Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy] NaNo2017 [DEMO UP]

NaNoRenO is an event where creators make a game from scratch during the month of March.
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Glitterbark
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Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy] NaNo2017 [DEMO UP]

#1 Post by Glitterbark »

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Synopsis


In the mountainous nation of Fyrholde, strength is respected above all else, and no pursuit held in more esteem than that of glorious battle. The long nights and brutal winters foster close-knit communities, and such is true of Astrid's Oathbound, a unit of warriors who share a feasting hall affectionately known as Attyrhus. Their work is, on the whole, simple - Fyrholde is filled with threats ranging from dragons to petty bandits, and for a fee, Astrid's Oathbound will... eliminate problems. Violently.

It's not a glamorous life, or a particularly easy one, but they all seem happy enough.

Of course, not every day can involve conquering a beastly foe, though today certainly feels like that for Kree, a young elf from the southern Sylphlands who has, through mysterious circumstances, come to make Attyrhus her home.

Kree is good at many things. Screaming a lot! Brewing potions! Punching bears! But when she learns that tomorrow is the birthday of the man she's secretly in love with, Kree finds herself honor bound to acquire a present and celebrate his existence in the Fyrish tradition... which is something that's much more easily said than done, given that Kree's skillset basically ends at scholastic dismemberment.

Not that she'd ever let that stop her. Kree is, if nothing else, determined, which may very well land in more trouble than she bargained for.

Characters


Kree
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Our delightful protagonist. She very obviously is foreign to Fyrholde, but she refuses to be shamed about anything regarding her character and prefers punching things to talking about the odd circumstances that landed her there in the first place. She squanders away her profound wizardly talent by using it to make herself really, really good at fistfights, and while most people see this as cheating, it's hard to chastise someone who's punched out a bear. She's very desperately in love with Folke, and considers him a dear friend. It doesn't matter if her affections are forever unrequited. Seeing him happy is all she can really ask for in life.

Underneath her brash exterior, she's a very inquisitive, thoughtful, curious person.

Folke
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The birthday boy! Well, almost. Folke is Attyrhus' blacksmith, though he's insecure about his abilities, seeing himself as a meager replacement for his fabulously talented (but ultimately deadbeat) dad. Not that he'd let that show! He's the pinnacle of reliability and he's fabulously kind, which is a good part of the reason Kree has fallen head-over-heels for him. It helps that he's remarkably patient and lets her babble about whatever latest curiosity has taken her fancy.

He doesn't particularly care much that it's his birthday tomorrow. Kree takes this to mean that she needs to go 200% in caring for him.

Briar
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Briar was born in the south, explaining the comparative strangeness of her name. She's a ward of Ranveig, the honorary leader of Astrid's Oathbound, who came into his company after a traumatic incident that left her sans a pair of hands. She's since acquired a pair of replacements constructed from salvaged dwarven technology, magic, and medieval hot-glue, which she has used to become very, very good at making sure nothing ever gets near her hands again.

Vis a vis stabbing.

Her most notable traits are her even temper and regal demeanor. Briar looks the part of a holy paladin, and boy howdy, does she hate the forces of darkness. While Kree doesn't care much one way or another about demons, zombies, and necromancers, she thinks Briar is pretty gosh-darn cool and will gladly follow her into battle. Today, she's going on a trip to a dwarven ruin to find replacement parts for her hands. This may or may not get bungled up by Kree.

Ulfr
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Succinctly put, Ulfr is a jerk. A big, massive, I don't like you because you're different from me jerk. He and Kree have a very tense relationship that started when his first words to her were an insult about her height, and her response was punching him in the face. He's also one of those 'charge in and think later' types, which should endear Kree to him at least a little bit, but he also seems to think books are the work of the devil so, y'know.

Not really on great terms with the local wizard, even though Kree isn't a particularly... austere one.

