Unity, My Foe, my Friend

First and Foremost, I confused Emberspark for Heavensreach. Don't ask how but during the creation process I mixed the home of the Scienifelves with the Gobots. I created one, giant, amazing, hybrid zone.

At first, this was a problem. HOWEVER, after some noodling, I think it's cool if you enter the zone from two sized, and eventually unlock the ability to travel between. Heavensreach will be the home OF the Elves. Whereas Emberspark will be the abandoned city which they are investigating, and home of the GoBots. With both an pleasant interior, and the Dungeon in Emberspark. This will force the Player to have to LEAVE Heavensreach, to go back to Emberspark if they want to unlock the 'Permanent Time-Proof Item' system. Which 100% works for me.

What it WILL result in is me having to do a recolor of the Emberspark Abandoned city from Purple to Yellow. There are worse fates... see below.

UNITY SUSPLODED ON ME AGAIN

2022 hasn't entered LTS (Long Term Service) yet. In January we upgraded to 2022.1. Now they're on 2022.2, which one of our core plugins was made in, on a feature which doesn't EXIST in unity prior to that version. You would think that uploading a single .1 update wouldn't destroy everything. But it 100% did. They changed everything in the way that Unity exports shaders, and on upgrade, out code combusted. So here's the comical solution:

• Reinstall 2022.1 Unity.
• Export our 1.5T backup to the new HDD.
• Reimport the Project
• Export out 40+ hours of Scene Creation from the failed 2022.2 run.
• Install the new Content into 2022.1
• Install the New Scenes into 2022.1
• Validate that everything is working.

Sounds simple right? Well each one of those steps takes Unity about 2-8 hours to reimport the entire database again... and again... and again...

We love Marti, the core engineer on Game Creator. And we're super happy it's our tool of choice. Invector just about tried to kill me the last time I used it. I can think in Game Creator 2's code. 

But updating unity from one version to another does a number on the existing code. 

And this was our 4th explosion since the onset of using unity. Even with version control in place, it's still a nightmare. I don't know how non-Technical people get things done in this engine. But they seem to manager. My poor neurodivergent brain can barely keep up.

If I'm SUPER lucky, the last of the fix imports is happening right now and should be done around 10pm MST. Meaning this may have only been a two day loss. (Explosion #3 took me two weeks to fix).

As a treat for listening to me gripe about the engine and my poor lonely indie woes, here's a screenshot of Pacifica's Cakerats Island and it's delightful spinning dungeon.

And one of Desolace's Dusty Desert.

The tour of Librus is coming on Stream soon. It will be in a post or two. I'll have Eric on to ask questions on your behalf on Twitch. And I'll post the stream here. But suffice it to say, we're going with a Pagemaster 'Lore through Color' stance. Rather than deal with issues of Human World Race, we're going to color the native's humanoid skin the Primary color tones of the zone. So you'll have Bright Yellow, Orange, Purple, Red, Blue, and Green peoples throughout the world.

It's not that the topic of race isn't important. Quite the opposite. But we want the quests and stories which address Gender and Race to be able to be open conversations based on elements which don't effect the real world. 

Think back to those terrible assignments where a teacher separates people by eyecolor to explain racial bias and you'll get where I'm coming from. This is a time to be sensitive to the players. During our 'Backstory' choosing UI, you'll be able to choose what Pronouns you're perceived by, as well as what Gender, and what backstory. And these vairables will be used in the game, even though you always look like a nightskinned mage to your own eyes. 

BACKSTORY ARCHETYPES

Here's the current list of backstories we're going to give the players a choice to use; please remember that the core premise for the main character is that they were once one of these heroes and died an untimely death before they could save the world. The running joke is that they will have bonus' to stats that don't exist in the game:

1. The Chosen One: This hero is destined for greatness, often prophesized or marked by a special power or birthright. They are tasked with saving the world, kingdom, or universe from impending doom. Examples: Link from "The Legend of Zelda," Harry Potter from "Harry Potter" games.

2. The Reluctant Hero: Initially unwilling to accept the call to adventure, this hero eventually embraces their destiny and rises to the challenge. Their personal growth and transformation are central to their story. Examples: Joel from "The Last of Us," Arthur Morgan from "Red Dead Redemption 2."

3. The Soldier: Trained in combat and skilled in warfare, this hero's story often focuses on their loyalty, duty, and honor. They frequently fight for a cause, nation, or organization. Examples: Master Chief from "Halo," Marcus Fenix from "Gears of War."

4. The Seeker of Vengeance: Driven by a deep desire for revenge, this hero sets out on a quest to bring justice to those who have wronged them or their loved ones. Examples: Kratos from "God of War," Max Payne from "Max Payne."

