Others Finding Color in the Ashes [Alpha v2.30] [MooncatcherStudios]

[tacosgrande]

I realized that the game (in my personal opinion) is an easy 9/10.

Easily agree. Also I liked some of your ideas, personally. I'm also excited to see where Soulcatch takes the game already.

- Economy. It's difficult to save up for anything at first due to the constant cost of materials. And then I had nowhere to put my money. That's probably just my problem.

Although you are correct that the economy is difficult in the first season, I think that's somewhat intentional. If you have guests every night it becomes significantly easier, but if you have a dry spell of several days it definitely feels like you're collapsing. One "cheat" you can do though is save-scumming - if you get to the evening and there are no guests, close and re-open the game to the day you were just on until you get guests. Even doing this for two weeks in-game can make for a massive shift in your successes.

For an honest path, put your time and energy into two things: repairing the inn and doing patrols. A repaired inn nets you better income from guests and the patrols net you additional experience and stats. Focusing on these can get you to unlock Lucy's potion-making, which is like pouring money on your face.

Not a dev of the game, but a long time player who's active in the game's discord. Working with v2.30 information.


Spring is not been fully implemented as of yet. I'm guessing that Soul did not have the game to adjust the chance of a Merchant visit when the season changes from Winter to Spring. There's also no new content when you hit Spring, so unless you are doing catch up stuff, just don't play into Spring.

During the Winter, there's a chance that Merchants do not show up at all. When this happens, there's no one you can restock from. Though if you consistently getting new Merchants for the two weeks of Winter, then that's likely to be a bug.

Thank you for the info about Spring and that makes a lot of sense, as I presumed there would be some follow-up with the Army event. Either way, I appreciate your response!

I figured the occasional non-appearance of the merchants was normal and that actually makes sense. The bigger issue is that the merchants were actually present on that weekend, but the option to restock when accepting patrons was still greyed out. So despite the merchants being present and me being able to stock from them in the day on the weekend (Saturday), that same evening the button was still greyed out.

 

[Remortis]

Lucy's 300 trust (max) 300 Interest (max) 120 Desire (max) Ellie is 300/300 affinity and 300/300 Interest and it still doesn't trigger with multiple attempts.

I'm also having this issue. All stats are maxed for each, poured drinks with companions, and it still isn't triggering.

 

[Soulcatch]

I'm also having this issue. All stats are maxed for each, poured drinks with companions, and it still isn't triggering.

I've taken a look at a couple of save files, and its almost always the event came up and the player clicked through picking the option that locks off the content. The other issue is old save related and some of Lucy's progression is tied into the order in which sex scenes are unlocked - some old saves didnt record her first scene (hj). Try to trigger that scene specifically and then see if it makes a difference.

I'll also make sure there are repeat opportunities to trigger the scene in later versions.

 

[Soulcatch]

Hello everyone. I've been playing FC for a while now and I think it's time to share my opinion.
First, thanks to the authors for this project. I don't regret a single second I spent in it. I understand that the game is in early development, so I didn't expect everything to be perfect. This was a mistake, because after playing Alpha 2.23, I realized that the game (in my personal opinion) is an easy 9/10.
Second, I won't write all the pros and cons like a true reviewer. However, as a player, I want to point out some things that I personally find lacking. (I may have overlooked some points or simply didn't notice them, so please correct me if I'm wrong.)
- Insufficient explanations. When I buy armor or weapons, I like to see the traits they have. The same goes for some perks, particularly rituals.
- Economy. It's difficult to save up for anything at first due to the constant cost of materials. And then I had nowhere to put my money. That's probably just my problem.
- Almost complete absence of random "negative" events. Personally, I think the appearance of pests, rude people, or other minor annoyances is a "pleasant nuisance." Some events can be permanently resolved (for example, to eliminate mice, get a cat (bonus points if you can pet it))
- More minor world news, and news from the war zone.
- A purely personal wish: variable companion portraits. Portrait changes are related to changes in affinity or interest, and the ability to switch between them. Possible change after gifting foreign clothing. (I already saw a post about portrait changes for Willow.)
To sum it up: the game is amazing, as soon as I have the opportunity, I'll buy it (political reasons). Nice atmosphere, interesting story, beautiful characters. Thanks again for this game. (English isn't my primary language, so some things have been translated.) I respect any response to my conclusions, even if that response is the absence of one.

