General Update: 08/05/24 & Alpha Checklist

    Alright, back to work! I was too busy with other stuff to get much done last week, but I'm really happy to be done with that and back to making VT. I still have a fair amount left, but I'm hoping I can swing the next build by next Monday, and if not within the next few days afterwards. The one issue is that I keep running into new things I broke while rewriting old code, so fixing that up will take priority. This will probably continue being a theme for the next few months, as VT's first build was essentially just a prototype with the code being created very quickly, and the better I get at programming the more issues I can see with it.

    Otherwise, I've really been on fire when it comes to coding lately, so past this build I'm hoping to start solely focusing on getting VT into alpha. That means I won't be adding in many new characters or maps until then, mostly just working on systems and mechanics. I don't want to leave you in the dark about what that entails, though, so I'll share my current checklist here:

• Rework battles to be phase-based instead of turn-based. (Will test, may not be permanent.)

• Move AI and input processing into a centralized script rather than one unique per unit.

• Add in terrain effects and special terrain.

• Add different movement types.

• Flesh out tile height system and add UI height indicators.

• Add overhead view to battles.

• Give units behind terrain colored silhouettes.

• Junk old AI, I can do a much better job at writing it now.

• Rework status screen, display help and stat breakdowns on hover.

• Add inventory, give items effects.

• Add base system to lobby with at least one facility units can be assigned to. (Art required)

• Add affection and marriage system.

• Add in non-permavore mode.

• Add mark system to denote separate units.

• Add monster girl resurrection NPC. (Art required)

• Add "hospital" where units can be resurrected any time for non-perma mode.

• Add campaign and story progression. (Art required)

• Come up with and implement some form of unit stat/skill customization for better player personalization. An equipment system?

• Add controller support. (Possibly, may be more effort than it's worth.)

• Add better graphics settings; remove jank when clicking off window.

• NO bugs that may negatively affect player experience. (I can always add more later, but I'd like to have none when moving to the next phase.)

That might seem like a lot, but it is a very achievable and decently concrete list to work towards. Still, it will take a while, probably even the rest of the year, so please do set your expectations and decide if you want to support accordingly. I'll keep you updated as I work, and I'll also keep uploading new builds as usual even if there won't be much new content in many of them. Thank you so much, as always, I'll see you again next week!