July Goals & Progress Thread

[hiddenone]

@Chiara - Those edits are looking good.

@Marquise* - That dragon does not look like he's happy to see us, good job.

@Schlangan - Crabs are interesting to watch move, it'll be cool to see your finished sprite.

@DragonVine - Bows can be tough to make look good, so yay for getting something workable made.

@ksjp17 - I'm pretty bad at focusing on one thing at a time too, so I feel your pain.  Hopefully you don't have too many more days of just focusing on it.

@bgillisp - Yay for tweaking dialogue.  Element-based bonuses sound like they could add a lot to the game.

 

I've finished writing up the basic plot for the game and am about half-way done with the more detailed script for it.  I've started looking at what graphics I'll be using and what I'll have to make (I"ll be making quite a few sprites, so that'll be fun).  Also did some very rough maps (read as: empty square rooms) to figure out the sizes of each, so that I'll be able to start eventing soon.

 

[TheGreatEater]

@ksjp17, The last two names are because they were in the dream (along with Ichizoku-Shi, and Shishen-Jo) that really cemented Path of Blood as a game, rather than just a loosely ripped off DnD based AU I daydreamed and world built in for the lolz since High School. Ended up looking the root words up and they turned out to be actual words. So I ran with it. But yeah while I did use those words. The government has Mayors and Emperors [one per Continent], who answer to and work for the Councilate [controls, fine tunes, and looks over a sector of a Continent], High Councilate [governs and controls the various Councilates in a Continent], who are all under the governance of the Grand High Councilate. Each Councilate is made of Economist, Scientists, Lawyers, Sociologists, Educators, and / or Merchants. They get elected based on a meritocracy and majority vote of current council members once one gets to old to do their job any more or wishes to abdicate their seat (well for 99% of the cases.).

And they basically make sure that laws are fair for everyone, that any corruption or misuse of the citizenry gets dealt with one way or another, and if one continent / sector has something that is a good working system. The higher ups move it to other sectors to see how it goes. Then eventually it becomes a global law. 

________________

Then you have (in Path of Blood Universe) most non-Elven / Inaurian (my brother's created race) Cities are in English. the Meijin worship in Temples, while the Shishen-Jo are Shrine Practitioners [Either in an Elemental Shrine / Shrines, or Practioner of 'So-and-So's' Shrine], and the Ichizoku-Shi gather at The Academy which doubles as their Base of Operations. Which also are English. But yeah other than the two main Classes which really don't fit into any one specific category, (and the third made to fit the theme), it's mostly in English. But yeah manners of government, most cities that we created (really need to make a new map since my bro lost our old one), and the Planes of Existence are all in English. 

 

[DragonVine]

@ksjp17 - That's very helpful. What I finished was an animation of the sprite firing the bow, so this will help quite a bit in getting the idle "carrying the bow" stance done. I'll definitely use it as a reference. Thanks!



@bgillisp - It hasn't been answered yet, actually. I was actually gone for most of June, but I'm back at it now. I'm making a few of them. Probably only 3, and a heavy of a fourth (a standard guard, I'll just need a few poses). I'm a little bit stubborn when it comes to making them, as I'm not a very good artist, but between Game Character Hub and some minor editing, I'm pleased with how they're turning out. The experience is good in that it's making me more confident in simply trying to edit my own now if I need something.

@hiddenone - Thanks! Defintely quite hard. I'm happy with how it looks, even if it isn't the best. If anything, it'll stand as a place holder until I improve or until I submit a resouce request (if it comes to it).

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Managed to make a short intro for my IGMC entry and started mapping the town. Wasnt able to as much as I planned because my housemate and I played DotA...

 

[Ossra]

@Exhydra That animation is really, really cool. I like it!

Thanks much!

@Exhydra: Those screens look really really cool. I always admire pixel people who can show so much with so little colour!


Progress, 12th

I'm hoping I didn't bite off too much using the four color palette for my IGMC project, but I have used monochrome in a Game in a Week contest. Hopefully I don't flail around too much.


And that bridge just needs a little touch up and it'll look great!

@Exhydra


I hope your preference is not just because of the end. Nice animation BTW.

I just enjoy the music a lot more, really. ;o


I finished up the introduction and mouth animations for Auco's speaking parts today and moved on to mapping and general game play. Really kind of struggling because of the transition from large, expressive faces and wide backgrounds to tiny sprites and areas. Hopefully I can settle into a groove and get most of the game taken care of by the end of the week ... but that's a huge if. Might just focus on scripting menus and such until I can catch my balance.

