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(1 edit)

So, I've only put about an hour in messing around with the beginning of the game and I do have a few suggestions for you.

1.  If you can, add in a message speed slider so that people can adjust the message speed to what they prefer.  It would be even better if you can separate dialog and battle message speeds.

2.  Add in the option for dialog to Auto-Play instead of it being the default.  Not everyone has the same reading speed, and trying to tweak the delay for the end of the message before starting the next I imagine would be a royal pain since the 'right' delay is going to vary a fair bit.

3.  Add in a message skip option.  This is mostly helpful for someone on a second (or later) play through and wanting to skip over some dialog, though there are some people who just want to play the game and don't care about dialog at all and it does make it more encouraging for them as well.

4.  The controller support needs some bug checking.  There are a few spots where the 'cancel' button on the controller doesn't work.  Namely, when selecting a target or Special/Tech in battle.  Otherwise, excellent job on the controller support even though you haven't mentioned it.

5.  Add in a means of checking what Specials and Techs you've learned.  This should probably be done via the menu.

6.  Add in a means of checking your progress towards the next level.  It could be in the menu or as an additional option your rented room.  Either way would work well.

7.  Adjust the amount of Tall Grass between the portion of town with your room and the portion with the General Store and Equipment Shop.  I tried going straight through and actually had so many battles that I lost an entire in-game day trying to get there.  It makes taking advantage of that temp job to get some gear early on very problematic.

8.  Add in other methods of saving the game other then the Gem of Time.  Having to spend money to save the game is extremely problematic for people who can't sit and play for long periods, and if the Random Number Gods decide to be especially mean to a player it can be extremely frustrating losing all of your progress because you were trying to save up for a really useful equipment upgrade.

9.  Add in save slots so that we don't have to override and existing save to try different things later.  Replayability is good, being able to save what you've done in those replays is better, though with it being a PC game it won't be that hard to just Copy-Paste the save files around for playing with different characters.

Now, that covers all of my suggestions and critiques at this point.  Now for a different type of comment.

Based on the comment made by one NPC in Thread Town it sounds like the player eventually gets the option to upgrade their class.  Going by what that NPC says there are five different options when that time comes, three 'pure' options that focus towards different aspects of the start class and two hybrids with the other start classes (which get shared with them).  If those truly do add different options for new Specials and Techs when leveling up that is a very intriguing idea and I can't wait to see how it gets implemented.  The only thing I would've done differently with that is having the options at Level 2 being set and the options after that being modified based on the choice made at Level 2.  But, I'm not fond of an over-reliance on RNG and I like the fact that the Stat Boost option is always there so I still find it playable.

I also particularly like how you always have the same start stats, and it's the options you choose as you level up that make the classes different along with tweaked stat gains based on your class.  If that carries over to the assumed class upgrades then it'll be even more interesting, especially with those Hybrid options.

In addition I'm looking forward to when I get additional party members and seeing how things work with their classes and leveling.  Just think, having a team of 5 Mages, but each chooses a different upgrade path when that option comes up and having different Specials and Techs learned along the way.  Definitely a lot of replay value there.

EDIT:  I forgot one of my suggestions while typing them up, so I had to edit it in.

Spoilers! (rot13)

V'ir abj orngra gur tnzr jvgu nyy guerr pynffrf :C

Gur fgeng sbe Ebthr vf gb tevaq gb yriry 6 sebz gur jbyirf nf cre hfhny (gur fjbeq tvirf lbh rabhtu nggnpx cbjre gb bar-fubg gurz ng yriry 4 vvep, juvpu vf whfg nobhg tbbq rabhtu).

Gura V nyfb uvg yriry 7 ol tevaqvat ba gur uneqre rarzl tebhc - jvgu gur evtug trne naq yriry hc obahfrf V znantrq gb trg whfg rabhtu fgngf gb bhgfcrrq + bar-fubg gur zntrf, naq onpxfgno vf rssrpgvir ntnvafg gur syrfutevaqref.

