Luigi, where the players are given options and button pressing maneuvers to progress in the game.
A Kickstarter for the adaption was launched on September 29th, 2017 at 12:00 PST for a goal of $75,000. In the span of 48 hours, the campaign reached far beyond its goal, passing the second stretch goal. The campaign ended on November 4, 2017 with a total of $111,162; which is a slight homage to Kirbopher's known "Kirbopher1111" screen name.
Niosi is directing, writing and animating all of the character designs for the project. Niosi, Mike Luckas and Zack Frost are designing characters for the game. Luckas reworked the overall appearance of the Dandy Alliance with some tweaks from Niosi. Michael Scott Prinke is the head game developer and programmer of the project. Yoav Landau and Weston Durant return to the project as composers and sound designers. Blake Swift also returns to do sound design for the game and reprise his role as Alpha in the first initial demos.
The game not only features reworks of the designs but also new additional characters and internet guest-spots of well known internet personalities such as The Game Theorists members, as well as Puddin' and Dumplin' created by Nick Landis, Grant Smith, and Kirran Somerlade from their Dragonball Xenoverse mods and even artificial monsters are shown in the game. Similar to the series, fans of the show also contribute with character designs to serve as background characters or fightable opponents in the game by backing through the Kickstarter. Based on the selective tier, participants are given a survey and an Assignment-of-Rights contract permitting the team to use the likeness of their characters as well as the ability to provide any necessary information or material for the character. Backers who donate to the highest tiers gain direct contact with Niosi in terms of design and their characters will be featured as important opponents in the game. There were many occasions where alternative contests have taken place which allowed fans whom either backed the original campaign or have not to be given an opportunity to be placed in the game regardless, most of which involved a contest of sorts.
The game, initially set to release in 2020; which is the exact date that states the release of the MMORPG TOME within the web series, was released on September 9, 2021 on Steam. Two free demos featuring an early take on the game (one from the game's pre-production released during the campaign's launching and one from an early version of the complete Chapter 1 without voices released in March 2021) we're released on the official TOME RPG itch.io (initially just named chrisniosi.itch.io after the creator). Another demo, which partially shows the beginning of Chapter 1 of the finalized game, was only available from June 2021 to July 2021 in Stream to promote the final production of the game.
==History and Production==
According to creator Chris Niosi, the development of the game dated back since the original series' concept in 2004. Niosi initially wanted to develop a linear Flash grid-based RPG game based on his experiences role playing with his friends online, but his interest in animation led him to develop the story into a 76-episode series for Newgrounds entitled "TV Tome Adventures".
Around 2010, years after the conclusion of the original series, Niosi thought of developing an episodic based Flash platform game involving the player having the ability to switch characters and face on enemies from the series. Due to the lack of resources for a programmer, much like it's predecessor, it led to the development of the 2011-2014 web series.
During mid-production of the second series, a party-like board multiplayer game was taken in consideration in which four players would travel in a grid-based platform while facing several surprising enemies. The game would've taken place in-between the first and second season of the second series and Niosi has also began working on a serious game story for the concept. Due to dysfunctional issues between Niosi and the acquired programmer as well as the concept having both too much innovations and an ambitious but unique concept, development fell through as a result.
On 2016, during the release of the finale of the second series, the decision to make the game a turn-based RPG has been finalized. The initial concept was to have the show taken place in a fantasy setting with the main cast performing in-character until the ending reveals it to be a tabletop-esque roleplay from the start. However, under the influence of YouTuber James Rolfe's review on "Atari: Soulquest", the main story as well as the inclusion of the "Campaign of Champions" arc was developed instead. After acquiring a development team and raising a crowdfunding campaign, production for the final game officially began.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlAYhaKbx3A
==Story (Under Construction)==
=== Intro: First Login! A Mysterious White-Hat Hacker makes the Scene! ===
In the year 2020, a benign hacker known as the White Hat Hacker, nicknamed "Hatty", downloads a copy of the MMORPG TOME in order to investigate suspicious activity during the "Campaign of Champions" event by orders from "Yuno Hu". After going through the customization process (as in going for the basic version for their in-game character), they find themself on the Zen Hub, and as they head to Edodes Woods, they are stopped by a winged young man named Alpha, who asks if he can tag along to find a friend of his. 