5. The Survivor: Thrust into a dangerous and hostile environment, this hero must rely on their resourcefulness and adaptability to stay alive and overcome adversity. Examples: Lara Croft from "Tomb Raider," Aloy from "Horizon Zero Dawn."

6. The Amnesiac: With a lost or fractured memory, this hero embarks on a journey of self-discovery and searches for answers to their past. Examples: The protagonist in "Planescape: Torment," Adam Jensen from "Deus Ex: Human Revolution."

7. The Antihero: Morally ambiguous, this hero's motivations and methods may not always align with traditional heroic values, but they ultimately fight for the greater good. Examples: Geralt of Rivia from "The Witcher" series, Alex Mercer from "Prototype."

8. The Underdog: Lacking in power, status, or experience, this hero faces overwhelming odds and must use their wit, determination, and resourcefulness to triumph. Examples: Lee Everett from "The Walking Dead," Clementine from "The Walking Dead."

9. The Time Traveler: A hero who journeys through time, either willingly or by accident, to correct past mistakes, protect the future, or uncover hidden truths. Examples: Chrono from "Chrono Trigger," Kain Highwind from "Final Fantasy IV."

10. The Rogue: Skilled in stealth, subterfuge, and cunning, this hero often operates outside the law and uses their unique abilities to outsmart enemies and overcome obstacles. Examples: Garrett from "Thief" series, Ezio Auditore from "Assassin's Creed" series.

11. The Inventor: A hero with a keen intellect and expertise in science, technology, or engineering, who uses their inventions and problem-solving skills to confront challenges and save the day. Examples: Ratchet from "Ratchet & Clank," Isaac Clarke from "Dead Space."

12. The Mystic: Possessing magical or supernatural powers, this hero uses their abilities to battle evil forces and restore balance to the world. Examples: Sorceress from "Diablo" series, Bayonetta from "Bayonetta" series.

13. The Monster Hunter: This hero faces off against supernatural or monstrous creatures, using their strength, skill, and specialized knowledge to protect the world from these terrifying foes. Examples: Geralt of Rivia from "The Witcher" series, Samus Aran from "Metroid" series.

14. The Mentor: A seasoned warrior, wise mage, or experienced adventurer who guides the protagonist on their journey and imparts valuable knowledge, skills, and wisdom. Examples: Auron from "Final Fantasy X," Deckard Cain from "Diablo" series.

15. The Vigilante: A hero who operates outside the law to bring justice to criminals and corrupt organizations, driven by a personal sense of duty or tragedy in their past. Examples: Batman from "Batman: Arkham" series, Aiden Pearce from "Watch Dogs."

16. The Hybrid: A hero with a dual nature or mixed heritage, often caught between two worlds, who must navigate their conflicting identities and loyalties. Examples: Delsin Rowe from "Infamous: Second Son," Alucard from "Castlevania" series.

17. The Bounty Hunter: A hero who tracks down criminals, outlaws, or dangerous creatures for money, fame, or personal reasons, often displaying a unique set of tracking and combat skills. Examples: Samus Aran from "Metroid" series, Cal Kestis from "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order."

18. The Escaped Experiment: A hero with abilities gained through scientific experimentation or genetic manipulation, who seeks to uncover the truth about their origins and stop the organization responsible for their creation. Examples: Alex Mercer from "Prototype," Subject Delta from "Bioshock 2."

19. The Explorer: Driven by curiosity and a thirst for adventure, this hero journeys to uncharted lands, ancient ruins, or otherworldly realms to discover hidden secrets and forgotten treasures. Examples: Nathan Drake from "Uncharted" series, Lara Croft from "Tomb Raider."

20. The Diplomat: A skilled negotiator and peacemaker, this hero uses their charm, wit, and intelligence to navigate complex political situations and bring about peaceful resolutions. Examples: Commander Shepard from "Mass Effect" series, The Inquisitor from "Dragon Age: Inquisition."

21. The Beastmaster: With a strong connection to nature and the ability to communicate with or control animals, this hero often uses their animal companions to aid them in their quests. Examples: The protagonist in "Okami," The Hunter class in "World of Warcraft."

22. The Spacefarer: A hero who travels through the cosmos, exploring new planets, encountering alien species, and battling intergalactic threats. Examples: Commander Shepard from "Mass Effect" series, Fox McCloud from "Star Fox" series.

23. The Mechanic: Specializing in the repair and construction of machines or vehicles, this hero uses their technical expertise to overcome obstacles, build useful gadgets, or maintain vital equipment. Examples: Ellie from "Borderlands" series, Tinker class in "Torchlight" series.

24. The Shape-Shifter: With the ability to change their form or appearance, this hero can adapt to various situations, deceive enemies, or access otherwise unreachable locations. Examples: The protagonist in "Prototype," The Druid class in "Diablo II."