itch.io

I'm realising that today is part of the weekend and you may have other projects than camping itch.io :$

(I will temporary install/test Opera and try your game, and will discover Comet - which I've never heard about before today - if there's a Linux version :)

from my point of view, timestamped & signed export files are the best since it prevents duplicated names and helps to organize chronological progression : YYYYMMDD-HHMM_nameofthegame-IGAKA

YVW, this is also why I joined a screenshot (btw my browser is set to select the dark version of web pages). Which browser are you using? If it isn't a version of Edge, I'll try to run your game on its Linux version.

I also enjoy your game being lightweight and I'm hoping your intention is to keep it this way. If you plan to release your game as an executable, a Linux version will be much enjoyed .

PS: the game keeps running in the bg and even if its tab is closed <3 still need a saving/exporting system ^^ 

Thanks for the quick answer! I'll be watching for updates and I'll gladly spend a few euros if there are left on my monthly budget xD and thanks for the potential key!

Again: from my point of view this is an excellent start, I like the sober and well thought interface - and I'll gladly start over for an update  even if it implies more clicking, somehow!

A thought about the upper right buttons [Settings & (Boss) mails]: Idk if it matters but  I'm playing on a Chromium-based browser (Vivaldi for Linux) and  these buttons are invisible - I only know there's something there because of the amount of unread messages being displayed on a red bg - I found the Settings button by hovering blindly what I supposed to be a topbar after I checked emails.

Enjoy your weekend o/

--- TW: potential spoilers ---

I like it a lot so far (even if I usually don't like clicking nor clickers :$) but... nearly an IG year (less than 3 RL hours)with Autobot running crazy, everything maxed, 2M+ in bank but the boss is MIA - no passive-aggressive mails anymore, where is my lover? I want more! and more from the 3 lettered ones (being denied or not) ^^

Kudos for the concept and its realisation - can't wait for updates :) It's both dystopian & very close to us.

PS: perhaps let us save/delete mail(s) when it's needed, for further immersion. And a saving system would be coherent :) I'm a huge fan of deleting cookies.

(edit: typos & screenshot https://imgur.com/a/pd8cnI5 ) 

Hi, thanks for the game!

Bug? stuck into an infinite loop at 50% of D2Q1 after denying the AI & receiving thanks from Worker #1973.

Sorry for the very late answer.

Be my guest! I'd be honored. 

Thanks for your answer!

Yes, I was - with its second skin (the bicolor one)

Hi, excellent & fun game but multiple crashes with similar errors:

An error occurred running the Unity content on this page. See your browser JavaScript console for more info. The error was: Uncaught abort(197) at Error at jsStackTrace (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:22313) at stackTrace [Object.stackTrace] (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:22484) at Object.onAbort (https://html-classic.itch.zone/html/7876385/VanguardMonstersWeb/Build/UnityLoader.js:4:11047) at abort (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:494316) at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[55806]:0x1370a12 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[30478]:0xde6060 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[34959]:0xf1f5b9 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[30792]:0xe01185 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[30847]:0xe0469e at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[55565]:0x136fcc5 at dynCall_iiiii [Object.dynCall_iiiii] (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:469756) at invoke_iiiii (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:344664) at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[53688]:0x131a86f at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[53153]:0x1303824 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[5527]:0x2360bf at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[5526]:0x235fed at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[11785]:0x481f06 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[11769]:0x480bfa at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[13847]:0x5868c4 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[13846]:0x5865dd at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[12208]:0x4b2916 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[11923]:0x490237 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[11923]:0x49024c at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[11915]:0x48f42f at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[11909]:0x48d874 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[477]:0x45870 at wasm://wasm/055eb7ce:wasm-function[55580]:0x136ff0f at dynCall_v [Object.dynCall_v] (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:478106) at browserIterationFunc (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:182540) at runIter [Object.runIter] (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:185601) at Browser_mainLoop_runner (VanguardMonstersWeb.wasm.framework.unityweb:8:184063)

*************

Browser: Vivaldi (for Linux, Chromium-based)  7.6.3797.63 stable (64-bit)

v 1.6.33, Tomes: duration bug  (> 20k seconds) example:

•  https://imgur.com/6ubNUZv (same goes for all the other tomes in inventory, Expert included)
• removing the equiped tome destroyed it, and all the durations went back to normal in the tooltips
• re-equiping 1 or multiple tomes of any kind didn't replicate the bug 

Last save (20251018-0230, with bugged book equiped): https://sharetext.io/05032de3

(sorry for my question about ring Enchanting earlier, I should have simply checked Info instead of asking)

Oh, OK thanks, ring enchanted!

