Reaper Trainee is about a trainee named Wisp learning the ropes of what it takes to be a Grim Reaper alongside her scythe, Soul Binder who is is training to no longer be a trainee scythe. Follow the humorous adventures of these two as the train to be the best reaping duo the world has ever seen. This is visual development for a RPG game/comic (TBD) in-progress.
Inspiration Board & Sketches
When coming up with the game I was working on another story called "The Seer's Journey" In that story the man character almost dies at the end, but is saved by a almost ghostly child. The more I fleshed out the character the backstory I gave her which lead me to flesh out her story. Her design being after the Will-o-Wisp from English Folklore. She dies at the age of 11 years old and is about to be reaped when a Grim reaper named Azrail takes her under his wing. Thus making her his student. These were the beginning stages.
Wisp & Soul Binder Turn-Around
Coming up with Wisp's design actually came from an old drawing I did back in middle school, who ran a cafe serving the dead. Redrawing her I decided to change her story a bit. She still runs a cafe with the added benefit of serving souls after they have been reaped. This is her and Soul Binder's turnaround sheets.
Wisp's Expressions Sheet
While creating her I found her eyes before this design was incredibly had to convey emotions with. As I was sketching another character I used these eyes, but it didn't work for that character. Switching them made both designs all the better as well as added a layer of cuteness to this character. Another reason for the change of eyes was for Wisp's other personality or corrupt side if you will. I needed an easy to change eye design that fit her style.
Wisp's BedRoom and Props
After deciding how the main character should look then came the design of her bedroom, since she hangs out a lot in there. After experimenting with some other designs, it was decided if she ran a cafe on her off time she would live above it in almost an attic-like space. Variations of certain objects were also made to swap if needed so added them to the side as props since they can be used elsewhere.
Purgatory World Map
While creating Reaper Trainee, I fell in love with the idea that Reapers in training would start off training/schooling in Purgatory. I picture Purgatory wouldn't be that different from our our world. People still going about their day to day existence.
When creating Wisp and Azrail's house, I went back to the first story idea that had Wisp working in a ghost café. You would still need to buy things in Purgatory, and to buy things you would still need money. So I keep the idea of the café and added in house elements in the back as well as a green house because Azrail's hobby.
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The other buildings were created as transportation between the world of the living and purgatory, hell, or heaven or Merchant shops.
Maphesto's Turn-Around
Maphesto was an old character from another comic idea, "The Seer's Journey." The comic is in the process of being rewritten, but the character's shop made him a good character for this game as a shopkeeper. This gave the inspiration for his design. His familiar Sprout, was designed after a plant named, "Victor Crepe Myrtle" and was created as a health aid for when he traveled.
Seer's Emporium "The One Stop Shop"
Maphesto's was created for a comic called, "The Seer's Journey. When thinking of him as a character for Reaper Trainee as a shopkeeper, The "Seer's Emporium" reminded me of thie image of the first shop seen in the first panel of the comic. The large colosseum structure held this shop called, "The One Stop Shop" Import. They could get anything anyone needs in three days or less. As well as sold other things such as charms, magical instruments, potions, etc.
Reaper Trainee Game Story Staging & Business Model
Wanting to make sure the style of the two characters worked together as well as fit the background I made a mock version of the game. This was also a test to confirm if this would be a game similar to "Syrup and the Ultimate Sweet" or a comic like "ZomCom".
I wish for the game to be played on phones, both Iphone and Android as well as computers and even on nintendo switch as an Indie Game.