​

Everyone sees the pretty things, so here are the things I think are going wrong at the moment. Just doesn't come across very well. Probably going to have to re-do the mask ... urg. Most of the areas are in the extremely early, basic stages. It's like slogging through mud right now ...

Also, it's a silly thing, but I'm so happy with out a bit of code turned out. The following is a single sprite which 'loads' an image. Pretty simple, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

 

[Marquise*]

@Engr. Adiktuzmiko


Hope he does not that on the ONLY computer of the house. That is total LACK of support!


@Exhydra.


Woah! I thought it was a mask and now it talks!


@everyone mentioning my dragon smile...


In black and white at first I thought he looked too happy/cartoony. But true with the color he seems really into it... Mainly if it was a smile I would run anyway. Kinda like a kitty cat meeting for the very first time an enthusiastic energetic Labrador! ^^


Sadly today it was too warm even as I opened the computer the graphic card seemed to be upset for a bit so I played a bit simple games instead... I couldn't focus; I glued everywhere! Even my elder kitties didn't want to get stuck on me or at the computer. XD Really my focus was so bad I had boxes and bottles on my back by accident walking in my apartment and I also think it is today I inadvertently kicked one of my felines and trapped a fly under my toes! So... Just in case I had a bad save or something stupid I preferred do another task and then play and hope the sweat would evaporate away!

 

[andrechan]

@Exhydra  - The colors remind me of classic gameboy. I wish you the best of luck. Those look sick.

@Marquis - Everyone needs to wind down sometime. How's your Graphics card now? Hope it's well!

As for me, today I mark the day that I finished all my assets for my game. in a way that I can make a beta out of it. I had my faces set up, my maps built, and everything that needs to be "drawn" has already been drawn. Now I dedicate the rest of my month to event making. Wish me luck guys!

The pitch contest is right around the corner too. 6 days left. Essay writing is quite nerve racking(? spelling), when there's $10, 000 to win. Lol. 

 

[Ossra]

@Exhydra.


Woah! I thought it was a mask and now it talks!

It's a virtual mask, actually. ;o It's something that is auto-detected and pasted on over the face during the streaming video, and is just on in the virtual realm. So there are basic emotion functions, speaking animations and such.

@Exhydra  - The colors remind me of classic gameboy. I wish you the best of luck. Those look sick.

The classics are always the best. ;o

I think I regained my graphical balance today, so I'm making progress! Here is the elevator area. The back half is glass, so you can gaze out into the void of floating, virtual computer objects. Hmm, looks like the door is glitchy ... someone will have to fix that to proceed!

 

[Marquise*]

@andrechan


Seems like it kicked on good after two restart. It wa more cloudy and windy today. I think I kinda managed some progress.


@Exhydra


Aww cool! Like a mixt of Cyberpunk physical representation of a user on the grid plus the avatar pasted on the face like facerig? You might be the very first to my knowledge to do that that way. ^^


And... Ack! Open mouth on the battler those teeth just have their own lining code; close the beek and... :x All goes loose! Worst part is to try both to be on the exact middle of the sprite sheet representation and the battler digital painting. It just antagonize each another in contradictions for the face! Hope if Lunarea sees this once it is over she approves. I mean in the end all I do is seeing defects!

 

[Kes]

RL is chasing me around with more things to do than there's time to do them, so no possibility of responding to individual posts.

My update

Strategy guide - but you knew that anyway, didn't you!

 

[bgillisp]

Too tired to post much, will have to reply to people tomorrow.

7.14 Update: Spent today tweaking and retweaking the elemental bonuses/penalties for the 8 different magical elements. Think there might be a little more editing needed on one of them, but so far I like what I see with these. Playtested the game the rest of the way through Chapter 1 and started Chapter 2, fixing bugs on the way. Noted a couple of dialogues to tweak when I'm not as tired (translation: Tomorrow).

Plan for this week is to ease back into the game making, mainly by playtesting a playthrough all the way to the current spot in Chapter 4. Right now I'm 2.5 hours into it, and my Chapter 4 save was almost 9 hours playtime, so probably will be at this a while as I'm fixing things as I notice them this time (instead of hoping I remember it next time I save out).

