CaramelCowboy
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Episode 6 (additional info added at the end)
🕑 Added 2023-11-24 03:36:33 +0000 UTCHey everyone,
The links for episode 6 are up. Before you download, please read the entire post.
As far as I can tell, there shouldn't be any major bugs. You may find some image inconsistencies which should also be minor and not horrible. Music and sfx is missing for the last scene or two but will be added within a few days. If you're someone who cares about that stuff, maybe wait. I had to skip the music for the last scene or two because I have to leave in 1.5 hours to catch a flight and I don't want to throw a random soundtrack in there. I want to look for one I like. Also, I'm exhausted so I worry that if I work on code, I might mess something up.
I proofread it a few times but I didn't get to run it through the software which finds stuff I didn't catch before. So you may find grammatical errors but they shouldn't be a lot. This too will be fixed within a few days after they've been reported.
A major let down for me personally is that I didn't get time to work on three bonus images and a 'scene' wink wink nudge nudge that was supposed to be in this episode. To make up for this, I'll have more bonus images in the next episode and more 'scenes'. Another thing is I put the character journal on hold just until I'm back from my trip. It was acting wonky and I was running out of time so I'll fix it and patch it when I'm back or if I'm in the episode 7 zone, I'll just work on that and introduce it then.
About episode 7 - As some of you might know, I have around 400 renders that I had to keep on hold because I ran out of time. So those renders will go into episode 7, of course. I'm kinda disappointed that I didn't get to include those scenes in episode 6 because there's finally ACTION. I've been waiting to work on action scenes since I started this. I can't say much without spoiling stuff so I'll just leave it at that. You should get the hint at the end of this episode. The good news is that the gap between episode 6 and episode 7 will be the lowest one so far. I'll keep you guys updated.
As always, I'll try my best to be more punctual and give you guys regular updates with short breaks. I've set a crazy goal for myself but I'll know if it's really possible when I'm back from my trip because that's when I'll know. I've started a real planning process now instead of just writing it down in my head. Here's hoping it works.
I hope you all have a great week!
- CC
edit : files in the link have been replaced. Corrected the typos I found and added the character journal. Note that the character journal activates at the START of the episode, literally before the first image. So if you've already played this episode but would like to check out the journal, load a save that takes you to the first scene and your journal will get updated. For those who don't want to do this, I'll make them proc again in the next episode so you can see it when that happens.
Some notes about the journal - The journal currently has the characters you met in the past. The new characters will be added in the next episode and then any significant character you meet along the way will get added live as you progress. The information in the journal will also get updated based on your interactions with the character.
If you face any bugs or have any questions, feel free to @ me on discord. Thank you!
Comments
Dacer
CC is a humble person. :-)
IbeGenedammit!
Ah, so any VN enjoyer can imagine a story, write a screenplay, do the artwork for the animations and stills, direct, code, and produce a quality project......not so sure I agree with that CC
TheOwl
What he said.
CaramelCowboy
Aw man that's too kind. If I can do this, anyone can. I'm just a VN enjoyer who decided to try this out. Thank you!
Daniel
Hey CC, now iam already a member of you since one year or so and after playing the new version 0.6, i must say you´re one of the best story writer i ever saw and i played many games :D depends on what is coming in future, maybe i must tack back my statement and correct it with "the best" ;)
Dacer
Life is distracting me right now, so I'm only part-way through the latest episode, but there's a lot here to like CC, thank you! I'm impressed with how well you capture the "male banter" between the MC and Aren. This is how guy friends often talk -- they have nothing really *new* to talk about, so they just try to make as many low-effort, dumb jokes as possible when together to keep themselves entertained. I also appreciate how you work to keep Aren from becoming the cliche of "the weird friend" and nothing more. Sure, he's often awkward AF, but you also show how he's more than that -- there's an actual character there, and once Aren learns how to get out of his own way a bit more, we'll see more to him, I suspect. It really struck me, when I saw the character of June again, how you put effort and consideration into your character designs. For example, the women in The Swordbearer all have unique faces, and I appreciate that. You could line them all up for a group portrait (Was that a hint? Perhaps), and not mistake one of them for the other. Moreover, while all your female characters are attractive, they're all attractive in *different* ways, and ways that are more typically grounded in reality, in real-world beauty. They're not just a cast of supermodels starring in a fantasy movie (there's probably a really, really bad VN in that premise -- let's never decide to make that one, okay? Heh heh :-D) Point being. I think your character designs are well done, and created with care. Thanks for that. The new writing really works for me, yet again. I like how you turned a familiar scene ("the brash students versus the skilled master") into something more than that. Astrid *knew* what the MC and Aren were doing all along, which demonstrated how skilled she really is. She wasn't annoyed by their bravado, but rather concerned that it would be enough for the challenges ahead. You asked about typos? The only one I've noticed thus far occurs when Lyra is training in archery and reminds herself to breathe -- there's a letter missing in there. Anyway, this post is too long (as usual). Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what I've seen of the current chapter so far, and to thank you for all your hard work! Best to you and yours, as ever. Be well!
TheOwl
Great update CC. Not much polishing needed really...few typos and music. This chapter really sets up future chapters quite well. Quite curious to see how the action scenes play out in Chapter 7 as well as how the ladies will interact with each other.
Dacer
Just saw this message now. I look forward to reading the continuation of the story! Thank you for all your hard work, CC!
Touma
Fantastic job on episode 6.
PinkSpectre
Amazing update. My long wait for Lanya continues lol
Gary
episode 6 was fantastic, lyra remains number 1 in my heart
CaramelCowboy
100% agree with everything you said. It’s a little different in this case though. I’m pretty sure this one has the highest render count I’ve had so I don’t really mean it’s lacking. It’s just that I wrote SO much this time. I usually write then create the scenes but this was the first time I couldn’t create everything because of the amount I wrote. As for the deadline, I agree with that too. It’s just that I didn’t have a release since I moved to the other country and I didn’t like that it had been so long. Plus I’ll be away for a week. Didn’t want the episode going into December. Thanks for the great points you made
Markus K.
It is nice to have out a new release. I just wish you didn't presure yourself over some random set date and instead released the update when you really felt it was how you wanted it to be. Knowing that it was cut short and wasn't what it was envisioned to be does not feel good. I haven't played it yet, so can't say how it actually plays out, still knowing about makes this feel a bit wrong to me. Going forward I really wish you would just look at yourself first, progressing story second and then much, much later at giving people a set date for release. I feel these dates are always something that keeps drowning creativity and brings developers to burn themselves out for no real reason. If your game is really that good people will play it and support you, no matter if you release it now or whenever. If it isn't good or up to peoples expectations people quit playing it and won't support no matter how early you do release. In my opinion the factor of time should always be the one with lowest priority considering everything surrounding development - unless you feel that such a strict regime really drives you in a positive way. Just my two cents. Anyways downloading now and will be looking forward to give it a try.