After arriving in Fimicola Fields, Hatty and Alpha are jumped by a robot in a blue cloak, who is revealed to be Alpha's friend, Kirbopher. They then head to the next stage, where they meet the leader of the guild Kirbopher is a part of, Flamegirl, reporting suspicious activity to a moderator. She then has to depart to find their other guild member, and Kirb goes with her after teaching Hatty and Alpha the ropes. Alpha goes with Hatty to explore more of Fimicola Fields before running into a three-man guild of cheaters known as "The Trouble Makers", lead by Rockoon, who then fights the duo in order to test their hacking abilities. However, they are foiled thanks to Hatty's "debug" foiling the guild's every attempt at hacking, forcing Rockoon to call it a draw. Just then, the rest of the Alliance catches up, forcing the The Trouble Makers to flee. Seeing that the two managed to scare them off, who had been causing the Dandy Alliance trouble in the event, Flamegirl asks if Alpha and Hatty can join their guild for the sake of winning the "Campaign of Champions" event, with the prize of $20,000. They agree, and thus, Hatty's adventure in TOME begins...
=== Week 1: Edodes Woods ===
==== Bitter Rivalry! The Dandy Alliance VS. The Cast 'O Dreams ====
==== Nylocke's Glorious Quest! Seeking Relics in the Forest Maze ====
==== Hatty's Day Off! An Unusual Encounter with Fellow Hackers ====
==== The First Regional Event! Purification of the Shadowbeast ====
=== Week 2: Morganite Valley ===
==== An Unexpected Rift! The Search for 10 Precious Gemstones ====
==== New Bonds are Formed! Flamegirl's Secret Ambitions ====
==== Sinister Serpentine Slithers In! Nylocke's Lesson in Loyalty ====
==== Friends and Foes! The Karmic Blossom and the End-All Be-All ====
==== Secrets Revealed! The Dandy Alliance Finally Reunites ====
==== But That's JUST a Theory! An Old Grudge-Match Finally Settled ====
==== The Second Regional Event! Attending the Grand Glistening Ball ====
=== Week 3: Telluria City ===
==== The Hard-Boiled Telluria City! Alpha Pretends he's in Vegas ====
==== Race to the Finish! An Adventure on the Silva Isle Track ====
==== A Surprise Rap-Off!? Chasing After the Mysterious Musician ====
==== It's the Bandits' Way! Chasing the Thieving Trouble Makers ====
==== Making a Comeback! The Dandy Alliance+ is Born ====
==== The Third Regional Event! A Rescue Mission to the Skyscraper's Top ====
=== Week 4: Orange Island ===
==== An Important Decision! The Fourth and Final Week Begins ====
While talking with Tigerlily on Speak-E, she states that it would be wise to tell the Alliance everything so that they can be prepared. You are then given the option to come clean or say nothing. 
==== Flamegirl's Resolve! A Treasure-Hunting Pirate Adventure ====
==== Dragon of the Cold Steel! Sir Nylocke and the Tales of the Terrain ====
==== Is Redemption Really Possible? The Splintered Trouble Makers' Return ====
==== Reach the Top Floor! Revelations in the Honeydew Hotel ====
==== Duel with a Dragon! Hatty's Side-Quest Extravaganza ====
==== The Fourth Regional Event! Entering the Mouth of Mount Mulberry ====
=== Week 5: Highlight Heavens ===
==== Let's Chat! A Soft Moment of Reprieve for Our Heroes ====
After finally getting a spot in the Campaign, the Dandy Alliance have a chat meeting on Speak-E to talk with each other and to strategize before the last event.
==== The Day Before the End! Looking Back on an Incredible Journey ====
==== Battle On, 'Til The End! Taking on The Conclave of Courage ====
===Endings===
====Good Ending Part 1: Together We Shout as One====
This ending appears when you vanquish Zetto during the final trial of the Campaign of Champions. The Dandy Alliance are proclaimed victors in the Campaign, and everyone is excited over her victory. The following few months later, Alpha orchastrates a congratulating party to celebrate the Dandy Alliance's victory inviting the Tales of the Terrain, Cast O'Dreams and The Trouble Makers guild with Gamesoft bringing in Crashr as well. Flamegirl begins her speech thanking every one of her friends and close ones for helping her reach her goal and that she wouldn't have made it this far without their help, with the speech finally closing with Alpha performing the song "Together We Shout as One!" albeit with credits fading.
====Good Ending Part 2: Battle On====
This ending appears only if you defeat Giga-M in a match after recovering the Rainbow Cubes, thus receiving his gifted camera. This ending is a continuation of the first good ending. After the concert, everyone cheers until they stop once they realize they're paid a visit to Flamegirl's sister and former fellow TOME member, Lady Dandelion. Dandelion commemorates the song and keeps stating that new adventures and heroes await and tells them to "Battle On". At the last moment, the gang get together for a final photoshoot with the White Hat wielding the camera and the game ends with a final still of all of the parties, the Dandy Alliance and Lady Dandelion huddled together with the tag-line "Til the Next Adventure!".
