Devlog - v0.10 strategy

v0.9 had a lot of tiny changes to a few bigger goals, and it appears that some of the off topic changes at the very end broke save compatibility. Meanwhile, there are some highly requested features that are art completed that have been pushed back a bit in favor of the needed gaps filled in v0.9.

v0.10 is important to me and I'm excited about for a few reasons. Meanwhile, I feel like I didn't announce my goals and objectives in the beginning of v0.9. So as I've handed off the last update v0.9 for early access and start on v0.10, here's what I'm hoping to get out of this next patch.

v0.10 has three goals in mind:

Blueberry content - When I started this project, I seriously doubted I could get art assets for multiple themes. Now I have three! Art assets are done for a blueberry expansion theme. Writing is mostly done, and at a spot where it can be finished as the theme is being put into the game. v0.10 will be adding in the art images, the game mechanics will be very similar to the WG theme, with small elements that I had researched ahead of time.

Battle revamp - I tried this once before, and really just made a different problem instead of fix anything. This has been the hardest issue, and stemmed from the same issue of trouble getting the very specific art assets for an adult game. That prompted my decisions to try to use as little human enemies as possible. Which makes for boring enemies, and I've put off changing mechanics again. This might be over! With the third feature, I have been excited to plan for bringing in human(oid) npcs back into the game plans. I've been writing out some strategy to skills and enemies, having a little rock-paper-scissors strengths and weaknesses, and some time to look back at the leveling up system that I kinda broke at the beginning of the development process.

Humanoid NPCs! - I've had an artist show interest in making some human npcs, something that I never thought I would be able to get in. Plus, I've found another source that can at least get me some somewhat immersive assets, if not help provide some concept art for other artists. This means that I can get some much, much more interesting or immersive enemies considering the themes of the game. I need to focus more on getting some more specific images and assets, but already it's inspired and motivated so much more story content. Already I've drawn out more maps, some battle mechanics, and a lot of story for this new content. Not that I'll expect all of this to be completed in v0.10, but there will be a good start here, enough to fully support the second feature.

I hope this helps gives some clarity going forward. Especially since with changes to encounters and battles again, I'm expecting there to be some saves broken again. As always, comments and questions on the Discord server encourages and motivates me. Feel free to let me know what you think!