VN's by Talothral: March 2024

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.10.0

Friday, March 29, 2024

Progress 29.03.2024

I'm... tired. Anyway. Hello all!

0.11.0 has been rendered and I'm doing the final steps so I can handle it to proofreading and testing, namely post work and the "does this thing explode when I press play"-testing. And since it is Easter, well, it might take longer than usual to get done. But most of you know that means actually fairly little in terms update progress as is.

As for writing, it's where it needs to be. I'll write the weekend... after a longer sleep. And start writing 0.16.0 and rendering 0.12.0 on Monday. So pretty much business as usual. I think...

I honestly don't have idea why I did this. My brain is slightly sleep deprived at the moment, had a long night for various reasons. But enjoy the shortstack crossover... of some sort.

Have great weekend you all!

Monday, March 25, 2024

Progress 25.03.2024

Hello all!

So the weekend... it was okay. Set building, fight scene with multiple people, and relatively slow renders as someone apparently just can't make light weight scenes anymore. But that being said, I'm not exactly too badly behind from where I want to. And there are two short scenes and two longer scenes left. And hopefully I can do the two shorter scenes today. That's assuming Daz doesn't crash and I have to recreate the scene from scratch...

Writing is eh in okay shape, I'm not entirely happy where it is but it suffices for now.

As I said earlier, at least I think I did, this update features a side step... which amusingly became quite important side step in the future. I didn't plan for it, it just clicked while I was rendering and thinking of a problem I had... and Daz crashed. Anyway. Now the result for that line of thought is somewhere around 0.20.0, give or take it depends how the flow goes from 0.15.0 onward. Also grass is a killer for render times, but it makes things look better.

Anyway, back to doing ... interesting things.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Progress 22.03.2024

Hello everyone!

Friday and progress post time! Rendering is going okay, technically I'm 20 renders behind, but script wise I'm roughly where I'm supposed to be, so it's okay. This particular update is a bit build heavy so things are a bit slower than I'd like, but if it takes three hours to build the set it takes three hours. Nothing I can do about that.

Anyway. Writing it's again in a bit of a phase, but nothing bad, it never really is. I've been able to write, just been going back and forth with some dialogue. But I'm past that so it should become smoother again. That and I'll hopefully get some extra time to write over the weekend.

So planning for the future... This is probably the least spoilerish image I can give at the moment regarding 0.11.0. Well, unless I go to another random render of the village they are in at the moment. There is a small side step in this update, something that might become important later on. Assuming you make the right choice. And no, Ayaka is looking straight at Tomas' face/eyes, pain in the backside camera angle as I can't remove the wall or everything will be flooded with light.

Anyway, back to rendering. Have a great weekend you all!

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Changelog: Tribulations of a Mage 0.10.0

Changelog:

341 renders
Implemented the next part of the story
Some codex rework: fixed the image locations (mostly few needs more tweaks), added framework for additional features.
1 hidden image
Grammar, spelling, and other fixes (Thanks to Adry, Shaddy, BryonSmothers3DX, Bread, Orion)

Release schedule:

$15 (VIP) Tier: As soon as the post has had its final touches and links been verified.
$10 (Magician) Tier: 21st of March
$5 (Journeyman) Tier: 22nd of March
$3 (Apprentice) Tier: 23rd of March
Public: 1st of April

Monday, March 18, 2024

Progress 18.03.2024

So it is Monday... and I should really try to wake up...

Right so, 0.10.0 is being uploaded. So the usual caveats with that hopefully it's done soon but net is being pain for some reason, well connection to MEGA is being pain. Anyway...

Rendering of update 0.11.0 has begun as is writing for the 15th installment. So over all it is on "schedule" at the moment. I reworked the codex over the weekend. Nothing too drastic, just automated something and did some framework for additional things. That and made the images to be somewhat at similar places.

So Lord Izumi... Yes I know, people do want to get revenge. And I have mentioned in few places that if you do the right choices and you do get revenge in more than one way. However that particular scene isn't coming relatively soon as there are few side steps to do before we return to the Empire. So don't worry, it's coming. Anyway...

Man this was heavy scene to render, but it is done and I know now what to do next time. Luckily, the scenes in this part of the update are indoors mostly so I don't need to render a kit bashed village... this time. Ah well, time to pull out the old movie magic out and just have fronts of buildings. But we are at the point, geographically, where things starts to get muddied up. So there will be Asian style buildings mixed with more "traditional" medieval European/Nordic buildings so things might look strange, it has been that long since the Empire took these lands.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.9.0

PC Compressed:

MAC:

MAC Compressed:

Update only:

Compressed Update only:

Android:

Android WT:

Friday, March 15, 2024

Progress: 15.03.2024

Hello everyone.