====Bad Ending Part 1: Absolute Defeat====
This ending appears if you either lose; 
* Any of the trials after concluding the runner-up bracket in the Campaign. 
* During Chapter 4 against The New Victors.
* Zetto in the final fight.
Flamegirl sends a message to the Dandy Alliance thanking them for everything and that she's going to spend time offline to figure things out. The Dandy Alliance minus Flamegirl go through a Speak-E meeting up in a rut on what they should do. Alpha and Kirbopher suggest a fundraiser which Gamesoft agrees to and Tigerlily is obsessed on how Zetto got away with cheating. The WHH private messages Zetto threatening to expose him to the mods for his cheating if he doesn't meet him for a one-on-one solo match. After meeting in Morganite Valley, Zetto pokes fun at the White Hat's intress for facing Zetto despite their setbacks and demands to know if Tigerlily was involved in his decision. If Zetto loses the match, he would have to relinquish half of the funds to the White Hat. Towards the end of this ending, the White Hat loses and Zetto runs off laughing victoriously. The game concludes with the alternative, monochromatic credits.
====Bad Ending Part 2: Victor's Pity====
The ending occurs if the White Hat Hacker flees from mid-battle. Zetto victoriously laughs at the White Hat's expense for backing out and agrees to pitifully send him the half when he receives the money. Back at the Speak-E, the Dandy Alliance surprise Flamegirl revealing that they have susccessfully crowdfunded the money she needs for her sister's medical costs which she cries tears of joy for. They also revealed that the goal was met because of an anonymous $10,000 donation. After everyone leaves the chat, Tigerlily confronts the WHH revealing they donated to the campaign. While Tigerlily was glad the money was raised, she still has some resentment on how Zetto got away with cheating and the two vowed that he will be dealt with in the future.
====Bad Ending Part 3: Bittersweet Victory====
The ending occurs if the White Hat Hacker defeats Zetto alone. Zetto immediately becomes outraged on how the White Hat was able to defeat him. Much like the previous bad ending, he agrees to relinquish the cut to him but also demands that he never speaks to him or mention his loss to anyone. The ending concludes as the same as the second bad ending.
==Characters==
===Playable (Dandy Alliance)===
*White Hat Hacker
*Alpha
*Flamegirl
*Kirbopher
*Nylocke
*Gamesoft
*Tigerlily
===Supporting Characters===
*Cast O'Dreams (Saturndiva, Snowhyti, Sniperyda, Asterologist, T-Bones, Grounda, Hyprelynx, Thunderlinks)
*Pawneeko (shopkeeper)
*Nita (shopkeeper)
*Black and White Knights
*Black and White Bishops, Rooks and Pawns
*Andeva & Foreva
*Villagers/Citizens
*Fairy (resembles SOFDTI)
*Cashierre
*Faelions
*Crashr
*The Prisoner
*Potion Seller
*Lady Dandelion
===Netkings===
*Webmaster
*Chief Bitopio
*Queen Ruleruby
*President Execk
*Empress Kindarspirit
===Dojo Masters===
*Bolemoor
*Morgani
*Jett
*Syrinlass
=== Important NPC's ===
* Bincho
* Ute
* Fanghoul
* Completeboy
* Captain Gast
* Chef Boo
* Takahata
* Rook
* Pebla
* Highspirit
* VGCats (Leo and Aeris)
===Opponents===
*Zetto
*The New Victors (Neomutant, Technote, Abombaton, Kilamari)
*The Troublemakers (Rockoon, Skeight, Archy)
*The Tales of the Terrain (Sir Maximore, Galantaz, Serpentine, Demonking)
*Monsters
*The Soupy Slime Siblings (Doubling, Splat)
*Ravenfreak
*Dustbunny
*Odboll
*The Twin Blades of Night and Day (Sunlong and Meiden)
*Torchura and Tormenta
*Pheturin
*Smooch
*Okra
*Kajet
*Dragon Bug
*Quiztal
*Ruri
*Silicarnage
*Erythrothorax
*Comn-Der
*Min-Secro
*Max-Secro
*The Game Theorists (Mattheorist, Stephastream, Gaijingoom, Auscientist)
*Giga-M
*Backer Characters
===Demo-exclusive characters===
*Ronnieditor
*Father-Daughter Team (Puddin and Dumplin) 
== Voice cast ==
