Progress 31.03.2023

 

And good day to you all!

Update 28 was sent to be tested and proofread. Which in turn means that I'm writing the weekend... once again. Funny how the schedule works like this. Anyway, I'll start rendering update 29 on Monday.

And since the 27 is out, I can actually show something from the 28. Nothing major, though.

Yeah, some talking, surprisingly. There are one or two revelations during this update. 

And then... Tomas didn't start as a mage. He was a soldier before... well, that is covered in the story, actually. But this relates to the previous short story I showed, sort of. He hates the pale orcs (yes, there is more than one kind but more of that later), but that shouldn't be too surprising considering the images shown earlier. Just two renders this time... but there is time for more later.

Changelog: Update 27

 

Changelog: Update 27

• Day 27 implemented
• 377 renders
• Grammar, spelling, and other fixes (Thanks to Adry Lemon, Shaddy, BryonSmothers3DX, To Begin With, Bread_, CXX, Bols/Koki)

Alright, it is time. There are a few renders that are dark. That's intentional. The intention is that you are supposed to barely see what is going on in those few renders. However, I will add them to the enhanced visibility toggle if people want. Anyway, the release schedule. The public is a few days later than normal, but not too badly.

Release schedule:

• All patrons: As soon as I verify the links
• Public:7th of April 2023 or thereabouts.

Progress 27.03.2023

Let's cut to the chase. I'll start pushing update 27 out tomorrow, assuming my net doesn't crap up. I'm not entirely sure if I will do the tiered releases or all at this stage, but that depends on my net mostly. 

Anyway, rendering update 28 is going fairly decently. I'm roughly at the halfway point of the script, so I'm happy with it. Although I'm not happy with some of the lightning, I have to see what I can do in the post.

As for writing update 32, it's going decently as well. Had to dig a bit deeper to fill some of the spaces, so the pacing stays intact for most parts. But other than that, I'm happy.

Actually, I was wrong. I needed 4 more renders of the "Exile Saga," heh. This image has a subtitle of sorts. It's "Oath made." And now, a bit of back story, in this region of the world (somewhere in the north), dwarves are raiders, and they've pillaged villages and towns more than once. And thus, there is little tolerance toward them. Hell, most people would slay a single dwarf when met. Obviously, the future friend of Tomas (the MC) isn't from this region. He is from the west where they are more, traditional in a sense... I need to make a map, don't I? Anyway, he has to take an oath to return Tomas to his parents since the gladeling needs to bury her father.

And the theme continues... Also, fun fact, the first main character whose parents are still alive. At least for a moment. His parents and older brother are the other humans. The father is with the sword. Younger siblings are hiding in the house.

And then there was the promise given since Tomas was able to convince his parents and older brother to spare the dwarf.

And the farewell, for now. So for Friday, I'll think of something else... By the way, the dwarf's name is Malgrin, Mal for friends. I have no clue where the name came from. It just popped into my head while writing this.

Progress 24.03.2023

40 minutes to load all the characters I need to the scene... whee... Anyway. Hello all!

I'll start distributing update 27 next week. It will be done so that all patrons will get it before the end of the month. So there is that, soon out, relatively anyway.

Let's tackle writing first for a change. Surprisingly, or maybe not, I'm actually right where I want to be. I had doubts as I missed one day because I slept a bit longer than usual. Which in itself isn't a bad thing. Anyway, I'm happy with it right now.

And rendering... I'm done with the variants. But sadly, working with Daz is like trying to herd cats high on catnip at times. But overall, it's okay. I'm heading in the direction I need to be in at this stage of the week. Now just need to get the dang thing to load the scene up properly... Aaaany day now...

Anyway. Renders, I honestly hate it when I can't show what I'm working on. But it won't be too long until I can show something... maybe.

There is one render left (I think) of this series, which I'll post on Monday. I had fun doing this, in a sense. It's "canon," but at the same time, it's one of those pieces that won't come up in the next one, visually, that is. I'm fairly certain there are mentions of it.

A couple notes about the world. It isn't going to be a "standard" fantasy world as is. While there is some trade between the races, it depends on the region and the relationship between the nations. And this also varies within the races (and their nations). While there might be two dwarf clans, they won't be the same. One can be the "standard" dwarf you see in most fantasy worlds, and the other might be a slaver. But that being said, I probably need to do some sort of lore post closer. Although the funny thing is, I kind of suck at making them. Why? Because it's all in my notes or in my head. So I know everything, but it's more challenging to put them into suitable words for others. I might have one word in my notes, and that word triggers my brain to remember what I thought about that subject.