Gj on v. 1.6.33/sorting the inventory, which was much needed. I like that we can select multiple options :)

Hello, I can't enchant rings. Did you implement it already?

My last save (20251017-1009): https://sharetext.io/3baa5754

I like how you've managed Farming - especially the shrooms, very helpful to progress. I've started to feed my pets and train them, my cat is 25 but I'm unsure of his impact in combats. Could you please explain?

Really? I don't remember that I gave your game a try so early, if coins are also passively earned, this may explain the 500k+. I'd be glad you give my name to an NPC, to a pet would be great! 

Anyway, I restarted from scratch yesterday and reloaded the game/closed its tab a few minutes ago: no bug, no problem, nothing has been lost.

My new save (20251015-1754): https://sharetext.io/e52f0931

Don't bother fixing my old save (and as I previously told you, I don't use Discord at all, this is why I'm using sharetext.io to share my saves) I was still early in game and restarting wasn't much a burden.

Keep the good work! and thanks for having fixed the broken image links ;)

Sure:

https://sharetext.io/82055a33

I hadn't played since the bug happened - I reimported the save today before replaying then I tried to refresh again: same bug. 

I'm gonna restart from scratch. A 1 day test, then I'll export the save, reload the page, export the new save - if the bug reiters I'll share both with you. Sounds good?

(playing Version: 1.6.24)

Last week, reloading the page emptied my inventory (10 days of grind). Then I tried to load my last save and the inventory was still empty *shrug*. 

PS: it seems I'm not the first unlucky one, but since I don't use Discord I'd prefer we manage this here! 

Config:

• OS: (Linux, Debian (stable)-based) MX 23.6 (kernel 6.1.0-10-amd64 [6.1.38-2])
• Browser: Vivaldi 7.6.3797.63 (Chromium-based, Stable channel, 64-bit) 

Hello, just started (level 20), it seems I can spend gold on Permanent upgrades but their level doesn't increase - the log seems to concure: "Purchased Level NaN of Gold Mastery!".

From level 27, pictures (monsters & equipment) are broken. 

Side note: at least one of your main followers won't use Steam even if his cybergaminglife depended on it. 

I would be extatic if you released a (sometime updated) browser/Linux DLdable version of the game before you join the Steam cohorts. 

(just resetted around arena 6450 because me purging cookies unsafely, will reset again this weekend to taste the 'new beginning')

Yes - and sparkles of a story - piling stuff is rarely enough.

I like the choice you made, cleaning the bottom bar to add buttons there (it was a good status bar though).

Just unlocked the Wannabe Necromancer, Karatee & The Snout \o/ Arena@5k is close, 2k diams is my next goal. I haven't been very active last week, more idling behind an hidden tab.

Thinking about a complete reset in a few days to taste/test the last improvements - I'll post you a feedback.

Indeed *super jump!* and thanks for the new Smart Dagger skill and skins.

• As QoL, I'd add floating x10 (or x5) and x25 buying selectors (rounded square, green bg, black font) on the top of left column or beside it (below/horizontally or before/vertically ARENA xxx), an add that could be free or buyable with x diams.