*Morgan Berry - White Hat Hacker
*Alejandro Saabs - Alpha
*Aaron Dismuke - Kirbopher
*Faye Mata - Flamegirl
*Meli Grant - Gamesoft
*Mick Lauer - Nylocke
*Eric Vale - Zetto
*Elsie Lovelock - Tigerlily
*Mona Marshall - Webmaster
*Michael Sorich - Chief Bitopio
*Linda Young - Queen Ruleruby
*Mike Pollock - President Execk
*G. K. Bowes - Empress Kindarspirit
*Ricco Fajardo - Andeva
*Trina Nishimura - Foreva
*Kyle McCarley - Bolemoor
*Chris Hackney - Morgani
*Sean Chiplock - Jett
*Cassie Ewulu - Syrinlass
*Caitlin Glass - Saturndiva
*Xanthe Huynh - Snowhyti
*Laila Berzins - Sniperyda
*Connor Colquhoun - Asterologist
*Zeno Robinson - Rockoon
*Michael Kovach - Skeight
*Griffin Puatu - Archy
*Brendan Blader - Ravenfreak
*Dani Chambers - Dustbunny
*Kellen Goff - Odboll
*Joshua Tomar - T-Bones
*Brina Palencia - Grounda
*Yun-I Chang - Sunlong
*Jenny Yokorobi - Meiden
*Ciaran Strange - Hyprelynx
*Brandon Winckler - Thunderlynx
*Ruth Jarman - Torchura
*Tiana Camacho - Tormenta
*Clifford Chaplin - Okra 
*Brittany Lauda - Splat
*Matt Shipman - Doubling
*Orijin - Pheturin
*Jameson Diaz - Smooch
*Chris Zito - Neomutant
*Marc Swint - Technote
*Alex Gross - Abombaton
*Kayli Mills - Kilamari
*Michael Johnston (credited as Philip Lanmont) - CrashR
*Edywn Tiong - Giga-M
*Kira Buckland - The Prisoner
*Matthew Patrick - Mattheorist
*Stephanie Patrick - Stephastream
*Michael Sundman - Gaijingoom
*Austin Hourigan - Auscientist
===Additional voices===
*Chris O'Neill
*Edwyn Tiong - Citizens, Announcer
*Kira Buckland - Citizens
*Grant Kirkhope
*Chris Sutherland
*Bryce Papenbrook
*Carol Anne-Day
*Lucas Gilbertson
*Laila Berzins
*Sean Chiplock
*Curtis Arnott - Takahata
*Jirard Khalil - Completeboy
*Justin Kuritzkes - Potion Seller
*Chris Niosi
===Demo voices===
*Curtis Arnott - Dumplin'
==Character Creation==
Much like the original web series, there is a system all players must go through to create their characters. However, this system is a bit more "specific" than the one from the original. There are many subcategories one must go through; Race, Appearance (Height, Weight, Headwear), Class, Elemental Alignment, Combat Class, 2nd Special and Name. 
===Race===
*Humanoid: The most Human-looking; extends to fantasy-type beings like Elves and Orcs, etc.
*Animalistic: Beings with creature-like qualities; anything from mammals to reptiles to even plants!
*Cybernetic: Robots, Androids, or any sort of lifeforms heavily altered by technology.
*Morphological: Shapeshifters made of slime, rocks, vapor, or other unusual substances. 
===Elemental Alignment===
*Natural (Natr): Those that are one with nature; represents plants, air, and the earth itself. Overpowers electronic technology and some Natural attacks can temporarily turn you into a Flower that can only defend itself and strike opponents. 
*Technical (Tech): Those that are proficient in technology; represents steel, electricity, and lightning. Cancels out mysticism with science! Some Technical attacks can Paralyze you, decreasing your stats and possibly skipping your turn!
*Crystal (Crys): Those that embrace magic and mysticism as fact; represent ice, water, and stone. Defeats the darkness of demonic fire and some Crystal attacks can Encase you, causing you to lose a turn unless you're broken out of your prison by your own force of will or a powerful-enough enemy attack!
*Infernal (Infr): Those who embrace the 'misunderstood' demonic arts; represent fire and even a touch of darkness. It burns the precious nature of the world to the ground and some Infernal attacks can Curse you to be burned by a haunting flame when you start your turn. 
*Neutral (Neut): Those who are balanced in their expertise and don't necessarily align themselves with one specific element. They are capable of learning many types of techniques but don't have any particular elemental strengths and weaknesses. 