He can, occasionally, be kind of nice, particularly when it comes to Folke, a man he holds in pretty high regard. That might be why he's amenable to the idea of helping Kree pick out a present in keeping with Fyrish tradition. Whether or not Kree accepts, and whether or not they can refrain from trying to kill each other for two seconds is... up in the air.

Features
  • * Roughly 30k word demo script with the "common" route and one branch of the "ruins adventure" route.
    * Improvisational combat featuring robots and punching
    * Custom backgrounds and CGs
    * Some spooky weird stuff involving dwarves that might not actually be dwarves
    * 3 death ends, one good end, one "to be continued" end
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About
Thank you for checking out my NaNoWriMo thread!

Best Wishes is a game about adventure, tomfoolery, and quite-possibly dying a lot. Right now, you can play a demo version (with, admittedly, rough WIP art assets and lacking many of the choices I'd like to have in the full game) to get a taste of the world, characters, and writing style. When it's done, it'll be a free game, and the purpose of it is to practice making a visual novel so I can make bigger, cooler things! Including a game involving these characters where Briar, Ulfr, and Folke are all pursueable. Since you've taken the time to read this all, I have a few questions for you!

1.) What was your favorite scene?
2.) Who was your favorite character?
3.) Do you enjoy the world this is set in? Are you interested in learning more about it?
4.) And finally - did you have fun?

Thank you so much for your time.

If you'd like to see more art of these chuckleheads, I have an art thread here with some design work I did prior to this. viewtopic.php?f=54&t=42710
Last edited by Glitterbark on Sat Apr 01, 2017 12:18 am, edited 9 times in total.
WIP: Image

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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#2 Post by Alcor »

Oh hey, this looks really awesome! :D

1. What do you think about the story premise? Does it sound like something you'd play?
Yup, definitely! It sounds like you have a lot of fun options planned and lots of bloodshed. probably. maybe?, and it sounds like you've done a good amount of world-building :D

2. What character appeals to you the most? I'd eventually like to make a game where Folke, Ulfr, and Briar all have romance routes, so I'm interested about feedback regarding them!
Kree!--oh wait, did you mean the non-Kree characters? I guess Folke appeals to me the most of the three, since he sounds like a real sweetheart, but they all sound pretty cool.

3. What do you think of Kree from what you know of her? Does she seem fun to play?
YES. Kree is definitely my type of gal. I love MCs that can wreck everything do awesome things. She sounds like a load of fun!

4. What do you think of the art-style so far? I know there's not a lot to comment on, but is a sepia-ish game with bursts of color something you're interested in?
Oooh, that sounds interesting! And yup, definitely. The art looks great so far.

5. Any other comments or questions?
Good luck! I'll be looking forward to this :)

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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#3 Post by Harliqueen »

1. What do you think about the story premise? Does it sound like something you'd play?
It definitely does sound like something I'd play :D It sounds so awesome and something really different!

2. What character appeals to you the most? I'd eventually like to make a game where Folke, Ulfr, and Briar all have romance routes, so I'm interested about feedback regarding them!
Briar probably, definitely interested in learning more about her- her profile was very intriguing.

3. What do you think of Kree from what you know of her? Does she seem fun to play?
Oh man, she sounds amazing. I cannot wait to play her- like seriously, she sounds awesome :D
'...her response was punching him in the face.' - You had me at this, made me laugh so much.

4. What do you think of the art-style so far? I know there's not a lot to comment on, but is a sepia-ish game with bursts of color something you're interested in?

I think it looks lovely, and fitting with the setting- I really like the softer colour palettes.

5. Any other comments or questions?
Really looking forward to this. Sounds like a great fun :D Good luck with it!
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#4 Post by Glitterbark »

@ALCOR_etc: Kree is a master of both intentional and unintentional wrecking, and I'm glad you're immediately fond of her. I think a really strong protagonist can really make a story - since they're the character the reader spends the most time with - so I'm really concerned with making her both entertaining and likeable.

