Natural Doctrine

NAtURAL DOCtRINE is a tactical, turn-based role-playing game set in a fantasy universe where humans fight other races. The player controls the guard soldier Geoff who works out of the fortress city Feste. Initially he goes after a number of goblins to gather resources, which is the start of a large story. The player eventually assembles a party of up to ten different characters with classes such as all-round warrior, apprentice, battle medic, sword specialist, sword master etc. Characters carry gear and equipment found through loot and earn experience in battles to level up and improve agaility, dexterity, faith, health, intelligence, spirit, strength and vitality. Each class has its own skill tree with various paths unlocked by spending skill points. It is possible to reassign the spent skill points at any moment to try a different build or strategy. If a single character dies, the scenario needs to be replayed.

From a top-down world map different locations or scenarios are available. During battles the characters are shown from a top-down or third-person perspective. As a turn-based game movement is based on grids. Characters have various offensive and defensive actions available based on their class with melee, guard, ranger attacks and spells, but their position is also important. Based on a character's position in a grid relative to another one, specific actions become available or characters become able to act out of their turn, which is called linking in the global 'initiative' system. Obstacles in the environment also play a role and players have to take into account linking effects, as friendly fire is possible and attempting to block an enemy attack based on a position can have a negative outcome if the guarded character suddenly attacks. As multiple attacks and actions can be planned in a single turn, bright coloured lines show the action and direction so as to avoid friendly fire and unwanted linking effects.

Magic attacks are based on a substance called Pluton, which is rare and shared between all party members. Because of the substance's scarcity it can only be used every now and then. Next to the single-player mode the game supports competitive and cooperative online multiplayer games. Fights are similar to the single-player portion, but they are framed around collecting and building a deck of cards that becomes stronger over time. The game has cross-platform multiplayer and cross-save functionality for the three platforms.