Sbe gur obff V whfg jrag va jvgu shyy trne + ohssf - onpxfgno pbhyq bar-fubg gur thlf (jvgu nzcyvsl sbe vafhenapr) naq nsgre trggvat fvyraprq V pbhyq gjb-fubg gurz jvgu zl erthyne nggnpxf.

Guvf fgengrtl erdhverf n yvggyr zber EAT guna gur bgure gjb pynffrf (vs lbh trg fvyraprq ba gheaf 1-2 lbh'yy yvxryl qvr), ohg vg fgvyy jbexf zbfg bs gur gvzr.

Pheeragyl V'z guvaxvat gur orfg ares gb cerirag jvaavat fb rnfvyl jbhyq or gb qb gur guvat fbzr ECTf qb jurer rarzvrf unir erqhprq KC qebcf jura lbh'er uvture yriry guna gurz - gung jnl gur "abezny" qvssvphygl pheir jbhyq fgnl gur fnzr juvyr rssvpvrag cynl jbhyq pnc bhg ng nebhaq yriry 4-5 vafgrnq bs yriry 7-8.

ogj, V'ir abgvprq nabgure oht jurer gur frpbaq gvre bs rarzvrf juvpu fcnja va yngre ba qba'g unir nal tbyq/KC qebcf be NV fpevcg frg pheeragyl.

Gur fubc zrah nyfb graqf gb qvfcynl vapbeerpgyl vs lbh fryy na vgrz jura lbh unir rabhtu fybgf svyyrq hc gb ranoyr fpebyyvat va gur zrah.

(rot13)

V gubhtug gur pynffrf sryg cerggl onynaprq pheeragyl:

- Zntr trgf tbbq qnzntr rneyvre guna gur bgure gjb pynffrf ivn gur Ohefg Sver fcryy, trgf tbbq qnzntr yngr ivn Ninynapur/Nzcyvsl, naq unf gur rkpyhfvir novyvgl gb urny, ohg unf cbbe qrsrafr naq arrqf gb eryl ba FC jnl zber guna gur bgure gjb pynffrf.

- Ebthr vf n ovg oruvaq gur bgure gjb pynffrf va qnzntr qrnyvat pncnovyvgl (arrqvat gur fjbeq/snypuvba cerggl onqyl), ohg Onpxfgno pna svyy va jura arprffnel, naq vg'f nyfb gur bayl pynff juvpu pna obbfg vgf ntvyvgl ol rabhtu gb bhgfcrrq gur zntrf (juvpu ner ol sne gur zbfg qnatrebhf rarzl glcr).

- Jneevbe trgf ol sne gur orfg ngx/qrs ohg unf ab erny hfrshy fxvyyf be grpuf gb fcrnx bs.

(rot13)

Svanyyl, V'ir tbg na hcqngr!

Gunaxf sbe gnxvat n ybbx ng nyy gur pynffrf! V eronynaprq n srj guvatf. Gur obff vf abj dhvgr n ovg fgebatre. V org lbhe yriry 8 punenpgre jvyy unir fbzr gebhoyr! V nyfb vapernfrq ubj zhpu KC vf erdhverq sbe yriry hc. Lbh'ir cebonoyl nyernql pnhtug ba, ohg guvf jvyy unir na rkcbaragvny rssrpg, nf gur KC erdhverq sbe yriry hc vf zhygvcyrq ol gur fnzr snpgbe ba rnpu fhofrdhrag yriry.

Ynfgyl, lbhe abgr nobhg gur oht va gur fubc rkcbfrq n taneyl zrzbel pbeehcgvba, juvpu V'ir fcrag gur cnfg srj qnlf punfvat naq (V oryvrir) ryvzvangvat. V unq gb cerggl zhpu erjevgr gung cneg bs gur pbqr.

V nyfb purpxrq sbe gur oht jurer qevaxvat n cbgvba juvyr phefrq qbrfa'g qrny qnzntr. Znlor bar bs zl rneyvre punatrf erfbyirq guvf? V jnfa'g noyr gb ercebqhpr. Qevaxvat na UC cbgvba juvyr phefrq pnhfrf qnzntr gur ynfg srj gvzrf V'ir purpxrq.

