Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.4.0

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).

Android walkthrough version (marked as WT) is work in progress. It works, played through it few times. Just something are visually off. Also providing regular version until I can hammer the visual issues out.

PC
Normal:
- https://mega.nz/file/jnJxFAaQ#yW2lyrfaD6-sq_mw9e-xxc2HD3ghTyczayhu12Wtb3w
- https://gofile.io/d/efERLM

Compressed:
- https://mega.nz/file/C65xkayS#bzgTTBrCXqUpfFwawVaTl3yLBDDVdzcFRnu85zGgZ1M
- https://gofile.io/d/uObhli

Mac
Normal:
- https://gofile.io/d/zdxEb1
- https://mega.nz/file/274zmIYR#uP7TvOMjWj2Ef6xfxv1uABhY7D2bUx7MVLkb6Mz3i1M

Compressed:
- https://gofile.io/d/PFJTLc
- https://mega.nz/file/mvozAC7A#Ytr8pMXdtXDggebmAfODKskOINMlOOxrjEeNASE9LDs

Update only
Normal:
- https://mega.nz/file/CiBRAbCb#8rypb0b9jeTKBmr4-zUGTMsSJv81MvuSlmi8HoEUzgA
- https://gofile.io/d/xaX3aO
Compressed:
- https://gofile.io/d/OegJZh
- https://mega.nz/file/SvgThRbQ#khx25ZaHTrKWdP5JFHtrAsblfiRfr_l-wt3kSzsVSfQ

Android:
- https://mega.nz/file/S3w3DIYQ#4yhM2X-m85mIAE5RwK9o1Lz2MqPcE_EANQTh18aLkWM
- https://gofile.io/d/pBz7XI

Android WT:
- https://mega.nz/file/3nZWRJqI#rEZkG_7b1RLz_jgEB9t0JyVDIBO1hUA7HYyjULUO2TU
- https://gofile.io/d/BpADob

EDIT: Fix for update only: extract https://mega.nz/file/fnIBlA6a#Jjt4mATZS9K_ot3cqr6rjGhobTi15mq4ifdblVjH8Qs (or https://gofile.io/d/Y5Xcek) to the /game folder and let it overwrite the old gui.rpy.

Progress 29.12.2023

The cursed week before Christmas still haunts me. But that being said, I'm over halfway of the script and render times are more or less tolerable. So while the next update isn't done when I wanted to, it's progressing decently considering all the things and I'm around 300 renders at the moment according to the render library. Surprisingly a lot more than I expected. Granted there are some fixes there.

Writing amuses me. I have time to write, especially since renders take longer than "normal". But the mood for writing hits at 4 AM. To be fair that's almost always the case, my most "creative" period is between midnight and six in the morning. But regardless it's in alright shape. I know what I need to write, just need to put it in the file.

The first half of the 0.5.0 is a bit annoying to show, one of the reasons outside of spoilers will come clear once you see it. But with this, we are back at some sort of camp. Most of the main LI's will be introduced in rather quick pace. Partially because I want to build things around them, and partially it allows them to grow. But overall I've been happy of the pace of things. Still a bit weirded that one update can consist a multiple days in a sense due travelling.

Anyway. Just giving heads up on how things are going. I'll know better on Monday how things are shaping up towards the end of this update. Have a nice weekend.

Tags

Progress 22.12.2023

I'm tired... So stuff happened. Mostly my own fault with the issues, should have known better by now. But they are dealt with so onwards with progress post.

Rendering has been... painful. Let's just say some renders have renders about 10 times slower than normally. Only because they don't fit in both of my cards VRAM. Alright, even if it would have fitted in the both cards, it might have just been slightly quicker. Modern effects and all that tends to be heavy to render. Not a big deal overall. Annoying, but not a big deal in the long run.

Writing? Eh, it's going. Fairly certain that I'm going to lose one of the buffer days. Maybe. Let's see how things go after my annual day off. It's mostly finding the time to do it at this time of the year, a lot of little things needing attention. But enough of this moping around.

I've decided not to share a preview today, there are a couple of reasons. One that it contains heavy spoilers. And two, well... you'll see once it's released. But still... while my "daily motivational renders" have been non existent because I've been focusing more on the actual production renders, I do have something.

Merry Christmas to all of you and have an excellent weekend. I can't guarantee a progress post on Monday, that depends on several things. But if not, there will be one on Friday.

ShaniXmasFinal.png

Changelog: Tribulations of a Mage 0.4.0

Changelog:

• 290 Renders
• The next portion of the story implemented
• 1 hidden image
• UI work: Additinal UI font (will add one more in 0.5.0), hidden image hint (the rose next to the dialogue box when hidden image is available), Outlines to the scene transition text.
• Implemented walkthrough for Android (this is a work in progress, more for 0.5.0, mostly graphical cleaning and unifying)
• Grammar, spelling, and other fixes (Thanks to Adry, Shaddy, BryonSmothers3DX, and Bread)

Funny thing. Again there is a Christmas release, so to say, and still no "Christmas special". To be fair, I don't aim to release around this time. It just happens. Anyway the release schedule:

Patrons: As soon as I've verified the links

Public: 1st of January 2024

Progress 18.12.2023

 

Monday...