And it is the time for the usual kind of post. 0.10.0 has been rendered, coded and sent to be proofread (which is done) and some additional testing. What I have left is some auxiliary rendering/coding (read that as codex stuff) and the usual writing before the next release. And speaking of writing it is in good shape so I'm happy with it.

Rituals in dark places... This is a... concept/test render. The scene itself has happened. It's part of the history/timeline that I have written. The issue is the environment; I have this image in my mind that I'm not sure I can completely recreate. So instead of getting frustrated by trying to recreate it, I'll try to find something that satisfies the nagging voice in my head enough, so to say. Although, just typing that gave a couple of additional thoughts, but need to see are there are things available for it. Anyway... I'll go hammer those small details out, which does include reading all the previous days up to see what I have "missed" that should be in the codex, that and ensure Lilmina is there for the 5th time...

You all have a great weekend now!

Monday, March 11, 2024

Progress 11.03.2024

Hello everyone!

So what is going on? Rendering is in a good condition. In all honesty, it is going better than I expected. And I have two scenes left to render. So business as usual?

Writing is where I want it to be, and it's flowing easily at the moment. In all honesty, altering the choice in update 13 was a smart choice so much better this way. If all goes to plan should get some extra writing time tonight... And it usually doesn't go to the plan.

This time I'm showing the original image. While I like night time renders, they can be difficult to see. This will have, more visible alternative of course. But, night time renders are easier to make visually interesting, and it is always easier to hide things in the renders. Although, there isn't anything hidden as is in these, except a certain panther who might be imitating a rock in a couple of them. Black fur and deep shadows don't work together that well. Although, I admit, this did give me an idea for a hidden render... Anyway, back to rendering!

Friday, March 8, 2024

Progress 08.03.2024

Hello everyone!

It is Friday and you all know what it means! So I had a little timing mishap last night... happens at times. No big deal in the long run, so that's that. But it has the advantage of that now I can show a bit more stuff than I originally planned.

So onward to rendering! It is in a good shape over all. I'm roughly where I should be despite the first scene taking three days to render and it wasn't that many renders but posing things eats time.

Writing is also in relatively okay shape, I have to do few changes to update 13 since I realised that the choice I planned could majorly f... mess people over regarding content with a character and their growth as a character. Kind of annoyed of it but I think it is better for the story overall.

And then the gang is back together, so... many... campsites... I wonder if anyone would notice if I would just kept changing the trees? Right. Joking aside. There are some grass missing in the set, this is intentional. Anyway, yeah we are going to have a few talks, and regarding that one choice in update 8? You will know if you made "the right" choice during update 10... Of course assuming something else as well, but yeah. Anyway, have a great weekend all! I'll go back to rendering!

P.S. The image is actually darker in game because of more prominent shadows. However as usual, there will be the more visible version (aka this) present as well for those who need or want it.

Monday, March 4, 2024

Progress 04.03.2024

Ugh... Monday...

Hello all! So despite my grumbling, things are back in action... not that I actually stopped working over the weekend. So what's up?

0.9.0 is uploading, it should be completed today so the release cycle shoulds start soon after, naturally the usual disclaimer of "as long as nothing drastic happens" goes without saying. Although I did say it, didn't I? Anyway.

Rendering of 0.10.0 started, it's going to a bit slow since lots of figures and lots of posing... again. At times I question my sanity for writing combat scenes.

As for writing, it's on 0.14.0. Interestingly enough, it took a different turn than I expected. I've always said I know where my stories start and where they end. Whatever happens in between is woven in from the thoughts and ideas that I have in my mind.

This image will explain some things, like why 0.9.0 ends in a certain way. It isn't particurarly heavy scene (anymore) nor that epic since they are skeletons. Now what is in the back of them is more interesting... and more manageable to pose. And yes there is 20+ skeletons in the scene, unfortunately for them rocks exists... But that being said, I've done this long enough to know when it is better to "end the update". I'm fairly certain this short scene will eat up half a week to render simply because all the posing it has. Still it will be enjoyable... now back to rendering and uploading the final file... again.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.8.0

Friday, March 1, 2024

Progress 01.03.2024

Hello everyone!

Friday. Yay. Update 0.9.0 is done and sent to be tested and proofread. Not that it is a big shock. Thus I'll write the weekend and start rendering 0.10.0 on Monday.

Right so. This is related to the hidden image I made for 0.9.0. It still amuses me how my mind works at times. I was just rending the scenes, then one of the scenes didn't even turnout how I originally wrote it, then it kind of spiraled from that. Created the hidden image, then mind started to working and ended up with this and so much more... That and I apparently had a tool to make the dragon skins look good so had to test that. It turned out nice...

Anyway, back to writing. Have a good weekend!