Whats new in this demo update

Hello everyone!

I pushed a small Rod of Asclepius Demo update focused on one thing: making the first moments feel smoother and more ready.

Smoother VFX

I added a quick VFX warm-up step so effects are already awake before you run into them. The goal is to reduce those first-use micro-stutters when flashy stuff appears.

Cover stays responsive while the next scene loads

While the warm-up runs, the demo can also prepare what comes next in the backgroundso the menu/cover doesnt feel stuck.

Main menu refresh

New cover + a bit of general UI polish to make the entry point feel cleaner and more in-theme.

Croatian localization polish (proofreading)

Croatian text has been proofread and refined it should read more naturally now.

Guardians of the Empires Edge

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45528303/8872591a00fbc948e38e82fa7ca4bcc181da3045.jpg\"][/img]

In the centuries after the glory of Augustus, the Roman army changed as the empire itself evolved. By the 4th century AD, the once-mighty legions had transformed into a flexible network of troops. Among them stood the Limitanei; the soldiers of the frontier.

Stationed along the empires rivers, deserts, and mountain passes, the Limitaneiwere not elite palace guards or rapid field forces. They were local defenders, farmers and soldiers at once, who lived near their posts and watched the frontiers day after day. In Pannonia and along the Rhine and Danube, they manned fortresses that still dot Europes landscape.

Life on the Edge

The Limitaneimaintained a permanent presence at the empires borders; building walls, repairing towers, and repelling raids. They often served for decades in the same region, marrying locals and blending into frontier life.

While their pay was lower than that of the mobile comitatensesfield armies, they received land, rations, and a degree of autonomy unknown to earlier legionaries.

Weapons and Armor in Late Antiquity

The equipment of the 4th5th century soldier was practical, regional, and evolving:

• Helmet: Ridge-type helmets, iron or bronze, sometimes silvered for officers.

  [/*]

• Armor: Chain-mail and scale were common, worn over a tunic and padded vest.

  [/*]

• Shield: Oval wooden shields, painted with unit insignia described in the Notitia Dignitatum.

  [/*]

• Weapons:

  [list]

• Long thrusting spear, main weapon of the infantryman in late antiquity.

  [/*]

• Long straight sword for close combat.

  [/*]

• Lighter throwing spears.

  [/*]

• Lead-weighted darts carried inside the shield, thrown before melee.

  [/*]

Legacy of the Limitanei

Though sometimes dismissed by ancient authors as second-rate troops, the Limitaneikept Romes frontiers secure for centuries after the empires political unity crumbled. Their forts, from the Rhine to the Danube, from Egypt to Syria, later became medieval strongholds and towns.

They were the quiet guardians of Romes fading light, the soldiers who stayed when others marched away.

References:

Vegetius, Epitoma Rei Militaris (c. 390420 AD);\nBishop & Coulston, Roman Military Equipment: From the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome (2006);\nNotitia Dignitatum (c. 400 AD);\nArchaeological finds (Archeological Museum Osijek).

Bringing History to Life

History is alive in Rod of Asclepius. Every shield, tunic, and spear is carefully reconstructed from archaeological evidence; then brought to life through animation and storytelling. The Limitaneiyou see here are not just static models, but living figures within the games world, recreated as part of an animated video sequence of Roman legionaries on the frontier.

The scene is presented through a dimetric camera, emphasizing spatial depth and composition. The legionaries themselves appear slightly stylized, with proportionally larger heads; a deliberate artistic choice that complements this perspective, giving a subtle chibi-like charm without losing historical authenticity. Through their presence, the past breathes again.

A short public playtest of the demo content.

[img src=\"https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steamcommunity/public/images/clans/45528303/f8760e2f81b2a6254f82de22f48c51f06d2d757d.jpg\"][/img]

Rod of Asclepius Steam PlayTest Sign-Ups

The frontier opens this September.

Rod of Asclepius is a historically grounded role-playing game set in the final decades of the Roman Empire. You play as a Roman medicus, tasked not with conquest, but with healing, exploration, and service. The game focuses on historical storytelling, archaeological landscapes, herbal medicine, and narrative puzzles; all built upon authentic sources and reconstructed with care.

