I didn't post a newsletter last month, because I had gotten really sick and paused development, and didn't really have any updates. But I'm recovered, and I'm hard at work again!

I'm currently in the middle of the rework of the supernatural school opening level. I think it's coming along really well! At the bottom I'll post some screenshots I've posted to social media as I've worked.

While I work on the level itself, I'm also thinking about game balance, and where the best place for certain things to be are. In a previous update I mentioned expanding zYxl's shop to sell trading cards as well, but the trading card system being what it is, it would be better to have more access to a regular item merchant and access to the card shop in more of a hub space in a level.

So now there is a new merchant, their name is Dyllon Skramlf, and they work out of their trenchcoat. For legal purposes their trench coat counts as a nonprofit, so if any feds come by, put on the provided cat ears and act orphaned. Also, don't ask about them about the duck hat.

In addition to a new merchant NPC, I also updated the quick defend system. In the current demo there's a window in which you need to hit enter in order for anything to happen, now you determine the window. Hitting enter puts the targeted character into a quick defend state with a cool down, more damage is negated the closer to the start of this cool down state in which damage happens. I'm hoping this will actually make combat easier, while also introducing more of a sense of skill with the quick defend action.

Right now I'm hoping to have something new and playable by the end of the year, and I'm looking forward to sharing my work with everyone!