Oh boy, have I done worldbuilding! Though there's huge chunks of it that won't show up in this little NaNo game, for obvious reasons. I'm hoping to include enough to get people interested, though. Mostly about what exactly dwarves are in the context of this setting, since one of the routes has Kree go ruins-scavenging for some loot to bring to her crush.

Thank you for commenting, and good luck on your own project!

@Harliqueen

briar is my secret favorite, tbh, so I'm super glad you're interested in her, too. I don't think I'll be able to delve into a lot of her Deal (since the scope of this has to be pretty small) but I absolutely intend to make stuff about her in the future that gets into it.

I love making dumb jokes like that, so if you like that kind of thing, oh boy, do I have a game for you!

Thanks for commenting, and good luck on your NaNo project!!! (i've been admiring the logo like crazy)
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#5 Post by Zelan »

1. What do you think about the story premise? Does it sound like something you'd play?: It's awesome! I like the mix of warrior-type themes and cutesy themes.
2. What character appeals to you the most? I'd eventually like to make a game where Folke, Ulfr, and Briar all have romance routes, so I'm interested about feedback regarding them!: ...I actually can't choose one. Folke is a sweetheart and Briar is cool and Ulfr is a grump and I love all of them.
3. What do you think of Kree from what you know of her? Does she seem fun to play?: I love her. Feisty protagonist are the absolute best.
4. What do you think of the art-style so far? I know there's not a lot to comment on, but is a sepia-ish game with bursts of color something you're interested in? I like it a lot! It's nice to look at with those softer colors. ^_^

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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#6 Post by Glitterbark »

@Zelan

I'm glad you like the direction! I really like humor, action, cute stuff, and horror (though the horror in this is super light and is probably more 'dark fantasy' than 'horror'), so my writing can come off as a little... eclectic. But I hope a strike a good balance between things that'll be exciting and things that'll make you go 'awwwww'.

Being unable to choose is the greatest of compliments.

Now, for the end of day 6 update!

I've got about 5k words written, and I've started organizing my various story notes in twine (and the scenes I've already written, so my lovely beta can squint at them when they've got some time.) I've also started really planning out the various ways to die - because I'll be frank upfront, this is a game filled with an implausible amount of getting killed - but I've got a gimmick that I'm hoping will encourage people to actively seek out those ways to screw up.

Fate/Stay Night was a huge inspiration for me growing up, and I really admired how the bad ends often contained genuinely relevant plot information. You may just find worldbuilding for the world of Best Wishes in the weirdest places. (for those who are leery of this, though, I do intend to release a walkthrough. i understand that nonstandard game overs are not always popular.)

I've also started working on sprites! Clearly WIPs, but I'm getting somewhere.

Image
WIP: Image

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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#7 Post by Glitterbark »

End of Day 7 Update!

I spent way too long mocking up a really rough title screen. I'm pretty inexperienced with stuff like this, but no time like the present to learn, right?

Image

I also did a bit more writing, and I have a few snippets to share.
  • Kree: As kind as all of your suggestions have been, I’m going to completely ignore all of them...and go treasure hunting with you instead!
    Kree: If I give everything to Folke, it'll work out, right? Everyone likes shiny stuff, birthday or not!
    Briar: …
    Briar’s look is as flat as a board, but it morphs into a sigh and a somewhat tired smile.
    Briar: Well, that is very… personal. And very you, I suppose.
  • Briar: …Are you implying… that my success so far…
    Briar: Is all due to my patron? And faced with any real challenge, I’ll falter?
    Oh, bark of the tree. She sounds like she’s going to kill him!
    Ulfr, back down! I don’t like you, but for your own sake, you really need to get on your knees and grovel!
    Ulfr: No! No, no, nope. No. If you put your mind to it, you could probably gut me.
    Ulfr: Even if you didn’t, you could probably gut me. Just some… casual gutting, ha-ha-ha.
    Ulfr: Please don’t hurt me.
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#8 Post by Glitterbark »

Midterms are kicking my butt, but I'm slowly plucking away at things. I'm hoping to get started on the GUI and finish the main menu by the end of the weekend. (I'm budgeting a lot of time for figuring out how GUI customization works. Worst case, I can throw my hands up and use the defaults, but I'd much rather learn to do it now.)

