Monday, September 30, 2024

Progress 30.09.2024

Hello all!

Not really the post I wanted to make, but have to make it. 0.24.0 is uploading at the moment so it is done, but now is the uploading. I wanted to release it today but I got to hand it over to testing late Saturday/early Sunday. It is what it is. I'm slightly hesitant saying when the release cycle starts, other than soon. But a couple of small things I should mention, first check your sound levels. Especially if you are using headphones. Secondly... there are conditional choices in this update, so you might get only one or two depending on the choices made in the past. And one of the choices seems pointless right now, but everything has a plan... unless they change which can happen but still it will have a point... somehow. Anyway. Hopefully all of it has been uploaded tomorrow so can start releasing it relatively on time.

But beyond that, started rendering 0.25.0. So it isn't like the small "delay" changes much with the process as is.

Writing, I need to reread through 0.28.0 since there was a part I wasn't exactly happy with. It might put me a bit behind but it just means I need to write some more, it will be fine. It isn't a long section I need to revise. I'll probably start 0.29.0 on Tuesday, maybe Wednesday.

So... in spirit of keeping spoiler free (and within public post guidelines) a daily motivational render. In fantasy meteoric iron has always been this highly sought "magical" metal, that isn't mithril, the line of thought was what if it attracted something more than other adventurers seeking to claim it... That and I haven't really done this kind of render in a while. So a good change, and unsurprisingly it helped to clarify a few plans I've had. Plans that didn't have anything to do with the image and it's subject.

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Public release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.23.0

 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 if possible. That way, I notice them quicker. https://discord.gg/GJK5kfKypg

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Friday, September 27, 2024

Progress 27.09.2024

Hello all!

One scene left to render, or well half a scene but it might be 20 or 60 renders depends how the scene flow goes. I'm at 360 renders which is around where I should be a the moment if we count renders, but there are some additional renders so it's just in the ballpark. It has been, slightly annoying updated to render. A lot of renders took a lot longer than I expected, or should I say had hoped. But in the end, renders take the time they take.

Writing is where it should be, not that it makes me happy since rendering takes the time I would want to write. But it will be fine, part of the reason I have the buffer. Just need to ensure it doesn't get reduced too much. Also been doing most of the coding and post work at the same time and still haven't grown extra pair of arms... ah well.

Now this is an actual preview, to a point. It is missing a character because including that character would have been a major spoiler. Without that? It's just Tomas, Shani and a couple of masters... and students in the background. And this is one of the things I wanted to talk about on Monday, but I forgot.

Most of the light in this scene and one of the previous ones comes from a small source, namely the crystals on the staves. The red tint comes from Master Sunan's (the bald guy who isn't Magnus) staff because the gem on the top of it is a ruby. So should have picked another colour, but hindsight! And next small weird render.

The previous scene that is set in this room is mostly lit by this:

So, in certain scenes, the light creates interesting patterns. It's due to this. How the crystal is cut and the shaping of the filament that holds is creating shadows. And that being said, that particular scene is fairly dark, so there is the "enhanced visibility" option for that particular scene. They aren't overtly bright, but bright enough to see clearly.

 

And then a little bonus render... of sorts. Regardless of the choices made, Miki's life is about to change, whether it is for good or bad remains to be seen. But little divination can't hurt... even if it isn't as accurate as it used to be at the moment. It is sort of amusing. This wasn't supposed to be the "bonus render", the one I was originally making for it ends up as a hidden image because it allows me to show something I might not have been able to show otherwise... Plans within plans and all that.

Monday, September 23, 2024

Progress 23.09.2024

Hello all!

A busy week ahead of me. I have three scenes left to render, and all of them are relatively long. But that isn't surprising as text wise this is the longest of the updates so far. Plus some personal stuff distracting over the weekend didn't really help, but it will be there. Might take a day or two longer than normally but it will be done. I have a feeling I said that with the last update though...

Writing of 0.28.0 is in okay shape, it is in a state that I know what to write just need to get it on paper so to say. I'm mostly content with it really. Just spinning how I will do 29 and 30, but that I'll sort when I get there.


Unfortunately, what I render at the moment has two issues: major spoilers and not exactly suitable for public posts. So this is a purely something conceptual. The curse of the creative mind... something I've said before. Ideas comes and they need to get out of the head somehow. Some are stuck in a limbo until there are parts that I can use to make them. That's one of the good things when you can draw, it is easier to manifest them. With 3d unless you can make the models from scratch not so much. So how about this one? Now I know there will be riots, albeit minor ones, but right now I have no idea do I have need of her. But such is life at times, maybe idea comes later for her... Although, might need to alter the visual of the wings to indicate that they are more temporary than permanent feature... hmm. Something to think about. That and kind of wanted to test the environment as well, which was more important really...

