September 19 Update
Added 2021-09-19 22:44:57 +0000 UTCFirst up, check out this mini-comic! It's actually a weird case, just a fragment of a larger comic that I haven't directed Annikath to draw because I'm not sure it completely works. A number of elements are perhaps diffuse/ineffective, but I liked these two panels, so I commissioned them to make myself happy.
I've made a decision about the remainder of the war event: I need to split it into two sections. Not because it's so absurdly massive that it can't fit into a single update, but because I think it would be better for my work process to get out a smaller update soon instead of a larger update later. Shifting from trying to work through every single arc to focusing on finishing one has eased a lot of stress. Some might want to wait until TLS 0.59.0, since that will conclude the whole war, but rest assured that TLS 0.58 will be the next step forward as planned.
Though it will include some answers to scattered unknowns, the planned content will be focused on a single character unlike the broad war. This is one of the pieces that conceivably could have take place entirely off screen, but I think it will feel more impactful for the player to experience it.
Plus, it's fun! Or at least I hope most think so. I've had a blast designing this bit, and I've actually found myself just playing for fun while testing. I hope that it will be a nice "back to basics" section that will feel story-appropriate, though it's possible that people will dismiss it as, "Yo dawg I heard you like to RPG so I put an RPG in your RPG so you can RPG while you RPG." There's a fair bit of strategy not dependent on previous variables.
Anyway, that is my current plan. It means you get an update sooner. I can't say how much sooner, because I'm trying to evaluate the degree of final crunch here. But please look forward to it. ^-^
Comments
Busy. But I am feeling better now that it looks like I'll make my deadline.
Sierra Lee
2021-09-24 23:00:12 +0000 UTCHow are you week going? I hope it is nice.
BleBle
2021-09-24 17:57:47 +0000 UTCThat one seems simple, sure. Thanks for passing it along. >Hope all's OK at SLHQ. Doing alright.
Sierra Lee
2021-09-22 02:10:38 +0000 UTCGot another very simple semi-bug report from thisgamething over the weekend, and it kinda got lost in my attempts to put together a fix for the party switch script for you. (Ran into a minor snag in that I don't actually know Ruby. I'll keep at it though...) On the Tak'Kan Hall of Order map, look at the event at (001,000), the conversation with the two orc debaters, these are Ord Debater at (008,011) and Orc Debater 2 at (008,014). They start out facing each other but turn right to address the party near the start of the event, About halfway through, they turn again to address each other, but it appears that they turn to face one another in the wrong order than that implied by the dialogue. It looks like it should be Orc Debater 2 turning up, then saying "But that is exactly what will happen..." followed by Orc Debater turning down and then saying "And so we come to this again...: thisgamething provided a save just before the conversation for reference: https://ufile.io/4m5hn67u Hope all's OK at SLHQ.
DukeLeto7
2021-09-22 00:06:47 +0000 UTCYes, Qum is a savant.
Sierra Lee
2021-09-20 19:43:02 +0000 UTCI think my favourite thing about that comic is the way that both panels communicate the exact same concept, just in the respective characters' own ways :-)
Lamsey
2021-09-20 18:15:45 +0000 UTCIf i recall the deal with cum is that he is like a savat? the type of person who is a genius in a technical aspect but quiet slow in the others, not slow just...thinks different, like there are plenty of cases in real life, just that she is also a pink sucubbus who apparently is also quiet rare.
Leveler All
2021-09-20 17:52:49 +0000 UTC^-^
Sierra Lee
2021-09-20 13:16:50 +0000 UTCThis will definitely be a resource-limited environment! In a game this long, I think that taking things in different directions helps flesh out the experience. There's still one or two more planned after this as optional challenges.
Sierra Lee
2021-09-20 13:16:32 +0000 UTCI appreciate your support. ^-^ I'll do the best I can with difficulty, and I do intend to tweak based on feedback, but there's always going to be a range of reactions to a challenge.
Sierra Lee
2021-09-20 13:15:20 +0000 UTCYou're on the right track, actually. Hope you enjoy it!
Sierra Lee
2021-09-20 13:14:17 +0000 UTCLogan doesn't understand all the plans Sierra has, but he knows everything Sierra does is nice. HUGS!!! ;p
2021-09-20 07:23:53 +0000 UTCA. Love the comic, had to poor my heart in the nearest bucket because it melted. B. Looking forward to the update! Your description of it raises more questions then answers, but since the one clear point is that you had fun making it, I'm sure we'll have just as much fun playing it! Good luck on all your work!
