The Kuloran Players

Designing the greatest sounding MMORPG this side of Klagrond!

The Kuloran Players are a troupe that care about story. They care about a great performance that will stick with you forever. Haunt you, thrill you, make you laugh and make you cry. Now, we present to you, a few of the team members that are bringing Kirandur to life for you.

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Critter

Hi! I'm CritterPup. Or Sir Howard. Or Sir Howard The CritterPup. Whatever you wanna call me. I'm functionally Kirandur's game director, but ultimately I'm just a grown-up little kid who can finally bash his action figures together in game form. Kirandur is probably my life's crowning achievement, and I'm honored that so many rallied behind me to make this thing.

I'm someone who loves fantasy. Cool guys in plate armor are the best things ever, and you'll find a lot of them here. That and dogs. I love dogs. It's a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for coming.

Oscar

Hi! I'm Oscar Ramirez. I've been with Kirandur pretty much since its beginning. I joined the team a few days after Critter and one of our developers, The ByteBender, teamed up to make the game.

But even before that, I had played Sketchbook for a year or two and always enjoyed exploring Critter's maps and hearing about any new lore he had created for his world. He would always show us new and exciting things and would ask for our opinions on them. I remember a few times when he mentioned that he wanted to make a game, and I'm so happy and glad that it's finally happening—not just for him but also for the blind community and the people within it who want a good MMORPG. They won't be disappointed.

Officially, I'm a sound designer, but I pitch in in small areas when I can. There hasn't been much in-game audio itself just yet besides the ambiences and the footsteps you hear already. However, I did the sound design for The Tour of Klagrond, and that's on Audiopub right now if you haven't listened to it already. There are many more things coming that you'll be able to hear soon.

As I said above, I'm very happy that this has finally come to light. I'm fully confident in the team we have gathered and any others who might join later. I truly believe this will turn into a fully-fledged game that everyone will love and enjoy. Working with the team we have now has been an amazing experience for me so far. Everyone is very understanding, kind, and professional. And everyone works hard and does their part.

To finish, I just want to thank all the supporters of the Kuloran Players, Patreon members or not. I know everyone here on the team cherishes each and every one of you for supporting us through what we've shown you so far.

Athlon

Hi, I am Athlon and I am excited to be part of this epic tale! I manage the business side of things, ensuring that everyone gets and pays what they deserve. I am also excited to bring unique stories to life in the game for all of you to experience, in stunning audio and evocative text. If you thought Battle Zone or the Demon Wars Cycle were innovative designs for their time, Kirandur will be a step up from those. I hope to see all of you there on opening day!

Leos

Leos here – a pleasure to meet you all.

Working on Kirandur alongside this talented and passionate team has been a wild ride. I’m especially excited to be part of something that brings something novel to the community.

I’ve been an MMORPG fan since I was 8 years old—back when I had more of my sight. Games have always been a huge part of my life, but it’s rare to find ones designed with us in mind. That’s why Kirandur is so important to me.

Whether you're exploring solo or diving in with friends and family, I can’t wait for you to experience what we’ve been building. There’s magic here—and we’re making sure everyone can feel it.

Orion

Greetings from beyond the stars, earthlings. ahem oh, uhm, let me try that again...

Hi peeps! Call me Orion. Or Mitsuru. Or probably a bunch of other names (I use a lot of online names). I'm one of the writers for Kirandur, though as of now I'm more of a sounding board for Critter's crazy (and usually very cool) ideas. I've been into fantasy since I was very young; I just really like those kinds of stories, lore, worlds, and characters. I've always wanted to try out games like Skyrim, Pillars of Eternity, Baldur's Gate and many others, but since I am born completely blind, that wasn't really something I could do.

Getting to work on a game like Kirandur was a dream come true for me. Even though I couldn't play those games I really wanted to, I could enjoy the opportunity to create something similar (though perhaps smaller in scale), and even experience the end result myself. It's like D&D, but much more immersive, and I get to mess around in a world I helped make!

I can't wait for you guys to get to play the game -- our joy and our pride. See y'all in Kirandur!

Jayde

Hello, aspiring adventurers. You can call me Jayde.

Although I've been blind since birth, I became fascinated with the RPG genre from a young age, starting with Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger. I enjoy worlds that feel lived in, complex and interconnected, places as real to me as the fantasy novels I adore. I may be past forty, but I have not lost my sense of almost childlike excitement at the chance to be part of a project like Kirandur.

Imagine standing on the edge of a village, your feet in the grass at the edge of the roadway as night falls. Imagine listening to the wind hooting in the eaves of the nearby guard tower, catching the faint murmur of conversation through an open window above you. What are those guards saying to one another, and why does the gruff-voiced one sound so worried? What sort of life do these villagers have? What would it be like to live here myself?

Answering these questions, helping to craft such a world—and getting happily lost in it—has been one of my fondest wishes for the last fifteen years. Much to my delight, Kirandur is shaping up to be just such a realm, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.

I consider myself to be a non-coder idea person with prior design experience. Thus far, I've been trying to help with the logistics of both the world and how players interact with it. A game is best enjoyed when its interface complements its style, in my opinion.

My real pride and joy, though, is in designing interesting storylines, bosses, quests and even class archetypes. There's nothing quite like the wonder of exploration, the thrill of combat, or that sudden little heart-skip when you realize that yes, you really could be about to change the world with your actions. I hope you enjoy the game as much as we're enjoying the building process!

Tangela

Tangela grew up reading fantasy from a young age. They have been building characters and worlds for most of that time as well, a hobby that soon found an outlet in D&D and other tabletop games.

