HTML Emberwood: Chapter 0 - [Development Thread] Early Stage

[TheLittleBunny]

Hi guys

I wanted to release this game later this year but that would be impossible, this is taking me a lot of time and more than 8+ hours per day.

All dialogues, npcs, story, maps, sprites (most of them, some are from itch.io), are created by me, only the backgrounds and npc portraits are made using AI, i have the option to switch from ai art to hand drawn art but right now i only have ai portraits, of course.


I took inspiration from Trials in Tainted Space, i love that game but i always hated that the map was so restrictive, that's why I've created a 2d map with free movement, environment descriptions, etc
As you move the descriptions change to match the current cell, npcs can move freely, they have a path-finding AI, they can move between maps and react to their environment (this was HARD asf but i figured it out, kinda).


So it's kind of a dating sim, but there's a main storyline, and multiple side quests, the game also has a combat system based on poker (ik how original) but i added my own custom poker hands, there's attack animations and custom ability cards.

the battle UI is ugly lol, i'm working on it.
there's still many more features, i will be posting more info in the following days n-n



Sorry if the UI is ugly, i tried my best :x

 

[TheLittleBunny]

Some more Battle Examples, this is not the final version so the style and UI might change

 

[Mike145]

The UI isn’t that bad, I like the style, but it could definitely use some improvement.

Some of my quick thoughts are...

What do you think about adding a not too stylized frame that fits your current style in the area I highlighted in purple?

I’d definitely add a bit more padding below the icons and adjust the time color, cause the contrast ratio in most places is around or below 2. That makes it less comfortable to read than it could be. You can check it here, for example:

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[TheLittleBunny]

Thanks! I made some changes hope it looks better, i removed the background image and replaced it with a solid color

 

[TheLittleBunny]

Npcs will now follow paths and road tiles instead of moving through non-path tiles (the blue ball, i will add sprites later)

 

[TheLittleBunny]

A little bit about NPCs

NPCs have different stats and personalities, each one have their own schedule that can evolve during the gameplay. You can date them and they can date between themselves, meaning that there's the possibility of making them cheat on their current gf/bf, or even getting cheated on. (this is still being implemented)

They have actual psychological traits like openness, agreeableness, and neuroticism that affect how they respond to you... A shy, introverted NPC won't enjoy loud crowded dates, but they'll love quiet places.

NPCs remember everything you do, every gift you give, every conversation you have, a "memory" is created and will affect later interactions.

NPCs have kinks and sexual preferences, this will affect sexual encounters and events. There's a libido stat that will also play an important role on sex, some will have a higher libido than others, this can vary during the day, and week/month.

Other stuff that i'm still planning:
- Gossip system
- The possibility to have multiple relationships (poly, or a harem)
- More kinks (rn there's only BDSM)
- Mind Control, Transformations, etc.

 

[TheLittleBunny]

Adding more buildings :3