We did it - 3,000 wishlists gathered! That’s one of the big milestones on this long road, and I’m grateful for every single one. Thank you to everyone who’s already signed up to follow the journey - it makes all the difference for a solo dev project like this.
What’s Next? The Demo
The next milestone is clear: a playable demo.
Right now, the plan is to squeeze in around 8–10 combat encounters, spread across several alternative story paths. These will culminate in a tough enemy encounter - something like a boss fight - designed to reward replayability as you uncover its secrets.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Blood Sword without some hidden corners... so the most diligent explorers will find a few surprises tucked away in the demo too.
Under the Hood
From a development standpoint, most of my time is going into fleshing out the combat engine. I started with the Fabled Lands system, but I’m refactoring it from the ground up - this time aiming for a more cunning AI.
On top of that, I’ve implemented a system of in-game announcements that pop up for achievements, stat gains, and other key moments. The new skill trees I’ve shown in previous spotlights tie into this too: not only will you gain points as you rank up, but some special story beats will grant extra skill points as well.
And, of course... there’s the never-ending battle against bugs. I recently squashed a fun one where dead characters managed to die again if they took damage. Fixed now - no more second funerals. ^^
Onward
This milestone is just the start. Next stop: the demo that will help gather the next batch of wishlists needed. That’s when Blood Sword will really open up to your feedback - and together, we’ll shape the game into the best possible version of itself.
⚔️ If you haven’t yet, wishlist Blood Sword now and be there when the first battles are fought.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3645170/Blood_Sword/
And don’t worry - the next profession reveal is on the way as well. 😉