 

[VideoWizard]

@ksjp17 Hopefully things settle down soon for you. 

@Marquise* That dragon faceset is great! It looks like he'd bite the player character's face off if they got too close.

@bgillisp Welcome back!

@Exhydra Certainly looks different (that's good).

@andrechan Is Dre short for your name, or is it just a coincidence? Also nice game there.

@hiddenone Looking forward to playing your game sometime.

@Adiktuzmiko There's still three weeks to go, no worries. Sometimes it's still good to take a break in the middle of the heat.

@Anyone I didn't mention Hopeful for continuing progress or starting progress soon in your projects!

Sat 7.11.15- Didn't get much done, but I did fix a very small part of the Lakeland Quarry map before deciding I'd rather start a playthrough in Hard mode.

Sun 7.12.15- Continued the playthrough from where the hero meets Thomas and William at Lakeside Cliffs and got to Lakeland Town- Revisited, after going through the Swamp of Disappointment and Lakeland Highlands.

Mon 7.13.15- Got to the Mysterious Forest at level 12 in Hard Mode. Also fixed some map transfer errors, like getting stuck on cliffs or in bushes, in the eastern part of Lakeland Field to Lakeside Cliffs- South, and also from Lakeside Cliffs- South to Lakeside Cliffs- North, in the western part.

 

[Mimironi]

@hiddenone

I always feel like story writing is the most difficult part of a game. Congrats on getting that done 

@Adiktuzmiko

Good luck on IGMC!

@Exhydra

I really like your limited palette. And that picture loading animation is awesome.

@Marquise*

Sounds tough, I hate hot weather :/ Hope you had a nice resting day.

@andrechan

Ooo nice tileset! Good luck on your contest as well.

---

(ive never replied to others' progress, so i've changed that.)

I have another video here, and it's about skills!



I've successfully replicated Nikki's "Heartcracker" skill from Mana Khemia by adding a few lines to

Yanfly's Skill Steal script. Namely, the enemy escapes once you successfully steal its "summon" skill

(I dont know if im allowed to post the script edit, but if I am i'd be happy to)

 

[Kes]

I can sort of play catchup now.

@bgillisp

Picking up something you said a couple of posts back suggesting I do a playthrough as a way of varying doing the guide.  Doing a playthrough is absolutely required when writing a Strategy Guide.  It is the only way to be sure that things haven't been overlooked, that you haven't mis-remembered the strategy for that nasty troop by the lakeside and so on.  It is also excellent for final polishing because you are looking at the game in a slightly different way to the normal one.  I see that you're fixing as you go along now - I honestly think that that is the best way, it actually saves a lot of time in the long run.  So good luck with it.

@VideoWizard

Have you used a script or have you evented your different difficulty modes?  What's the main difference between your normal and hard?  I know some people just up HP and ATK, some people give different skills to the enemies, I increase all stats, not just HP and ATK (makes quite a challenge, that) and I'm sure that there are lots of variations.

@Mirpono

Is that monkey brandishing a semi-peeled banana as its weapon?  I couldn't make it out clearly.  That edit sounds neat.  I can't see why it shouldn't be posted.

My Update

Strategy Guide.  Yup, that just keeps on rolling along (like the river)

However, today I didn't need to go looking for distraction activity, it came to me in the form of a nasty little bug.  It's probably been present for some time but it was only today I noticed that none of my maps were showing a name when you transferred into them.  It turns out that there was a small, but crucial, incompatibility between 2 scripts.  Eventually a small alteration, and my map names are once more appearing like good, obedient little names should.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Looks like I won't have progress until monday.. I could use this time to plan what to do next.

 

[bgillisp]

@Engr Adiktuzmiko: That's what I'd recommend, if possible.

@ksjp17: Usually that is what is done, most of this is now bugs that were introduced in the last database overhaul (like a broken link to an item), or typos that I just never saw until now. Amazing what  you notice when you return to a game after about 2 weeks off?

@Videowizard: Thanks!

@Mirpono: I think when the thread started no one replied. It slowly caught on from what I can recall. So don't feel bad.

7.15 Update: More typo and bug squashing. Caught a couple battlebacks that were not resized properly, a couple passability errors that had creeped into maps and so on. Also decided to rebalance the poison status aliment some, as right now it was so weak I was ignoring it when it was inflicted (and I have it set to remove poison at the end of battle...I never liked the idea of poison never ending on it's own, as most poisons would flush out of your system after x days anyways, if you lived through it). Now I think it will be a little more of a threat than it was before.