Nu, V fubhyq abgr, vg jnf fcrpvsvpnyyl gur zbhagnva whvpr cbgvba gung pna urny lbh guebhtu gur phefr. V qvqa'g gel hfvat n abezny UC cbgvba hagvy yngre naq gung jbexrq nf rkcrpgrq.

Spoilers! (use rot13)

Fb V frr gung gur vagrag urer jnf sbe lbh gb trg fghpx va n ehg naq raq hc orpbzvat n fgber pyrex jvgubhg rire orvat noyr gb yrnir gbja, yby...

Gung fnvq, V unq gb erfgneg gur tnzr nsgre gur hcqngr fvapr gur fnir svyr qvqa'g pneel bire, naq jvgu zl xabjyrqtr bs gur tnzr zrpunavpf V qvq znantr gb orng gur tnzr'f rpbabzl naq jba gur svany svtug.

Ubj zl eha jrag jnf:

- Zl pynff jnf Zntr.

- Ng gur fgneg, V tbg cerggl sne va yriryf (yriry 3 V guvax?) whfg ol svtugvat gur jbyirf va qnlgvzr.

- Nsgre gung V jrag gb teno gur yrtraqnel fuvryq, naq svtug fbzr bs gur fgebatre rarzl glcrf nybat gur jnl gbb. V nyfb obhtug gur yrngure nezbhe.

- Jvgu tbbq qrsrafr naq gur sver fcryy (sbphf naq urny urycrq gbb), V pbhyq npghnyyl gnxr bhg gur 5k jbys cnpxf ng avtuggvzr. Bgure rarzl glcrf fgneg fubjvat hc cerggl fbba, ohg hagvy gura gurl'er rkgerzryl yhpengvir naq tbg zr gb yriry 6 juvyr gurl jrer ninvynoyr vvep.

- Ng yriry 6 V unq nffrzoyrq gur pbzob bs Nzcyvsl + Ninynapur. Guvf yrg zr grne guebhtu gur uneqre avtuggvzr rarzl tebhcf naq xrrc hc jvgu gur RKC pheir sbe ybat rabhtu gb ernpu yriry 7.

- V xrcg ba tevaqvat nsgre gung, gubhtu V riraghnyyl tbg gur yriry qbja. V guvax yriry 8 zvtug npghnyyl or cbffvoyr gubhtu - V rfgvzngr gung V jnf ~85% bs gur jnl gurer, naq V qvq npghnyyl znantr gb trg onpx gb yriry 7 va gvzr.

- Ng gung cbvag V ernyvmrq V jnfa'g tbvat gb or noyr gb xrrc cnpr nal ybatre fb V jrag bire gb gur obff svtug.

- V jrag va jvgu gur FGE naq QRS ohssf sebz gur fpebyyf, naq ba gur svefg ghea V pnfg Nzcyvsl + Ninynapur.

- Guvf pnhfrf gurz gb fgneg fcnzzvat phefr naq fvyrapr... naq gurl'yy npghnyyl xrrc qbvat fb rira vs gur fgnghf vf nyernql nccyvrq, juvpu jbexf va lbhe snibhe.

- Gung fnvq, va guvf pnfr V npghnyyl jbhyq'ir jba rira vs gurl qvqa'g qb gung.

- V jnf cerggl zhpu rknpgyl fgebat rabhtu gb svavfu rnpu bs gurz bss va bar nggnpx naq gurl bayl qvq nobhg 10 qnzntr gb zr cre uvg, juvpu pbzovarq jvgu gur urnygu cbgvbaf V oebhtug va (gurfr nera'g nssrpgrq ol phefr, vf gung n oht?) jbhyq'ir whfg nobhg tbggra zr bire gur svavfu yvar, fb ybat nf gurl zvffrq n pbhcyr bs gvzrf.

C.F. V npghnyyl dhvgr yvxr guvf tnzr'f pbzong zrpunavpf... juvpu znxrf gur wbxr gra gvzrf shaavre.

