Introducing Lore MasterClass (Patreon)

Hey, Krupa here. I want to tell you all about a project I’ve been working on for a couple of months now called Lore MasterClass.

I want to do something on Patreon dedicated to my favourite aspect of the FromSoft games: the lore. I’m interested in exploring it in much greater depth than I ever could on the show, and I want to do that with RKG patrons. I want to create a collaborative research project where we’ll gain a deeper understanding of Elden Ring’s amazing world together.

How are we going to do that?

Each month I’d like us to focus on a different area of interest. There’s so much to cover. It’s important to say this will inevitably feature spoilers for Elden Ring from the very beginning for those who haven't played the game. Everything is on the table from the get-go.

I thought about restricting it to simply what’s been naturally revealed on RETRY: Elden Ring so far, but ultimately it’s too restrictive and what I want to do just isn't possible with that kind of restriction in place. 

I want to us put together a comprehensive exploration of Elden Ring’s lore that can be enjoyed in years to come independent of RETRY. To do that, we need to be able to make connections right across the game from the very beginning. 

After all, piecing together dissociated knowledge never did the lads down at Byrgenwerth any harm.

Below is a little overview of how I see a typical month unfolding.

1. Discord

There’ll be a dedicated channel on the RKG Discord for Lore MasterClass participants. This is where we’ll talk, share ideas, exchange links to interesting videos, and useful resources. It’ll be a meeting place for us to hang out and nerd out about lore on a regular basis.

2. Reading Lists

Don’t worry if you’re not on Discord much, I’ll curate a list of all the best ideas generated in the Discord channel, along with links to useful resources and pertinent videos on that month’s topic and post these on Patreon. Think of these as your lecture notes. You’ll also have these delivered directly to your email, so you can consult them in the future.

3. The Lecture

Having done our research and reading, join me for a monthly livestream where we’ll tackle the topic in greater detail and explore new connections. Hopefully we might even make some new discoveries.

The form of these livestreams will vary depending on the topic in question, but I can see us booting up the game and diving into debug mode to explore details or having a guest on who is particularly passionate or knowledgable about a certain aspect of the game’s lore.

While I’m referring to them as ‘lectures’, this won’t be a stuff talk but an interactive and lively stream, where the game is always centre stage even if we aren’t playing it.

Example of a Possible Lecture Title

4. The Lore Archives

We obviously need a place to record our findings. I want us to build a really rich and useful resource not only for ourselves but other people, too.

I want to do this using a public Miro board. If you don’t know what Miro is, think of it as a big online whiteboard. I love it, and I think it’ll be a great way for us to organise information, collate lore description, and forge connections, big and small, between characters, items, locations, and events.

We’ll build it over time, documenting what we’ve learned. Here’s a little glimpse of the board, which I’ve started populating with some basic information ahead of Lore MasterClass launching.

Initially this will only be for participants of Lore MasterClass. Maybe down the road, when it’s comprehensive, it’ll be something we want to share with the wider Souls community.

How do I get involved?

All Lore MasterClass posts will be published for RKG patrons on our Producer and Posh Slug tiers. You’ll be able to access all these posts via Patreon, its app, or have them emailed directly to your inbox.

Patrons at those tiers will also have access to the Discord channel where we’ll be able to work on lore matters with other patrons and myself on a daily basis.

The livestreams will be on YouTube. Private links will be distributed a week prior to the lecture.

Do you have to take part?

Absolutely not.

How much you get involved is entirely up to you. If you just want to watch the monthly livestreams, you'll end up with a rich and entertaining introduction to Elden Ring’s lore. But if you want to get more involved, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so. But your presence alone is enough for me.

Even though I’m modelling this on a university course to give it a bit of recognisable structure, I want this to be – above all – fun! All ideas and opinions are valid, as is being quiet. After all, people who listen more than they talk are often the smartest.

What's next?

That’s a quick overview of what I want Lore MasterClass to be. I see it as much more than just a monthly show, but an ongoing experience rooted in our amazing community and my passion for these games.

This won't be starting properly until August 7th, when you're receive your first post. But from today, the Lore MasterClass Discord channel will be live for Producers and Posh Slugs who want to chat.

-----

Elden Ring has one of the most expansive and nuanced stories I’ve ever experienced, with hundreds of complex characters and events that span millenia. It has important things to say about power and identity, belief systems and control, and there’s also a big pot man who loves a scrap. 

If you’ve played it, you’ll know it’s amazing, and you’ll also know how much more there is to explore. I’m really excited to do this together.

If you’ve got any questions about Lore MasterClass, pop them in the comments below, and I’ll get back to you shortly.

Krupa x