Developers Blog . . . And An Update!
Added 2021-01-23 01:58:41 +0000 UTCChapter 6 ended up being really long, so it's now Chapter 6 and 7! All of 6 is up today, and the first part of Chapter 7 will be available exclusively to Patrons on the 31st (when Chapter 6 is released publicly.)
Here's the link for those who really, really, REALLY can't wait (that is, people like me):
https://dashingdon.com/play/wildelight/project-armadillo/mygame/
Demo Wordcount: 183k (not counting the bits moved to Chapter 7)
Average Playthrough Length: 48k, which means this recent chapter is 10,000 words longer per playthrough. Whoops. (For comparison, each chapter in Lady Death's Diary is around 2,500).
Things to be aware of:
1) Your save files will carry over to the Patreon demo. I'm waiting until the public demo closes around Chapter 10 to update all the previous chapters and wipe saves. For Patrons, there will also be an optional where your file won't be wiped which you can choose to play instead--but going that route means that you won't benefit from the major reworks (I already have an additional 9,000 words and several new scenes in Chapter 5 that will added once the save-pocolypse happens).
2) However, playing from a post-chapter 5 save will have issues. Variables for Sally's vision and the activities don't reset, so whoever you first chose for the vision will keep triggering no matter who you choose, and you'll only be able to pick one excursion. (Normal stat errors will occur as well, but those won't outright break anything except flavor text and dialogues and obviously the relationship/personality bars).
3) This chapter is kind of info-dumpy. Maybe too info-dumpy (let me know if this is the case). Basically, this chapter starts the next “phase” of Mind Blind. The first movement was chapters 1-3, getting you introduced to Aeon and the world of Ments. The second segment is 4-5, where Nick ends up in your head and it becomes your new reality. With chapter 6, we finally start the James Bond arc. No, I’m not joking about this.
4) There is a section where the narrative railroads you into making a certain decision. For which I apologize. But it's necessary. I could alternatively give people who say no a "The End" screen, but that seems cruel. I tried to alleviate any potential frustration of not being able to make a different choice for giving you around twelve reasons for why you made that choice, so hopefully it won't break role playing too much.
5) Rosy is really trying, okay? Being nice doesn't come naturally for them.
Also, I'll be having a poll about whether or not to lock K's romance route after the demo has been up for a few days. You’ll realize why once you play through this recent demo. (Which, despite my prior claims, is more the Rosy show than the K show since this chapter got cut in half. But K is still . . . well, you’ll see.)
Comments
Reading how they interact once you know K's not a Ment completely changes their feel--you get to experience K in all their How-Do-I-People-and-Why-Is-This-Person-Angry-At-Me glory :D
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-25 20:40:13 +0000 UTCokay, that K reveal made me get up and jump around the room, because WOW. I immediately replayed, because now so many things make SO much more sense, it was just the perfect plot twist. (i ment(heh) to comment this when i first read the update but apparently I didn't hit post? lol)
2021-01-25 20:33:04 +0000 UTCThere's a typo channel on the Sanctum and all the main MB discord, or you can send them to me via tumblr :D Having bugs and typos reported makes my day because it means less things to catch when I write Draft #2
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-24 20:29:50 +0000 UTCI might change the word "light" to "pale" or "faint" since light can also refer to degree rather than shade! (Which can imply the nurse could be more medium-shades, when they're fair.) I think it tripped a lot of people up.
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-24 20:28:22 +0000 UTCJo. What have you done? I called so many twists and turns so far but the K revelation knocked me for a loop. I did notice a typo or two. Where would you prefer those sent?
Rhaygan
2021-01-24 19:22:19 +0000 UTCAahhh I thought it was just describing how they were blushing 🤦🏼♀️ I'm a fool
Niamh
2021-01-24 19:11:18 +0000 UTCYou mean the nurse's description in Chapter 3? It's implied, by describing how they blush light pink :)
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-24 19:04:00 +0000 UTCI love this so much. It didn't feel like info dumping at all. I'm obsessed with all if the ROs but I have never loved a character like I love Nick, I love all his snarking comments to Rosy and how you're developing his character in this chapter (jealous?? Of Button?? And making mistakes!). But question - when does Noh's skin colour get described? I have replayed and I didn't notice - eyes are green and they have high cheek bones but I didn't see mention of if their skin.