Right I'm waiting the 0.4.0 script being proofread, timezones are pain in the ass regarding that. Assuming disaster hasn't striken. But regardless, it shall be out this week. And I have set date for that.

So update 0.5.0 is being rendered, yay? Well, shouldn't be too surprising since I said I was going to do that. But it's bit pose intensive at the start so not exactly where I would want to be, but still. It is progressing in the right direction so I can't complain too much.

As for writing, I'll start writing update 9 on Wednesday most likely. Weekend plans got slightly altered for that, it's mostly done I just need to go through it to see there isn't too many holes in it.

You've seen this environment before. I was in one of those concept renders I did a while back. A long while back. Now, it has entered the production stage. And yes, this is intentional for the first render of the series, you might barely see something in the distance.

0500001.png

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.3.0

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).

Android is still a work in progress, it functions and plays through normally. There are some annoying issues with the codex that I need to sort out. Nothing drastic, just graphics are all over the place for no good reason.

Anyway, enjoy!
PC:
- https://mega.nz/file/O3ABEKaY#EFcxAzzlioNkrPJoENZr_n47p9V7ZQeSkTY01G008p4
- https://www.mediafire.com/file/6cecxf1am0bikk1/ToaM-0.3.0-pc.zip/file
- https://gofile.io/d/irYxft
    
PC Compressed:
- https://mega.nz/file/334jmSTa#2EXdv2dJrlGgrlVj8JXoxZ19ey18fKcysQMF8BYHwb8
- https://gofile.io/d/fVEVgV

MAC:
- https://mega.nz/file/33JBVBBS#LxXvTSW0GDNF5bShhOBC233LdlUkF1p1GgsOn1by45o
- https://gofile.io/d/USnuXR

MAC Compressed:
- https://mega.nz/file/eyZ2FC5S#SF8RWboeLopsKpf5zFAC_b11M9jLffSwxJ1Yp0iKk7k
- https://gofile.io/d/paDfip

Update only:
- https://mega.nz/file/qzQzmRwR#IXzRXM-25ZhmZyqRImDyXYKo1GHQe0bG841hje5rrJo
- https://gofile.io/d/J4AGPs

Update only compressed:
- https://mega.nz/file/fj5lCZZa#b8BEY0amblCc809AfaS0JN_plFxBdWXov5vm9Wz8S10
- https://gofile.io/d/qetlUJ

Android:
- https://mega.nz/file/rvBmmJRR#shhLWR_rSnYcsRum0r5i2-1pRjQpzDRQ4LG8BMZWHxI
- https://gofile.io/d/t2ElMA

Progress 15.12.2023

Hello all!

Update 0.4.0 has been rendered, I have a few coding tasks to do and test run to check what explodes. Then I can send it to the proofreading and additional testing. Not that many renders in this one, but they've been complex ones.

Writing is in a good phase. I'll write what remains over the weekend and start rendering update 0.5.0 on Monday. And that's about it for the progress as is. Short one for a change.

Something is afoot... Trying to mimic natural lightning causes interesting issues. The window on the left side of the screen is open and light is coming from it, so Gweyr's mid drift is more brightly lit. However, at the same time, that extra light makes the rest of her seem darker than it would be when the window is closed.

There have been a couple of "feature" suggestions, both are coming with 0.4.0. The first one is outlines to the transition texts. To make them more clearer regardless of lightning conditions.

Second is the GUI font. The default isn't necessarily the easiest to read when it comes to g and s so there is an alternative for it now. It is under dialogue. It changes all the GUI fonts that used the Uncial Antique, so transition screen texts, UI texts obviously, and the name texts. Dialogue text stays the same for ease of reading.

And lastly. First iteration of the hidden hints. This is a toggle in the options, default is off. Now I'm playing with historical symbolism here. A rose. Historically, a rose has been the symbol of secrets. It comes from The Greek myths. Cupid gave roses to Harpocrates (the god of silence) so he wouldn't reveal the secrets of Venus. Therefore, when there is a hidden image in the scene, a rose appears next to the dialogue box if the options is toggled. That is all it does at the moment. I'll might add some functionality to it later on (there is a possibility for that).

And that's it. Have a nice weekend you all. The public release of 0.3.0 will be on Monday, I think, and sometime next week, 0.4.0. At least that's the plan, it might change depending things.

Progress 11.12.2023

Hello everyone!

I'm... in a good mood. I have one scene left, although it is a long one so take it as you will, but over all rendering is going nicely.

And the same thing I can say about writing, really. I'm slowly falling back to the original rhythm I had with TRS2. After a couple of months "crunch", which wasn't exactly needed, it takes a bit time to find the right rhythm again. But that being said. I'm happy with it. And on schedule with it.

Hmmm what to say about this render? You've seen the character once or twice in the preview renders. She wasn't the first pick for this particular role, but as time went things started to clear up. The original choice while a good model wasn't going to cause a steep "reaction", in universe wise that is. While it still would have been unusual sight, it wasn't as drastic. And no, I'm not talking about the eyes. They are part of it but not the real reason for... things to come.

