Almost makes you think the mc’s and Lat’s powers might not be their own, eh? Since they manifested extremely late and we did expressly not figure things out on our own.
Anyway I hope we get to talk back more to our imaginary selves or the alien entities possessing us, or whatever the heck they are in the future.
Ooh, cryptic! Way to build the tension there jjcb. 
Chapter 4 has been uploaded.
Standing at a staggering 74.4k words, more than doubling the game’s previous size, Chapter 4 of A Tale of Heroes is now out as part of the demo.
For a tidbit on what to expect:
As always, there have been quite a few changes to the variables in the startup, so I’m afraid you’ll have to start a new game.
Thank you so much for your patience, as I know it’s taken waaaaay too long to be finished, but I hope it manages to meet up all your expectations!
Also, if you’re able, I’m looking for a lot of feedback on the romances. This is the first time I’ve really delved into writing romance, so I’d like to know if it’s all working as intended or not.
Ps: I know there are about three or so choices that end up smacking you with a WIP, and one that seems to kind of go nowhere, those are getting a slight re-write at the moment, I apologize if they’re a tad immersion breaking.
Now, with all that said, let me leave you with these two commissions I had done by the incredible MaryMewt on Twitter:
Game link (same as in the OP): https://dashingdon.com/play/juan/a-tale-of-heroes/mygame/
Now, apologies for the double post, but I mentioned a couple days ago that I had some stuff to announce, in regards to development of the game. Right, well, originally, it was gonna be one thing, but it’s actually two.
First of all, I now have a Ko-Fi page. My original goal when making this was to obtain funds for the eventual art that the game requires, as well as any possible extra art additions I legitimately woudl like to do in the game proper (character art, that kind of thing).
Right, well, anyhow, thanks to donations from some lovely friends that I legitimately don’t deserve, I have achieved the original goal of paying for art. That said, if you enjoy the content I put out, I would be inmensely grateful if you could chip in with whatever is possible. It not only serves as a back-up fund for in-game art proper, it would also serve as a bit of personal help (I have recently found myself without a job, and even though my expenses aren’t exactly large, they do exist.)
Regardless, do not feel obligated to do it, or anything of the sort. The game will continue to be made no matter what, that’s not something that will ever be in doubt.
Now… Onto topic number 2. This one is related to the plot, and some of it is already hinted at in Chapter 4. So, if you would please, I recommend you wait until reading the chapter before you read through this bit, or before you share your thoughts, if you choose to read it first.
On the topics of the past… and the future… and hot billionaires.
Let me begin by saying that the plot of this game has been set in stone since very early on. The existence of the Broken King, what Seeker is ‘seeking’, the secrets behind Forlorn and Aki, where exactly your and Lat’s powers come from, these are all things that I have decided on, and that won’t change at all.
However, as I have been writing, and beginning to think more and more of how I want certain… events in the game’s climax to happen, I hit a rather large roadblock.
The one thing that I have maintained is absolutely a message of this story is how a person’s past can shape them. Your past marks you, and it changes you, but it does not define you.
And there’s certain characters that absolutely exemplify that statement. Most of them, I have perfectly clear plans on how I shall show it through.
But there exists an exception, and it is most prominent in one of the scenes at the game’s penultimate chapter. No matter how I approached it, or how I attempted to tackle it, I was unable to give it the weight it deserved, or the weight it needed, because it had been hamstrung by a decision I made while writing the second chapter of the game.
A decision I am now changing, not to the way it was originally, but to a way that I find more personally fulfilling, and, if you are particularly… observant, let’s say, you can already begin to make guesses at with a certain scene in Chapter 4.
That is to say, if you are romancing Ignis, and you meet with her in Chapter 4, you are shown a lot of red flags.
That is because the Ignis romance is doomed to failure.
This isn’t a decision I’ve made lightly, but it is one that I will stand by. I won’t explain why, exactly, it is doomed (you’re free to guess, of course, though I suspect there’s little chance it’ll become entirely clear before the endgame), but it failing is something that will happen. No ifs or buts.
Now, that’s not to say I’m cutting the entire plotline of romancing Ignis out of the game. You’ll still get a romance, of sorts, and specific scenes as you attempt a relationship, but… Well. I’d rather not repeat it.
