Progress 22.11.2024

Hello all!

Friday... I'm sleepy. No, I've slept relatively decently this week. Anyway, so what's up? I'm putting making the builds tomorrow. Today I'm doing the small things that are done before doing the build, like the final test runs that things without crashing, and merging fixes that have been made since the last build. And doing the codex updates, creating the hidden image icons for android, converting the raw png's into three sets of webp files ("Normal", compressed and android). It's just many small things that are better to do at the same time instead during the initial development process.

Beyond that, I'm about to be done with writing of the update 32, it's just a page or two, once it's done I'll continue writing 33. Then I'll start rendering update 29 on Monday. And then couple images, no spoilery stuff, kinda...

Nothing more than a man and his familiar, again. Truth to be told, this is more of a reflection of my mood today. Calm...

I've been doing that horned character a lot recently, and a lot of desert type renders. I'll be honest, I've known for months where the next step after the dwarf... kingdoms will take. And it is quite obvious from the dialogue in the game by now. Especially with ties to the main cast, and allows me to build things with Eshe a lot easier. Luckily, for some reason Ancient Egyptian themes are somewhat popular so there are building blocks for the environments available. Although, there is a problem with desert environments, light. And specifically lack of shadows. It makes things a lot brighter than it is comfortable to look at. One fairly obvious solution is presented in the render, night time when outdoors. Then the lights are easier to control. Add torches, campfires or bonfires here and there, some magical effects. Lanterns if near buildings. The options are there to add light, harder to take it away. Although I need to test one of the effects I use in this kind of environment as it sort of stopped working. I suspect it is the blueish tint from the light. That and need to find a better sword for the lady. Her name is Anor by the way.

Anyway, short break, then back doing the stuff I was doing... Have a great weekend you all!

Progress 18.11.2024

Hello all!

Monday's progress post time!

So... rendering is about to be done, there are some auxiliary renders and the hidden render to be done, other than that most task related to update 0.28.0 are post work and coding. Text wise the update is the same as the two previous one. Just didn't need that many renders for some reason.

Writing is in a good state right now. I'll continue to write as usual, so once the update is coded it's just mostly writing. And then, no spoilers... sort of, maybe.

Motivational render of sorts. At times these don't seem to have a rhyme or a reason. And it is true that some of them are purely for testing things. Some? Well, some of the secret images in the VN are images of events that I might not be able to put as their own scenes. At times because it doesn't make sense, but mostly because it happens at the same time (or earlier, a couple of times a lot earlier) as the main story unfolds. Some of these "motivational" renders are similar, this could have been a hidden render but at the same time, it isn't visually what I would want it to be for one. This was orinally called "pleading for aid". And those of you who have played 26 (and 27) can deduct some background information from the image.

Anyway, short break and then to dig into the remaining code stuff and writing!

Progress 15.11.2024

 Hello all!

Friday and progress post time! So... what's up?

Rendering is going alright all things considered. Had to fight Daz for a few hours yesterday, but the issue is sorted, and I know how to fix it now if it happens again. That and made backups of the required files. But anyway, yeah it's going okay, render count isn't where I would want it to be at the moment, but in relation to the script it's spot on, more or less.

Writing is in decent shape. I have all that I want to write in my head sorted, just need to put it on paper. Not really a problem, as I'm in the mood for writing.

And then... a preview, minor spoiler perhaps. There was a mention of yet another village in the valley, specifically the northern part of it. This is it. The situation at the village is known, so it isn't spoiler as is. And why is Tomas's eyes yellow? Well, they should have been yellow as well around update 5, but the camera angle and darkness didn't show them. It's indication of when he "borrows" Nisha's eyes to enhance his own eyesight. Although, need to remember to hide an owl there somewhere.

And then there is a character portrait. She will make an appreance in this update. Although, there has been one change, unintentional one though. The hair, it was supposed to be silver, but it turned to blue because reasons. It's not a big deal. Just noticed it a bit too late to swap it back. But I do kinda like it. Anyway, short break and more rendering and writing for me! Have a great weekend you all!

Progress 11.11.2024 and Changelog for Tribulations of a Mage 0.27.0

Hello all!

And Monday has arrived once again, and it means... plenty of things, really. So let's get the interesting stuff over, release cycle starts right after this post...

And then not so interesting stuff, maybe. Rendering of 0.28.0 has started shockingly. Writing is... in a good shape, but still in progress. There is a section I rewrote six times because it wasn't flowing like I wanted, and then it was six in the morning and needed some sleep. But it will be finished today and 0.32.0 will start no later than tomorrow, so it isn't an issue. And then a motivational render cause, you know, spoilers...