And that above rambling might give an indication of the reaction. Dwarfs, for some reason or another, aren't looked friendly in that part of the world.

And as a bonus, those on the discord have already seen this. It's one of those things when you see something and know it "belongs" to someone. And in this case, I saw that outfit, and Susan came to my mind. So, there you have it.

Public Release: Terminus Reach: Sentinel 2 - Update 26

 

Tested and played through it a few times, and all the saves worked. But that doesn't mean things didn't slip by. So as always, if there are any issues, please report them on discord (https://discord.gg/GJK5kfKypg).

Note: Small annoying issue, for some reason there is a "typo" during a scene. Just either ignore it or put the extras on (Preferences => Extras (tab)).

If you share the links outside of this blog or discord, please use the GoFile folder:
https://gofile.io/d/QTX6KK

Uncompressed:

• PC (5.56 GB): https://mega.nz/file/Suw0RJSK#PLij5LjfbhCRS4He2Qr6RTzh0Qo9DKMjyKtjAaXz8io
• PC Alternative: https://www.mediafire.com/file/kyhg7ydffb2zn09/TRS2-pc-Update26.zip/file
• MAC (5.54 GB): https://mega.nz/file/3rgxjSyS#73WGmm22I9AI81tJJGhSZWun06fWQ0anZlRDvQXliZ8

Uncompressed update only:

• From Update 25 to Update 26 (186.2 MB):  https://mega.nz/file/CqpgmY6b#SjOEMmPMhuJDuI_cVaYAw7JHF2GMNB2lfLqKdYAT2zc

Compressed:

• PC (2.52 GB): https://mega.nz/file/v3IQHTLC#1bgnSszNqIDEkN9BwxfTyR8VnLszGPiWGDoXmwrnS6g
• MAC (2.50 GB): https://mega.nz/file/G24hyJQa#IyoTeZIxnYyEhE6T2VCwOcuz_qpcujk6e0L9TMNcziw

Compressed update only:

• From Update 25 to Update 26 (92.0 MB): https://mega.nz/file/6iAyUQyL#UroEh8TfHv5-HhxAUAHSyRkjfwAqlr-EOG6ZupB2C5U

Android:

Android (919.8 MB): https://mega.nz/file/qvwymRDI#JnevpycvIY2-3LWL2FHdwZT556zyyHSQErVcpBTDSKg

Progress 20.03.2023

The moment when you realize that you can't actually show anything about the update you are doing because, frankly, everything constitutes a major spoiler... Well, dang it.

Anyway. Writing has moved to update 32. Well, it just started, but there should be decent progress over the week if the plan comes together. And I probably jinxed it now...

As for rendering, I started update 28. Although, it's a bit slow right now as I need to make three variants of a couple of scenes. Unless I take away a choice from the previous update... nah, I'll do the variants.

So, since everything is a major spoiler... what to show? I'll finish the dwarf's "mini-story" and figure out something else until I can start showing things. And thus...

I have to admit, I hated doing these renders. I like the characters, and I hate making scenes where characters I like gets hurt. But I know for storytelling reasons, it can be necessary, so I will write the scenes, but I still hate it.

The MC of the next one was young when they met for the first time and in not-so-pleasant circumstances, I might add. I have one or two renders that I need to make for this "short story" on top of the ones I already have. And I might do a similar "mini-story" about the gladelings now that I have a couple of younger versions of the MC. Still, some parts will be left as mystery.

Making these "mini-stories" has made me realize how much I would have loved to show some of the things from Alexander's past while I was doing Sorcerer. But unfortunately the hardware I had during most of Sorcerers development cycle wasn't suitable for it. Ah well, but this is something I can consider doing going forward, if need be. Also there is maybe six renders left of this "story".

Progress 17.03.2023

 

Right, slightly irritated at the moment because the power company decided to fuck around with the electricity, and I lost 4 hours of work time.

Anyway... I will wrap up rendering update 27 today and the other stuff required for it to be in testing condition. So... that's pretty much about the progress. Then I'll write the weekend and start rendering update 28.

