List of feedbacks and adjustments

[draanek]

Hi, I'm on chapter 10 of the game, and playing on hard difficulty.
Overall I'm really pleased with the game but I wanted to list all the little issues, feedbacks and advices I have for this game.

I'll keep this list updated as I progress through:

Gameplay feeback :

• Magic Users are too usefull. They are already good with 1-2 range, overall low res ennemies and good stats. Charms and buffs are a good idea but they make magic users even more usefull. Maybe lessen the exp gained from buffs (though the pace for Sara is perfect) ?
  
• Make Elphin a bit less powerfull ? In my game he is really a beast and that +4 spd on riposte is already godlike
  
• Early chapters are a bit too tough imo. Maybe give the possibility to double a bit sooner by reducing SPD a bit or reduce ennemies (?). Chapter 4 is a pain, ESPECIALLY the boss imo.
  
• Turn based limits are a bit too soon. Fleeing in chapter 5 is 1 turn too tight I feel like. Without save mid map I would have yelled a lot. Same thing for chapter 8
  
• Make it possible to load a save directly from the map ?
  
• Maybe add a bit more money. I'm always broke while buying the cheapest things and earning the most I possibly can.
  
• Before 1 base, I ran out of weapons for some people (like bows). Maybe lessens the ennemies or add 1 or two weapons ? It's also thematically fun to see your weapons go out while being on the run so it's interesting that way too !
  
• Armor heavy boss in Ch5 is a bit too... armor heavy ?
  
• 3 range bow is good. But it makes boss trivial sometimes. I don't know how to fix this I hope boss will get 3 range sometime soon

Graphic and UI feeback :

• Add a logo for the application window
  
• Slow characters animations are stiff (skeletons / Gustav running animations lacks frames)
  
• Add a "miss" pop up when dodge, especially with magic attacks, because it's not clear right now
  
• Maybe add fade in and out for portraits and things here and there (like level up screens too)
  
• The transition for combat feels a bit off to me :/
  
• Maybe replace the big black bars when map is too small ?
  
• Add a full screen option (maybe already there ! My bad)
  
• When you save at the end of a chapter, you can see the map for the next one immediatly, which spoils the fun. Maybe remove that or block it ?
  
• Just my opinion but the title on the main screen is a bit hard to read (with the white and black overlapping)
  
• In base menu, make it possible to switch between characters ! It's really obnoxious to have to go back and click again on the menu and then the right character and do that over and over
  
• In customize, add a showing of points before clicking on the character.
  
• When in convoy, make the default window be a type of weapon the character can use, it would be more efficient that way
  
• Text in menues are a bit bland, maybe add some flare a character to it

Writing and others :

• The Intro is a bit hard to grasp imo, it feels more confusing that engaging. It's difficult to know who speaks to whom, espcially since ennemies don't have portraits (except for one).
  
• Add a feature to show previous text ?
  
• During chapter... 6 or 7, we talked about the "chancellor". It feels like he has a big role but I didn't grasp who he was exactly, and having no portraits makes it even more difficult to understand. I understand portraits can't be unlimited though.
  
• Please make the battle music loop be a bit longer. And stop the reloop when combat is launched !!!

Overall, I really enjoy the game, and sorry if some of the feeback and advices feel forced. I hope you are okay with the criticism and I feel like with a few changes, the game can be even better !

[Windshipping]

Thank you for your feedback, and thank you for the review on the game page!
I won't go in details over everything, but I can quickly address some points

Gameplay :
-The low res enemies is a thing I'm working on balancing hard mode, I will think about it in normal, but you're right. There are few magic users compared to physical attackers, though. For the speed, I assume you're referring to Gov. Melphis, he's actually kinda "made" to be able to double, it's a way to teach people about phase skills (same with boss on Ch2). But maybe I'll rebalance him a bit.
-Money / weapons should not be an issue... You're fighting a lot lol. Since you talk about bows and seem to like Sylvie, you might use her a bit too much. One enemy drop a bow on ch5, though I admit it's hard to get it, and since there are few bow users at the start, it's (normally) enough unless you use her to pick on all bosses xD.
-Some boss change behaviour in hard and start moving, this prevent spamming Sylvie.

Graphic and UI :
-There is one, actually. If it's not loading on your end, it's a bug, I'll look at it!
-There is a fullscreen with F4, it disable mouse control for now, though, and stretch the screen weirdly, but this should be fixed eventually as the engine devs are apparently working on it.
-I will look at the animations, it's definitely something I can improve 'rather' easily. Might take a bit of time for everyone though. Same with the miss.
-I can totally add load option on map.
-The others points are a bit hard to address, but I'll suggest it as I think there are a lot of good ideas that can be used for other devs as well.

