Others Love in Pieces [Demo v0.1.2] [CuttleReefStudios]

[CuttleReefStudios]

Hi everyone,
just a quick notice for anyone interested in giving feedback.

The current update (14.11.25) is "only" the new combat system with
some small tweaks. Bug hunt and new content will come the next update.

Known bugs:
- Input freezes in dungeon on dialog when input keys are spammed
- one hell of a tricky bug to hunt down T.T
- Input freezes in dungeon randomly as well
- could not yet reproduce this one, but am on the lookout for reasons/fixes


If you find anything else thats not working, please give me a heads up. <3

Other smaller issues:
- typos in beginning etc.
- missing translations
- image mismatches in callisdra scene

These will be also adressed in the coming content updates.

Otherwise, thanks again for checking out this version and have fun ^^

 

[Peach Enthusiast]

Hi everyone,
just a quick notice for anyone interested in giving feedback.

The current update (14.11.25) is "only" the new combat system with
some small tweaks. Bug hunt and new content will come the next update.

Oh the combat is soooooo much better now. Previously, given the lack of XP gains, I truly felt like a cursed adventurer LOL. I had to grind up the potions / bread just to survive long enough to reach that hidden door.

Now, I feel like I can actually explore the damn dungeon without having to head straight for the exit every time I enter it, or having to heal after each battle.

Once you implement gear and stuff, it should be quite enjoyable. I also appreciate that the sword is equipped by default now LOL.

If you find anything else thats not working, please give me a heads up. <3

Okay, now for criticisms:

1. At some point you may need to differentiate the skills from a basic attack, like may the skills cost more points, or make basic attack "free". Otherwise there will be no reason to ever use the basic attack.
2. The sex doesn't actually raise any stats LOL. Ansel is still extremely cursed.
3. You may also wish to run your lines through some spellchecker app. For example the "Dont care" at the very start should be "Don't Care".
4. Also, speaking of these options, I think you should flip the options upside down and make the buttons more descriptive, otherwise new players, who lack the context from this forum, may be a bit confused. Something like this could work:
   • Dont care -> Proceed as intended
   • Replace -> Replace the future Love Interest with a generic character
   • Skip -> Skip the scene
5. Your Itch.io button on the main menu links to https://itch.io/dashboard instead of https://cuttlereefstudios.itch.io/love-in-pieces.
6. I still think you should create a Discord server at some point. It feels more intimidating than it actually is and it doesn't have to be perfect at the start. Patreon integration is not necessary either.

 

[CuttleReefStudios]

Okay, now for criticisms:

1. At some point you may need to differentiate the skills from a basic attack, like may the skills cost more points, or make basic attack "free". Otherwise there will be no reason to ever use the basic attack.
2. The sex doesn't actually raise any stats LOL. Ansel is still extremely cursed.
3. You may also wish to run your lines through some spellchecker app. For example the "Dont care" at the very start should be "Don't Care".
4. Also, speaking of these options, I think you should flip the options upside down and make the buttons more descriptive, otherwise new players, who lack the context from this forum, may be a bit confused. Something like this could work:
   • Dont care -> Proceed as intended
   • Replace -> Replace the future Love Interest with a generic character
   • Skip -> Skip the scene
5. Your Itch.io button on the main menu links to https://itch.io/dashboard instead of https://cuttlereefstudios.itch.io/love-in-pieces.
6. I still think you should create a Discord server at some point. It feels more intimidating than it actually is and it doesn't have to be perfect at the start. Patreon integration is not necessary either.

Glad the combat is hitting the intended marks ^^ Would you say the timing for dodge/parry is fair, too hard or too easy?

as for the other points:
1. Yup, you are 100% correct. I added it for the sake of it now, but it needs something more. I have some ideas about equipment changing effects on basic attack like give it fire or poison etc.
2. Rip Ansel XD Will fix it for next update.
3. Yeah the whole text base will get a once over when I add more story next update
4. Okay, I hoped the explanation text for each choice helps, but a bit more clear button text makes sense. Will look at them again.
5. Ahh shit, will switch out right away T.T
6. Yeah you're right. I thought I would get more mileage faster, but starting to build community early makes way more sense. It's on the list for next week.

 

[YogSothoth1982]

4. Okay, I hoped the explanation text for each choice helps, but a bit more clear button text makes sense. Will look at them again.

I chose the option where the girl was a stranger, and then I used the button to skip the scene quickly. It's certainly better that she's not a LI, but I still don't want to see the scene.