So yeah, not really a spoiler, this event that happens after this has been known for a couple of updates. Final briefing of sorts.

And only one fantasy render today. Been... busy, and it kind of makes sense to show the next two on Monday... now back to work for me! Mostly coding stuff...

Changelog: TRS2 Update 26

Changelog: Update 26

• Day 26 implemented
• 344 renders

Okay, as I said in the progress post, Adry needs a couple of days more to get the 26 done. Assuming everything goes as planned. So I'll issue a patch then that includes the fixes for 25 and 26.

Release schedule:

• $15 Tier: As soon as I verify the links
• $10 Tier: 15th of March 2023
• $5 Tier: 16th of March 2023
• $3 Tier: 17th of March 2023
• Public: 24th of March 2023 or thereabouts.

Progress 13.03.2023

Things are uploading. Adry will need at least a couple more days to sort 26 out, so I'll issue a patch for it when it is done. Catching up with two updates isn't an ideal situation after being sick on top of work and my working speed. I'll make the changelog post once I've uploaded things.

Rendering is slow at the moment. But it is worth it. The sets themselves aren't that complex. A room is a room, but to try to hide some things that irritate me takes time. Although I have to admit, there is one scene I'm not that happy to render. For that, I have to pose maybe 10ish figures? Can't say for sure, as I have to load the set and play around with it to get a good idea of what I can do.

Writing. The writing is going nicely. I wrote more than I intended on Friday or Saturday. A bit hazy about the details there at the moment. My only annoyance is that I'm running out of the "side plots." The main plot has a certain pace, so it feels "realistic" well, as realistic as a story about a psionic and aliens can be. So certain things need to take a certain time, so I had to open a couple of "short side plots" and close a few others.

So some stuff that I showed on discord earlier. The Work In Progress stuff. It isn't a secret that I build a big portion of my sets or at least try to customize them in some way, if possible. There are some limits to what I can do unless I learn to use a program I absolutely hate, but that might come to pass. Regardless, a mild spoiler. Although, nothing you wouldn't already know by the end of update 25 either.

Then couple test renders to see how it goes, no, I don't use iray preview while working or building sets. I don't like it. It works fine and fast I just don't like it. It's bit bare bones, and few things I don't like about it. Not that the set was made to create rooms to begin with.

And then adding some stuff to it and changing the place of some props.

And then the actual "production" render. Yeah they have stormtrooper aim... Granted, it's just the hits that hits the walls not what goes through the doorway.

Then we move to the dwarf... Yeah. The prince is an asshole. There is no putting it any other way. Although I can't say for sure as the story has yet to be written, whatever the future brings for the prince, and our friend remains to be seen...

Well, other than this that is. Partially I wanted to do this as a test as the dwarf models I have are "HD," which is just a fancy word for having a higher mesh resolution and details... which you can't even see from this distance to the camera. Depending on their clothing, I could add about 4 characters to this before I would need to optimize the scene. Some parts of the textures aren't needed but still eat the VRAM up.

Progress 10.03.2023

 

And thus, it is Friday, and we are heading toward the weekend.

Adry has been hammering the proofreading. He is fairly close to getting it done. Regardless, I'll start deploying update 26 on Monday.

As for rendering update 27? It's going okay. A bit slow since I need to build every set I use in this update, well, most of them. Overall I'm roughly where I should be, at least render amount-wise.

Writing is in a good place. I lost some writing time due to having to build a set twice due to a Daz crash. Nothing new, but still, I'm happy with it...

Yay, non-spoiler from update 27. Well, least amount of spoilers anyway. A part of me wishes I had known about this set when I did TRS1. Still, you can't do rooms with this, but it's just a matter of being innovative and kitbashing things that look similar.

Well, these two were predictable. I'm not 100% how many I have in this series, six to eight renders, maybe. Depends on do I include the moment when Tomas and the dwarf met... I really need to name him. Anyway.

I get annoyed when I get an idea, and there aren't props I want to use. You could think that a book that opens would be a fairly easy thing to do? Well, there are a few of them... but see the book on the pedestal? I'd love to use that, but it doesn't close, limiting its usability. I figure something out. Either that or I learn to model again... with a program, I don't really like.

Progress 06.03.2023

 

Hello all. It's Monday, and time to talk about stuff!