Writing and others :
-I agree on the beginning, the first four chapters have been written 3 years ago, I think they lack clarity now, especially without character illusts. It's a fair point, I'll rewrite them a bit in the near future.
-There is a log feature. Press the "up" key while in dialog.
-The chancelor is Diana's advisor from the start. He has the same art as other Witch Cult members, I'll think about commissioning another one for him.
-Music when battle launch is actually slightly different from map music, I'll look at it to make a better transition!

Thank you for your feedback!

[draanek]

Thank you for all the answers

• I still don't see a logo on the application. I don't know if it's clear. I mean the app on the taskbar at the bottom of a Windows OS
  
• I've got some issues with audio loading sometimes. At the start of a track (can happen to any track) I've got an error saying "Cannot load audio", and it just doesn't play.
  
• A pretty common bug is for the characters to become invisible during combat. Happens a lot to Diana, but not specific to her. No idea what raises it
  
• Aliz looks really great, but just a small detail. The string of her bow goes above her left hand. It feels really of to me. The string should be under if she wants to use it. Also it means she has to turn her bow around ?
  
• Chapter 14, Alicia says twice "And the just punishment one shall receive for tainting our honor!" in a row. Seems like a msitake
  
• I'm at chapter 15x. There were no bases since chapter 10. That's a looooooooong time. No shop is not that big a deal. Bigger case is not being able to do supports for SO LONG. There should be an option to make supports at chapter 14 at least.
  
• There should be a display of Rowenna TRUE damage to demons. Right now it doesn't show
  
• On some items/weapons, the description shows multiple pages. What does it mean, how can we see the info on other pages ? I may be dumb
  
• I'm really sad there are no animations for class up ! :p
  
• Alicia looks perfect, Aliz and rowena look REALLY good as well. I feel like art goes up with the chapters ? Same for the dialogue
  
• The music when the portal at chapter 15 opens up is really great. Reminds me a bit of the Thales chapter on FETH.
  
• The salamander charm is a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ great Idea. Maybe a bit too OP though ?

I think that's all for the second set of feedbacks !

[Windshipping]

Hello!

Thank you for your comment again! I still didn't solve all your previous one, but let's go xD

-Thank you for clarifying the logo! I didn't think it was that one! Yeah, I'll look at it, unsure of how to solve it with this engine but definitely possible.
-Audio and disappearing sprites may be linked to cache issue, I'll try an update soon to see if this solves it.
-The double sentence from Alicia has been reported and solved already, will be live next update.
-The absence of bases can get annoying, but it's here because of story reason, because of the very bonding events you want to do. Chapter 11-12 are like chapter 8-9, there is no timeskip to have a base phase, and chapter 13-14-15 would create discrepancies because of what happens with Diana. I will think about maybe putting a base on chapter 11, but 12 to 15 is a no go storywise, unless I limit it to only a selected numbers of them.
-Rowena and Alicia/Ursula skill damage against specific units have been reported as well, I'm still trying to solve this one.
-The multiple pages on some items means there are several pages. However, it seems navigation is weirdly bugged, you can't see them. Working on it (they're not really important pages, in orbs/charms/staff it shows the range of attack that you will see when attacking anyway)
-Thank you for the comment on the art! The art has been created over three years, so what you see is probably the artist improving ^^ Those are indeed some of the latest.
-The same goes for the story xD It has been written over three years, I like to think I got a bit better. As with most stories though, it can take a bit of time to set up so it should be 'normal' to feel an improvement as the reading goes on, normally you get more engaged with the characters and the overall plot. Stagnation or downward trend would mean you're getting bored.
-Salamander is one of the four wide AoE attack in the game. It is quite powerful, but it also affects allies. Honestly, I would have love to have more of them, but balancing them is hard. Maybe I can change the durability of bit for this one.
-Class up animation... I will think about it!

[draanek]

Okay let's go for round 3.

I just finished the game (hard mode no casualty), or my first playthough of it that is ! I didn't get the true ending it seems (sad little me). I enjoy this game so much and the writing that I'll get all supports and try various things to get all the secrets !

Spoiler for the true ending (?) Okay I got all secret chapters and made all the right decisions I guess. Only thing is that I may need A support Diana/Lilianne in order to get the true ending (by not killing Ygrene it seems).

I've got questions though that are definitely spoilers. Understand I don't want a clear answer that would spoil the fun, but just hints and clarification so that I don't do EVERY single possibility :

• Do previous choices matter for the true ending ? Motivation for Diana and the Lost Legion. Saying the right ennemy (I guess the Witch Cult?) near Ch 9. Saving little girls from the flames and so on ? I'm not asking for a precise answer, just to know if the path is locked really early on.
  
