As some of you may know, I've been working on the 5.0 structures for a few months now, admittedly on and off, and I wanted to gauge interest on something: How would you feel about a separate app branch for 5.0 Alpha/Beta testing? Short explanation - you'd opt into the new branch using the same method we use to change game versions, make a new save, and play through what is currently available while reporting back and bugs or gamebreaking issues you may find. Save files will more than likely not be able to be preserved due to how some bugs require fixing, so using multiple save files and saving often would be advised. For instance: a save file just before talking to an NPC who bugged out would be safe after the bug fix, but a save file from after that same NPC would not. Basically, I won't add debugs the way I did with the meeting hall chest and the Delivery Boy, but instead would focus on hard fixes for when 5.0 releases publicly.
If you're interested in following 5.0 as it's being developed and participating in the Alpha & Beta testing of it, please join my Discord @ https://discord.gg/bMS9ktw. Cross of Auria channels are just after the specific game channels. Keep in mind that I use this discord for my youtube & stream adventure, so that's the bulk of the channels and discussions.
Some more specifics for this 5.0 development test:
• Areas and quests would be drip released in order of the in-game timeline / playability.
- Example drop order: The Veil (new intro) -> Lvell day 1 -> Lvell day 2 w/ Jack -> An'ura & return -> Scarlet & Black Forest -> Auria & Hell's Gate -> Auria main -> Rabbit's foot functionality -> Frost Forest -> Agartha functionality -> Orc war zones -> Release to public/main branch
• If a bug required the NPC to be replaced in order to be fixed, anyone with a save file after the bug was found would have to restart the file or revert to a previous save before the bug was encountered.
• If you manage to not keep saves past where bugs occur and only progress and save as they are resolved, you'll be able to keep this save file moving forward into the public version.
• The initial drop for the new veil intro will take the longest, since all of the back end structures have to be in place to prevent more forced game restarts. I currently have no timeframe for this, but the expected time to complete the entire 5.0 process is why I wanted to give everyone something to do in the meantime.
On top of all of this, I am still taking art submissions provided they fit the style of the game. If you or someone you know works with pixel art and you want to make something for CoA, stop by and talk to the two artists already working on the game! Artists who submit quality work get to work with me on adding their own questline to the game, provided it still falls under Revan's specific fantasy theme. For a frame of reference, the questline with Adrian, Ana, Ryan & Maya was created by one artist, and the battles for Headless Horseman and soul/void based enemies (Those Who Watch, Wretch) were created in part by the other.
Let me know what you think. It's likely that I will proceed with this method of 5.0 testing even if nobody openly says they're participating since it will be easier for me to manage.
One final note, there will be no more updates to the retail branch of the game until 5.0 is complete and goes live. I've tried to fix some issues with various game branches but the only true fix is to take them out and redo them altogether which will affect all current save files. In essence, this is the reason for the new save file requirement once 5.0 goes live.