It's the "I think I have it sorted" update

Hi guys.

Alrighties. I've worked out the details for the gameplay fix.

One of the slight problems with H5 is, because it's all mapped out (and is jolly complex), I can't just add random bits and bobs easily.  So, for example, I can't just drop another character in to fill gameplay etc.

However, that said, I've worked out how to expand the free roam in Four with content from Five and also expand the content in Five to make up for the content lost as I move it around without any negative impact on the planned story arcs or pace.

I think it will take me about a week to write and render the new stuff, with maybe another half a week to get the new mission stack system in place. Not terrible, but not exactly great from your perspective.

So, given I have some more work to do following the gameplay testing and then we have the path testing to do I'm  looking at a March release. For something of this size that's not awful. Not great but not awful. Looking forward, with the second PC to provide more ooomph from the start plus with the mission problem resolved we hopefully won't have a hitch like this again.

My concern now is how quickly it will get through the second testing gate (the path testing to ensure it's not buggy) once I've made the corrections.

As many of you know, I fret (worry) about the value for money perspective from your side of the house and this delay, although understandable from a quality perspective and one of those bumps in the road in development, does impact on that negatively. I know, I know, patronage isn't directly linked to a product. We've had this discussion many times, and I know many of you feel that you are supporting me in the making of this game not buying an end product, but you guys work hard for your money and I don't like the idea that you pay for my mistakes.

So, what I'm going to do is not touch any of the March patronage unless the chapter comes out that month. If I can't get it out next month dues to bugs or whatever, I'll refund the patronage in full. No quibbles. 

This means I can still look you in the eye. I will make mistakes in making something like this and if I screw up then that's my problem not yours. Besides, it gives me a hell of an incentive to get the chapter out, no? :)

Notty