===Combat Class===
*Brawler: Specializes in hand-to-hand combat; higher focus on speed to quickly take down enemies. Can perform Strike combos of up to 6-Hits!
*Spellcaster: Specializes in magic usage; higher focus on MagicAttack and MagicDefense to reign your various techniques upon the enemy! 
*Weaponary: Specializes in a particular type of weapon; higher focus on AttackPower and DefensePower to beat down enemies in one fell swoop with Critical Hits!
==Mini-Games==
Several minigames will take place within the game. Some include but not limited to:
*Dojo battles between the White Hat Hacker and the Dojo Masters allowing the character to unlock a new ability.
*Three race-based minigames took place within Morganite Valley and Telluria City. In Morganite Valley, a minecart race occurs where players jump on minecarts and race against one another. A racing game in Telluria City also takes place in which players have the option to choose 1 out of 3 names for the car the Dandy Alliance will drive.
*Three rhythm games where the players have to face their opponents' performances and play through notes (Pheturin, Smooch and Empress Kindarspirit) in order to proceed on the stage.
*Three casino-inspired minigames will take place in the Telluria City's Casino area, allowing players to wager and/or win subsequent amounts of Netti per play (roulette, slot machines, blackjack).
*Frequent debug attacks by the White Hat often result in a small mini-game of sorts, which will lead to a successful hack if the game is completed succesfully. The Trouble-Makers have a Pong-esque game where the paddle must hit Rockoon, Ravenfreak has a Space Invaders-esque game, Dustbunny has a Frogger-esque game and Neomutant has a jumping-platform based game.
==Trivia==
*This is the first TOME-based project since TV TOME Adventures where Mike Luckas was involved visually in the production.
*The game is so-far only to be released on Steam for PC and Mac. Although console and mobile support (e.g. Nintendo Switch, Xbox One) is also taken to consideration, several factors such as publishing deals make the option less likely. Although PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS support is out of the question. However, on May 18, 2021, it was revealed that 1C Entertainment will be publishing the game, however Niosi revealed that console support can only happen if the game becomes popular enough.
*This game features an entirely new voice cast different from the franchise's previous incarnations, as Niosi wanted the game to be distinguished from the original web-series due to it's own separate continuity. However, several of the original cast reprised their roles for the original itch.io demos:
**The Dandy Alliance and Rockoon were the only characters to have their voice actors reprise their roles from the TOME web series for the demo. TOME actors Kira Buckland (whom played Foreva in the web series) and Edwyn Tiong (whom played Giga in the web series) also voiced several utility players in the game. Mick Lauer, whom voices Nylocke in the RPG, previously played the Questgiver in the web series episode "Fraggedquest". Bryce Papenbrook (whom played ChaseAce in the web series) is voices numerous incidentals in the game. Mona Marshall, whom voices Webmaster in the RPG, previously played Bishipp in the web series. Michael Johnston (credited as his stage name Philip Lamont), voice of Crashr, previously voiced incidental character Bubb among other voices in the web series. Chris O'Neill, who voices MaxSecRo and Com-Nder, previously voiced a parody of his Chris character from his web series, Hellbenders, whom appeared in the episode "Infectuation".
**Also, as voice acting is mostly prioritized to the main and major characters, as well as technical and time constraits of the process, Backers do not have the option of providing the voices for their characters. Backer characters whom returned from the 2011 web series (ex; Kurosiv, Kaptain Man) were also subsequently recasted.
**Chris Zito is the only voice actor in the RPG adaption to reprise their role from the franchise's original TV Tome Adventures iteration for the game series, as Neomutant.
**Edwyn Tiong is the only voice actor in the RPG adaption to reprise his role from all the franchise's iterations, as he is confirmed to return as Giga in the RPG adaption.
*Chris Niosi confirmed that selective characters from the TOME web series and it's predecessor TV TOME Adventures would return for the game, as well as new characters for the game.
*So far, only Russians and Mandarin Chinese translations are being developed for the game.
*The reason for the game to not be an actual MMORPG as depicted in the web series is not only due to the new direction they want to exploit for the game but also because of the limitations that there small team has.
*The character animations are done in Flash CS6 while the game engine is built in Unity. Initially the animators were exported into heavy JPEG sequences which became a time consuming and heavy spaced process which resulted in the game's slow build but a plugin in Unity, which allowed more direct SWF edits, allowed the exporting to go at ease and allowed more builds such as 32-bit to be developed.