Thanks! Very happy to hear you enjoy what's there already. And thank you for the feedback, I don't really disagree with anything there. A lot of that is already on the road map, but I can be more specific:
1) Tutorials are coming! I'm just waiting until core mechanics are in place. That being said, in 2.3 there is a big new feature that already has built in tutorials because I figured it merited them. But more are absolutely on the way.
2) Economy is WIP. The early game can be pretty smooth if you know exactly what to do, but that's not really fair. It'll get better with some tutorials and balancing. Late game economy is pretty much absent as anything after Fall might as well be placeholder.
3)More events coming. I'd love to add an inn pet and we've talked about doing just that.
4)Couriers stopping by with news is a great idea!
5)Changing portraits are planned but just low priority. Something like that will likely show up in beta or end of alpha. Lucy needs winter coats! Also the newest version (2.4) has Willow's hair color changing with each season (and I have plans to have the hair style change as well).

Hope you continue to enjoy the updates as they come out! Plenty more cool stuff coming.

 

[tacosgrande]

4)Couriers stopping by with news is a great idea!

We already get couriers periodically through the winter - perhaps a date-progressed random table of things the courier can discuss? Maybe offering something to the courier gets you more information? Perhaps the options for the courier chats are based on not only your reputation but your army reputation, or some other reputation with (I forget her name) the messenger-beast-deer girl that first tells you the army is coming?

 

[quetiraniaporra]

Awesome game!

 

[tacosgrande]

FCitA release be like

 

[140318]

Its very difficult to have a working table for games with Gadot Engine.
Pointers change and with the updates Soul is releasing, I doubt a reliable script can be made.
Use CE for the session you are in. All Attributes are 4 bytes.
Maybe in the future when Soulcatch has mercy on us he'll include a sandbox type game mode where you do not have to worry about resource management.

glad I read this before I finally decided to try to figure out pointers lol ty

 

[ashashash]

Fantastic and cozy game, very rare for me to find something I actually enjoy playing besides the sexual content. The combat system with the dice is simple but works and is fun. Also glad to hear you're aware of the economy being too easy after Fall, because before then the difficulty of the management pulled me in for the gameplay, but after Fall I found myself having little motivation to play besides unlocking scenes.

 

[Ownoffers]

Unofficial v2.3.0a versions (

You must be registered to see the links

)

 

[lustysloth]

Unofficial v2.3.0a versions (

You must be registered to see the links

)

Uh, what do this version contain?

 

[ddtmm]

i'm looking forward to where this game goes, it's pretty cool. i like the concepts and the themes so far

 

[Dman1791]

glad I read this before I finally decided to try to figure out pointers lol ty

It's pretty easy to use CE for most of the meaningful variables, especially gold and exp. Just keep scanning for the gold value when the merchants show up, buying like 1 food or something between scans. Similarly, you can scan for the exp value when you have guests and Lucy to talk to for small exp gains. Gold and exp will solve most of your problems, since you can buy and level your way to basically anything but story progression.

You can also do stuff like inventory items, but it takes a lot longer for anything you can't just straight buy, like monster loot.

 

[140318]

It's pretty easy to use CE for most of the meaningful variables, especially gold and exp. Just keep scanning for the gold value when the merchants show up, buying like 1 food or something between scans. Similarly, you can scan for the exp value when you have guests and Lucy to talk to for small exp gains. Gold and exp will solve most of your problems, since you can buy and level your way to basically anything but story progression.

You can also do stuff like inventory items, but it takes a lot longer for anything you can't just straight buy, like monster loot.

yer the 4 bit values are easy enough, most stats/counters only need 2-3 scans, I just can't get pointers figured out even if just for practice but eh nbd

 

[johnathandarkly]

kinda goin nuts with a few apparent blocks

tower restored but i dont have a study desk so no research
scout in the cellar but i cant build any affinity or patrol with her

its been six months since i played thru and i see some changes have been made so maybe im just cant see the new ways forward

and yeah im in mid fall and let the army camp and cant make any money from tenants so thats slowed my progress to a painful crawl

love the game love the new characters but hate feelin dum

 

[Soulcatch]

kinda goin nuts with a few apparent blocks

tower restored but i dont have a study desk so no research
scout in the cellar but i cant build any affinity or patrol with her

its been six months since i played thru and i see some changes have been made so maybe im just cant see the new ways forward

and yeah im in mid fall and let the army camp and cant make any money from tenants so thats slowed my progress to a painful crawl

love the game love the new characters but hate feelin dum

You cannot progress Scout's story without the study desk, so make sure the spend EXP to get that.
During the fall you can still choose to take in regular guests if you want, but many of the soldiers will still buy things from you (potions, mats, teas).

