Game Journal #47- Stats, Party, etc.

Hey hey HEY!! The game journals have finally returned. I've got a lot of things for ya to see today! And guess what? I've even brought back the NPC Showcase! Yeah, I'm seriously making progress on this thing. First thing you might notice is... this page has a dark theme! Turns out the option was there, it was just bugged so it wasn't showing up. I'm super impressed with Zyro (this website builder) for making the fix so fast, it only took a day from when I reported it! Just more shame for the monkey coders at DA, eh...

Before I show the changelog, I'll give ya a small life update as usual. Recently, I finally found a cactus on sale, and bought it! He's now chilling on my porch. No picture though, I keep forgetting to take it when it's daytime. Take my word for it.

I've also bought another pet too... a Mexican Red Knee Tarantula! Look at him, isn't he so cute? Not sure what I'll name him yet. But I love him so much. He's usually hiding, but he's getting more comfortable and coming out the longer I've had him. I've seen him drinking water and walking around his enclosure (though he runs away when I walk past.) But man, it's crazy how still tarantulas can be. Sometimes I thought he was dead because he was in the same spot all day, but then he'll be in a different position when I wake up. Tarantulas are fascinating! They eat what I hate, so that makes them my friend.

I've also started working on the sequel to this game, Joe Maverick 2! I've gotten all the party members and basic story so far. It's going to be a science fiction based setting this time (my second favorite genre.) Recently, I found 2 more awesome fantasy anime (Madou King Granzort and The Brave of Gold Goldran) and one sci-fi fantasy anime (Simoun.) They all gave me a lot of inspiration, so that's why I started working on the sequel so early! If you want to see my tier list of fantasy anime:

1. Lord of Lords Ryu Knight

2. The Brave of Gold Goldran

3. NG Lamune Knight&40

4. Saiyuki

5. Madou King Granzort
   

Simoun is so different from these that I can't put it in the same list. But it's very good, and has amazing worldbuilding! It is a yuri though (girl's love) so if you don't like that, I wouldn't recommend it. But if I were to rank it, it'd be slightly below Lamune.

For a review of the two I watched, Granzort had amazing lore and characters, but the execution was so-so. There were three robots, but only the main one (Granzort) was used most of the time. WTH, you have three robots, so why not have them all out at the same time?! Annoying! Goldran was a surprise hit for me! The mechas aren't piloted by the kids, so I didn't think I'd like it too much, but it's surprisingly awesome. It's like the kid version of Getter Robo. And the art style and animation is just really great. Just look:

It's anime, but at the same time, really western too. Sometimes it reminds me of my own style, haha! I really love the hand/feet size ratio, that they're slightly larger than they should be. Something about that is so cool! Ryu Knight and Lamune had that same sort of proportional style. I really love the old mecha shows, because everything's hand-drawn. Nowadays, all the mechas are 3D, which isn't bad of course, but seeing 2D mechas is just so impressive. I'm really surprised that I liked it so much, even more than Lamune! Of course, Ryu Knight is still the best. That is THE definite JRPG fantasy anime. I've seen it twice, and wouldn't mind seeing it a third time. Or fourth, or fifth. It's that good!

Ok, life update over. Here's the changelog:

4/16/22

• Created Wockey NPC Blueprint

• Generic Shopkeeper NPC Blueprint

• Dan Outlaw Painting

4/17/22

• Dan Sherriff painting

• Rowan Druid Painting

4/18/22

• Changed pawn possession to actor component input handling

4/19/22

• Updated all casting to use actor components

• Rowan Marksman Painting

• Shrunk map size

4/21/22

• Alice Cleric Painting

4/22/22

• Alice High Priestess Painting

4/29/22

• Ethan Executioner Painting

5/9/22

• Ethan Wizard Painting

5/10/22

• Gavin Paladin Painting

6/7/22

• Character screen recoding

6/8/22

• C++ troubleshooting

6/9/22

• Misc Data management

• Character struct/data creation for use in game and ui

• Input list creation

• Character screen populates based on who is unlocked.

6/10/22

• Changing widgets to populate based on data tables

• Added Sleepwalker boss to the end of Altered WOrld Section

6/11/22

• Misc Data management

6/12/22

• Working on Party Screen

• Party Screen portraits

6/13/22

• Party screen portraits

• Temporary Data is now stored in the Game Mode.

