Hello, everyone! You may have gotten the full story of TLS, but I hope that people will stick around as the game gets closer to its official full release. There are a variety of improvements being discussed on Patreon and SubscribeStar, but I wanted to touch base with people on the blog for a particular pair of issues.
First, I was unaware until recently, but someone put up an entry for TLS on the GOG Dreamlist, so if you use GOG please consider upvoting:
https://www.gog.com/dreamlist/game/the-last-sovereign
Back during the crisis regarding adult games, I actually jumped through all the hoops to apply for GOG... crickets. I don't know whether that means soft rejection or if they just haven't gotten to it. In any case, it can't hurt to have higher numbers showing that people are interested, so if you want to help me get my games backed up in more reliable places, please vote for TLS!
Second, I want to talk about DLC. The game will always remain free, but I want to add a few options for players who want to support development. It will go something like this:
- Yarra's Thanks: Pure donation DLC that already exists.
- Something Else: What this post is about.
- Ultimate TLS Companion: In the future, when TLS is not just complete but wrapped up, I intend to make a final DLC that includes all the bonus artwork, a developer's commentary, and other things that would appeal to hardcore fans of the game. This requires a lot of time to develop and wouldn't be appropriate now anyway.
So for the time being I'm trying to think of DLC that would fit the middle slot, and it's admittedly difficult. It needs to be something that would appeal to players, but not something that changes balance or locks away portions of the main game. Similarly, there are things that would be desirable (brand new chapter! custom outfits for everyone!) that aren't feasible in the time available.
For example, I'm thinking about making higher resolution artwork of all the scenes available. I've also considered a "Broom DLC" as a joke. ^-^ So those of you who follow the game but haven't supported, do you have any ideas? Anything that would change your mind, or that you think would be a nice addition?
"someone put up an entry for TLS on the GOG Dreamlist"
ReplyDeleteyeah, that would be me. I'm getting notifications about new stories on my entry all of a sudden and I was wondering why. Hope it helps
Well, I appreciate you doing so! Impossible to say whether or not TLS will be allowed, but having the community present there can't hurt.
DeleteBest of luck with it. GOG is notoriously obtuse with its curation process, but I still like DRM free and TLS does mean a lot to me, so I hope you manage to get published there.
DeleteFor what it's worth, I'll probably buy a second copy there if they do release. I refuse to buy on kindle so might as well double dip here in exchange.
Well, DLC characters are always a solid choice. When done well at least.
ReplyDeleteSo, it's just the question if you're willing to integrate a new character into all the story scenarios, and make a bunch of scenes for them.
I'm sure a DLC character would be enjoyed, but they'd either be irrelevant (no one wants that) or affect balance (which is one of my concerns).
DeleteMaybe instead of party members, it could be cameos in the background ?
DeleteLike Qum appearance in OEA ^^
I'm no where near caught up in the game, but I know that there's parts where you traverse outside the main plane of reality. Perhaps some DLC could provide new teammates gained in such a realm via optional boss fights? Perhaps said characters could be manifestations of 'what ifs' of characters, concepts made flesh. Like, what if the queen was young? What if a character was older? What if a character was a different gender? What if a character was a different species? What if a character was a different class?(It's been too long since I tried to catch up, but an example is if the merchant girl was a combatant, or perhaps if the knight girl was a young skimpy songstress.) Just, basically 'what ifs' where rifts in the planes of reality lead to obtaining optional teammates as a DLC.
ReplyDeleteUp to you though. As said, I'm not caught up, and I have no idea how well this idea could potentially fit into the story.
....either way, would love to see whatever content you make. I honestly hope to get back to the game one day. ...life's been a bit chaotic.@_@ Been long enough I may just start anew on it once things in my life settle down.
Well, the main game will remain free as I promised, so it will be there for you whenever you have time for it. ^-^
DeleteIt's incredible to have watched you make it so far as to be considering DLC. But my amazement and love for TLS aside.
ReplyDeleteAs I was playing through .80.6 I thought it might be interesting to see a side story for Wendis as a DLC. Something along the lines of immediately after her death incubus prison style. Her climbing up the tower, the dangers and difficulties of that. I don't know if that would be to much work though for a dlc, or if there is enough interest. Still I think it avoids the issue of balance, and largely avoids locking away main game?
But yeah, my random thought.
It follows the comment of StormStrike on the 0.80 update, a lot of people are interested in these 'Origin Stories', would be good material for a DLC via sparkle book.
DeleteInteresting idea! A Wendis DLC would be a lot of work, but not an impossible amount, and it's self-contained in a nice way.
DeleteHmmm.... Well I guess I'll fall back unto my Doom King memorial on Death Island.
ReplyDeleteAnd a post credit scene where someone stumble upon it XDXDXD
And the Status section modification (little synopsis of the characters past, would change after important events), and Overall Timeline, the kind of things who aren't critical, but always nice to have ^^
DeleteOooh, what about an April Fools DLC ?
DeleteWhere you apply it on the whole game ?
That would be AWESOME !!!! But a lot of work, so probably after the official release XDXDXD
You aren't the only person to suggest repackaging the April Fools build! My only concern about that is whether people would want to pay money for something so silly.
