Opened at author’s request.
Howdy, Heroes!
I have returned from the grave, with good news…
A Realm Divided has resumed development!
I’m going to keep this one relatively short and sweet, but I’ll leave a small gift of newly forged content…
Excited for the future!
23 Likes
State of the Realm - July 2024 - The 26th Year of Youth.
Hello, Heroes!
26 years on this Earth… and still choosing to work on the game today. 
Welcome back to State of the Realm, providing an in-depth development update on Estheria: A Realm Divided.
In this edition, I’m going to make things brief on text, heavier on imagery, as I’d like to showcase actual work that has went into Update 1. I’m aware that everyone has been eagerly awaiting the update, and so in this case, I’m showing what all has been done as we chug forward.
I am not committing to a release date at this time. Mainly because I have had numerous health issues in the last 9 months coupled with a mixture of general burnout that I believe is from them. However, I pushed 1,400 words yesterday to the project, and am working on another 600 for today. So, we’re making progress.
Let’s delve in, shall we?
Feature Display-Case
Alright, we’re going to take this piece by piece. Each thing shown is not going to provide massive spoilers on the game, as I’ve avoided showing direct story content.
- The updated Logo is provided above and has been added to the game. However, I have provided an updated Menu for the WiP warning below.
- Next, the Patch Notes Section with major display overhauls. Please ignore the prior August 2023 date on the choice for Update 1, that’ll be marked off and the actual content within from the small teaser is accurate.
- The Lore Journal has been produced and condensed, providing a detailed glimpse of content ranging from characters, locations, story recap, and Kingdom information.
- Kingdom Lore has been majorly overhauled, providing extensive detail on every Kingdom of the Eleven Kingdoms of Harmony.
- The Glossary has been added to the game, which provides detailed overviews/important or pertinent information tied to mechanics. An example provided below is the Traits list (partial list of traits included).
Finale
I wanted to give images to show how many things are working under the hood without providing direct spoilers. I’ve added so much cleanup, Quality of Life (QoL), content, and overhaul just in general to the game compared to where we started.
I know that everyone wants just straight story and content. I do too, but I also would’ve hated going back to the beginning and having to hash all of this out later in development where it would’ve taken more.
Foundationally, A Realm Divided is a much more coherent game than it was when it started in March of 2023. I have learned much regarding programming and ChoiceScript, and I look forward to delivering a boisterous RPG.
Thanks for sticking with me, and I promise you’ll have something to sink your teeth into soon. I hope the images above at least give a snapshot at some of the pieces I’ve been working on, beyond the lore snippets I’ve previously provided.
Cheers to a 26th year on this Earth for me!
See you soon, Heroes.
~Zach
20 Likes
Hey author
I think there are some problem with demo link
Moody itself is currently not working. I can’t provide a screenshot, but I checked it on ‘Is It Down Right Now?’
Moody is gone. The data for it was moved to a different host. @Zaxwlyde will need to either have his profile moved to the new site or he’ll need to reupload everything to the new site.
2 Likes
Hi, Heroes!
My apologies, as I was completely unawares that this was the case.
I will attempt to access an old build and run the character creator Demo through it. Otherwise, I may have to pull the link temporarily due to the loss of hosting the old-build until Update 1 has been achieved.
Due to the substantive reworks included in Update 1, I would be unable to simply upload a build as is, or you would see fragmented content and the Demo would not fully function. Until this rework is finalized, Update 1 is in a… fragmented state, to say the least.
Nonetheless, I will work on trying to scrounge up an original build of Update 0.4 if possible.
10 Likes
Howdy, Heroes!
Work continues on Update 1. In the meantime, I’m actually doing a small poll.
Combat writing - in particular when it comes to magic, isn’t my strongest suit. However, I wanted an opinion on a small sequence from Update 1. As such, I’m attaching imagery below alongside a poll. Let me know what you think!
SPOILER ALERT IN IMAGES
QUESTION: How do you feel about the above text? Take note, it is not edited/polished at this time.
- I love it!
- It’s decent.
- Not too big of a fan.
- Absolutely hated it.
0
voters
Thanks again, Heroes!
