This is the next of the usual devlogs to keep you informed about my progress.

The project Late Shape Journey is now in version B.0.4.5.

A download is not available for this game yet.

More work on assets and their file names (as apparently I will have to change them and their calls in events for eternity)

Got back to designing the character progression and stat increases via effects and gear

Also got back to adjusting the battle layout and implementing additional features

Implemented additional assets for chapter 7 and 8 respectively

Partially implemented actors and states, as well as additional things like pets

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Next Plans (Outdated)

Finishing the asset nightmare and completing some database categories

Finishing up the concepts for characters and battle systems to some extent

Polishing up the work of the past months

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Progress Showcase (Outdated)

I have now added all actors for all chapters and modes into the database, as well as their pets. While I still need to configurate them properly, they at least have a home now (and a name).

Based on all chapters and modes, you will travel alongside 8 main characters, 8 side characters from their respective chapters during "Side Stories", as well as a special addition for "Abyss Mode". Next to that, during each chapter, your character will be accompanied by a pet, which has the same, although re-colored appearance as one of the enemies that you will encounter during said chapter.

Pets will have a special "supporter" role in battle, meaning they will not have the exact same abilities - and they are set to auto-battle. You will also be able to upgrade them, like your main, by finding different upgrades during the journey. Keep in mind though that I've not fully looked into that feature yet, so I might extend or change some of these things.

I have added the final main character to the project, who was missing last time I've talked about the chapter select feature.  Alongside that, additional side characters have been added to chapter 7 and 8, making the character roster complete, actually. 

Based on that, I also had to include additional names and faces to the profile menu. And yes, it took me a day to adjust it correctly, as I had to fix some stuff for every.single.command. Anyways...

On that note, I've also added additional music tracks for chapter 7 and 8, as well. Also, I've implemented... 2? 3? new tilesets for dungeon locations. All in all, there are actually not that many assets missing for the entire project - it should only be a few music tracks, multiple tilesets... and maybe a few plugins, depending on how the next weeks go with me messing around.

Lastly, I returned back to the battle system. It is coming along, albeit slower than expected. I'm currently switching back and forth a lot between how skills work, how they are presented, how they have to be adjusted according to the character progression (an extra word document) and how that will also reflect in the layout itself. Based on that, a lot of other database stuff also hangs around in "placeholder state" as everything has to work together.

... So in theory, I did made progress. In reality, it is still a good step away from the finish line.

Ah yes, and I've added new plugins to the battle system, of which I'm not sure if I will actually be able to use all of them (Purchase fail, everyone!). At the bottom you can see the new "Boost Feature" (called Adrenaline here). You'll be able to enhance your spells with it... currently. Not sure yet what it will all impact at the end.

Ah, and did I even tell you how I had to go back for the 4.000th time to adjust my interfaces because of that new text command? Had to have everything at the same spot, neat and tidy. (Sigh)

Feel free to follow my project here on itch.io or via my x-profile.

The next update will be showcased on here as soon as it is ready.

Like always, thank you for reading and have a nice week, everyone.

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