Summary
Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realmsis a glowing example of idle gaming done right, bringing to the table the kind of deviously addictive gameplay loop and satisfying progression the genre is known for, while also sporting a live service approach that keeps things fresh with seasonal content and events. On top of that, the game has the advantage ofDungeons & Dragons' extensive cast of beloved characters and iconic locales, and it even manages to channel some tabletop gaming vibes despite being a vastly different kind of game.
In an exclusive interview with Game Rant ahead ofIdle Champions' new season launch, Game Rant spoke withIdle ChampionsPartner and Talent Manager Vee Mus’e, Lead Game Designer Justin Stocks, and Game System Designer Peter Lee about how the game has teamed up with bothNeverwinterandBaldur’s Gate 3to introduce their characters as Idle Champions, as well as how they approach making a fun and engaging idle game. As a bonus, they generously provided a code for Game Rant readers to unlock an Astarion chest for their rosters inIdle Champions:GAME-RANT-STAR.
Idle Champions Astarion Code
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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Q:NeverwinterandIdle Championspreviously collaborated in 2021 to bring in Sgt. Knox, andIdle Championshas also worked brought in origin characters fromBaldur’s Gate 3. What’s the process like when kicking off these collaborations? Are the various teams often in touch as they work on their respective titles?
Mus’e:Our Champion collaborations involve a hefty amount of communication between everyone involved on all sides. It starts with the initial call with the character’s creators to get the details needed to transform a beloved, established character into a Champion. Then we move forward to various art and design elements, which all need approvals to be sure we are keeping in line with the essence of the original character. We also determine how the Champion will work in-game with other Champions and delve into more finite aspects, like important bits of equipment and even dialogue text to add to the Champion’s overall presentation.
Everyone who has a hand inIdle Champions’Champion development plays an important part in the process. Over the months, we work closely with the creator(s) and one another to ensure that the Champion’s launch goes as smoothly as possible and lives up to the original concept of the character. This process takes a great deal of time from start to finish, so the excitement is real when it comes to the official launch during one of our featured events throughout the year.
Q: An idle game is an unusual format for D&D. How doesIdle Championsleverage the D&D setting to set itself apart from more typical idle games?
Stocks:Idle Championsmakesextensive use of the D&D worldin its adventures, characters, and events. From the sprawling city of Waterdeep, to the frosty plains of Icewind Dale, to the misty forests of Barovia,Idle Championsvisits every corner of the Forgotten Realms and then some. There are also dozens upon dozens of characters from the D&D universe available to recruit in the game, including famous characters like Drizzt Do’Urden, and also deep cut characters like Dungeon Master from the 1980s D&D cartoon series. While the levels in tabletop D&D may not scale as high as they do inIdle Champions, the essence of D&D is pervasive throughout it. For players with a knowledge of D&D, the game will already feel familiar when they get started.
Q: Despite being an idle game – a genre that is by definition not meant to constantly actively engage players –Idle Championsis quite fun and attracts a sizable amount of players. What do you feel makes a fun idle game? Are there certain core concepts or systems you think are important for keeping players interested?
Stocks:Our approach is to keep players interested in the game withcontinuous and consistent live serviceinIdle Champions. We roll out new content on a weekly basis, meaning there’salwayssomething new to do. To keepIdle Champion’s “formation” system fresh, a new Champion is added to the game roughly every 3 weeks, potentially switching up the meta and allowing for exciting new combinations that players can use to push even further.Idle Championsnever feels stale because even if you’ve completed everything the game has to offer, you only need to wait a week and new challenges will be added.
Q: When introducing new characters such as through these collaborations with Neverwinter, how do you decide which character to add, and how do you determine that character’s capabilities?
Lee and Mus’e:We introduce 17 new event Champions every year, so we’re always looking for new characters that resonate with our players. We don’t have just one source of inspiration, but many. Sometimes it’s a matter ofdiving deep into D&D loreto choose cool characters that appeal with D&D players. Other times, it’s connecting with content creators from popular D&D Actual Plays and working with them to bring their fan favorites into the game as Champions.
We also have opportunities to collaborate with other licensed D&D video games, likeNeverwinterandBaldur’s Gate 3. This offers yet another way for our players to enjoy an array of characters in our game. Whether it’s an official D&D campaign or working with a creator known for their memorable characters, we look to provide exciting Champions for the players to choose for their formations and game play experience.
When designing how they work inIdle Champions, we start with their statistics, such as their class and ability scores. Do they have a signature spell, item, or special power that they are particularly known for? If so, that is used as inspiration for an attack or a formation ability. For characters that have in-depth stories, we’ll often allude to parts of the story, but we try not to spoil any major developments. Finally, if they function as a particular role in a party like a tank or a healer, we attempt to design the Champion to have a similar function inIdle Champions.
Idle Championssometimes associates groups of characters in an Affiliation, such asDrizzt’sCompanions of the Hallor Lae’zel’sAbsolute Adversaries. We try to have Champions from the same Affiliation work particularly well together, so a character’s role in an Affiliation also helps determine a Champion’s capabilities. For example, if a particular Champion is the main damage dealer of the group, we try to make sure that all other affiliation members are good at supporting that Champion in some way.
Q: Since Idle Champions has been working with Baldur’s Gate 3, can Idle Champions players potentially look forward to adding more characters like Astarion to their idle rosters?
Mus’e:The good news is, Astarion is already on our Champion roster! We were thrilled to have him launch in-game during our annual Brightswords event back in September. If players would like to add previously launched Champions, they can take advantage of ourTime Gate Weekends, or use Time Gate Pieces, to unlock the Champions they need.
However, we’re happy to offer your readers a chance to unlock 1 Gold Astarion chest inIdle Championswith the codeGAME-RANT-STAR. It’s good until November 17th, 11:59 PM PT.
As for upcoming Champions from a certain game, let’s just say that if players enjoyed unlockingBG3’s Astarion, they will have more to look forward to in the upcoming months! For the latest information and updates about what is going on in-game, definitely check outidlechampions.com/bg3and go to the “News & Blog” section. Another great community resource is ourIdle ChampionsDiscordserver, especially for newer players looking for advice and assistance!
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Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realmsis free to play on Mobile, PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
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