 

[Peach Enthusiast]

Glad the combat is hitting the intended marks ^^ Would you say the timing for dodge/parry is fair, too hard or too easy?

I think it is fair. Dodge is easier, as it should be. Parry is harder. I still mess up sometimes, so if it's a long dungeon, there will be room for food / potions.

4. Okay, I hoped the explanation text for each choice helps, but a bit more clear button text makes sense. Will look at them again.

It's just to make it a bit clearer for people who have never participated in this forum. Without this context, it becomes unclear what "replace" means. Replace the scene? Replace the love interest (Change the LI in this scene or change the LI for Ansel?)? Obviously I know what it means, but I have the full context of the discussions that took place here. And "Don't care" could also be interpreted in multiple ways. I hope it makes sense. Imagine that you found this on itch and read it from that context.


ALTERNATIVELY, rather than a menu at the start, the game could start with a black screen, stating that loud, but slightly muffled sex noises can be heard. Lucian and Lirien would not be named yet, the game would only say that a "Man" and "Woman" can be heard having intercourse. It would play well into the Ansel wake-up scene where it starts black anyway. It would basically start out almost identically to the "Skip" option.

Then, once Ansel wakes up and goes out to the balcony to get some fresh air and starts describing what's going on, we could be presented with a choice on whether it is "Lirien - A future Love Interest of Ansel", or a random maiden. Afterwards, we could get a choice on whether Ansel peeps through Lucian's window to see them fuck or not. I feel like this would flow more naturally.

So the three "Skip", "Replace", and "Dont care" buttons would get replaced with two prompts:

Prompt #1
"Well let me tell you. Those two are none other than the infamous Lucian van Velcken and...."
A) "Lirien - A future Love Interest of Ansel"
B) "A random maiden that will not be relevant to the story / will not be seen again"

A would continue your original script as "his loyal sidekick Lirien..."
B would continue as "the girl I do not know of."

Prompt #2
Then "And be able to perpare prepare myself for tomorrows tomorrow's dive into the dungeon..." add "But if they won't let me sleep..."
A) I may as well take a peek at the action
B) I may as well enjoy the fresh air until they stop.

A would then show the scene from beginning to the end, with all of the text that was scrapped from the start.
B would basically skip it.
Lirien's status would depend on the choice made in promot #2.

That way you do not need a bunch of immersion-breaking disclaimers and those that want to avoid "stealing of LIs" can avoid it naturally. My option also allows people to combine "skipping" with "replacing" too. As for the peeping toms, considering there are only two slides (Sex and Cum), they would not have lost anything, by pushing the whole scene to the balcony (while peeping through the window). Win-Win.


Sorry if I seem like I'm trying to step on your toes, it's just that I somehow got very invested in this game LOL.

 

[HRF94]

with the amount of feedback you're collecting, I sincerely hope you have a plan in place to handle featurecreep

also, since I haven't played yet, what engine are you using? godot?

 

[CuttleReefStudios]

with the amount of feedback you're collecting, I sincerely hope you have a plan in place to handle featurecreep

also, since I haven't played yet, what engine are you using? godot?

yup godot, I was shortly thinking about RPGMaker but I have a bunch of experience with godot and wanted to make the combat/3d dungeon more custom than what RPGMaker would allow.

 

[HRF94]

yup godot, I was shortly thinking about RPGMaker but I have a bunch of experience with godot and wanted to make the combat/3d dungeon more custom than what RPGMaker would allow.

what's your language distribution? more c++ than c# or the other way around?

 

[CuttleReefStudios]

what's your language distribution? more c++ than c# or the other way around?

Neither I'm a python main and use gdscript in godot as it's extremly similar.

 

[HRF94]

Neither I'm a python main and use gdscript in godot as it's extremly similar.

well, now you've done it...
now I have to give it a play and you might get a DM from me

 

[HRF94]

CuttleReefStudios
right off the bat, handling the first scene could be done less intrusive. once my brain is caffeinated enough, I'll throw ideas at you (might take a few days tho )

also, you're not using spellcheck for your dialogue? during ansel's monologue on the balcony:
And be able to perpare myself for tommorows dive into the dungeon.
that's two misspellings in 12 words

/edit:
if you want, you can send me your dialogue file and I'll go through it all

 

[Peach Enthusiast]

I think the first scene is fine for the most part, I just think the prompts could be re-arranged and spread apart to be more natural, as in my "alternative" suggestion above.

And yeah, I mentioned the same line too.