@Retrokinesis
I really appreciate your message and the time you have taken to explore the various ROs. They have all grown on me, and I hope they provide some variety. One thing I felt was important was making potential ROs’ attraction to our MC seem organic, or at least in line with their characters, rather than having them like us just because we exist.
That you said the ROs enhanced your playthrough perfectly puts into words what I wanted to do with them. I agree, although I am biased! I think they enrich the experience in many ways and add more strands to the story our MC is creating, opening possibilities, good and bad. I am glad I expanded this type of content and don’t think it detracts from the rest of the game, but, as with you and Avalina, perhaps gives a player a reason to push on.
This does mean, in Book 2, that I need to make it worthwhile not to have an RO, too. Thus far, the experience is more fulfilling with an RO option, although the celebration scenes with our pals, rather than spending time with an RO, are poignant in their own way, imo.
@Vertigo1
The future of Raith is unwritten. In Book 2, our MC’s behaviour will have an effect on him. He may or may not reach a point of self-reflection. On the Raith route, he is certainly starting to regard us as a rock, of sorts. Yet… he is still despicable, but something is happening behind his eyes.
FOR EVERYONE!
We are getting so close to the end now. This is only Book 1, and the danger of this is to leave people hanging… This is somewhat inevitable, as much will be unresolved. Some ROs will prove to be, for the moment, somewhat ‘mercenary’, at least in terms of their own survival. We might be able to guess who…
Some of us will feel betrayed by those we had faith in, all of us will feel desperate… The ending is a shared event, with some differences, and, hopefully, a more unique epilogue reflecting the rumours in Behatland about our MC.
Although I don’t plan to leave us completely hopeless. There will be a final glimmer of salvation… And the start of Book 2 will present that possible salvation in many different ways, depending on our choices in Book 1.
Because we are close to the end, I have started thinking a lot about Book 2, which I intend to start after a shorter DLC for Green (I plan for 250k words at most). If Ash and Fire take a long time in the publishing queue, maybe even 2 shorter DLCs, which I could probably put together relatively quickly.
My original plan for A Shriek of Ash and Fire was for one book (which was insane!), now it is for 2 big books. I have also considered if A Shriek of Ash and Fire doesn’t perform well. If this is the case, it might be more viable to complete it in 2 or 3 shorter books, after the first. Both ways have pros and cons, although I prefer 2 big books. Whatever the case, this is a tale that must be told.
I’ll always let the forum know what my plans are. The big quests are to get Book 1 done and to send it away to Hosted Games. Hopefully, things there will go smoothly. If so, I’ll monitor how it goes during release, although this is still a way off considering that HG have a big job with going through my humble effort.
Patreon is a month ahead. I am bad at estimating times, but I think I can get the main game completed in 2 or 3 more monthly updates and place the whole game here for a final beta test. Then I’ll add a save system and achievements, with a final big read-through during that time.
As always, your feedback and questions are appreciated.