*Unlike the web series where real-life currency is issued, fictional currency is used within the game instead. The most common currency is Netti; often earned during battles. However, Telluria City also had an obscure currency known as Bincho Bucks, and the right amount can grant anyone access to a presidential conference hosted by Vice President Bincho.
*Rumor speculate that Mega Man voice artist Lucas Gilberton was amongst the cast for the video game, with his role non-mentioned. On August 31, 2021, Niosi confirmed that being the case.https://twitter.com/TOMERPG/status/1432750036912386060 Gilbertson voiced numerous backer characters in the game.
*Christopher "Adam" Tilford, whom has collaborated with Niosi on numerous occasions and contributed to the character Azureknight as a backer character, co-designed the boss character, Comn-Der, for the game.https://twitter.com/christilford/status/1425870305998819328
*According to Chris Niosi, the project was overbudget to the point where he used his own personal funds to continue production until the publisher's involvement allowed the production to continue. 
==Real-world connections / Allusions==
*The programs shown on the computer throughout the game are very reminiscent to many real-life programs and websites:
**The internet browser's icon looks like a mix design influenced from two browsing sites: Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge (and their pre-cursors Explorer).
**Speak-E is based on several video conference and instant messaging programs such as Discord and Skype. The use of the program as video conference as evidenced by NPC testimonies indicate that video-conference program Zoom was also an influence. The icons for each username on Speak-E also highlight when the user speaks mimics to that of Discord's voice chat function.
**The notes program is based on Windows' Sticky Notes program.
*In the game, Alpha and Kirbopher revealed to been friends since high school and Alpha moved away for college, which results to them communicating only via TOME and email. This is an in-direct reference to how creators Chris Niosi and Mike Luckas (whom Kirbopher and Alpha were modeled after) were best friends since high-school, and both initially developed the TOME concept in general when Luckas moved, as such there only means of communication was the defunct TV TOME forums.
*The COVID-19 pandemic was referenced throughout the game since the game takes place in the year 2020, which is roughly the same year the pandemic hit, such as in Chapter 1 where the backer character Soulstriker reminded his companion to "wear a mask" and "wash her hands", as well as some of the backer players remarking that the year 2020 was not a good year and the game became more populated as the players are on lockdown. Alpha briefly mentioned it as the "evil life-threatening virus" when Kirbopher reveals that him and Alpha would still have to keep a social distance when he visits him in real life. On Chapter 2, Nylocke reminds Kirbopher to wear a mask before taking a personal walk in real-life. Another backer character, Ravenwolfie, commented on how everything is done remotely online and she had to receive her graduation diploma via a video conference. On Chapter 3, Kirbopher mentioned that TOME was a great distraction for people has real-life has been hectic nowadays, hinting the pandemic. Another backer character, Lucy, reveals to be attracted to those whom are health conscious enough to wear masks. On Chapter 4, another backer character, Alex, mentions that "getting out" won't be an option for stressed players as the pandemic made it a not-so good idea. Towards the intermission of the Speak-E chat with the Dandy Alliance, Kirbopher hinders the thoughts of all of them meeting together in real life because the pandemic has not ended yet. On Zetto's speech for the Campaign of Champions, he remarks on how the world is on fire and everyone's stuck at home. On Snowhyti's speech, she remarks on how TOME brings people together as no one can meet in person. The opening also hints that as the narrator states that the year 2020 was when players are confined to their homes, with their eyes glued to their screens.
*Several cast and crew members of the TOME franchise/game (e.g. Casey Mongillo, Yoav Landau, Blake Swift) make guest cameos as NPCs in the game.
*On the TOME RPG "Name that Car" Contest video, one of the two example suggestions for the car name were "The Mauve Storm" and "The Dark Avenger". This is a callout to the Nickelodeon series, Hey Arnold!, as they we're the respective names of characters Arnold Shortman and Eugene Horowitz' go-karts.
*Two names Rockoon suggested for the Trouble-Makers we're "Team Rockem" and "Rocktoon Platoon". Team Rockem is a reference to Team Rocket from the Pokémon franchise, whom serve as a somewhat influence on The Trouble-Makers. Many of the TOME voice actors (including Niosi; which was his first VO job) also performed voices for the franchise. Rockoon Platoon is a reference to Deven Mack's casting service for freelance projects, Toon Platoon Casting. Coincidentally, Rockoon was the mascot for the company.