And then. The Ghost of Christmas past? Or maybe the future... well have to see...

Progress 08.12.2023

Hello everyone! 

What is this? Progress post early? Wow... Anyway.

I'm in okay state with rendering. Render count wise? Not so much. In relation to the script? That's the good part, I'm roughly where I'm supposed to be with it. Although, I suspect that this update doesn't have that many renders. Just they take a while to make.

As for writing? That's in the okay spot, where I should be in all honesty. I kinda did say I would catch up by Friday. And it is on target to be finished on schedule.

And this is why things have taken slightly longer render wise. It looks awesome, at least I think so. It isn't a complex scene posing wise, nor that heavy environment wise. Lightning isn't an issue as since it is spot on It's the rain. Water reflects light, and since iRay mimics light behaviour every drop of light changes how light bounces which in turn increase the render time to a point. Although, I need to see do I have a thunder sound effect in my library, could use it for the scene... And yes, I try to do some post work to make them brighter for the "enhanced visibility" option just in case. Yes, I could have done the rain in post, but at the same time it would have lacked the depth (since I'm not that good at it) that you get with renders.

Anyway, back to rendering and writing. Have a nice weekend you all!

Progress 04.12.2023

Hello folks!

0.3.0 is waiting for second round of proofreading, slight delay on it due RL stuff, nothing drastic. I already have one version of it, it's just checking for those things that were missed. But regardless I'll push it out this week at some point. But you should know that all these small delays do is make the waiting for next version bit shorter.

Started rendering 0.4.0. There is some time consuming building in this update. Luckily I can reuse them later. So it's going okay, need to find to make a few processes easier.

Writing? I'm not entirely happy how it went, had this stupid brain freeze on Saturday so couldn't write as much as I wanted. But it's sorted now and while I didn't reach the goal I set, I'm close enough to it, so eh. As long as I'm done by the time 0.4.0 is rendered all is good. Although, probably going to catch up by Friday anyway.

One of the things I've need to learn while doing this is that at least for a while, renders are going to take longer than I'm used to. But in the end does it matter? No, when I get to do renders like above. Could I make it quicker? Yes, but at times it takes longer to make it quicker than it takes to render all the images in a sequence. But I have a plan to make things fast again despite heavy scenes, it will take some time but I'll get there.

And then something more cheerful...

Ayaka might not be anyone's favourite at the moment, but give her some time... things might become clearer.

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.2.0

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).
 

PC Uncompressed:

• https://mega.nz/file/u3RVQBaT#L9_apOhrNSEaYx27R-HWJKhcN1ThhR7b8yGI7OmZzNw
• https://workupload.com/file/k8tJ4sZqNGm
• https://gofile.io/d/o9zryj
• https://pixeldrain.com/u/ATGT1Vwq

PC Compressed:

• https://mega.nz/file/DrYySQQB#7WI1_1nlFKyxXYWgZjKZlRgDh5urXQDlaOPxWkFVdaU
• https://gofile.io/d/mnZXKq
• https://workupload.com/file/sja6Z9KgEE5 
• https://we.tl/t-0E9ZQRIVUh

Mac Uncompressed: 

• https://mega.nz/file/r6ZUQIxY#4J7GZo1hXyg28246aMz1cFbToZyQp77GSdpLxeRdXXo
  
• https://workupload.com/file/2hF6mHLsdjn
• https://gofile.io/d/prvbKx 
• https://we.tl/t-Vjmb8pfc6y

 

Mac Compressed:

• https://mega.nz/file/Xy4DkLTB#cVMiVAtuv3UrjkrXOfK6dVPKRj1BVfIknDi5PUoprUY
• https://workupload.com/file/8g3CP6Aj5jy
• https://gofile.io/d/UkfUAK
• https://we.tl/t-z3HXwkm35x

Android:

• https://mega.nz/file/iiAm2TzL#_oe9aymSmp27PlcTCP2V4K1-ryAaw0uJbqEmS5gn-yw
  
• https://workupload.com/file/BQt65nP44fV 
• https://gofile.io/d/fXqwpO 
• https://pixeldrain.com/u/VwPTi27R

Progress 01.12.2023

Hello everyone!

So... 0.3.0 has been rendered. Yay. So today I'll code, do post work and make the testing/proofing build and send it out. And that's about it for that update, really.

 

As for writing, it's on the update eight. Thursday was a bit... hmm... How to put it? Rendering was more resource intensive than I thought, and I don't mean hardware wise but my attention wise. A lot of things needing to check so things aren't poking through. So, I'll write the weekend and start update 0.4.0 on Monday.

 

I like to avoid spoilers for now so, more things under testing. You know what I do by now, there has been some interesting things seen during the VN's. Aliens that you can see through, trolls, gorgons, and what not. So what can I do in here? Outside of the snow elves and nagas? There are things I can try. Like her. Although this was more of test of the environment than the figure, since there are all those little hidden renders I need to make, and need environments that I don't necessarily use for the story for them... Not happy with the HDRI and water, but those can be fixed.