
Week 11 – Dialogue is all about U and…
Reflection
This past week has been more productive than I have been recently, and yet still not productive enough. I am finding myself exhausted of this project, I want little to do with the more menial aspects of the development; UI, audio implementation, visual components when that’s not the direct goal of the game. My instinct is to work on one aspect of the game and make that amazing, without worrying about the rest, which would be a mistake, but is something I am trying to work on, and will likely still be working on for some time.
I have finally gotten back on track to getting everything complete, and with only a few major components left (yes, of course testing iterations are one of those) I am feeling better about doing the work. I can ‘see the light at the end of the tunnel’ so to say. I have completed the tutorial sections and have almost all of the functions complete to be tweaked until they feel right.
I am still trying to get the Audio and Animation students to deliver the work they said they would do and I now know much more about dealing with other people in this sort of manner than I did before. I have a few points I need to make clear; the more clear the design is, the easier they will be able to do the work, for the people I have been working with. Giving them more leeway and ‘creative license’ was a lazy decision on my part and something I need to manage better. I also need to be more definite with the delivery dates and quantity of work I need them to do, I need to have a concrete deadline to hold them to.
Research
Since last weeks game character design session, I have wanted to put the characters I made into an environment and create some interactions. The scene is their graduation day, the ceremony itself to be held in the ritual theatre, however the scenes are of the characters preparing throughout the day, the first is of the characters together at breakfast, then a closer look at Jallos and Garbel’s interactions.
Scene One
Three of the four siblings can be seen sitting at a table, recently awoken; Jallos having dragged them all out of bed at a reasonable time as usual. The last pacing in front of the others, her Mystic Hammer strapped to her belt as it had been since she received it as an early graduation gift from her mentor, Marcus.
Garbel, after washing down some bread with water breaking the silence in his casual manner, “oh, would you stop pacing? Sit down and eat something, if you worry too much you will simply make yourself sick Hellas.”
Hellas stopped to stare at him in frustration, “look, not all of us can just waltz through the world like we own it Gar, you know the Guilds only accept the best craftsmen from each graduation. I’m trying for a Mythic Guild here ok? The only way to join one is through invitation, no amount of money or reputation will help if they don’t notice me.”
“Bah, what’re you even worried about Hellas, you’re going to be the best Flamesmith to come out of Bel City, you’ll see. Graduate with Exception, create a big show at your acceptance, get recognised.” Trianthe cut in before another fight could break out between the high strung Hellas and the perpetually calm Garbel. Trianthe rising from the table, grasping Hellas’ arm for support.
Caught up in being thankful and supportive, neither was prepared for another set of arms to wrap them both up and lift them from the ground in a strong embrace. “See, no need to be worried when we’re all together, just one happy family right?” Jallos deep voice reverberating through both girls as they struggled for breath in his always too strong hold.
“Haha, that’s right Jallos, and no matter what happens we will be together, earning our keep with the Wolves this time tomorrow” Garbel joined in the fun, jumping on Jallos back to be a part of the strange group hug going on.
Scene Two
Jallos and Garbel are preparing together, the ceremonial gear requiring help to properly get on, especially with Jallos large frame. Each component having a meaning to the city and their trials, said to be a replica of Gar Fallun’s armour, with modified components, depending on their trials.
“Jallos! Stay still would you, this needs belting up and you trying to bend over and clasp your boots is not helping!” Garbel almost hanging off the larger boy as he tries to pull a belt closed on the shoulder piece depicting Jallos soon mastery of the Internal Circulation Energies.
“Hah, hah, just give me a second, just need to get these done up, you’re next remember” Jallos laughs as he turns around, swinging Garbel almost across the room as he holds on for dear life.
“Yeah, that is not happening, thank you, if I let you tighten my belt, they wont need an autopsy, I will already be bisected, let alone dissected. Although that swing did it, there is no way that will get any tighter now”
“We both need help here remember, the goal is to garner greater bonds with the person we will be assisting in the trials”
Garbel finally drops down from his position on Jallos shoulder strap, “Jallos, we are brothers. There is no greater bond to garner here, that rule is for people who have not spent every moment together over the past 12 years”
Jallos smiles warmly at his brother, both sharing a moment of silence together thinking about all the four siblings had gone through. He then broke the silence suddenly for another great hug, picking up Garbel and happily swinging him about the room as if he were simply a small animal, not an entire person. Garbel able to do little else than hold on for dear life, happy to have family able to show affection, but somewhat intimidated by how much affection he could physically handle from his much stronger brother.
“Ok, let us go over this again Jallos, we have to get this right” Garbel began after regaining his footing.
Jallos looked at him with a smile, knowing how worried he was about being proper on stage with the royalty who would be there to approve of their skills or not. Each year the leaders of the city sent one of their family members to each graduation ceremony, and this year was no different, while most people would have no issues. However, Garbel felt the need to be perfect in front of nobility, he felt the need for them to recognise him and see how good he was for themselves, see how much of a mistake they had made.
“Alright, you have signed up for the Distinction and Observation tests, all you need to do is see and understand everything in the universe, nothing major.”
“That does not help Jallos! You just need to be strong, and shoot fireballs, at least you have nothing to worry about.”
“Hey, Circulation is about much more than just being strong.. I have to be sturdy too.” Jallos replied with a grin.
“Yeah, yeah. All I have to do is pass whatever test the grader comes up with and prove my weapon training.” If a student does not have an offensive or defensive ability, like Circulation or Expulsion, allowing them to turn their very bodies into weapons, they need to prove they can defend themselves, or go through mandated additional training. No citizen can be without the means to defend themselves, as the soldiers cannot spend time protecting civilians when they need to attack the enemy and being a liability can be as bad as being an enemy sometimes.
“Theres no one more accurate or fast with a blade than you, you could skewer the wings of a Mantisfly at full charge if you had a blade sharp enough. Relax, you are as good as any of us… Well, most of us, I could still wipe the floor with you, haha.” Jallos grabbed Garbel’s shoulder in reassurance as he laughed.
Garbel looked back at Jallos with a bemused expression “Oh please, you’re as likely to hug the enemy as you are to attack them, you know not all scaly monsters are misunderstood, some are actual monsters and you will have to fight them properly one day.”
“I know.” Jallos looked down for a moment, thinking about their future, “but sometimes, they don’t need to be fought, not everything outside of those walls is a threat after all.”
Plan
- Have game ready for testing
- Make building models and make walls look nicer
- Implement more stylised UI elements
- Implement temporary audio that can potentially be left in if there is no delivered audio
- Implement more models and animations once I receive what I need for them