~Zach
4 Likes
The magic seems pretty good. Though I would be careful with pacing. Magic needs more description than a sword or bow, but it can make the spell feel like it takes longer. And so you sit there wondering why the bad guys don’t take advantage of you just standing there. This can work if the spells actually take a bit to work, but if it’s meant to be on par with drawing back an arrow, then pacing can become an issue.
Also, I was surprised by the “mate” and “arse.” I could be wrong, but that feels way more “modern London boy” than I would expect from a fantasy setting. It could work, but I won’t lie, it kinda took me out of it a bit
2 Likes
Hey, Anna!
I work on juggling and balancing attention to detail for everything when it comes to either magic or plain old swords and shields with weaponry.
As for the verbiage, that’ll ultimately depend on the race and/or culture of the specific person. Some cultures hold more of a loose tongue, whether that’s cultures built upon old-fashioned grimey tactics and mercenary-style play, or even things such as the Dwarves.
2 Likes
From what I see more detail can be good if the spell is powerful spell.
Well, it’s been a long time coming…
Hi, everyone.
After writing three Estheria books back to back, I needed some time to gather myself, code a bit, and step away from fantasy.
Estheria is, and always will be, my magnum opus series and the love of my creative life. As a result of that matter…
Estheria: A Realm Divided has resumed FULL DEVELOPMENT!
Alongside my project, The Frontier, and the previous ChoiceScript iteration of Once in a Lifetime, I have been studiously working on improving my ChoiceScript capabilities. A Realm Divided is experiencing a cleanup factor to make some key changes that’ll allow for scalability, but is rapidly coming into focus.
The Character Creator rewrite is nearly completed, but that isn’t my actual focus right now. 
My focus is on Update One: The Shadow Elves!
Update On e: The Shadow Elves is fully in development once more, and a lot is coming down the pipeline. You’ll learn about racial specializations, alongside the pen and paper mechanics. You’ll encounter a variety of locations and quirky personalities, and the first profession of the game: Blacksmithing will become available.
Separately, I am working on revitalizing the design of the dynamic economy code that I had been working on. At the heart of the project is a key component: Choices have consequences.
Lore updates to align with my three novels (two of which are preparing for publishing, with the first possibly releasing by December!) are underway, and there’s a lot of gears spinning.
I am beyond excited, and I cannot wait to launch the update.
Thank you all for your support. I’ll have imagery to show off soon as development continues.
~Zach.
16 Likes
For some reason I can’t open the demo
Hello!
The original Demo was within the original Moody.Ink, and unfortunately as a result of that was not migrated to CogDemos.
The sole reason I have not reuploaded just yet is that there are critical changes, and I am actually appreciative you brought this to my attention.
The Character Creation rewrite is underway, and approaching the finish line. My goal over the next week or two is to rapidly hammer this out. Once this is done, I will publish what was slated as Update One: Rebirth.
It will be named this, as I’m trying to get back into the groove of my original promised timelines. So as a result, Shadow Elves will be through Update 2: The Shadowed Veil.
Rest assured, a new demo with many, many improvements overall to flow and introduction to story is on its way!
11 Likes
Hey, all!
Going to be my only other post for a bit, but excited to be posting again nonetheless.
Even while on hiatus, small bits and pieces of work occurred. What you’ll get to experience in Update One’s revamped character creation/demo relaunch will be five mini-stories, one per race.
These stories have their own choices, and their choices have consequences in the moment, even if not in the broader impact of the game. This is all part of the narrative I want to weave regarding the powers of the Interdimensional Rift.
As I continue to work on the refinement of my writing, I wanted to drop a couple of tidbits for those who have previously been interested in the project and are rooting for the update to come out. These will be the only thing I post image-wise of Update One prior to its release.
Enjoy.
7 Likes
Will there be a list of ROs?
1 Like
This is quite overdue, but there will be a maintained list of RO’s.
As for why I am posting here today, I’m happy to talk about quite a few things in the pipeline:
From a project and code standpoint, Estheria: A Realm Divided was extremely novice in nature. Many things I slapsticked together and did not properly plan, as a result, continuing to work on the project with the existing form and code was proving outright detrimental.
