Miakoda
Sep 22, 2015
This is just a general progress report of where things are.
1. Card engine is done, and the cards are finished. Of course, things will need to be tweaked/tested.
2. I'm working on the base game epilogues now. I should be able to finish it and the Codex before the end of the month (or close to it).
3. As announced, all the NPCs in the romance DLC can be romanced by Alex and Diana.
4. A collaborator is doing some scripting.
5. Approval given on 5 of the 8 romance outlines for the romance DLC.
6. Artist has started planning romance CGs as well.
7. Except for the theme song, it looks like the music is done.
Not that this is a promise but we may be looking at a Dec 2015 testing, or early 2016 (this comes from the blog post).
All in all, I think things are looking pretty good

jack1974
Sep 22, 2015
Ah lol one small thing I forgot when you emailed me about this list

The card engine is not 100% done, indeed the computer AI is a bit dumb right now, so Anima will code some better AI in the next months. Also we need to finish some GUI targeting stuff. But it shouldn't be much work

Miakoda
Sep 22, 2015
Ah lol one small thing I forgot when you emailed me about this list 
The card engine is not 100% done, indeed the computer AI is a bit dumb right now, so Anima will code some better AI in the next months. Also we need to finish some GUI targeting stuff. But it shouldn't be much work 
That's okay

I figured there might be a thing or two I was missing, but for those who were interested in the game, we really are on the last parts :D
jack1974
Sep 26, 2015
So I've coded the first two missions! Haha even with "dumb AI", they're already VERY fun. Well at least to me, as veteran Hearthstone player

There are just a few things to fix, like adding a limit to the CPU otherwise they could summon powerful enemies as soon as they are drawn (there's no resource limit for the CPU) and so on. But for the tutorial missions (the first 10 of the game) they could be done even without any AI

Troyen
Sep 26, 2015
Are you sure it's a good idea to have the computer violate all the rules? Not having a consistent rule structure makes the game harder to understand and was one of the most annoying things about playing SotW.
jack1974
Sep 27, 2015
Well the only rule it really violates is that it doesn't have "resources" like the player. But I still will do some sort of limitation.
Then of course if I want to simulate a horde of aliens, it can't be possible that the human empire has same strength. Otherwise there would be zero sense of danger

In some stages the draw order is fixed, so players will also be able to think about a strategy, while in others will be randomized more.
I knew before starting that this kind of game would be hard, since if I make a traditional game there's the risk that if the player draws a lucky hand, could win easily/quickly. There's nothing worse than the player having a lucky streak and finish 10 missions in a hour, then complain that the game is too short

It's a completely different world vs RPGs, and so I'm learning myself as I design it how to make it fun/challenging but at same time last enough time. I am thinking to add also some extra smaller mission to "level up" somehow.
Hopefully I'll be able to make something fun out of this

even if many of my fans will probably be satisfied by the crazy amount of romances alone, I want to try making it fun also for the players who like card games.
OhHaiMe
Sep 27, 2015
..even if many of my fans will probably be satisfied by the crazy amount of romances alone..
Speaking of all those romances,I've been wondering if this game will have a VN mode were you can just read through the story without any battles.
jack1974
Sep 27, 2015
Well yes in this case would be very simple to do it, since differently from SOTW the battles can be skipped completely without changes on the "gameflow"

so I can definitely add a "VN mode" for those who only want to read the story.
Ryocchi
Sep 27, 2015
I think it would be best to add the novel mode after you beat the game once, or add a code to make this game mode visible, I don't know.
OhHaiMe
Sep 27, 2015
I think it would be best to add the novel mode after you beat the game once...
That idea went through my mind as well. While the gamer in me says it should be locked, I think it would serve the game far better by being open from the start so it could draw in more people who prefer a more pure VN experience.
jack1974
Sep 28, 2015
Having read more of the story, I really can't wait for people to read Lucius' romance. I know it's a GxB, but really everyone should read it. It's probably the most original romance of all my games and also (though this is my personal opinion) one of the best

jack1974
Sep 29, 2015
Since game scripting has started, I'll post some random screenshots from the game, like this:


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQDD-DoUYAA9z6f.jpg:large" style="max-width:100%">
Galina really has the right ideas!

Though... a matrick stripper!? that would be fun to see. I'm sure she would... rock!

jack1974
Sep 29, 2015


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQGchNUWEAAvhnu.jpg:large" style="max-width:100%">
this line is one of my favorite puns

Diana talking about Mira with his brother Alex. remember that Alex is short version for Alexander...

Jaeger
Sep 29, 2015
Marada and Matrick are naked by default, so how does that work? LOL.
jack1974
Sep 30, 2015
Heh indeed. Maybe that's part of the joke

Franka
Sep 30, 2015
You have to look for the zipper.
jack1974
Oct 03, 2015
Started mission 14. Almost halfway! (then I'll have to review everything when the AI is implemented though)


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQaUhuwUAAAIfBO.jpg:large" style="max-width:100%">
I've added the nice card above, the Skella: on death, summons three smaller spider-like aliens

A real tough enemy!
jack1974
Oct 03, 2015
Some characters have interesting stuff, like grenade, or bombardment skill, etc.
Miakoda
Oct 03, 2015
Just a minor update. I believe I am finished with the endings/epilogues. I will work on the Codex for the next few days, and then will start the DLC romance.