Project Update - Please read & comment!

Hey all,

Just wanted to have a chance to talk about a few things while I'm finishing up the latest build (which may be delayed until Saturday, but will keep you updated).

This is going to be a couple of announcements / talking points rolled into one, so please bear with me!

Lately I have been struggling quite a bit in terms of motivation due to oncoming burnout, especially with this project. To that end I will be taking some serious time off. One of things I neglected last year was taking any meaningful time away and with all the crazy busy-ness I've had so far this year, I mean to right that. So from May 22nd to June 9th I'll be "away", I'll still be around on the discord and here to answer questions too, but I won't actively be working on the projects. 

That said, I don't think this will help with the issues I am having with this particular project at the moment. I can't help but feel the project has become slightly aimless and often times I am forcing a piece of a puzzle into a slot it's not supposed to go into. 

My plan of attack for this problem is to take a step back from the project (like a mini hiatus) for a couple months (June & August) and do small content releases for these months (I'm thinking some costume scenes - lingerie - see below & maybe a patron vote to pick the August costume?) while I work on really hammering down the details of this project. 

I need to figure out the core mechanics, as I've been talking about a combat system for a while, but again it feels like jamming a piece in that doesn't fit - so this will be looked into. I want to add in some date mechanics, like how there is with Shelly. Doesn't have to be mechanically challenging, but really fits with the flow of the what's happening with the date. 

The story is something I want to properly flesh and plan out along with the side NPCs and main NPCs to know exactly what their journeys are going to be like. Part of this will be adding in major choices that have knock on affects to future scenarios, but to add these in I need to know where things are heading in much greater detail. This game was always meant to be "Mass Effect-like" in terms of meaningful choices and I feel like this has definitely been lost.

So what I'm asking for is a bit of time to properly think about the everything and come up with a really detailed plan so that I don't feel so lost going forward. There might be a "rework" so to speak in terms of story flow / writing so I can add in these choices, though I wouldn't expect any major changes from basic structure that's been revealed so far. 

I'm kind of looking at also doing a minor re-write of Lillith's character too, making her more of a "seductress type" so her and Kittenna's personalities are a little more distinct from each other. She will still of course be a badass, martially proficient and mysterious. But the idea is to make her speech a little more suggestive / flirtatious rather than "tough" in some circumstances. Let me know what you think of this. 

Once I have my plan of attack I want to start implementing these changes immediately (while continuing to provide you guys with the content you deserve!) I'm really confident that this major planning time, combined with some time away will help in getting me out of this "slump". It will be good to know what can and should be cut from the game (if necessary) in order to make sure we're not still working on this game in 2030!

But most importantly I want to hear your thoughts on this.  You guys have been fantastic supporting this project and while I sometimes struggle to get things right you have always been so supportive of the work I do (as I know you love the characters as much as I do!) and I want to do things right by you as well rather than just storming off on my own ideas & plan. So please give me your thoughts on this!

Until we next speak! 

 - Charon (yes, a name change has occurred!)