Umbral Souls Cancelled (possibly) · 7:00pm Apr 12th, 2022
So since Umbral Souls didn't really seem to get any real attention, I decided it's time to pull it. My guess is since it's an original setting, though heavily influenced by the Dark Souls franchise, it wasn't getting as much traction since most successful stories here focus solely on the MLP brand or other recognizable brands (i.e. crossovers which Umbral Souls really isn't). Stories like Fallout Equestria and my buddy Universal's Fallout Girls did/do well since they are based off two very recognizable pop-culture brands, as are clearly stories such as Scipio Smith's SAPR, Hydra30's Knowledge is Power and Knowledge Brings Change and DrakeyC's Duelist stories. Since Umbral Souls is set in an unfamiliar setting with just the characters we know and love in it, it just doesn't work in this context.
I do however think many elements I had planned for it would work as an original setting, which I have been slowly conceiving these past few months. For those (probably most of you) not in the know; I originally started Umbral Souls as a form of "writing therapy" after I had a severe nervous breakdown that left me seemingly unable to write. I had an original novel idea in the works at the time, but I eventually figured "this is just a rip-off of Lord of the Rings coupled with Dungeons and Dragons and Warcraft", so I finally scrapped the idea altogether and I am now conceiving a new one.
Funnily enough, one of the inspirations for this new original concept is MLP, in terms of certain characters in it, combined with Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror, ideas from other settings such as Legacy of Kain, as well as setting it in an Antique Greek-themed nation.
That isn't to say I'm giving up on writing fanfics altogether for fun. I just haven't had the motivation behind it lately (for example I just had my first directed voicing session for an indie videogame, and it was very exciting to do). Ideas are still there, so I will try out one-shots. AND since I noticed the less I play a certain card game, the less embittered I feel over it. Wink-wink.
These ideas might change later down the line, but at least for now I'll set Umbral Souls on hiatus at the very least.
I enjoyed the story. Hope all is well with you.
I like you story. If you do cancel, could you post an outline or similar to tell the ending? Still will enjoy your writings.