With college coming to an end for me, it's time to buckle up and finish the project that is the first Cross of Auria game. This chapter, known as Cross of Auria - The Awakening is about to endure heavy additions following the point we last left off - Frost Forest. From here, you as the player will now be able to return to Auria and enter the Castle Grounds North area to begin the next part of your adventure. That being said, I am abandoning the following mechanics (for this game only) in favor of finishing the story:
- Elemental absorb nodes. (Current ice nodes will remain in the game, but no more will be added.)
- Black Forest puzzle (sound puzzle will still play, but completing it will no longer take you to the secret area).
- Rank II is the final wave of quests from The Rabbit's Foot for this game and will be shipped with the remaining pieces of the game.
My initial goal for CoA was to have one huge game that encompassed all ten (or more) chapters of the story I was writing. However, due to time restrictions, that idea is no longer viable. Once I graduate, I may no longer have the time to support a project like this in terms of frequent patching, which is why the subsequent games will not be released as living projects as this one has. They will be released as complete products and will only receive patches to fix things that are game-breakingly broken, with the goal being to put out the entire story above all else.
This game was an experiment for me as a future game designer regarding my ability to create zones, design a skill and item system, create interesting boss mechanics, and write a story. In my time making this, I've learned a great deal about RPG Maker in general, and in general how to make systems and maps. I look forward to using this, and other engines in the future, to create the next chapters in the Cross of Auria series.
Now that the sentimental part of this is over, let's talk about how we're going to wrap up Cross of Auria - The Awakening...
{2.0.0.0, Build #25 Preview}
Note: All of the following is done with consideration to finishing the main story of CoA and finishing overall development of this chapter.
#1) The Colosseum and The Pit will be extended to include up to level 25 opponents. This is due to the player level being capped at 20.
#2) Puzzle zones are locked. (Black forest, ruins of alpha, etc).
#3) Colosseum will not feature other dungeons as originally intended. - This was an experimental section that would have expanded based on reception. It will return in some way in the future games and will remain available in this one.
#4) Achievements will be scaled down to include what is currently available (at the time of 2.0 release).
#5) Lvell will reopen as part of The Orcs of Revan questline. It is at this point you can complete the corresponding Rabbit's Foot quest in the area.
#6) Obscurite, the Dusk Kingdom (the area north of Frost Forest) was in development for several weeks, but is not scheduled to make an appearance in this game at this time. The data for this and other zones still remain in the game, so it is still possible to find your way through the cracks.
#7-?) And more to come, with heavy focus on progressing the main story.
As it has been before, updates will release in small chunks until the game is completely finished, which I'm aiming to be before the new year. This project was first released on new years day, it's only fitting it be completed before the next.
And with that, I'll see you in the patch notes. As always, feel free to reach out on Facebook @ facebook.com/CrossOfAuria.
//hardytier