Lore

Fantastic-anthropomorphized insects and adjacent organisms live in large communities that sustain themselves off the abundant natural resources cultivated. In this robust, post-scarce civilization, a small but devout and slowly growing group of characters engage in a Form of recreation. These characters engage the Forms for many reasons, among them: sport, camaraderie, ritual, dance, theater, glory, domination. 

The Forms

As its name suggests, transformation is divinely important to the Forms. The state of a Form constantly transforms as its characters dance about. Individual characters transform into coordinated troupes. Characters transform physically to better play their role for their troupe.

Grubs use standard, reusable pupal cases for these physical transformations instead of making their own. Using these existing pupal cases is dramatically more efficient, but this accelerated transformation is fragile and superficial; they revert to their initial forms if bested in combat.

Unlike Grubs, Idols are characters that have already transformed themselves before a Form begins. This imago is much more sturdy and agile, allowing the Idol to be a consistent support for her troupe. Idols are entrusted with the troupe’s Marking pheromone. She uses this pheromone to mark her troupe's domain in the Forms, namely the transformative pupal cases.

Prevailing in Forms

While Idols themselves are strong, the Mark they carry is highly volatile, and requires the idol's attention and protection to maintain. Each troupe brings a small supply of Mark to the Forms for this reason, but should they run out, they would be bested in that given Form.

The Forms typically take place in settings with abundant Mana. Mana must be collected and expended in order for a Grub to use a pupal case and transform, but Mana has another use. Mana can also be cached in a troupe's base. Should a troupe completely fill their stores, they have prevailed in a Form.

Often, a Form can be completed by moving a large, neutral object to an appointed position, be it securing a Stag ally to one's base, or rolling a boulder into that of your opponents.

Mark, Mana, and Move are the most common methods of prevail, but the Forms are constantly changing, and new methods will soon make their way into the Forms. Each troupe is racing to prevail through one of any available method before their opponents can. It is up to troupes to divine the state of the Form and coordinate their path to prevail.

Homage

This game is made in love of and homage to all of the games that inspired it. If you enjoy Holometa, please support its inspirations as well, including:

Killer Queen Arcade - BumbleBear

Hollow Knight - Team Cherry

Rivals of Aether - Dan Fornace and the Rivals Team

Plunder Panic - Will Winn Games

Bug Fables - Moonsprout Games

Killer Queen Black - Liquid Bit

Witchball - S. L. Clark

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