• How the heck do you get the Vortigern's Emblem !? (for Ch11)
  
• What do you get from using your own emblem overall ?
  
• I got Grim in this playthrough but I don't really get what are the requirements ahah
  
• Is there a way to "accept" the deal with the demon asking for memories ? Maybe if you don't get Helen warning you ? How can I use the demon axe dropped ? No one can use it right ?
  
• Is there a complicated way to get Alicia or save her ? By the way, I think it would have been better to add a scene showing Alicia confronting the queen before getting cursed ? (Or maybe the curse is really not done by Ygrene and that is the reason for the lack of scene :p)
  
• I do not understand what Ygrene is. I guess there are two beings ? One killed by Lionel and the other who came through the mirror ? Maybe it should be clearer unless it's intentionaly obscure
  
• The lack of Merlin near the end is a bit weird to me.
  
• I feel like the way Morgana pops up is ... weird ? She just teleports in, Diana follows her and... that's all the reaction ?
  
• Chapter 15, Uther says to Merlin :"I know a man who always wanted a daughter. He already has a son and an upcoming ne child, so she won't be alone." Obivously he is talking about himself. Problem. How does he know a new child is upcoming ? Ygrene just learned the news and will tell him when he returns with Diana.
  
• Omg I didn't see the "Me-diana" coming ahah. Funny little twist :p
  
• Do we have to do chapters like Sylvie/Marius/Lysanna for the true ending ?
  
• The "last" chapter, facing Ygrene, is a bit too easy, espacially with Morgana able to block paths. Feel like you can buff every single ennemy a bit.
  

Overall I'm thrilled with this game !
The writing is GREAT. The first act (until ch 12) is on par with FE games I feel like. Classic, building up slowly. I feel like the first few chapters should be rewritten a bit though. It lacks clarity (as we exchanged before).
Also, there should be a scene showing the knights of the Round Table. I find the differents "houses" a bit hard to grasp too.

I'm a huge fan of the second part and the ending ! Lionel is a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ beast, Ygrene is really compelling and the overall mystery is well made. I love what you did with Ygrene/Arthur and the general tone of the game. It's the right mix of "light hearted" and "impactful". There are deaths, and they mean something. OMG the scene with Valmer was ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ epic and I'd love to see the fight animated ahah.
I actually have a lot of questions for the sequel without it being frustrating ! Great foreshadowing and build up again.
To me, it feels like Path of Radiance, in that it builds a lot of things for the following game. But here the writing is better than PoR.

+++ I'm impressed with the number of secrets and adaptative dialogues linked to them. It seems like I missed some because I just unlocked Sylphie chapter which is amazing.

+++ For the supports. They go way beyond what FE does and they feel organic. Big big point there. Sad there are no Helen's supports, they could have been fun ! Also I'm not too fond of her integration to the story :/ Hard for Diana to claim her innocence at "not being a witch" when she litteraly has a demon alongside :/. But no big deal !
+++ Great use of spectific dialogues with bosses. I especially like Lionel ones !


By the way, Hard mode is really well made overall :

• Chapter 2-5 should be a bit easier I feel like
  
• I erase what I said about lacks of weapon early. I missed the items on Chapter 3 because I had to turtle
  
• Going blind in hard mode no casualty was maybe my mistake. I did it without any "support" chapters, which seems to add a LOT of power (I just got one in my new playthrough). Also I didn't "support abuse" (spamming end turn) and I feel like the majority of supports takes to much time to build (except obvious ones). It feels like FE7 all over again. How about earning points with 2-3 squares instead of 1 ?
  
• Ch12x hard mode is too hard to unlock. The idea is perfect but way too hard. Taking time to help Alicia will just make her impale herself to Vortigern, which is no good. And not helping her means that sometimes she just... get crushed. It feels like I had to get RNG God by my side so that she didn't die. And even if she doesn't die, I had to finish at turn 13-14. It feels way too hard imo. BUT Ch12x and the scenes are WORTH IT !
  
• Long range ennemies are ... too long. I feel like they should be a nerf. Like a big weight for the Druids (they double too much) or way less power for the AOE black magic.
  
• There should be a way to prevent "madness" (other than silence). Getting madness means you have a death because it triggers before you can react. Maybe less range or make the ennemy caster not move or the unit not able to move ?
  
• Still think there is a lack of money overall :/. Or more drop of low rank weapons.
  