Started rendering update 27. Due to how the day is set up, it might take slightly longer to produce as some scenes have up to 3 variants. It isn't bad as is, as I can "recycle" some of the renders, but time will tell how it goes.

And then, totally shockingly, I started writing update 31. So not much to tell on that front as it's still relatively early stages, but as always, it's the last aspect I'm worried about.

So update 27 is problematic, and I'm unsure what to show. What I'm rendering right now, well, isn't suitable for the public and too much of a spoiler for update 26. And speaking of 26. The update starts to roll out next week. Hopefully, Adry will be able to proofread it by then. If not? Well, that something I worry then. But enjoy a couple of other renders in meanwhile. 

I said that I would be showing why the dwarf that hangs around Tomas (the MC of the next one) is there. It is a classic tale, as you can see. There are a few more renders about it. The next patch is on Friday, I think.

Although I am slightly irritated that I can't really show what I'm doing at the moment regarding TRS2. Well, I'll think of something... It's also irritating because I need to hold back a bit on the fantasy renders in a sense as well because there are a couple of characters I haven't shown because I want them to be a surprise. Although I admit, I am considering swapping one of them to a bit different model... hmm. Anyway... enough rambling, and back to work.

Public Release: TRS 2 Update 25

 

Tested and played through it a few times, and all the saves worked. But that doesn't mean things didn't slip by. So as always, if there are any issues, please report them on discord (https://discord.gg/GJK5kfKypg).

This isn't proofread version, my proofreader has been sick so proofreading has been delayed for a bit. Not accepting corrections until I get the proofread version, mostly because there will be a ton of them. Should be still readable for most parts. Anyway. Enjoy...

Also if you share it outside of discord/blog please use the GoFile folder: https://gofile.io/d/U1bXW9

Uncompressed:

• PC (5.38 GB): https://mega.nz/file/KmYBTLoa#Psp7UloQy2vTahMkqnKfrNAoV509eLOqKGgvB8PI-10
• PC Alternative: https://www.mediafire.com/file/240zn3ayxxukn5c/TRS2-pc-Update25.zip/file
• MAC (5.37 GB): https://mega.nz/file/GyZFEThB#oL0skea-e17KGxYN4us0MMbxF42Jw05gOjEVssaatds

Uncompressed update only:

• From Update 24 to Update 25 (211.3 MB):  https://mega.nz/file/v7Yi0Kpa#Zam42zQ7OTTypsvdWHgCoa5litg7ruyZy57rAckeeb8

Compressed:

• PC (2.44 GB): https://mega.nz/file/iyg0DKQD#YdNP1jBY0oVc66yUzsMQIiuzOlsiBz2tqPEKB0aUOmk
• MAC (2.42 GB): https://mega.nz/file/2noRSTTY#g5SEPFLKljrgTTgTOf3lUZQWl0mVbALnRBm-X_U8FW4

Compressed update only:

• From Update 24 to Update 25 (100.8 MB): https://mega.nz/file/K7RzgAzb#wlBRoRSIIOUN8s_NydFSe8893aW6R8jSA6eLwwyZxwg

Android:

Android (895.3 MB): https://mega.nz/file/irRwGLIT#CGO1ffhsG-VwlwhBMdYy7neYjc2cDG_B-c4YYN9ALpY

Progress 03.03.2023

Hello! It is Friday, and progress post time.

First things first, I'm fine, and Adry is also getting better, granted slower than me since I just had just fever. Nothing new at this time of the year. Anyway, to the important bits, then.

 

Update 26 was sent to be tested and added to Adry's pile of things to proofread. This also has a more or less hard release date, so... it will be out sooner than later. I think.

 

So this means I'll write the weekend. There isn't much left to write of update 30; I just need to look through the scripts to see what remains open. Well, I do know an encounter or two I need to do still. Regardless, I'll start rendering update 27 on Monday as usual.

Business as usual, maybe...

There are constantly things flowing through my mind. From random fantasy stuff to modern-day scenarios and beyond. Some things are just me trying things. Some, like the one below, are about me thinking about the character.

I know about the character and the world. But I haven't thought about why the dwarf, whom you've seen in some of the renders, is around the MC and not with the dwarf clan. I will visualize some of the things about that tale as best as I can.