Anyway, short break and back to rendering and writing I shall go...

Friday, September 20, 2024

Progress 20.09.2024

Hello all!

Rendering of 0.24.0 is going, render count wise I'm not where I want to be, but in relation to the script, I'm more or less where I should be. There are a couple of variants I need to do but shouldn't be too much of a hurdle as is.

Writing of 0.28.0 is in a decent place overall, needs some writing, but that's nothing new, really.


I've been saying in various places that the heroes, well some of them, will return to the empire. And here it is... the trip consist of three updates basically, but only two days. Well technically four updates but the bit at the start of 0.27.0 isn't that large

.And then... a bonus. Those of you that have played FarCry will groan with this image. I have no real use for the environment as is but I knew I had to make render when I saw it. But doing so it did give me an idea, or should I say refined an idea I already had...

Anyway, short break and back to doing stuff. Have a great weekend you all!

Monday, September 16, 2024

Changelog: Tribulations of a Mage 0.23.0

 Changelog:

  • 374 renders
  • Implemented the next part of the story
  • 1 hidden image
  • Grammar, spelling, and other fixes (Thanks to Adry, Shaddy, BryonSmothers3DX, Bread, Orion, Oaiki, Abs, DavidCF, dogswithguns, MurderHobo, Horny Toad)


It's done. Yay...

Release schedule:

    $15 Tier: As soon as the post has had its final touches and links been verified.
    $10 Tier: Released
    $5 Tier: Released
    $3 Tier: 19th of September
    Public: 30th of September

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Progress 16.09.2024

Hello all!

Update 0.23.0 will start the release cycle shortly. Note about the update. There is one choice in the previous update (0.22.0) that will make the update much, much shorter. This is related to one of the ongoing "plot lines"... which I should have mentioned already ages ago. There is the "world plot" which is the incoming alignment and troubles relating to that, the "main plotline" that is regarding getting back the soul, and while this one seems to go nowhere it is actually advancing, just not in clear ways at the moment. And then there are the "companion" lines. Now the choice in question relates to the world plot line and preparation for what is coming, so the choice doesn't matter directly to the personal or companion lines. But it can have darker undertones in the future if gone on the "non-canon" route. So if it feels extremely short, you might want to revisit the previous update. Now I know it isn't necessarily easy to determine which line goes where. This is a kind of the point as they are intertwined. Some choices affects all three, some are more clear to what they affect. Anyway...

Outside of that, started rendering update 0.24.0 and already moved writing 0.28.0. 


And this isn't really a spoiler, it's from 0.24.0, the first render of it actually. A couple more familiars shown. Satya has a rat, and Riya has a butterfly. Part of the reason why she was exited seeing flowering meadow in the previous update. As for Aisha? Well here familiar is work in progress. It was supposed to appear now but I wasn't happy how the textures looked. But there will be other times to show it.

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.22.0

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 if possible. That way, I notice them quicker. https://discord.gg/GJK5kfKypg
 

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Friday, September 13, 2024

Progress 13.09.2024

Hello all!

This update feels cursed. But rendering is done as is most of the coding. There is still some stuff to do, but I should be handing it to the testing and proofreading later tonight. That's assuming nothing catastrophically breaks. I had issues with 6 sequences that I had to re-render that was an extra 70 renders I really didn't want to do on top of everything. But as said, it's done.

Writing is in an okay state, not great, but not in bad either. I should be able to sort the remaining pages over the weekend. Probably jinxed that as well.


This is me testing a feasibility of an idea mostly. That and couple effects I found that I didn't know I owned... Is the idea doable? Yes. Just need to do a bit research on how bug's like that would move as they only come with standing poses. Although fairly certain I've seen couple pose packs for that... Anyway. Short break and then tackling the final bits.

You all have a great weekend!

Monday, September 9, 2024

Progress 09.09.2024

Hello all!

I'm not happy... Been battling with a crashing issue with Daz a fairly large chunk of the day. But on positives, I mostly have a stuffy nose anymore. Anyway, I'm mostly happy about how rendering is going. I have three and half scenes left, so it will take a day or two longer than usual to get it done. Annoying but happens, the renders will take the time they take.

Writing, well writing is exactly where it should be, had a lot of inspiration to write things over the weekend. And hopefully the momentum continues, but you know I'm not concerned about the writing. And no in game render today, what I have left are major spoilers so... concept stuff and some things I've been asked about...