V guvax vg'f nyfb sha gung V jnf noyr gb tnzr vg, gubhtu.

Guvf erzvaqf zr n ovg bs zl bja cebwrpg (pheeragyl haeryrnfrq) juvpu qbrf fbzrguvat fvzvyne jvgu na ubhe-ybat erny-gvzr gvzr yvzvg, rkprcg V cynlrq vg fgenvtug naq vagragvbanyyl znqr vg whfg-oneryl-cbffvoyr (ohg fgvyy sehfgengvat), nununununun.

Abj V'z tbaan purpx vs gur bgure gjb pynffrf unir nalguvat rkcybvgnoyr.

(2 edits)

(rot13)

Jbj! Gunaxf fb zhpu sbe gur vagrerfg! Naq gunaxf sbe yrggvat zr xabj ubj lbh jrer noyr gb orng gur tnzr. Ybbxf yvxr V arrq gb ares gur zntr nunun.

Vs V pbhyq cvpx lbhe oenva n ovg:
-Jung qnl jrer lbh ng jura lbh orng gur tnzr?
-Qvq lbh erag gur ebbz? Vs fb, qvq lbh rire ernpu gur cbvag jurer lbh arrqrq gb cnl? Be qvq lbh orng gur obff orsber arrqvat gb?
-Ubj bsgra qvq lbh gnyx gb ACPf nsgre gur vavgvny qnl be fb. Qvq lbh abgvpr nal bs gur shaxl qvnybthr?

OGJ, lbhe tnzr fbhaqf fjrrg. V'z vagrerfgrq va cynlvat jurarire vg pbzrf bhg.

(rot13)

Jvgu ertneqf gb lbhe dhrfgvbaf:

- V orng gur tnzr ng qnl 10 vvep

- Eragvat gur ebbz vf qrsvavgryl erdhverq sbe orngvat gur obff, lbh nofbyhgryl arrq gb or noyr gb erpbire lbhe UC/GC/FC - bsp fvapr V jba va yrff guna 15 qnlf, V qvqa'g trg gb gur cbvag jurer V arrqrq gb npghnyyl cnl yby

- Lrnu, V qrsvavgryl jrag nebhaq gnyxvat gb gur ACPf zhygvcyr gvzrf fvapr V jnf pbafgnagyl srryvat fghpx (nf vagraqrq). V ernyyl ybirq nyy gur yvggyr riragf gung unccra.

sjvj V'ir nyernql qvfpbirerq n fhpprffshy fgengrtl sbe gur jneevbe pynff nf jryy.

Fb ybat nf lbh ohss hc lbhe NGX/QRS ba rirel yriry hc (gur fxvyyf gurl trg ner qrpvqrqyl abg jbegu vg yby), gura lbh'yy or noyr fpnyr gb gur cbvag bs bar-fubggvat rirel rarzl glcr ol gur gvzr gur jbyirf trg ercynprq, yrggvat lbh tevaq gb lbhe urneg'f pbagrag.

V unira'g gevrq gur obff svtug lrg fvapr V'z gelvat gb frr ubj uvtu bs n yriry V pna ernpu, ohg V fgebatyl fhfcrpg gung fvzcyl tbvat va jvgu gur fpebyy ohssf naq jnvyvat ba gurz jbhyq jbex jura lbh unir fhpu uvtu fgngf.

Abg fher nobhg gur ebthr lrg, ohg vg'q cebonoyl or orfg gb znxr fbzr birenyy flfgrz punatrf vafgrnq bs pynff-fcrpvsvp barf.

Hi, so I decided to give this game a shot - I'm only at the start of the game and it seems interesting enough, but I have a HUGE problem with it: combat animations are WAYYYYYYY too slow. It's at a point where I'm getting frustrated every time I get into a fight, purely because even a trivial encounter against two wolves which I can kill in two hits each takes nearly an entire minute! I'd probably be having a much better time if everything in combat just, happened 2-3 times faster, because again, the current animation speeds are just PAINFULLY slow.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll up the combat speed and push a hotfix.

Done.

Awesome, it's much better now!