*Whenever characters' texts show a blatant "..." on their speech boxes, people remark that their doing the "Dot Dot Dot". This is an in-direct reference to Nylocke's VO Mick Lauer's animation from Newgrounds, "Dot Dot Dot", which was narrated by TOME cast member, Deven Mack.
*Three of the gems Queen Rulerubi jokingly mentioned that the players have to find, "Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl" is a nod to the characters from the hit Cartoon Network series, Steven Universe.
*Alpha refereed to the Killergraves as a "living tombstone", which is the moniker TOME composer Yoav Landau works under as "The Living Tombstone".
*Kirbopher called the Trouble-Makers at one point, "The Stupid Hat Club" and "The Mischief Makings". The former was a reference to the video game, Dust: An Elysian Tail. Many TOME alumni were cast and crew members in the game. The latter is a reference to the Nintendo 64 video game, Mischief Makers.
*Rockoon, in response to Archy asking that they'll do since the White Hat bypassed their hacking, says "The same thing we do in every fight, Archy." This is a direct reference to the opening of the animated series, Pinky and the Brain, often quoted by The Brain.
*The cat statues at the Moonstone Mines - Sector V area are based off of the characters Leo and Aeris, from the comic series "VGCats". Edwyn Tiong not only produced animated versions of the comic series on Newgrounds, but also reprised his role as Leo from the Newground series for the game.
*Kirbopher saying "The audience is now deaf" after an attempt of a battlecry when him and Nylocke used the Orb of Unity is a callout to a short reference gag in Tiny Toon Adventures movie, How I Spent My Summer Vacation. Coincidentally, the name of the series was an influence for TV Tome Adventures' original moniker.
*Some of the citizen designs from Telluria City we're inspired by the Disney film, The Brave Little Toaster.
*According to Chris Niosi, the toaster incidental from Telluria City, voiced by Kyle McCarley, is using the same voice McCarley used for the character Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama in the anime Mob Psycho 100 (also starring Niosi), upon request by Niosi.
*When Alpha demanded the Bincho Bucks from Rockoon, Rockoon briefly did a Winnie the Pooh impression.
*Rockoon stating on how Flamegirl is a "giant rat" who doesn't "make all the rules" is a reference to the Giant Rat character from the independent movie, Rat Movie: Mystery of the Mayan Treasure.https://twitter.com/DevenOClock/status/1486459025537519616
*The interaction between Nylocke and the Potion Seller is a direct reference to the "Potion Seller" meme, done by comedian Justin Kurtizkes. Kurtizkes himself provides the voice of the Potion Seller character in the game.
*Sir Maximore and Nylocke announced it was time to duel. This is a direct nod to the Yu-Gi-Oh! character Yugi Mutou's catchphrase "It's time to duel!". Nylocke's previous actor, Martin Billany, is known for creating a parody series based on the franchise known as Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series and Nylocke's current actor, Mick Lauer, not only voiced characters in the Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL series but also did a parody animation for YouTube based on the second series entitled "Heart of my Cards".
*Kirbopher mentioning on how he had a bad incident involving instant ramen with his computers as a true story is an obscure notion of how the real-life Niosi damaged one of his laptops that was used during the 2011 web series' production due to ramen broth spillage.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-91vKVz5zZM
*When Kirbopher sings "There's just no way that we can't lose, this was a masterpiece" when he formed a Team Attack with Tigerlily, it's a parody of a lyric from Tenacious D's song "Beelzeboss".
*Kirbopher briefly did a Yoda imitation during his Speak-E chat with the Dandy Alliance when he calls Tigerlily "completely awesome".
*Skeight announcing his new mix on CloudSong is both a homage to the audio platflorm, SoundCloud, and the meme "YOU STOLE MY CLOUDSONG", which was a somewhat influence on the namesake for Xander Mobus' character Cloudzhang who appeared in the short "Rockoon's Modern Strife".
*Rockoon referred to the announcer as "Edwyn", which is the name of the announcers' voice actor, Edwyn Tiong.
*Ravenfreak shouting that he was being "sarcastic" is a reference to Diddy Kong in the animated series based on the video game, Donkey Kong Country.
==Connections/References to the 2011 web series/TTA-precursor==
*The line where Kirbopher connects Nylocke on pronunciation in his real name is derived from the first episode, You've Gotta Virus, with the line perfectly intact.
*Rockoon's brief "Lightbulb!" during Chapter 1 was a callback to his previous use of the idiom in the episode, Monstrosities.
*Grounda telling Nylocke to go "suck on a railroad spike" was a callback to Kirbopher saying that to Flamegirl in the episode, Awaken the Beast.