 

[johnathandarkly]

You cannot progress Scout's story without the study desk, so make sure the spend EXP to get that.
During the fall you can still choose to take in regular guests if you want, but many of the soldiers will still buy things from you (potions, mats, teas).

ive fully expanded the first two levels of the inn ... cellar and tower
dont see where to spend xp for the desk, i have the first 8 inn abilities and the rest are ??? locked

life used to be simpler in the old days.... two releases ago oO)

 

[acowasto]

RANT ALERT!
​

Okay, so I kinda forgot about this game for quite a while. But it's one of those simple, yet nicely done ones with "just one more turn" feeling growing on you... When I started a new game, it was around 19:00. When I stopped, it was 4:22 in the morning. Anyway, I feel like this game needs a bit more... ajustments.

1. The weird.
- Why I can't work during weekends? There's inn to run and fractured ones to kill!
- Patroling should be available also during midday, given quite the amount of new interactions on the region map.
- Making potions should be available at all times. Currently gifting Lucy alchemical supplies in the evening is more time efficient and profitable option, making normal potion brewing simply obsolete.
- Brewing in COLD cellar aside (because magic!), cellar is a very wierd first option to be restored with whole inn ruined, rain pouring through the roof and starvation at the horizon (Yes, I am aware Lucy can conjure some magical food) Having a proper shelter and garden to grow food should be the priority in "fracured infested" area.
- Lucy and MC having to develop and maintain wards around tavern would be a good idea to make it more secured.
- Stasis Ritual is OP, please nerft. It's making the materials obsolete. Time left to disperse would also be nice.
- Proper storage facilities to be build (to hold all that materials and ores) should be required, not to keep those in MC's pockets.
- Stats and leveling are enough for 90% of the content.
- Equipment doesn't matter much. I aquired halberd only because I like it as a weapon.
- With fight being MC+Companion vs 1 enemy, going full glass cannon is the way to go. Huge hit, dodge the attack (or block, whatver you prefer), revoery and finish it with a companion.
- Recovery is removing all status effects, making using potions obsolete.


2. The start
- Starting is kinda ridiculous. I picked all the pro fight options (training with sword, fighting fractured ones, training at the guild buying equipment), but I started with a character having 13 Power, 10 Agility and 10 Defense. Reload the game, another try 15/11/13. Seriosuly? What MC was training, his own shortsowrd? I am not asking him to be 100/100/100/100/100, but having so low starting statistics is pretty immersion breaking for pro fighting MC.
- Monster presence: DANGEROUS!!! Isn't dangerous at all. I get it, it supposed to be a "region" map, but I find it kinda funny, that after killing the first fractured foe, finding another one on the next day is bloody hell a miracle.
- Having to research undead first before Scout goes clean about it is making her help of brewing stuff a promise of future months. And cellar, at this point, is basically useless.

3. Mid game
- Dryad in the garden is making food management and alcohol production trivial.
- Overpriced potions for soldiers. Seriously, it's a gold mine.
- Forvalaka's claws grind for Ole is borderline masochism. This creature (per Lucy description) is supposed to be rare and invincible. Yeah, it is rare, I agree with that. So rare I only managed to fight three of those. And when I do, it seems procuring it's claws is borderline impossible. POI for this creature on the map is needed.
- Why I have to pay so much for outposts in the area? Are they made of gold or something? Why do I even have to pay for then in the first place when they are military ones? I should be the one getting paid for supplying them!

4. end Winter game.
- Chop wood, chop wood, gift alchemical supplies, Fuck Lucy or a companion. - Repeat at nauseam until snowstorm is finished. It supposed to be cozy, yes, and even is, but it's slowy getting boring withou stuff to do.

RANT OVER!
​

Anyway, I like the game. I hope it succeeds but, at least for me, it's not "there" yet.
Cheers.

 

[Soulcatch]

RANT ALERT!
​

Okay, so I kinda forgot about this game for quite a while. But it's one of those simple, yet nicely done ones with "just one more turn" feeling growing on you... When I started a new game, it was around 19:00. When I stopped, it was 4:22 in the morning. Anyway, I feel like this game needs a bit more... ajustments.