So I've had a few questions about some of the concept renders I've done over the past months, and since there have been enough of them I figure that I will share the answers to rest of you since there are bound to be people who have wondered about them, just haven't asked. Mostly about these three, since the rest are more or less manifested somehow in the game by now (or will be soon). The Titan, the Goo and the Shadow elf, that's the official race name. Yes, all of them will appear in ToaM. For two I know when, the third I'm not sure yet when she will appear, or the conditions for it, but I will write it to fit the way I want once the moment is there. And those are just temporary clothes for this particular render. Although I am tempted to keep the dark elves outfit but alas, it won't fit her in the context she is to appear... ah well. Although, I do know a certain demon lord who would like that, a lot...

And while I remember, Update 0.21.0 secret: The imperial family asking for guidance.

Next is about the Sorcerer character. As same with the alien, I'm not actively developing Sorcerer (or Terminus Reach) at the moment as is. I just update the character models between renders, and those renders that have been put out have been just testing to see if there are issues with things. There are some tweaks and updates they need now that I know better. Some needs new hair, some a bit tweak in the mesh to make it work right. This way I don't have to do a mad scramble updating them when I actually need them. But then again, nothing I haven't said before but it can be missed easily in the posts.

And finally, but not the least. The orcs. I haven't forgotten them, just there needed to be time between we last saw them and their return. But the writing is starting to be at the point, time wise, that I might be able to bring them to the valley soonish. That's assuming everything has gone well. That and it needs couple variants for things. So yes, Kasha will be back way before the end...

Eh I should have made more renders but sorting the crashing ate time. Ah well, short break and back to rendering I'll go!

Friday, September 6, 2024

Progress 06.09.2024

Hello all!

One of those annoying days, and definitely getting a cold, constantly sleepy, irritated and I tend to be more annoyed over the smallest things, and more achy than usual. Meh. Anyway, how are things going?

Rendering is in the "Damn it! I'm so behind schedule"-phases simply because of some renders taking longer than I would like. But in reality, if I check the script, it is in decent shape overall for Friday of the first week of rendering.

Writing is going, that's what I really can say about that, it's all in my mind just need to get it out in the right order. But if I know myself it's where it needs to be come Monday.

And then planning the heist... I mean invasion... no, wait... How to sneaking in to a dwarf capital city. There, that's better. Malgrin and Maevra decided to ask Rielle's input on the matter, she is after all a thief. The plan still needs few details ironed out, especially since there was certain someone who throw a sizable wrench in to other plans.

Anyway, have a great weekend you all.

Monday, September 2, 2024

Progress 02.09.2024

Hello all!

So yeah, 0.22.0 release cycle started. Yay for that. And then I started rendering the 0.23.0. Not that was going to be surprise. Writing on other hand... I'll start writing it later tonight. Too warm at the moment so it makes me sleepy and thoughts aren't flowing as well as it should. But as always, the aspect I'm least concerned on getting done.

 

And fresh out of the rendering pile sort of. The next day, heading back towards home a slight side step for something to see the wonders of the world and to pay respect to the lady luck, although the coin is too small to see but ah well. It's an interesting tradition in a sense. I read upon it once. The tradition of tossing a coin into a body of water (lakes and pond) etc is old. While part of it is to appease a god(s), it did serve another function as well. Copper does purify water, killing bacteria from it, thus the coins tossed were almost always copper.

And then something that I haven't done in a while... an alien. No, this doesn't mean I'm planning stuff for the next entry of Terminus. Sorcerer 2 is before that. It's just things I do for fun and while waiting things load. And at times creating random characters gives inspiration to other things. Anyway back to work with me...

Changelog: Tribulations of a Mage 0.22.0

 

Changelog:

  • 230 renders

  • Implemented the next part of the story

  • Added things to the codex

  • 1 hidden image

  • Grammar, spelling, and other fixes (Thanks to Adry, Shaddy, BryonSmothers3DX, Bread, Orion, OBE, Anon1234, DavidCF, Boomario, MurderHobo, Horny Toad)

Suspiciously round number of renders. This one fixes the one crash in the puzzle, so nothing to worry about in the future. At least I didn't manage to get it crash anymore. Anyway, release schedule. Progress post will be later...

Release schedule:

    $15 Tier: As soon as the post has had its final touches and links been verified.

    $10 Tier: 4th of September

    $5 Tier: 5th of September

    $3 Tier: 6th of September

    Public: 16th of September

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Sunday, September 1, 2024

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.21.0

 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 if possible. That way, I notice them quicker. https://discord.gg/GJK5kfKypg
 

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Progress 08.11.2024

Hello all! Update 0.27.0 has been handed to proofreading and testing, so there is that. So as usual, writing the weekend and adding some cos...