Niamh
2021-01-24 18:54:59 +0000 UTCThank you so much for the feedback!!! I'm so giddy that you like the beginning of the Rosy romance arc--Rosy gave me so much trouble at first, but now they're one of my favorite ROs to write. I was definitely worried about it being information overload, so I'm glad that all of Button's questions came across as reasonable (the hardest part for me was prioritizing what should be revealed first, which is why you can choose the order of the questions). I'm REALLY looking forward to writing the undercover bits with K, too, since I don't think it's the direction most people expected the story to go after Button is accused of the bombing. And Nick will have more occasions where he displays a little vulnerability, provided Button doesn't shut him down <3
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 23:06:32 +0000 UTCImmediate reaction to the ending: Is Hemera BUTTON??? There are so many wonderful nuggets in this update. Glitch's acceptance to the MIV program was conditional on working with K? Deliciously suspicious as ever, I have to go over all of her scenes with a fine-toothed comb now. Nick giving himself a two-week nosebleed for the sake of wishing Button good night is so sweet and ridiculous and foolish. Rosy, certain that button will go through with it but nevertheless extremely protective of their right to make their own decisions + that whole intricate power play with Branham and the classified folder of doom? *Chef’s kiss*. I’m wallowing in the Rosy content; I think I love him now more than ever. I’ve had a hard time imagining what his romantic dynamic would be like with Button, but they actually have a lot of fun together, don’t they? Their interactions were just perfect. Button’s emotional highs and lows based off of how much faith they think he has in them, and the… supportive and educational mind games? And the jokes? And the very sincere regard they can have for each other - I can barely contain myself. The reveal of his layers of secret jobs still has me breaking out in thrilled and smitten giggling. I always kind of assumed that the nurse and noh were the same person, so now I’m extra intrigued and my conspiracy theory brain is going haywire. Just because the characters don’t think that’s the case doesn’t mean it isn’t true, right? As far as railroading goes, I’m not feeling that at all – I’m just delighted. Why would I want to avoid the plot when it’s this good? It was super satisfying to watch everything click in to place. Even though I hadn’t guessed what was going to happen, my reaction was “of COURSE I’m going undercover!!” it feels like a completely natural and extremely fun trajectory for the story, I’m so exited about where this is going. It also didn’t come off as infodumping, all the exposition felt like valuable puzzle pieces. I think it helps that it’s so naturally diegetic, Button asks relevant and interesting and intelligent questions, so it all feels like it’s for their benefit and not mine, if that makes sense? Like, I’m not being talked down to by the narrative or wading through boring info. It’s all very engaging. Nick… the tenderness I carry in my heart for this man… ;-;
2021-01-23 22:49:35 +0000 UTCI may look at the railroading bits, but part of me feels like if I'm going to railroad readers, I may at least be honest (and cheeky) about it, rather than pretend that you might have a choice. K and Button definitely need to have a chat before the romance locks! (The point will probably be when they go undercover.) I had this whole timeline, but Rosy's debrief was supposed to happen in Chapter 4 😅 MB's a bit longer than I anticipated so lock in points may be later as well. (And don't worry! Gray comes back.)
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 19:00:38 +0000 UTC💙💜💚❤ I genuinely have low-grade panic attacks every time before I post because I'm convinced that *this* will be the chapter that makes people realize how bad my puns are 😂 I'm glad you enjoyed it!!
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 18:57:45 +0000 UTCThat's why there's replay value! The ROs are like Pokemon--you gotta catch them all 😉
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 18:56:05 +0000 UTCComment section or sanctum works great! Patreon (usually) notifies me of activity so I tend to see it sooner versus later, whereas the forum I sometimes forget to check.
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 18:55:19 +0000 UTCOh <3 I loved this update! I have so many thoughts, is it ok to put them in this comment section, or should I wait until the demo goes public and post in the forum?
2021-01-23 17:05:39 +0000 UTCthis update!!!! literally loved it so much <3 thank you for all your hard work!!! and NICK!!! i love him sm 🥺 🥺 🥺 also very much enjoying rosy and k in this chapter...you're doing ur best to make it almost impossible for me to pick an RO 😩 😩
2021-01-23 15:15:49 +0000 UTC(SCREAMING) this update was FANTASTIC!
2021-01-23 12:04:10 +0000 UTCI may or may not have (definitely) finally became a patron because I'm way too impatient to wait to read the update... The K "AHA" moment was great. I had a feeling about that fella, but now we know! As far as "info dump" concerns, it didn't feel overwhelming or anything. I think having a lot of choices sprinkled in there makes it easier to stay engaged. It'd be different if it was just a lot of Rosy and Nick talking at Button. Also, re: the railroading, I think the 12 choices of why helps, but if some people still don't like it, another option would be to SHOW MC being railroaded into it (giving the reader the choice once or twice to say no but then countering it with something in the dialogue like 'BUT IF YOU DON'T ....") although tbh, that seems like more effort than it needs to be, so I personally think if people still don't like it you should just ignore them lol. LASTLY, re: locking K's route... I'm assuming that would be after Chapter 7? I think MC needs to at least have some convos with the man with all the tea on the table before the route can lock! Lol. My only critique atm, that's also not really a critique, is that I miss Gray </3 lol
Mich
2021-01-23 09:05:37 +0000 UTCThank you! Part of Chapter 7 will be available on the 31st to Patrons ❤
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 05:17:24 +0000 UTCThe info dump didn’t feel like an info dump and was super entertaining! I really really loved rosy in this update and I’m gonna be bouncing off the walls till the next one
morrigan
2021-01-23 05:16:22 +0000 UTCThanks so much!! It not very action packed but there is a lot of character development. Especially for Nick.
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 04:42:41 +0000 UTCSuper enjoyed the update! I think the info in the newest chapter is seasoned extremely well with characterization for Button, Nick, and Rosy, so it doesn't feel too info-dumpy to me. It was really enjoyable to read!
thebonethief
2021-01-23 04:41:27 +0000 UTCThe discord server is called Sanctum of Spoilers! So long as you're AMO tier or above, you should have access. Sometimes Patreon bot can take a while to add people though! If you want to give me your discord tag, I can try adding you manually as soon as I get back to my computer!
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 04:16:56 +0000 UTCIs it called Sanctum of Spoilers, or just spoilers? I'm seeing one that's just called spoilers-sorry, I'm kinda techno-dumb!
Alex T.
2021-01-23 04:12:36 +0000 UTCYou'll need to link your Patreon account to your discord! Patreon will link you automatically to the Sanctum of Spoilers. Let me know if you need any help!
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 04:06:12 +0000 UTCquestion: how do we access the patron-only discord? I'm dying to talk about this with someone!!!
Alex T.
2021-01-23 04:04:17 +0000 UTCThank you so much! There was a lot of info to power through, so I'm so glad it still was enjoyable!
Jo O'Connor
2021-01-23 03:17:44 +0000 UTCI just devoured this update and wanted to tell you it is SOOO GOOOOOOOOD
Cas
2021-01-23 03:16:20 +0000 UTC