I figured, since there's nothing much else to show, that I could post some of the art I did when I was figuring out what Kree (and Folke) should look like.
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#9 Post by Harliqueen »

Ah, those snippets of writing... I love it! :D I seriously cannot wait to meet these characters! (I knew I'd like Briar the best).

And, oh man, the beauty of that title screen is just perfect- fitting with the theme and so lovely to look at.
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#10 Post by Glitterbark »

@Harliqueen: Ahhh ;w; that means so much to me to hear, because I really admire your work! I'm working pretty hard to make this as good as I can get it within the short timeframe, though if I have to just release part of it as a demo at the end of the month, you'll be happy to note that it'll be the route that focuses the most on Briar.

Task one of the weekend is finished! I have the main menu screen basically how I want it, though I'll likely fiddle with it in short bursts throughout the course of the month. But for now, I'm letting it sit.
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#11 Post by Plueschkatze »

I really love the layout of the main menu. Looks very pretty.
I'm looking forward to see more! :)
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#12 Post by Amy_oai »

This looks amazing, I'm in love with your main menu! I really like your art style ♥

1. What do you think about the story premise? Does it sound like something you'd play?
It sounds great! I'd play it :)
2. What character appeals to you the most? I'd eventually like to make a game where Folke, Ulfr, and Briar all have romance routes, so I'm interested about feedback regarding them!
Briar, probably! Her backstory sounds like something I can get really into.
3. What do you think of Kree from what you know of her? Does she seem fun to play?
She does seem fun, and i'd love to play with her :D
4. What do you think of the art-style so far? I know there's not a lot to comment on, but is a sepia-ish game with bursts of color something you're interested in?
I love the art and the stylistic choice to add in a splash of colors here and there, its the best ♥
5. Any other comments or questions?
Good luck!♥
.
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#13 Post by Glitterbark »

@Amy_oai and Plueschkatze - thank you for the kind words! I sometimes come back and read all the nice things people have said here to give me the energy to get more work done.

Speaking of more work - I've have a decently productive weekend! Did more work on the main sprites, sketched out some of the minor characters and did a little bit of rendering for a very mysterious lady who makes fun of Kree when she dies. Also did some sketches for some backgrounds and CGs, and got ~3k more words written.

my. my wordcount is probably going to be much higher than originally anticipated, woops!
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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#14 Post by Godline »

Kree is definitely my type of protagonist.

This is another of the few Nanoreno projects that I'm super excited for!

Don't let me down. ;)

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Re: Best Wishes [Romance | Fantasy | Adventure] GxB NaNo2017

#15 Post by Glitterbark »

@Godline - that's such an honor, because there are so many cool NaNo projects this year! Thank you!

Also, boop, I meant to post another dialogue snippet. This one's pretty late in the game, so I'm putting it in spoiler tags, but it gives a good sense of some of the other stuff the story deals with other than fun adventure and traumatic birthday debacles.
?: Regardless, I digress. Exponential numbers are numbers that have been raised to a certain power. As in, two multiplied by two multiplied by two is two cubed, or two to the third.
?: Do you understand.
Folke: Marginally. I understand multiplication, at least.
Folke: What does that have to do with anything?
?: The power increase is dependent on how many times the number has been multiplied by itself. That same logic is true for humans as well.
?: Demons are just men whose vices have been multiplied, and at the root of every so-called god, there exists the numerical base of a human being.
?: So, Folke, knowing this… I can now tell you a tale of gods, of men, and – ultimately –
?: Of the mathematics behind war.
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