I shall try my best to make it a narratively convincing path, and one that is worthy of exploring, even if not your preferred choice.
I hope you understand, and can offer me the modicum of trust needed when I say that it’s something I shall tackle with as much vigour as possible.
I live for angst so I’m definitely doing the Ignis path
A fellow comrade, let us go down the path of flames together then.
Guess I gotta restart now since I was on the Ignis path and its kinda pointless now, damn.
@Jjcb Great Update, Loved the storyline progress, it’s both exciting and mysterious, plus we got a ton of information out of it, this update was well worth the wait.
Yes, I did read the change, lets just say:
It’s fine this will not deter me, if it’s doomed for failure, I will gladly walk that path.
Ignis Forever!
Now onto my specialty bugs and typo’s, I will report more as I find them.
Chapter 4 line 289, 'Okay should be "Okay, should be quotation mark instead apostrophe.
Chapter 4 line 739 there's a few places I wanna check out with you should be there are a few places I wanna check out with you, it should be are instead of is I think.
Chapter 4 line 1427 FInding should be Finding, wrong capitalization.
Chapter 4 line 1570 you forgot *disable_reuse
Chapter 4 line 2934 you forgot *disable_reuse
Chapter 4 line 3075 you forgot *disable_reuse
Chapter 4 line 3917, 3954, 3984, 4008, 4033, 4411, 4443, 4586, 4610, 4629, you forgot *disable_reuse
I am pretty sure that receiving text from Ignis even after visiting her is a bug so see suggestion’s for it’s fix
I am sure you are aware that, we get messages from character’s even if you have met them already, Like Ignis messages us, even if we have met her already, solution to this would be to declare temp variables at the top, to keep tracks of visits and to avoid any such mistimed message.
If you need help with this let me know.
never went for that RO so this thankfully doesn’t really impact me. That said I was worried about this for a hot minute, especially since superpowered stories tend to get dropped more often than not here. Especially the good ones (you will always be remembered FAWR) good to see this is alive and well.
Love it pretty fun and also funny, the minus point is maybe the lack of reference about other hero outside our circles, maybe in the future sequel we can meet other heroes
My Ignis!!! Though it is sad, I must summon this meme tho it is to be a joke it is not a joke at the same time. Love the story will respect your decision but I must at least protest once.
Got an error for you:
Shouldn’t it be that cutie Mars out patrolling with us there?
So Patrol force is basically down to just Forlorn, MC and Aki then?
Ah, that’s a mistake, yes, but in the second bit, I meant Nova, not Mars. By that point, Mars is still working with Gloria and helping the Senate Commission behind the scenes.
Dark Star has been sent to keep an eye on Stratton for the time being, as I think is mentioned a bit earlier in the chapter.
Sidenote, I’ve received some feedback on making the dialogue more dynamic based on your personality stats (not locking you out of choices or anything, I won’t make that a thing), so if there are any… bits where you think the MC’s thoughts/comments could be changed to reflect a more headstrong or cautious personality, please let me know!
And Nova, though Nova’s also splitting his time between keeping the Mansion running smoothly (Ignis isn’t around to take care of that), and whatever other gadgets or inventions he may be working on, so it’d probably be correct to say it’s Forlorn, the MC and Aki with the unreliable support of Nova every once in a while.
How dare you mention FAWR 
I’m not… entirely sure I remember FAWR, but I assure you all that A Tale of Heroes will definitely continue to be written! As the game grows in complexity and some plots start to unravel (hey, anyone wonder why the always cock-sure Forlorn is sounding real worried about those machines? 
), things may take a while to be written, but never because the game will be scrapped or put on hold.
Hey, take all the time you need. We are with you till the end 
.
EDIT:Also just played the new chapter and all i can think after the end is “Damn, my PC is way in over her head”
Thank you very much! I’ll get on those when I’m back on my PC tomorrow morning, and if you find any others, please bring them up as well! Getting used to my new keyboard probably meant more than a few things slipped me by while I was still unfamiliarized with it.
Latooni can’t communicate. But that was probably the most in character thing she could say if we are being fair to her.
Latooni has a lot of talents.
Sadly, keeping her foot out of her mouth isn’t one of them. 