This one I did yesterday while waiting to wake up. It isn't really that deep as is, just them intruding on creatures' territory. Doesn't necessarily mean it ends in a fight, just slowly backing away from the water. Interesting things in my library... some I've forgotten that existed or had originally other plans but didn't fit in them in the end. Anyway, to the stuff that interest the most, the changelog.


Changelog: ToaM 0.27.0

• 359 renders
• Implemented the next part of the story
• Added things to the codex
• 1 hidden image
• A bunch of fixes to things.
  Thanks to for finding stuff that needed fixing: Adry, Shaddy, BryonSmothers3DX, Bread, Oaiki, OBE, Draco, DocWhoJ, Black Jesus, Foreverusername, Eddie5

Release schedule:

•     $15 Tier: As soon as the post has had its final touches and links been verified.
•     $10 Tier: 13th of November
•     $5 Tier: 14th of November
•     $3 Tier: 15th of November
•     Public: 25th of November

Checksums SHA256:
3B6B9844D03C0A657AD441F6C527BE253DD67B1F04910343ACCC038D3BA395A0 ToaM-0.27.0-mac-C.zip      
667E963750A902E6AC0F5CF1A17282E5CD6EE68E8C1D688E42BA28346503D01D ToaM-0.27.0-mac.zip        
E32715780A3B1ECEEFF0326D9932550DE898B6D3D954EC632439AFBEEB638504 ToaM-0.27.0-pc-C.zip       
69B2922D588EE3339F5EDFC62CA303BB41D7DF3BCCA36FB52ED2B5AF8193F44B ToaM-0.27.0-pc.zip         
E9D91464F351B42633058DC50C772A545AB2A233B3E971DF7791914F19ABA394 ToaM-0.27.0-Update-C.zip   
50A4874E2E1C00F1DFA6CAAF33E4009BEF52B5540745DAA55A41F79A39B1DD9E ToaM-0.27.0-Update.zip     
5A85DC8AAEBAE7F160B8BF8331031520A56BD52722718D445590FFDF7C7B1DE0 com.talothral.toam-release.apk
C444437D2B55308B05F18C28B2D650363E0EADDB75734C1D50071F7C42906D62 com.talothral.toam-release.apk (WT)

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.26.0

 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

So yeah, a patch, historically. Nothing game breaking, just a bunch of fixes, not really needed, just don't report grammar issues without it, or if modded for this update as text isn't up-to-date in it at the moment.

patch:
CD2D0E9E7EB12B4EA8CDE28666EF3F460E10BF4870E847398F9AD7827C9F70C0
https://mega.nz/file/3zIlgKRZ#V__Fza3hruCfuGgjLxp0Szx772p11DRnftOlGFGxAgU
https://gofile.io/d/av5kNY

just extract it to the /game folder and let it overwrite the scripts.rpa


PC
D81E68C4BF146304A640424A6D18331E08D96C1F639E0D873BC2781FF75F8DC0
https://mega.nz/file/Tmg3TRRJ#9KM1A_yYkYBmTQP3DyKib1gJcevVs1QmjulKaUR7nx4
https://gofile.io/d/d1A4Bg

PC Compressed
AAD92D6C6CE7AA2EAC8919BA5BF9973925A38ED80DB266222DFF7A249937FEDA
https://mega.nz/file/bzphQJRY#3K8pe2FVgrghtcISr2sAMAYSzlTtuzCW7ByyQhBXFgw
https://gofile.io/d/485zWI

MAC
8EE4CD4546EAEA7A0B3291B4163FAFD0EED3924EB9F1FAC154FA14FF9C48D965
https://mega.nz/file/mvBmzawL#_GXOISUi7o1rwtEvZlSzOwYWn8oBspZAASp6IqFNaNw
https://gofile.io/d/E0KDXg


MAC Compressed
7D9570E30B7196976E7E4CF8CC34E963E9A2661B3E2D5354A79B5731FF140488
https://mega.nz/file/P2JSgDLJ#jY8KyBSPtmKEHlHWg9EO5uhyQpCIolhxNBavGaWY5lQ
https://gofile.io/d/8Zxfq4

Update only
0A4B496733D02B2AF852E8929FA984683E80189617DC009D71C2FE8B6B0E8229
https://mega.nz/file/WzgzVSbQ#4yQF_ANPAjwUnYMBYaUSXDgY9qtTMLut9K-t15JXDh4
https://gofile.io/d/oTEFI1

