Extended Progress Update: June 23 2023 [Public]

Hi Returning Visitors,

>I have made this extended progress update public due to the important information it contains about today's game update to Book One!<

Key highlights of this update and reminders:

• My typical gentle nudge to remember to add my email address can be found here. It's important for the TFS character portrait inquires and welcome message.
• A reminder of the new checkpoint system and update to Book One is: here.
• Important: The Case of the Disappearing Ratings Scale 🔎😭 (TFS Update!)
• Our next alpha drop from Book Two is steadily looming on the horizon. 🍌
• Book Two Snippet: The Corvin jawline and a new side character! 🔪😁

(TL;DR: Due to a Hosted Games mistake, there is another new update for Book One that will let you once again rate my game. Please download the update and consider rating the first book.)

It's hard to believe I was just sharing the new checkpoint system with you in my last progress update, and it's now within TFS: Book One for new and old readers to enjoy! 💚 Many of you will have downloaded it by now. This same feature will be within Book Two, coming into play even more thanks to that book's variation and how choices from the first book will stack up too.

There was a sense of relief once Tiffany, my friend/editor, checked that each platform had an update. No problems or bugs within my code just as I had anticipated yet still hoped to be true, so that's good!

What's unfortunate is: the company made a mistake on June 15th. (I only learned of this issue last night from Tiffany after she noticed something amiss.) There was no way to give a 10-point, HG rating to TFS: Book One. Some of you will be familiar with the 10-point scale at the end of your game. Naturally, this is… upsetting to me—the missed opportunity of ratings for over a week after I've been politely asking/reminding and even put it in the game's 'thank you' note. 🙃 I also know people are venturing to Fernweh to explore the checkpoint system. It's just ouch.

If you were confused where the rating option/page was, I wanted to clear this up: it was missing due to a mistake. I know a few readers asked me where/how to leave a rating. The internal, 10-point Hosted Games scale is the only option for some platforms, while Steam/Googleplay lets you leave a written review in addition to this internal scale.

The company has since fixed this issue; you'll see a fresh update to download for The Fernweh Saga: Book One, so please do so!

I do hope you will be willing to leave ratings now, if you missed the opportunity earlier or would like to help me/TFS out. 💚

Let's shift back to Book Two! 🥰

Our next alpha content drop (July 6th) will be released before it's time for me to give another extended progress update. Hopefully, you're looking forward to it, especially if you chose to peek at the teasers from the last drop. Seeing a certain enigmatic someone 🏍 is in your future in addition to getting your bearings in Fernweh after the twist ending of Book One paired with what happened in the Introduction. There will be more bestie scenes along with a general tailoring that I'm eager for you to begin exploring. The MC's primary ability can also come into play; these inklings will grow. 👀 I plan to release more details about the drop later on!

Aside from all of this, I have returned to writing for longer stretches of time now that the checkpoint system is up and running. B's section is almost done, and it is keeping up with the trend of being sprawling as I add more choices/variations. What's also interesting about theirs is that I call on the variables set in Book One that relate to your MC's feelings about Fernweh and how many steps they were able to take towards the townline. Emotions run high within B. Warrick's section; plus, there is some action that I enjoyed pacing/imagining. It certainly feels different than the other ROs, which fits with B's role within the story. You get to see a glimpse from the road trip to Fernweh as well. 🐝 (I probably had too much fun writing those past moments; they got long.)

[Spoilers Ahead!]

Here's an excerpt from Book Two! I made it longer as a treat after the emotion-filled ramble about what happened with HG. I appreciate your understanding:

"We had a rush on the special, but it's not as important as feeding Fernweh's finest," Clyde remarks. "The wait shouldn't be too long."

There's no question that Fernweh is lucky to have a detective who's easy on the eyes; it would make most any interrogation enjoyable.

(Maybe you're a little biased.)

"J is definitely extra fine," you joke, adding emphasis that pulls an honest chuckle from Clyde before he's needlessly wiping at a spot on the counter to curb his reaction. It's not improper, if the observation is true. "I mean, they could be in one of those hit television shows about detectives with that jawline."

"Mrs. Abernathy would have to agree with you," Clyde says after casting a furtive look around the diner. "The case of her missing antique lawn gnome had as many twists as a TV drama to keep the Detective coming back to check."

"A lawn gnome…?"

"It was used to bludgeon somethin', so yeah."

After the alpha content drop on July 6th, you will get a chance to meet Clyde! 🧇 He's a rather wholesome character, but I'll let you decide. The MC is very valid. The Corvin jawline could be added to the inventory as another weapon, ngl. XD

Thank you again for all of your support. I hope you're looking forward to a restful weekend. 💚