1. The weird.
- Why I can't work during weekends? There's inn to run and fractured ones to kill!
- Patroling should be available also during midday, given quite the amount of new interactions on the region map.
- Making potions should be available at all times. Currently gifting Lucy alchemical supplies in the evening is more time efficient and profitable option, making normal potion brewing simply obsolete.
- Brewing in COLD cellar aside (because magic!), cellar is a very wierd first option to be restored with whole inn ruined, rain pouring through the roof and starvation at the horizon (Yes, I am aware Lucy can conjure some magical food) Having a proper shelter and garden to grow food should be the priority in "fracured infested" area.
- Lucy and MC having to develop and maintain wards around tavern would be a good idea to make it more secured.
- Stasis Ritual is OP, please nerft. It's making the materials obsolete. Time left to disperse would also be nice.
- Proper storage facilities to be build (to hold all that materials and ores) should be required, not to keep those in MC's pockets.
- Stats and leveling are enough for 90% of the content.
- Equipment doesn't matter much. I aquired halberd only because I like it as a weapon.
- With fight being MC+Companion vs 1 enemy, going full glass cannon is the way to go. Huge hit, dodge the attack (or block, whatver you prefer), revoery and finish it with a companion.
- Recovery is removing all status effects, making using potions obsolete.


2. The start
- Starting is kinda ridiculous. I picked all the pro fight options (training with sword, fighting fractured ones, training at the guild buying equipment), but I started with a character having 13 Power, 10 Agility and 10 Defense. Reload the game, another try 15/11/13. Seriosuly? What MC was training, his own shortsowrd? I am not asking him to be 100/100/100/100/100, but having so low starting statistics is pretty immersion breaking for pro fighting MC.
- Monster presence: DANGEROUS!!! Isn't dangerous at all. I get it, it supposed to be a "region" map, but I find it kinda funny, that after killing the first fractured foe, finding another one on the next day is bloody hell a miracle.
- Having to research undead first before Scout goes clean about it is making her help of brewing stuff a promise of future months. And cellar, at this point, is basically useless.

3. Mid game
- Dryad in the garden is making food management and alcohol production trivial.
- Overpriced potions for soldiers. Seriously, it's a gold mine.
- Forvalaka's claws grind for Ole is borderline masochism. This creature (per Lucy description) is supposed to be rare and invincible. Yeah, it is rare, I agree with that. So rare I only managed to fight three of those. And when I do, it seems procuring it's claws is borderline impossible. POI for this creature on the map is needed.
- Why I have to pay so much for outposts in the area? Are they made of gold or something? Why do I even have to pay for then in the first place when they are military ones? I should be the one getting paid for supplying them!

4. end Winter game.
- Chop wood, chop wood, gift alchemical supplies, Fuck Lucy or a companion. - Repeat at nauseam until snowstorm is finished. It supposed to be cozy, yes, and even is, but it's slowy getting boring withou stuff to do.

RANT OVER!
​

Anyway, I like the game. I hope it succeeds but, at least for me, it's not "there" yet.
Cheers.

Hey thanks for the feedback!
I will say the game is in alpha, and lots of things need to be balanced. There's also still missing features and system reworks happening. A lot of them are on the roadmap. There will be a big balance pass once I'm out of Alpha and have a better idea of all the involved systems.

The Weird:
1. Weekends + weekday + time slot actions are the way they are for time management gameplay, not because its a simulation. While its all subject to balancing, and there will be more weekend actions coming, I'm not going to make it so you can whatever whenever.
2. Throwing up wards is a cool idea!
3. Stasis ritual is quite good, will probably be adjusted during balancing pass closer to / in beta.
4.Combat balancing is currently taking place, and the newest build does rebalance how companions work pretty substantially. Not done yet though.
5. Potions in combat are going to be reworked soon.

The Start:
1. Starting stats will get reworked at some point, the current intro is basically a placeholder. Plans to make it a little more involved, with opportunities to start with multiple dice in at least one skill.
3. Cellar is far from useless, but it's fine if you don't like the current balance. I'll keep adjusting things as development continues, but I don't think it's as dour as you make it out to be.

Mid Game:
1.Dryad is indeed a huge boon! I would say in the current balance getting her makes having food + booze much easier, but that's intended.
2.There are many players who say making money off soldiers is too hard, you say too easy- it can't be both. I tend to find, once you understand the balance, it's hardly a difficult game but it's not meant to be. That being said the balance will continue to be adjusted.
3.There is a Forvalaka POI at night, in the newer builds. Might be you either missed it or are using an older build?
4.For outposts you are paying the work crews to go out and build them. It's a gold sink, just like hiring adventurers, for the mid game.

Winter:
Anything after fall is heavily work in progress. Winter is being worked on right now but I wouldn't take anything there as final. Doubly so for spring.

I also think it bears keeping in mind the game is not supposed to be deathly hard, like, at all. It's mostly pretty cozy with a little bit of friction to keep things interesting. I'll probably include some difficulty options and optional content once I have a better idea of the project as a whole though. I still really appreciate hearing all this though, I like to know where the friction points are so I know what to prioritize in the updates.

 

[exa]

anyone willing to make a guide?