I'm pleased to announce that Steam Playtest registrations are now open. The Playtest will begin in early September 2025 and you can request access today through the game's Steam page. Access will be limited and granted in waves. Feedback gathered during this test will directly inform and improve future development.

What is included in the Playtest

The Playtest contains the Prologue of the game. This segment introduces the core systems of the game in a focused and atmospheric setting. Players will experience a narrative-driven mission structure that combines environmental exploration, herb gathering, character interaction, and historically inspired medical quests.

It is important to note that the Playtest does not take place in Pannonia. The Prologue serves as a self-contained introduction to the world and themes of the game, but it is not part of the main campaign setting.

The full game begins in Pannonia

The full narrative campaign begins in Chapter One, set in the Roman province of Pannonia Secunda in the year 351 AD. From this point on, players will travel across the Danubian frontier, in what is now eastern Croatia. This regions rich archaeological and cultural heritage plays a central role in the game.

Rod of Asclepius brings to life locations based on historical Roman settlements such as Teutoburgium (Dalj) and Mursa (Osijek). These areas have been carefully reconstructed using archaeological maps, regional research, and museum documentation. The goal is to present not only accurate depictions of Roman frontier life, but also to highlight the tangible heritage of Croatia and its historical connection to the Roman world.

Rooted in history and research

The entire game is developed using original ancient texts and supported by collaboration with historians and archaeologists. Sources include Celsus, Galen, the Notitia Dignitatum, and regional archaeological publications. Historical accuracy is not a theme; it is a foundation. Every tool, herb, wound, and diagnosis is derived from research.

To support this process, the project is guided by a Latin professor and several consulting scholars, ensuring both cultural and linguistic accuracy. The aim is not to romanticize the past, but to explore how ordinary people lived, worked, and endured in the late Roman world.

How to participate in the Playtest

The Steam Playtest will begin in early September 2025 and run for a limited time. To participate, please follow these steps:

The vision behind Rod of Asclepius

A Roman RPG Rooted in History and Humanity

I believe that creating a historically grounded, educational Roman RPG is not only possible; its necessary.

With Rod of Asclepius, I set out to explore a lesser-seen side of Roman life. This first dev log shares why I started this project, and why I believe games can do more than entertain.

More Than War: Stories from the Edge of Empire

Most Roman-themed games focus on legions, conquest, and imperial politics. But the Roman world was full of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges.

Life in the late Empire brought spiritual doubts, medical crises, and slow societal collapse. These stories deserve to be told; and games are an ideal medium for them.

In Rod of Asclepius, Ive recreated Roman forts and settlements based on real archaeological findings from Pannonia (modern-day Croatia, near the Danube). I also rebuilt a Roman grave monumentthe Lobor steleand released it as a cinematic short.

This is not a game about war. Its about healing, knowledge, and survival in the shadow of fading power.

Learning Through Play, Not Preaching

Rod of Asclepius teaches through systems; not lectures.

The gameplay revolves around Roman medical practice: herbal treatments, surgical tools, and healing rituals based on historical texts. Players gather herbs, uncover lost scrolls, and make tough choices while treating the wounded and caring for the dying.

A card-based mechanic lets you apply real ancient remedies. A branching journal system tracks discoveries. Dialogue trees reveal myth, medicine, and meaning through interaction; not exposition.

The result is an RPG where learning feels like play, not school.

A Solo Project, with Shared Roots

While Im developing this game alone, Ive had generous support from historians, archaeologists, Latin language experts, artists, and volunteers. Their insights help ensure the game respects both accuracy and cultural heritage.

Games can preserve memory. They can invite us into forgotten worlds; and help us make sense of our own.

Rod of Asclepius is my contribution to that vision: A Roman RPG about healing instead of conquest, and discovery instead of domination.

If that speaks to you, Id be honored if you wishlist the game on Steam and follow the project as it grows.