WaxerRed
2021-09-20 06:51:27 +0000 UTCHaha I am looking forward to the mini sub-rpg. Maybe put *another* inside that one and see how many layers deep you can go XD. But seriously, it has been a while since we've been in anything approaching a resource-limited environment (except for ProN of course :/ ) so I'm really looking forward to a new section like that! One of the things I've appreciated is that you often craft sections with completely different mechanics to the rest of the game, like the time management system during Simon's route of the party split or Nyst's game in the Second Gathering. I know this probably won't be like those, but I enjoy the little modular challenges you include.
Jeffrey Lebowski
2021-09-20 05:05:05 +0000 UTCWill admit, kinda wondering how this game will end with things.
Edward Culham
2021-09-20 03:48:55 +0000 UTCAnother awesome comic! I've loved all of these so far. Feel free to keep them coming at whatever pace makes sense! I'm glad to hear that the decision made has reduced stress. I'm extra intrigued by how excited you seem with this section. It's awesome that after all this time and effort you can still have a blast with this project. I saw a comment above worrying about difficulty. If there was anything in particular you were worried about, I'm sure a few people here would be happy to look into it specifically to provide specific feedback, myself included. Good luck this week!
Grim8P
2021-09-20 03:46:55 +0000 UTCSo, 'back to basics' has me imagining Simon just dropped off in the middle of a megadungeon and hacking and slashing his way out. No politics, no economics, just 'kill everything from point A to Point B, and exercise the old noggin for the odd puzzle'. Should be nice and tasty. And the mental image of an old curmudgeon like Simon going full Adventurer tickles me pink.
genericname12345
2021-09-20 03:27:11 +0000 UTCQuality yes but I still have a great dislike for cliffhangers.
JJS
2021-09-20 00:29:57 +0000 UTCI've said it before and I'll say it again quality over anything else, and whatever works for you, works for me. Besides if it wasn't a cliffhanger, how would we know it was truly TLS. :/ *I joke, I joke* But it will make the end all that much more sweeter when it gets there.
Darthjake
2021-09-20 00:27:00 +0000 UTCAnything with Qum being herself is sure to be a winner with me. Always happy to see these cute comics.
Dmitry F
2021-09-20 00:03:09 +0000 UTCIt still puts a smile on my face, so I'm glad it can for others. ^-^
Sierra Lee
2021-09-19 23:54:18 +0000 UTCHaha, I worried that might be overhyping or misrepresenting it. If you like the early stages of games where you're low on resources and don't have any kind of build together, then hopefully you'll enjoy this part.
Sierra Lee
2021-09-19 23:54:04 +0000 UTCIt will be another cliffhanger, concluding a logical section but leaving many questions in the air.
Sierra Lee
2021-09-19 23:50:26 +0000 UTCAww, I love the comics!
Leon Redway
2021-09-19 23:44:55 +0000 UTCI dont know if you thought that was funny, but It was rude and I dont want you to answer my comments to say something like that.Please stop JJS
BleBle
2021-09-19 23:39:23 +0000 UTCSo, personally, I *do* like to RPG, and I'm one of those curmudgeons who gets pissed at all the commentators who keep seeing RPGs need to "evolve" in ways that tend to cash out as their not RPGing. So I'm looking forward to this update.
Desertopa
2021-09-19 23:36:39 +0000 UTCI dont understand the full explanation, I dont feel it is clear enough for me. But good luck on that.
BleBle
2021-09-19 23:32:32 +0000 UTCYes qum'dumpe is sweet and she does see a great deal.
JJS
2021-09-19 23:23:13 +0000 UTCLove the mini comic ❤️
2021-09-19 23:19:50 +0000 UTCSo exactly how is this going to work? Trying to juggle all this stuff but from what you said. "Some people might want to wait to 59.0 because that will conclude the whole war event" So you're going to end 58.0 on a cliffhanger just like 57.0? Will we find out who the light figure is as if we didn't already know. Will Simon get the power he needs from that ritual? Will we be able to mind break xestris? The only thing that gave us an edge was that the anak never ordered her to trick Simon. She has answers and she has been holding out on us this whole time. And I want to put Gwyneth in her place beneath Simon's foot. I don't say these things as complaints but honest questions.
JJS
2021-09-19 23:00:29 +0000 UTC