Update only compressed
D834529C12696DDB67D22AF47D66F30AED78E06F1126CE921DC5A6C999BFB278
https://mega.nz/file/WjIFRbbB#Jh_FWVF-F7-QlNRWTRiwC7yrMG6-D9IHrFUcyEKY4ow
https://gofile.io/d/ADRx0i

Android
98DDB1E10866D0A77B25142F22A05641357D8F853F2D4B27BF6EE551AE111F1A
https://mega.nz/file/n6gXSLKC#jWt52SgYKDMwUGUKkcPv1o8piBLXRvscLr9zkPkbgeI
https://gofile.io/d/9055jO

Android WT
8EE1FA2EB0268889EF364E3E2BB50A8337D148EA53011CAC905D841E4A4C9AD8
https://mega.nz/file/ayQHyBKR#nnavLClS7wPBfghQoeURlo9kL1eAd-9R31k9kExysbk
https://gofile.io/d/ZTvqF0

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 cosmetic touches, a couple of people to the codex and so on. And that did give me an idea... irritatingly enough. That and I have another idea for a puzzle, which I might not use in ToaM but need to build graphics just in case. And since it is the last progress post regarding 0.27.0 there is no in game render. But the idea, portion of it that formed anyway...

So this came to my mind while I was writing that bit, kind of... a couple of things I would do differently but the parts needed weren't co-operating annoyingly, not an issue as is as I'm happy with this. IS aid it last time, the mind is working beyond the next part already, placing things and events, and then seeing what might be viable is satisfying. Of course not everything is something I'm looking forward to... since building them is going to be... difficult. But a hurdle I'll pass when I get there.

Ah well, things to try out, things to write and some bit coding. You all have a great weekend!

Progress 04.11.2024

 Hello all!

Rendering is going well, I have one scene (and a bit of other) to left to render, but it will take a few days due the amount of renders needed.

As for writing? It's in a good state. Weekends are always good time for writing so I'm now a bit ahead of where I should, so all is good in that front. Now just some "auxiliary" writing and things should be good for this update.

And then Riya and Aisha having a discussion. I was debating on showing this, but then I realised it doesn't matter much without the dialogue. The choices in here are, sort of important. I've talked about the multiple "story lines" that are woven together to some degree, there are choices that affects the personal lines, and then choices that affect the other lines. I call those "fates", there has been fates that have been "solved". Nelda, Mistress Lian, the first group of Gladelings you met, Gudbrand, the thieves in Qishu just to name a few. And those consequences are told in game. Some of those have ripple effects to later (for example the Banshee fight few updates ago, Yuu identifies one of the Banshees as Mistress Lian if she died), and it might not be so smooth in the dwarf city if the Qishu thieves aren't in good shape. And I kind of dread those words now. Anyway...

And then there is this. This was originally supposed to be one of the hidden renders, but it doesn't fit with the lore that is in place. Yes, I know, I can always alter it if I wish, but I don't want to. Despite what you could think, having rules are important when writing a setting. It keeps consistency. Anyway, it was titled "meeting the heralds" in concept stage. And thus it is time for my break and then back to rendering.

Progress 01.11.2024

Hello all!

Friday, progress and stuff...

Rendering. Hmmm, render count wise I'm technically 9 renders behind, and in relation to the script? I'm just where I want to be with it. Technically, I wouldn't be even that 9 renders behind, but set building takes its time.

Writing is in meh state, I'm in more or less in schedule just it's the time to actually write the things down has been limited this week. Ah well, time to panic and catch up by Monday as usual, joking on that part. And then some pretty pictures.

A bit catchup with Maevra and Mal, who still hasn't killed each other. That's a good thing. There isn't that many details being told about the plan intentionally, partially it is because there isn't a plan existing that goes exactly like it has been planned. Except in movies. And I don't want to tie myself to do something specific, I know how it all goes down in both good and bad. But potential environments determine the finer details which might amount some rewriting on how things are going.

Than one of the rarer environment previews. I ended up liking this environment sure it's a bit darker light wise, but it is a cave with crystals, glowing mushrooms and plants. At times when I build sets it feels waste of time, but then when you start rendering and see the end result? It's always worth it.

And lastly... As a creator you will look ahead, what's next. This was one of the concepts that might have been, but the writing took into other directions than this. Could it still happen? Maybe, right now I'm more focused on the next even in the dwarven city, what comes after? Well the direction and the major things are known, but there are room for other things. Maybe something surprising can be sneaked in...

Anyway, that's it for today. Have a great weekend you all!