Working with such a talented team, whose passion for the art and science of game design is evident in every meeting, has been a dream come true. They believe that giving players strong opportunities to influence the world and game is the key to investment and look forward to giving players something to care about in every moment, whether that's sitting around a tavern or fighting a god.

ByteBender

Good day, The ByteBender here. I am one of the programmers in The Kuloran Players. I have been interested in game development ever since I knew games, and it has always been a dream of mine to bring an MMO to our community. Unfortunately, while I might be a programmer, an MMO needs much, much more than just code. So you can imagine my delight when I was given an opportunity to take part in developing Kirandur along with a truly talented team of writers, game designers, sound designers, fellow programmers, and everything in between, where I can focus on doing what I’m good at and leaving the rest to talented people with specialized skills.

It’s quite literally a dream come true, and I had a blast working on the game over the past 8 months along with the rest of the team!

P.S. If you’re a programmer or you’re interested in what makes Kirandur tick, I’ll be writing a series of dev blogs detailing the development process over at our Patreon, and I’m excited to see you there. Have a great day!

Alistor

"Let's see... 'function_on_interact'... parameters... is that a null reference again? Blast it all—"

Oh, hey, it's you. Didn't see you there. I was just looking at something related to what's commonly termed "coding" within this realm, as I often find myself doing.

My childhood was mostly stories. Thanks to my mother, I was introduced to the art of reading (and writing) at a young age, and science was a field that always fascinated me—constantly asking curious, out-of-place questions until whoever was around inevitably became exasperated, urging me to just do as told rather than wonder about the 'what' or the 'how.' Eventually, these scattered interests collided into a chaotic blend, and my fascination spread into other mediums: movies, television, and especially games. Being born blind meant I could never fully experience most of these visually-driven forms of entertainment, yet this never deterred me. Instead, I relied on my other senses and my mind's eye to vividly imagine the worlds described. It was no surprise, then, that RPGs captured my heart most deeply, always leaving me longing for the chance to fully experience the popular titles.

Thus, I began to drift—from story to story, world to world—imagining myself deeply embedded within each, blurring the boundaries between imagination and reality. Through this 'drifting', I discovered the freedom to explore worlds crafted purely by imagination, traveling without physically moving, seeing without eyes, and immersing myself in places both wondrous and inexplicable.

Never had I imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would one day partake in constructing such a realm myself, working alongside many talented individuals, each bringing their unique skill sets and vibrant personalities to the table.

This blend of interests means I now wear the mantle of scripter, designer, and perhaps someday even chronicler? Within Kirandur. Coming up with ideas is exciting, but far surpassed by actually bringing them to life. So, I move my brush upon the canvas—whether it takes the form of a keyboard click-clacking in a code editor, or getting lost in debates over tiny but crucial details, like how many arrows should realistically stick in a wooden shield before it splinters (and whether those arrows then conveniently despawn or actually add to encumbrance!). Then, with a touch of magic to give it life and a quick prayer sent out to the gods, I wait... And inevitably watch it short-circuit gloriously in ways I never anticipated. So, I repeat the process, again and again, inching ever closer to something resembling perfection.

You may call me Alistor. It's the name I carry when exploring these realms, though occasionally other names better suit the moment. Some know me by this title, fewer by my alternate identities, and fewer still know the mundane face behind the mask—a face quite ordinary and ultimately unimportant. Rest assured, curious traveler, I am here, committed to doing good work and dedicated to fostering peace and harmony within Kirandur.

From the lush forests of Klagrond to the mist-shrouded groves of Woodrite, I drift silently, vigilant, trying to help guide these realms toward love and balance. Drifting is perhaps what I do best—quietly, unseen, though unafraid to step from the shadows should duty call. Perhaps you'll unknowingly glimpse me one day: the quiet observer at a bustling stall in the grand market of Rendgarde, or the humble herbalist gathering rare blossoms along the banks of The Shoviaad River.

At times, the work I do creates where once there was emptiness; at others, it involves dismantling to rebuild something even greater. This work is not without its burdens—after all, who takes joy in uprooting cities or disrupting the lives of countless beings, whether human or creature? Certainly not I. Yet this duty is my calling, and one I embrace gladly.

It is my deepest hope that one day, when the world of Kirandur is finally complete and ready for exploration, you'll perceive and appreciate the intricate balance of its creation—the splendor, the trials, and every sacrifice along the journey. May you immerse yourself fully within this world, vividly rendered upon the devices we, in the earthly realm, call 'computers'—a living canvas first envisioned and crafted by Critter Pup, now brought vibrantly to life for all to experience.

Unfortunately, this digital immersion is currently the extent of what we can offer. Often, I find myself wishing I had the power to grant us all deeper immersion—beyond the physical, transcending ordinary experience into the boundless landscapes of pure imagination. Yet, as I've said, I'm simply a drifter: whether traversing ancient worlds or assisting in constructing new realms from scratch. Perhaps someday, such profound immersion might indeed become possible. Who knows? Until then, the mind itself remains our greatest tool, fully capable of surpassing physical constraints when wielded wisely. Trust me—I speak from experience!

Should you wish to delve deeper into Kirandur's rich lore, I invite you to explore our wiki, a comprehensive compendium of the world's vast and intriguing tapestry.

Talon

Hey everyone,

I'm Talon. I've been around the audio game world for a very long time now and I've made a few little things here and there. I'm really happy to be on this team and making something truly epic!

Most of my contributions will be either music or code related, or the occasional voiceover work here or there. And the ultimate goal is, obviously, to get a dragon into the game. Stay tuned to see whether I've been able to successfully infiltrate my team's mind or not. But shhhhh don't tell them this is just between you and me! That alone is a worthy reason to stick with us I think! 😉