• Chapter 9 -10 are a bit too easy. You should add more reinforcements for 9 (such as air wyverns) since it's a "siege". Maybe add a few "tanks" to chapter 10 for the pressure to build.
  
• Chapter 13 escape is a pain in the but for inventory management. Don't have a clue how to make it less obnoxious though :/
  
• In Hard mode, make the Protectors less durable plz. They are UNKILLABLE without magic. Or drop a bit more anti armor weapons. Also applicable to Eleanore, which seems (too) mandatory in order to win.
  
• Marius should have a better "customize" option. He costs a lot on all sides
  
• Maybe add 1 more class badge overall ? On Valmer that should be perfect. I don't have the money to buy 1 more badge in hard mode.
  
• You should add hints for the "supports" chapters, maybe on the success Steam description ?
  
• My god swordmasters are SCARY but amazingly done.
  
• I guess the bomb icon or berserkers means they use there special action. Is that why they run in some random corner ? Feel like you should fix this :/

Oh I nearly forgot. Tracks near the ending get wayyy better. Is this normal that a lot of tracks are not accessible in "Extras"? (Also, maybe add the compositor name on this screen too ?) . There should definitely be an illustration for Uther :/

Recommendations for the next game (?) :
Overall, You should use a bit more scenes with "map movements" to create a bit more stage direction. This will add a bit more clarity and a change of pace.
I hope you'll get more funds, in order to get more illustrations done, maybe some videos, and adding a bit more characters to the mix.
Also, just getting a bit more work on UI/UX should be perfect.


Once again, all of these are just my thoughts, I totally understand if you don't take them into consideration.
Sorry for the huge posts too ! If you want to chat in a more direct way some times (to show you bugs and specific things) don't hesitate to contact me.

P.S: My Elphin DESTROYED Myrrdin ahah. And late game Sylvie is perfection.

[Windshipping]

Wow... Thank you for your comment, I can feel you really liked the game, I'm glad!
I'm more of a writer than a developer myself so hearing so many compliments on the writing makes me happy!

I'll just add a couple thing on hard mode before diving for the rest :
-"Support abuse" is limited in the game, after 15 turns characters stop getting relationship points on a map. I had a 2 tiles range originally but everyone was increasing their bonds so much it made it quite broken. I think bonds near end game are a bit hard to get though, with the last characters, so I will add another extra map like Close Bonds available only after chapter 16.
-Druids have a spd specialisation with their skill, so they indeed tend to double if you don't have a speed focus unit tanking it (ideally Elphin) or Gustav. Sara can normally tank them easily even with wrong affinity type because of her natural res and skills. Paladins have a chance to reduce damage, too.
Black magic might become a bit broken since necromancer have a skill increasing their mag, but should be quite imprecise... The high range is necessary to reduce movement in hard mode, they mainly exist to curb Ursula. I'll make a couple of tries to see if it can be reworked a bit.
-Madness can be removed with Serenity staff. It's quite busted as a weapon on the enemy side, but it only appears in a couple of late maps in hard mode.
-Good idea for the anti-armor weapons. It's true Protector are very hard to down, because their skill combo in a way that make them hard to deal the traditional way (player phase and quick kill). They need to be baited in enemy phase and once they reach below 2/3 of their hp they lose their main protection. But I have the same feeling with anit-armor weapons, I'll add a variant for each weapon type (same with riders/mages). Light magic has a armor-killing spell as well, btw, one of the rare thing able to kill them rather quickly with Astrid or Sara.
-Marius is the character who has the most balanced growth, roughly 35% everywhere, this is probably why customize seems 'hard'. Normally it shouldn't be an issue, but if you use customize to increase low cost stats, I can see why he might end up behind the others. I will think about a solution for this.
-Heard you loud for money, I will add another Gold Rush as well near the end.