• Added Unlock Character Function

6/14/22

• Made formula to calculate chemistry bar values

• Moved temporary data to Game Instance instead of Game Mode

6/15/22

• Debugging Chemistry Bar

  • Fixed index formula so that two characters can't appear at same time

  • Fixed sizes

  • Fixed mini icon bar

6/16/22

• Profile populates based on index from Character screen instead of default table

• Connected Money to HUD widget

• Made Main Party and Sub Party Variables

• Party Screen can't have more than 4 in variable

• Party Screen HUD populates based on Main Party

• Changed Party HUD style

• Changed Money HUD style

• Added more functionality to Party Screen

• Worked on Sub Party Drawer

6/17/22

• Sub Party Container Layout

6/18/22

• Characters automatically add to sub party properly

• Party screen portraits have varying angles

• Added Sub Party HUD widget

• Added animation to party screen slots

6/19/22

• Party members can be swapped on the same screen (main party)

• Party members can be moved to Sub Party with a dedicated button

6/20/22

• Blank slots cant move to blank slots

6/23/22

• When moving, blank slot reverts to default photo image

• Slots switch data instead of destroying and recreating

• Sub party members can move to main party

6/24/22

• Party screen generates correct blank texture

• Party HUD doesn't generate gaps based on party position

• Party members can be moved between main and sub parties

• Sub party only generates based on how many members there are

• Moving someone to the main party automatically updates the sub party grid

6/28/22

• Suzanne Marauder painting

• 6/30/22

• Creation of BattleIntro widget

7/2/22

• Suzanne Dancer Painting

• Complete rehaul of the way data is handled. Tons of structs.

• Stat system calculator

  • Calculated from Tokens, Item, Passives, Weapon and Shield.

• Leveling system calculator

  • Stats can increase per level at a Low, Normal, or High rate.

• Removal of some fanart.

7/3/22

• Added Current and Max Level to Weapons and Moves

• Created Equips Widget and formula (Stat + Weapon Power)

• Added character transforms to data table

• Created animation and setup for Battle Intro Widget

• Default stats properly calculate based on level and stat leveling speed.

• Refined leveling formula

• Formula for next level exp

• Changed Drug type to Elixir type

7/4/22

• Entered default stats for each character

  • Type, Status Resistances

• Started editing stats screen

7/5/22

• Entered rest of character stats in stats screen

• Merged Type and Status Resistance into one category

• Stat changes color based on resistance category

  • Absorb

  • Nullify

  • Very Strong

  • Strong

  • Normal

  • Weak

  • Very Weak

  • Danger

  • Suicidal

• Set up framework for using ammo in dungeons

• Joe Battle intro sketches

7/6/22

• When you enter a dungeon, the ammo HUD shows, and you have the opportunity to shoot.

  • When you leave, the HUD disappears.

• Creation of Pistol Ammo HUD and functionality

  • Out of Ammo Widget

  • Crosshairs

7/7/22

• Pistol Clip Reload Animation

• Leader status propagates back to the main party variable as well as the party widget.

• Revolver logic creation and animations/graphics

7/8/22

• Party member can be moved between sub party and main party with the move button and not just the dedicated button.

• Party Screen debugging (this took me hours and I want to cry)

• When in focus mode, camera zooms in

• Various asset sketches

7/9/22

• The Stats current page stays the same for each character

• Help menu has a page turning sound effect

• Various asset sketches

• InBattle Party Screen updates to show main party

• Added Level Range to dungeon

• Creation of Bestiary data table

  • Added in some slimes

• Bestiary widget UI

• Setup for NPC Profile widget

7/10/22

• Mage Overworld Bar

• Bestiary summary ui

  • 5 stars for monster rarity (based on 1 /5)

7/11/22

• Bestiary Completion (except for 3d model)

• Added Party Photo and flavor text to stats screens (bestiary, etc)

7/12/22

• Main website creation

7/14/22

• Monsters can spawn in the overworld depending on their rarity, and contain 2-5 monsters to fight when you hit it.

• Various art

7/15/22

• Sketched rest of party menu portraits

• Added side bumpers when game is not in standard resolution

• Creation of Inventory struct

Whew, that was a lot, huh? My journals aren't usually this long, but it's been months since my last one, so it's pretty big. Here's a video of me showing it off.

Now, time for the NPC Showcase!

NPC Showcase: Wonton Jiaozi

You may have seen this one already if you've been keeping up with my art. But yep, I redesigned Wockey. Sorry to all those who liked him. The old design had a really annoying face, and it was really distracting. Also, he didn't fit in with my lore, and it referenced someone that I don't want to be associated with anymore. So, he got redesigned. Simple as.

Sorry to burn your eyes a little. But he's pretty cool, eh? He's a travelling tailor that has unique inventory. Make sure to look for him on the map!

I'm usually very patient. But if someone knows that there's something that you struggled with in the past, and tried to get you back into it, what's that make them? Not a friend, right? A jerk, more like. If you know someone like that, disassociate with them as soon as possible. They'll try to manipulate and gaslight you into staying with them, but just walk away. People like that are really scummy and deserve to Ride the Lightning. Why do addicts always have a crab in a bucket mentality? It's sad, really.

Ok, stay tuned for the next game journal!