Now for the good news.
Using the foundational structure I have built in The Frontier, I have rebooted A Realm Divided’s project folder and have begun working deeply on code.
My hope is to have a fully revamped character creator, all existing lore upgraded and put to task, and more in the coming days.
This new structure will be more fluid under the hood, and while many things may appear the same, I can assure you that they aren’t.
Now, I have fundamentally reworked some core pieces, and want to know how these changes sound to you.
- Removal of bodytype from having an associated stat impact.
- Wisdom changed to Perception.
- Turn-based combat will now only allow you to make actions for your own character, with AI party member actions occurring based on their personalities/roles. (You may also set your own ‘preference’ for their actions that will then weigh heavier on the AI’s decisions).
- Introduction of checkpoints.
I’m going to launch a poll for that now.
- 100% on board with these!
- They’re solid.
- Ehh, maybe?
- NO! I hate them.
0
voters
Now for the bigger discussion and asking people how they feel about it…
I am removing the individual five starts to create a more cohesive story.
Estheria: A Realm Divided will launch with a singular Act 1 that begins in the lands of Maldium. This opens the floodgates; you will have access to all races from the get-go. How you’re treated, what options may or may not be available, these are all subject to a mixture of choices you make, your class, background, personality, and yes, your race.
As a result, from the jump you can play as…:
- The Humans.
- The Elves.
- The Dusk Elves (Formerly Shadow Elves).
- The Dwarves.
- The Aetherials.
This decision was made by going back through the old threads. Many were sad that their specific choice wouldn’t be in first, and it’s unfair to subject many to those kinds of waits. Instead, I’m tightening down the bolts on the story, expanding the overall planned content available in the first phase of the game, and redirecting those resources to hammering out more things people love.
As for how others feel about it, I would love to garner feedback, either through replies or this poll below:
- This was absolutely the right decision!
- I suppose I can get behind that.
- Not sure how I feel about it.
- This was a complete mistake.
0
voters
Thanks for your time, Heroes.
4 Likes
Heroes!
Work on my code revitalization project continues, with several areas patched into a much more stable framework. In the meantime, I have gutted the original content built for the Shadow Elves chapter, and have split my resources between finalizing the prologue and upgrading the beginning.
With the WiP’s re-launch on CogDemos, the following content is now locked into place for development:
- From death, we are reborn. Experience an overhauled Character Creation infused with key plot narrative through the Path of the Spirit.
- Formed anew with little memories but a seared mark and a prophecy of omen carried in your mind, you awaken in Maldian lands. Journeying inwards, you’ll meet many a friend and foe in a journey to the kingdom’s capitol city of Iris in Act 1: Royal Tidings, which will see gradual completion over several updates.
- The quest log has been accelerated to take place in Update 1, which is expected to be less than 100k words. A minimum of two side quests and two main quests will be available in Update
- Introduction of the first gathering and crafting jobs will occur in Update 1.
- All Eleven Kingdoms have received revised Kingdom Lore for Update 1.
- Removal of the racial mini stories due to the alteration of Act 1.
- Turn-based combat will not occur in Update 1, but choice-based narrative combat will be present. Turn-based combat with AI party members is tentatively scheduled for Update 2.
While I hunker down and hammer out content, this will be introduced extremely early in Act 1, and set our foundation.
The Prophecy of the Lost.
Through torturous flames, one walks a rift of fracture.
Guided strings tug them forward, each thread drawn tight.
For we stand a realm divided, led astray by a Princess captured.
Cries of war echo loud, drawn deep from a people’s plight.
To answer their call, four strays shall soon emerge.
Without compromise, their paths may not align.
The lost soul twists beneath corruption’s scourge.
One final clue lies hidden in the hands of the Dark Divine.
It’s been a few long years, but we’re back on track.
6 Likes
Poll of the day:
What race are you most likely to pick for your first delve into A Realm Divided?
- The Humans
- The Elves
- The Dusk Elves
- The Dwarves
- The Aetherials
0
voters
3 Likes
Wait is there a link to the new demo?