Now for the story/spoiler part


-Currently, there is mainly one 'main' ending, and one 'bad' ending bu this one results in a game over (but it will give you an achievement xD).
There is a full alternate route in preparation, but as you noticed I put a lot of emphasize on the writing, and if it's only to do an alternate only with a change in dialogs in the last chapters, I feel like it won't be worth it. Not trying to shoot down any currently existing game with that comment xD.
The choices made in the story influence events in the same or the following chapters, saving the little girl from the flames obviously change events on ch9, but also on ch10 (you get a whole new scene during reconstruction between Diana and that girl). They also improve relationships (roughly equivalent to 2-3 turns on map each time).
-You get Vortigern's emblem if you manage to recruit Melvis. Yes, you can recruit him, Ch11 is one of those chapter heavily influenced by his surviving or not. He will also appear in Sylvie's character quest if he's alive.
-You can't accept the deal with the demon in this route. It can/will be done in the alternate route, though the chapter itself will be a bit different.
-You can't save Alicia in this route (at least for now). To be honest, the game currently has battle dialogs of Alicia vs Arthur and Alicia vs Ygrene implemented. The original idea was that saving her in Ch14 could save her overall, as she wasn't hurt when confronting Ygrene (there is a scene, since you mentioned it, but I disabled it as I'm not fully satisfied with it xD), but if she survives, it changed A LOT of the following events... basically everything lol, as Arthur's slow change in behaviour is tied to her death. So I cut that content from the current game version, to get a more impactful story on this route.
There is also a Arthur vs Ygrene battle dialog btw, so if I find a satisfying way to address Alicia surviving, those two could be playable, as they were originally meant to be (they have growth rate and all and are in player database, actually xD).
-Grim joins you if you can talk to him with two different characters in CH8.
-Demon axe is usable by Helen when promoted, there was an issue with promotion item, the last update fixed it and she can be promoted with class badge now.
-You get either Merlin or Morgana at the end. So if you feel his absence, it's because you triggered Morgana each time xD. This is mainly choice-related, if you get all the optional chapters you always get Morgana though. I will add a scene with them after ch18 because rereading it, it does feel a bit too Deus Ex.
-Ygrene's pregnancy issue is a 'plothole', I forgot to tie these two back together. It's likely Myrddin would have known with his foresight (especially since it concerns Liliane) and told Uther, but it doesn't make sense Ygrene is "upset" that Uther bring back Diana 'right when she was expecting Liliane' if she thought he didn't know. I will fix this in a future update, not sure exactly how, but it has more impact on Ygrene if he knows, yet bring the child.

Overall thank you a lot for your comments, since you seem to like the game don't hesitate to talk about it to others who might like it! Also Sylvie is one of my favourites, and I'm impressed Elphin is stronger than Myrddin, you sure got very good level up xD

Edit: Forgot to address your point about the music! Currently the tracks in media are all tracks done by the composer (he's in the credits, Tim Carlos). The game also uses several other tracks: 1/3 is exclusive to Esperia (those in extras), roughly 1/3 come from the game engine, you can probably hear them in other SRPG Studios games, and the last 1/3 is from royalty-free tracks, and are in the credits at the end. I will probably deep-dive in it again to uniformize it a bit, currently there are over 40 tracks in total, and I feel some are redundant. It's hard to do less given the sheer size of the narration part though. All the tracks on maps are Esperia's though, it's mainly the story part that required other tracks in complement.

[draanek]

I hear you for everything you said about hard mode fixes ! You really put a lot of thought in it actually :o

It seems like you have a lot more in the work and I can't wait to see it all .Of course take your time, I'm patient enough ! I'm waiting for Silksong for 3 years now (?), no pressure though

• Melvis is recruitable !? Wooow, didn't see that one coming, but it's great. I felt like he seemed like an important character but I just thought you cut a lot of content with him along the way.
  
• I'm confident you have a good idea about the new route trigger. Alicia will be a big change indeed and I understand how it can hard to adjust to writing for the new route. Good luck with that
  
• Maybe add a line or two to explain Myrddin absence in the end with Morgana and vice-versa ? Hint that it can be linked to your previous choices to make players curious
  
• Okay I have to talk about Sylvie and Elphin secrets chapters (didn't get Alex yet and others if they exist). They are amazing. Elphin's one is a masterpiece in my mind. The writing with Maria, really funny for the infiltration part, and really dramatic for the revelation. I love how we don't definitely know how Melphis interacted with Julia.
  The big bonus is the "lore" it developps. It explains why Elphin got adopted, gives a new perspective over the orphanage, his tutor and the overall relation with Julia. It made me rethink of the A support with Sara in which he talks about Julia making a move.
  Same thing for the Garden being hugely developped, and explains why Maria was in Melphis' town.
  
  Overall, Elphin is a really well written character. You can definitely be proud of that !
  
  Impressed by the fact that with that you gave sense and purpose to a setting that didn't need one. Maria could have been in this town just... "because" and it would have been fine ^^. Clap clap.

I'll wait for you to make all the additional things you want to make a new route then :D

I'm actually a small streamer (around 20-30 people continous) so I'll give my best to talk about the game in high praises. I think I'll be able to get 3-4 people de play it.
I'm sorry I didn't stream it acutally. I'm on a break (connexion issuesfor month now...) and overall theses games are hard to stream. All in English (I'm French), no voice over and not really cinematic enough for a stream. I'll defintely talk about it every time FE and TRPG comes in the conversation (which is a lot of the time.)

Good luck !