I wanted to give a report on development as we are nearing release of the next content update. If you have not read the previous update, you can do so here. All of the details for the path and direction of the next release has not changed except for the number of random encounters. Originally I was trying to write, pose and render the first three different encounters to be put in the random encounter pool. The encounters are large in size and it soon became apparent that trying to cram all of them into one release was just going to cause a much longer delay. So I decided to stagger them to help shorten the time needed to release game updates. In the upcoming version 0.3.0, the system is in place for random encounters, but there will only be one that is available. This one will give you a close view of some of the conflict your character will be pulled into as well as introduce another main character and potential love interest for further in the story. The following release of version 0.4.0 will include a second random encounter to be added to the pool, unless I can release that sooner on its own. And then another one in the release following that. This way by the time in the story another encounter would trigger, the random pool will have a few options to choose from and the releases do not get held up trying to create all the encounters at once. After a second encounter is added, if you were to start a fresh playthrough or were playing for the first time, you would have more than one option for the first time an encounter is triggered.
Along with the encounters I have created optional paths for if you want to avoid them. These will lead to your group finding a spot to camp for the night. This update will have a scene like this for each of the different paths. While shorter than doing a full encounter, they will offer new information and background for the various characters in your party. Also as your relationship with certain individuals progresses these overnight scenes will provide other opportunities as well.
I have updated the main menu and reduced the size of the platform links at the bottom so they do not take up as much room. I took out the black buttons so more of the background shows through. I want to add more images, especially some that will unlock as you progress through the story, but that can wait for another time.
I want to overhaul the in-game journal and turn it into more of a Codex instead of the play by play history it feels like now. I am thinking of including maps of where you have been in your journey, write ups on the various factions as well as stats for the characters you meet along the way. With a rework on the horizon I decided not to spend time working on journal entries for this release since they would end up being scrapped for the new system later.
Achievements and gallery images have been created and added. Currently the update is getting close to 30,000 words added with 1,100+ images. Many more are queued up and there is still a chunk left to pose. This does not include the images that were created for use in the Stay With Me video as those will be converted into the video file.
That main push now is finishing renders for all the various paths and alternate scenes as well as music and sounds. I added some more images below and tried to pick some that do not give too much away as well as a link to the latest clip from the video. Feel free to message, comment or post in discord if you have any questions or want to discuss anything.