*Skeight's "Gh-Are you serious, bro?" was a line the character previously said in his debut appearance, Rockoon's Modern Strife.
*The passcode for the Ouija-board in Morganite Valley is "Ruri", the Japanese word for lapis lazuli. This is an in-direct reference to Tigerlily's original TTA incarnation, Ruri. Tigerlily herself even pointed the word out.
*One of the backers remarked on how Foreva's voice actress was a known internet personality. This is a reference to how many of the cast and crew members of TOME initially started out freelancing online before working professionally.
*Rockoon's phony Cockney accent may be a throwback to the short, Rockoon's Modern Strife, where he mocked animator David Smith's character, Dijiri's, Australian accent.
*Rockoon remarking on how he was called a rodent by the Dandy Alliance is referenced to a running gag in the episode, Monstrosities, where Rockoon was constantly referred as such throughout the episode.
*Nylocke's coffee-indured hyperactivity and mentioning how he drank "185 Cups per Hour" is a nod to both the original TV Tome Adventures series and the 2011 web series episode Gemini Tournament Yin.
*Skeight briefly called Kirbopher "marshmallow man" at Chapter 4. This is a nod of Rockoon referring to Kirbopher as such in the episode Monstrosities. Rockoon would later referred Kirbopher as such in the Campaign of Champions.
*When Alpha was roleplaying in front of Serpentine, he identifies himself as "Ultimate Creature II", a descendant from the Ultimate Creature beast from the Terrain of Magical Expertise. This is a direct nod to the characters' alias used in the original TV Tome Adventures series, which is also a handle Alpha's inspiration, Mike Luckas, used in his early Newgrounds daze.
*Nylocke's IRL name in this adaption is Collin Drake III, a slight homage to his inspiration and original VO actor from TV Tome Adventures, Colin "Nailock" Zabielski. In fact, Nylocke's name was initially spelled as "Niloc", another reference of how the Nailock character got his name in real life.
*Kirbopher's IRL surname Campbell, is a nod to Niosi's alias used for voicing Zetto early on in the 2011 web series, which was also used in Niosi's early anime work, "Tony A. Campbell". The alias was also credited towards the end of the RPG assuming it was to represent Niosi performing additional voices for the backers.
*Gamesoft's name initially being Gamecrazed is a throwback to the characters' previous iterations.
*Kirbopher having his name since he was 12 is a nod to how Chris Niosi made his TV Tome and email account "kirbopher" at the age of 12. Kirbopher also had the middle name Christopher, after his creator and inspiration.
*In the intermission Speak-E chat, Alpha declares to destroy the real-life threatening virus and save the world, which Kirbopher jokingly responds that it should be made as a cartoon. This is a direct nod to the premise of the 2011 web series.
*Rockoon's line at the initial RPG demo, "Generic pre-battle banter dialogue", was retained in the final release albeit during the Campaign of Champions briefly.
*Kirbopher said "It's about time" when the Dandy Alliance were prepared to fight against Zetto during the Campaign of Champions, which is a callback of Kirbopher's first line in the 2011 web series' premiere episode, "You Gotta Virus". Zetto would later say that line in the 2016 short "AvZ" and Kirbopher once again in the first initial RPG demo.
*The After-Party took place on November 11, which was roughly the same date as the premiere of the 2011 web series on Newgrounds, and 7 days after the conclusion of the RPG's Kickstarter campaign.
*Rockoon doing an imitation of Nylocke's role-playing may be a callback on the episode "Monstrosities" where Monster Rockoon did the same to mock Nylocke.
==Goofs==
*Throughout Nylocke's interaction with the Potion Seller, you can hear Nylocke's VO, Mick Lauer, briefly containing his laughter.
*If you defeat Sir Maximore first, Galantaz sacrifices his HP and transfers it to Maximore. However, after charging twice, Maximore will comment how the Dandy Alliance eliminated him first even though Galantaz merely sacrificed himself on his own accord.
*If you defeat the Soupy-Slime Siblings during Chapter 4 after they take their match closer to a moderator, the next scene will still show the Dandy Alliance defeated in ghost forms with the moderator reprehending the duo for their cheating, assuming that there defeat never occurred in the first place.
*The late Ronnie Edwards was credited twice for "Special Thanks" in the game.
==Videos==
File:TOME RPG Trailer & Kickstarter Presentation|
Together We Shout As One (JP Ver) - TOME RPG Anime Opening
==References==
==External links==
*Kickstarter Page
*Prototype Demo
Category:TOME RPG