Learning Modules
You have under 1000 words to communicate clearly, concisely, and in a way that hooks your reader. The following is what you should be thinking about as you design your story.
The World
Should have depth, but be easy to understand up front.
You can explore nuances over time, ensuring your IP has long-term value
In the beginning, wow your players with your unique world in a way that doesn’t overwhelm them.
Consider worldbuilding elements that make players actions important on a world scale. High stakes keep readers invested + changing the world makes them feel empowered.
Check out Creating Your Concept for more inspiration.
The Problem
The problem can only be solved by the player progressing relationships. This framing for your story is an engine that ensures you–
Have a clear goal for the player at any time: solve the world’s problem.
Creates context and need for why it’s important to progress relationships. We know Dorian readers are hungry for relationship progression content so ensuring your relationships NEED to be progressed because of the plot makes those scenes always feel necessary, rather than a sidequest.
The Love Interests
Who are they, and why do we care?
Think about popular tropes and consider how to add your own twist. What are your favorite love interests in media? What make them so compelling?
Check out the Dorian Academy episode on Designing Character Voices that will make your players swoon.
The Visuals
Don’t worry about final art; do use visuals to communicate your world.
Make a beautiful title screen, image collages, and character intros in free image-manipulation tools like Canva or GIMP, and upload them as backgrounds into your pitch.
Look for inspo in popular media similar to your story.
Use Flickr, Canva, public domain art, your own sketches and cosplay photos, and freefont to find assets you can use
To the right are a title screen, character intro, and moodboard made for the example pitch, A Curse in the Wild Courts.
The Player / Main Character (MC)
Who are they, and how are they wrapped up in the problem?
If they’re removed from the scene, would the scene still work? If yes, there’s a problem with your MC’s design. They’re specially needed to move the plot forward.
Either give them a clear personality, or make them ambiguous but make personality options in choices.
Use a transparent MC image with gender ambiguity/pronoun choice; Dorian readers prefer self-inserting over embodying a specific character art.
Your Story’s Hook/ Tagline
One line to communicate your story in a catchy way.
[known media] + way it's different, e.g. "A Bridgerton-inspired fae court mystery"
[common phrase] + story relevant twist, e.g. "We all have demons... And you're about to date yours."
See examples from other media to the left, and check Building Your Hook.
Want to win? Don’t forget these tips!
You can take extra steps to help your pitch stand out! Here are some tips that can help you
Maximize your Game Design!
Make sure you game is optimized for maximum appeal by including:
Main character identity
At least three love interests
Core plot with a solvable problem through relationship progression
A one-line hook that sells your game’s unique appeal
The pitch should be between 800-1000 words
One premium choice including a 5 heart option and a 20 heart option to invite fan support
You can pitch multiple games if you like!
Maximize your Marketability Score!
Make sure you use the share button on your cover to generate a custom link to your game. This is how we’ll track your marketability score!
Your pitch’s marketability will be based on how many players use this link to download Dorian and play your game. You can maximize this amount by:
Including this link in your linktree on your socials
Making it very clear how to find your link and why your fans should use it
Promoting your pitch on socials including using the “Link sticker” functionality in instagram stories
Check the “marketing” channel on the Dorian Discord for weekly recommendations from Dorian expert Shinorisu on how you can use trending TikTok strategies to bring fans!
You can promote as much as you want! We find it will often take approximately 4 posts to convert your fans!
Wondering how many fans you’ve brought? Check the leaderboard on the Dorian Discord to see the latest stats!
Maximize your Patronage Score!
Your patronage score relies on what % of players support your pitch with their hearts. Remember, you cannot change the amount of hearts on each choice option as these are required to stay at 5 and 20 hearts, but you can edit other elements as long as you comply with the required structure. That means if you notice your donation choice is capturing a low percentage of your fans, it’s a great time to change how you’re presenting it! If you’re looking for inspiration, you can look at how people are advertising their kickstarters to get fans to support them in advance!
Here are some techniques you could use!
Offer special perks for fans who prove they’ve supported you with hearts
Explain how the fans’ hearts will help you realize their vision (e.g. show them a partially painted, attractive CG, then tell them if you reach a certain heart goal on the donation you will be able to finish it and show it for free in the game!)
Wondering what % of your fans are spending? You can get a general idea by looking at your donation choice in the engine and seeing what % of fans have chosen the heart options!
FAQ
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Write your pitch on a document ahead of time, rather than creating it solely in image programs and the Dorian Editor, and use a word processor that can count words (Google Docs, or online character counters) to check ahead of time. Make sure to include any words you’re intending to put in images (character names on their splash pages, an embedded game title on a title page, etc.)
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After creating your pitch in the Dorian editor, click the green Release in the app button near the top left.
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Use the search bar at the top of the home screen of the app to search for either your creator name (have “Creators” selected) and find your pitch from your username, or by searching your pitch’s title (have “Games”) selected.
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Get the word out about your game! You should be proud of the work you put into your story, and excited to share it with the world! Post on social media about your pitch and the grant program to let your community know they can support you by playing it and selecting Hearts choices.
It’s also great to talk to other Dorian pitchers about it– you can share feedback and tips with each other in the Dorian Discord.
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All the pitches are public, so read other pitches! Reading other pitches will let you support other community members and trade feedback, and you’ll learn a lot from seeing what else is out there. Check the Dorian discord for a pitch feedback channel. Finally, we'll be running weekly pitch workshops Wednesdays at 9am PST in the Discord! Come for feedback from Dorian veterans!