Star Knightess Aura Release 1.0.2

ITCH | MEGA | ITCH-DELUXE | MEGA-DELUXE

Besides the usual bugfixes, this week I have mostly been busy working on the game's Steam version. The external patcher became capable of identifying the default location even when Steam is installed in a non-default location and if the game library is located somewhere else.

But the biggest issue I tried to tackle was the need for players to constantly reinstall the adult content patch. I thought I had found a solution when I released the 1.0.1 patch on Steam on Monday but over the course of the week it turned out that Steam still kept resetting the files x_X

Because of this I decided to increase the priority of another feature that would help me improve the entire architecture for applying game modifcations - Modding Support.Originally, this one was of the original features scheduled for 1.1.0 but in light of the issues of the adult patching problem, I figured to prioritize this feature and then change the Steam patch to work as a mod for the game.

So, even as a non-Steam user, there might be something here in this update! I added a sample mod in the mods/ folder which shows how a mod can be setup and has to be structured. If you change the "enabled" flag from false to true, the game will load it up.

The sample mod isn't intended for play, but if you want to replace the default costume with the one for the brothel job or want Gourmet Meat to be worth 8k Gold - knock yourself out.

And for all those who have been customizing the game by editing the base files, you can now easily carry over your modifications from update-to-update simply carrying over your mod folder. The mod loader supports merging in only individual entries, so you can modify one skill or item and put its ID into the mod's Meta.json, and then only that item/skill will be overriden with the mod which is a lot more flexible than the full file replacement you have to do when modding the game without mod loading support.

I haven't looked into mod repositories or anything like that yet and probably won't for the forseeable future, but should the need arise because of a more active modding community than I anticipated, I can of course re-evaluate my priorities.

EDIT: I have created a mod forum on the discord to serve as a preliminary exchange place for mods. I turned a Pubic Hair Removal Mod I had found online by another player into the new mod format, so if ever wanted to play without them, check it out!

You can also more easily inject custom images since each mod has its own flags as to whether their resources are decrypted.

Usually I wouldn't implement a risky feature like this that messes with the interaction on the file system level (redirecting urls and performing database merging) on a patch release and I largely expect to punch out a hot fix because I overlooked some technicality, but I think resolving the Steam update issues is worth it.

So yeah, overall, very technical update this time around, not sure how valuable any of this sounds to the readers. :'D And then of course, as mentioned in the beginning, we of course have a bunch of bugfixes as usual.

On another note, I have narrowed down our applicants for the pixel art position. Currently I have 3-4 candidates (still need to check one more). The first three I have commissioned to create the pixel clothing for the leopard gyaru alt clothing and one of them has already shown me some decent results, so we have at least one good candidate among them.

As for the Liora devlog post, I pretty much just implementing the mod loader this week and then the rest of the time went into tweaking the Steam patch and regular bugfixing, so I will be delaying the post to somewhen next week, but before Friday. On Friday next week, I will most likely do a 1.1.0-prerelease-1 deployment for the integration of the alternate casual costume.

Changelog 1.0.2 (21.02.2025)

• Created simple mod loader plugin

• Added plugin loading to mod loader

• Implemented support for mods to individually override properties or appending

• Implemented full folder redirect support for mod loader

• Implemented per-mod decryption flags for audio and images

• Implemented override and append support for arrays

• Implemented wildcard support for file names in mod Meta.json

Balancing

• None

Bugfixes

• Fixed typos

• Fixed Bookworm achievement not triggering

• Fixed broken achievement criteria for Good to be Bad and No Gods, No Masters

• Fixed Small Earth Slime still learning Rock Armor I instead of Tremor I

• Fixed slime morph animations not being element adjusted

• Fixed passability issues in Clockwork Forest Hidden Cave

• Fixed incorrect exhibitionism check at prostitute in refugee camp

• Fixed glitchy enable and disable commands at Clockwork Tower Master Console

• Fixed passability issues in Clockwork Tower

• Fixed incorrect leave check description for hermit lewd options

• Fixed lock when entering Maid Academy Hidden Room from above

• Fixed syntax errors in code for achievement fixes

• Fixed recollection room crash when watching Sluttiny Bikini 1 at beginning of game

• Fixed remaining standing image during Nothing But The Truth

• Fixed Draknor Fortress stairs treated as ropes

• Fixed Charlotte not receiving EXP for completing Judgement of Pride

• Fixed swapped alt texts in Clockwork Tower master console

• Fixed doubled quest log entries in Homewrecking

• Fixed deadlock when interacting with Congregation Slaver at the Enteratinment Den when Vice Locked but Gold < 5000

• Fixed missing direction fix flags on objects at Monstrologist

• Fixed Slay the Demon tutorial not playing if you declined the first offer to play