Still on Chapter 2, got done testing the side quests today for that Chapter. Now it's onto the plot for Chapter 2! Once that is done I need to test a side quest in Chapter 3 to see if the different dialogues for doing the quest in Chapter 3 (as opposed to chapter 2) actually occur.

 

[Ossra]

@Exhydra


Aww cool! Like a mixt of Cyberpunk physical representation of a user on the grid plus the avatar pasted on the face like facerig? You might be the very first to my knowledge to do that that way. ^^


And... Ack! Open mouth on the battler those teeth just have their own lining code; close the beek and... :x All goes loose! Worst part is to try both to be on the exact middle of the sprite sheet representation and the battler digital painting. It just antagonize each another in contradictions for the face! Hope if Lunarea sees this once it is over she approves. I mean in the end all I do is seeing defects!

Yeah, in the real world it would work like an advanced form of facial substitution for certain cameras. Then that face is also carried into the virtual world, as well.


And I have been enjoying your work on the dragon! o: The artist always sees defects in his or her work. It's just the way it goes.

@Exhydra


I really like your limited palette. And that picture loading animation is awesome.

Thank you!


Also, nice work so far on the Tame skill! Always nice to find another way to twist a script to do something else.


Managed to do a few minor things today, such as complete the simple menu. Really wish I weren't so slow ... it feels like the days until the end of the contest are just blazing by ...

 

[Schlangan]

@All : Nice progresses again, keep it up !


For me, not much progress recently, I've been playing WoW too much. Nonetheless, I'm still busy with the fiddler crab. As I seem unable to get a proper design for the side view, I was wondering if I should stick to a single view of the crab. After all, a crab is supposed to move side to side, so it should be reasonable to use only the front view sprite for its move. (I have in mind the crabs in Link's awakening, they are always seen from the front side)


What do you think about that ?

 

[DragonVine]

@ksjp17 - Bugs like that can be hard to nail down. I'm glad you figured it out!

@Exhydra - Nice intuitive menu. Simple in it's look and usability. I like it.

So I've gotten more done after the last few days, in terms of my sprites. I've started working on a sprite for an older charater that will act as a mentor to the main, but I'm struggling with style. I created my previous sprite in the default VX Ace style with the help of GCH. He's just a young fella, so his height should be relatively short. However, I find that the sprite style of VX Ace clashes a wee bit with any larger style (like Mack's Looseleaf, for example.) Is it considered bad practice to to mix Looseleaf sprites with VX Ace style?

I also have an idea for a system to impliment, but that's a little while down the road, once I get through getting my sprites ready and finishing the setting up of my battle system. I'll have to dive a bit more into scripting to see if I can learn to do what I want to, but we'll see.

 

[Kes]

@Engr Adiktuzmiko

Yeah, I saw your status update about losing your day off work.  But planning time is undervalued, I think, so it's probably a good thing that you have some.  I hope it's productive.

@bgillisp

I know what you mean about spotting stuff that you'd overlooked before.  I've done several complete playthroughs, I've also played from the beginning to test things on many occasions.  Only 2 days ago did I spot that 1:30 minutes into the game there was a dialogue box without a face graphic on it.  I must have seen that dialogue a couple of dozen times at least and never noticed.  Do you also find yourself pleasantly surprised that you had thought of something that you'd since forgotten about?  Some little touch which adds to the map/scene/skill/whatever?  

@Exhydra

That facial substitution video is possibly the most creepy thing I've seen in ages.  Made my flesh crawl.  I like your menu, simple, yet stylish.

@Schlangan

Maybe your problem with the crab is that you are trying to be too realistic.  I was thinking about the scorpion in the RTP (or even the big spider); it's quite stylized, but it works.

@Dragonvine

I personally don't think that Looseleaf and Ace sprites work together except in certain very specialised instances.  For example, a larger sprite as the on-map sprite for an enemy, or (with very careful editing e.g. changing the heads) using Ace sprites as children (not youths) when all other sprites are XP ( which are smaller than Looseleaf).  But other than that, I think it would jar.

My update

Strategy Guide.  I may lose the will to live before this is finished - though I am quite close to the end now.  I couldn't afford the time for distraction activity, I just have to crack on with it. no messing about if it is to be finished over the weekend.