DeleteI sure would XDXDXD
DeleteHonestly I would personally prefer a short story or quest. Even gathering brooms could be fun. The fact that completing such a quest would give you absolutely no rewards or benefit you in any way is just thematically perfect. Make allow deranged players to place brooms all around HQ when they get them all. It could even have fights that reward 0 XP and are not threatening (maybe even with some combat gimmick instead of regular skills). DLC could even be a wholly separate short gameplay sequence you choose from the menu. Yeah that would require more work, but that fits thematically for the additional content. Maybe a flashback segment that explains some lore and shows Simon's youth.
ReplyDeleteHaha, the idea of making the broom DLC thoroughly useless is appealing. XD
DeleteLore is my jam, and the thing I love most about the game, AND something that wouldn't necessarily create a lot of mechanical balance issues. I'm still doing my full replay that I started with the last update, so some of my questions (like what Zelica was the goddess of before she had her power drained to death, what was Yarra's hair color before it darkened) might have answers (and really don't matter), but... I'd definitely pay money for more lore and more info on various cultures (especially Succubi and Orcs), even if it's mostly irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteThough I think I bought the Yarra's Thanks, so even if I wasn't able to scrape up enough to be a regular Patron, I guess I'm not totally in the "haven't spent anything yet" camp.
I understand not everyone will be able to support, and appreciate all forms! Reviews also help. ^-^
DeleteIn any case, I'm glad for the interest in lore. I will pursue this if I have an idea I feel is fully worth it.
idk if this is feasable at all but a short story set in the future where the facts and myths are completely blurred, and the plot seems grandiose, but it's just like, trin making random chaos or one of the mages just forgot one random tool that gets mistaken as a weapon of great power.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, I have explicit plans to write an actual short story set in the far future! Will just be a free link, not a DLC.
DeleteWhile you mentioned it would not be feasible, I would definitely appreciate seeing part of the story (or even leading up to it) of TLS from another character's perspective. All the references to the previous eras, the inversion of shard-holders, and the abomination comparable to Wendis are really interesting plotlines that I think could be explored, even if more briefly than the main game.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, in eras when they tried to make one great alliance, was there a figure that attempted what Simon did, but failed? If so, where did they misstep? I've read a few stories recently where the main cast ultimately failed at their goals but set the foundations for future generations to finish what they started. Maybe that's where my interest stems from.
I actually have a bunch of history and stories in mind for other eras, including one that I sometimes idly contemplated making into another game, but I don't know if they'll ever come to fruition. One of them is VERY similar to your second paragraph.
DeleteHaha well I'm glad my curiosities seemed to resonate with your creativity.
DeleteAnd even if you don't make them into games, I would love to see what else you've written about a world I've fallen in such love with, whether that's in the form of short stories, unpolished manuscripts, or any other form.
"tls the original sin" "tls the failure " "the first soverreign" would be interesting to me haha
DeleteKind of interested in some bits where the game doesn't go into.
ReplyDeleteAn example like:
Sho's journey after the Third Arclent War.
Ending up with the orcs, working with Balia and Robin, moving to the Orgasmic Empire and so on.
Maybe a final battle for during the 'Final Battle' period.
Something that expands a lesser, but still important, set of characters.
Probably won't need much in the way of assets, since you can reuse much of what already exists.
I'm glad that players are interested in even the tertiary characters! I can't say for sure about this sort of thing, but I'd definitely consider it for expansion DLC.
DeleteI just want to spend more time with the cast. I'd love to see a DLC that just adds some Orcent Bar style conversations or fun skits between the characters.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear. ^-^ Aside from DLC, there will be completely free comics and stories that will let you spend a little longer with the characters.
DeletePerhaps this is too ambitious, but maybe Ari-Khan/Ari-Relhana DLC? It always seemed strange that we did not prepare the ground for the Battle in these places.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that would come off too much as putting part of the game into DLC, but I wouldn't rule out a visit to another city as side content.
DeleteFound a little mistake while idly replaying, the 'House of Relief' succubi has red eyes in her portrait, while her sprite has blue eyes.
ReplyDeleteAlso, lol, even as the One True God, Simon don't have the patience to deal with his ex-neighbor, I'm sad to have missed that earlier XDXDXD
Dangit, will have to look into the sprite. >_< Just to be clear, which city is this?
DeleteStineford, old whorehouse.
DeleteFortunately I can switch her to a sprite with red eyes. Now just don't complain that her hair is a different shade of blonde. XD
Delete*Angry Succubus noise* XDXDXD
DeleteGotta say I prefered the blue sprite but eh, your game, your choice.
Sierra, are you familiar with marvel`s "what if..?" the dlc could be either an unreliable narrator telling a lie of a history, or a something that happens in the game differently
ReplyDeleteI'm familiar with the concept, and while this sort of thing wouldn't appear soon (not while the main scenes are unillustrated) it's not out of the question!
DeleteI'd like to see a brief side-story of some sort, maybe featuring Kalant or one of the other minor characters.
ReplyDeletePerhaps DLC that adds new cutscenes to show what side/minor characters are doing when they don't appear in a given chapter.