Patch Notes | MIST [v0.7.2]

Update 0.7.2 is coming out today, as always, the links follow as soon as all the uploads are done. Now, this update is a bit different. Instead of introducing a bunch of new content, it introduces lot's of changes and reworks and  tweaks and fixes. Because of that I will structure the Patchnotes a bit differently than usual.

A new version of Ren'Py:

I switched my Renpy version from 7.3.5 to 7.4.5. This was necessary to keep making Android builds. This new version should improve performance, but because new versions are unpredictable it could also introduce a bunch of unforeseen bugs. I've done a lot of testing, but I have most likely not removed everything. I am sorry in advance for any errors.

Compatibility Issues:

As 0.7.2 focuses mainly on reworking and tweaking the game, this is the update with the highest chance to break an old save. To avoid that I encourage you to go to your room and sleep once as soon as you load the game. That should make everything work.

In case it doesn't, I have prepared a zipfile with different saves at different points in the game. You can then just take that save, change your name in your room and you are good to go.

Saves that are definitely broken are ones that haven't progressed to the city yet. So if you are using a save from before 0.7.2 that hasn't progressed to the city yet, you need to start anew or use one of the savefiles I've provided.

I know that this is inconvenient, but implementing all those changes without breaking existing saves is kinda difficult. I tried my best though.

Reworking the early story:

• I reworked the early quests of the game, up to the lodge. They are now less repetitive and everything moves a tiny bit faster.
• I reworked Robins early story, changing her character a bit, but she still ends up at the same place as you know her from previous versions. Just the way to get there is different.
• I also changed Mia's background very slightly.
• Along with those changes I had to remake 6 of Robins earlier scenes. Scene Nr.8 in her new gallery is probably my favourite of those.
• That also means I adjusted and changed some of the dialogue in her earlier scenes that weren't reworked.
• And I remade the dialog for some of her early fireplace conversations.
• As well as her talking options.
• And I removed some of the early scenes that were replaced by the new and reworked ones.
• And I changed which of Robins scenes were morale scenes and which were not.

All these changes were made with the goal to lift the early game up to the standards of the later parts. I think the quests are now a bit smoother and less repetitive and your interactions with Robin are more enjoyable and display her personality more accurately. Not even speaking of the improved scenes. I am already looking forward to the feedback on those changes.

Reworking EXP and Stamina:

• The option to train stamina in the garden has been removed.
• The skill to reduce your threat level has been removed.
• You can now increase your stamina by earning exp in combat, as it replaces the threat level skill.
• The exp system is now introduced much, much more early in the game.
• The rates at which monsters give exp have been tweaked.
• The option to farm exp at the lake has been removed.
• The cap on stamina has been increased from 180 to 200.

The goal of these changes is to make earning exp and raising your skills and stamina more of a gradual development throughout the game instead of a grind. By removing the training in the garden and adding stamina to the skills I am also getting rid of the early minigame roadblock that wasn't really fun and more of a chore than anything. The exp rates and other factors are still open for tweaking and discussions so I will look at the feedback to see how things are going.

Reworking Exploration:

• The stamina cost of moving through the dungeons has been significantly reduced.
• The stamina cost of gathering food has been slightly increased.
• The stamina cost of interacting or examining has been slightly increased.
• The threat generated in Dungeons has been slightly reduced.

Along with the changes to the stamina and EXP system, the changes to the cost of stamina have one goal in mind. Making exploration more enjoyable. You can now move more freely through the different dungeons. The higher cost of interacting with objects ensures that you can't do it all on your first visit, but the lowered movement cost makes it so that you have much more room to play with. This makes things much smoother and get's rid of situations where you had to repeatedly move in to the same area to do one small task, go back home and repeat. As with everything else I am open for feedback on these changes.

Food changes:

• The amount of food gathered at the different spots has been tweeked.
• I removed the old system of getting hungry when running out of food.
• And added a system in which once you run out of food you are starving, giving you three days to gather something to eat, before you die. Resulting in a game over.

The old food system was just plain boring. To add a bit more to the survival atmosphere of the game you can now go game over when running out of food. Making it a bit more important to keep that ressource in mind. At the same time I've tweeked the food rates to ensure that you aren't being forced to constantly grind for food.

All the other changes:

• I changed the gallery screen. It now doesn't separate into morale scenes and normal scenes anymore and instead just shows you the different pages. This was done because I myself wasn't sure anymore if a scene should be placed under morale or not so I just got rid of it.
• I also changed Noreias last scene to be shown in the gallery even at earlier saves if you have already watched it. I often heard people asking for this.
• I also changed the very last animation of the current update to show a new model of the Director with horns attached. I don't want to spoil anything. The idea came from user "Grim October" . Thank you for the great idea!
• Along with those changes I also adjusted the warning screen that tells you that you are at the end of the update to more accurately describe that the game is not over yet. Some people seemed to be confused about that.
• I added a transparency slider to the textbox.
• Added a slider to some of the choice menus when they wee getting too big to fit on the screen.

New content:

• I added the option to gaze at the stars with the girls. Which you can do by clicking the new button in the garden when it is night.

Bugfixes:

• I fixed a bug that didn't give you the correct amount of maximum HP, after you cured the curse.
• Implemented a fix that should get rid of the "x not in list" error.
• I fixed a bug in the gallery that made the images appear in the wrong place.
• I fixed the way some of the animations were shown, resulting in a slight moment were you could briefly see an image of the end of the animation before it would play out. This should now be gone.
• Fixed a bug were Mia's talking option " Topic08" would show the dialogue of another talking option.
• A bunch of minor fixes and tweaks that I have already forgotten about.

Notes:

This patch doesn't feature lot's of new stuff, but it is definitely packed with content. I encourage everone to try out the new early game or at least watch Robins new scenes in the gallery. Apart from that the tweeks and fixes have made the game a bit more enjoyable in my opinion and even if you don'twant to play the early game again, you will probably see the benefits once I am getting the new content out. Speaking of which, I wish you all lot's of fun with 0.7.2, I am now off starting work on 0.8.