• And if you have free time, a 2nd color scheme ^^ something like Dracula > https://github.com/dracula/dracula-theme

• The floor could change depending on arena level/skin unlocked ( I like what Jim selected for his Clickapocalypse 2 game

> tiles pack http://pousse.rapiere.free.fr/tome/

Creating lightweight patterns 

> https://www.transparenttextures.com/, https://jenniferbourn.com/background-pattern-generators/ (personal favorite: https://codepen.io/msurguy/pen/sbIio but idk how it'd be interprated in a pixellised context)

• If you plan to push the game way further, an optional scientfic notation (e^11 instead of Ud/Udc) could be a cool QoL add.
• New foes & skills (Hurricane Ninja => throwing thrice daggers, Sadist Dentist => skulls throwing teeth dealing zap+dagger damage)! and more Passive Income multipliers: x32 for 512 diams, x64 for 16384 diams etc. ;..;
• if you're patient enough, a side story describing Earls' universe, an anecdote for each foe - all of which should be re-readable in a popup centered above the arena or ot on the right side of it) triggered by a button ('H' for 'History) near the Settings, with or without limits ('no-limit History' could be a reward)

PS: thanks for the new skins! I'm now a Toxic Earl (idk when I've unlocked those, I've stopped tracking process 3 days ago)

It's a real pleasure to give you suggestions, you're so reactive!

In the bottombar:

• I see that while you've added Total played time in Stats, you've deleted the session timer, replacing it with 'Game saved' which was previlously on the top bar iirc. I believe it's important to know how long is a session from a rebirth to another. Could you reimplement it (in Stats, maybe?)? The current 'Game saved' could be replaced with a countdown timer below the Settings cog or a coloured bar (something like a reception signal/a wifi radar, from gray/neutral color to green - red if something went wrong). Something both informative and discrete (there's already much going on in the interface ^^).
• the version mention could be a link to https://zimpzon.itch.io/idle-earl/devlog

On another note and since you seem to enjoy toying with colors, replacing the gold font color of the 'battle loot' popup with delicious pistachio is interesting! Have you tried to tone the gold down, with something more brownish like an 'old gold'/'blend leather'/'venitian hair', somthing like #f2c855 or #de9d28 ?

Just for fun, the color scheme I've been toying with for years:

https://imgur.com/a/palette-kitty-linux-terminal-41zXP1z#aJjLMr4

And the tootip placing is much better now :)

Credits are now accumulating even if the tab is hidden, kudos and thanks! and neat visual improvements, too - I like the hovering effect on the left column. 

AFAIK when the tab/window is closed/truely hidden (when the tab isn't directly visible in a browser window) credits just stop incrementing since arena is defined OFF. 

I never minimize a browser window (constantly working with 3 different browsers - Vivaldi as main, then Chromium, finally Firefox for easier Godot compatibility) on 5 virtual desktops, I just move it to an other virtual desktop, eventually hibernating tabs if needed.

As I told, I'm using multiple virtual desktops to keep the tab/window active even if it's not visible to prevent CPU/GPU overheat (yes, your game is an heavy resource consumer on light configs, especially on CPU+G chipset resources when the game is visible). 

About your game, the lacking of "true" idling is concerning: the complete lack of progression in arena and credits gain when the tab is hidden/window is closed (maybe when minimized too) is slowing everything since the main tool is gaining credits to gain diamonds to earn an higher multiplier after a rebirth. TBF, I've seen warnings about "browsers' recent tech is the cause of issues with idling" for over a decade and still, lots of devs have managed to find an hack :) I'm pretty sure you will too ^^

/poke: can you really ask your customers to keep your prog visible at any time to progress?

I wish arena wouldn't be depending on the game's ON/OFF status :P 

Below, this PC's config (I may not be part of your primary target!):

Host: OptiPlex 7010 01 // CPU: Intel i5-3570S (4) @ 3.800GHz 

GPU: Intel HD Graphics

RAM: 7828MiB (+ 8Go SWAP)

Primary HDD: Crucial RealSSD P400 256 Go

OS: MX-23.6_x64 Libretto (Kernel: Linux 6.1.38-2)

8 or 16-bits like aesthetics have been tricking me for years -_-" these games keep getting heavier.

I didn't feel it too slow, 2 rebirths within the first 12 hours seems quite a lot compared to the other idle games I've been playing. 

There are midgame small walls (eg. before X16) that are avoidable with a intermediary rebirth or... with patience.

All together the game is remarkably faster and more enjoyable than during my first run. Good job! 

Edit: thanks for the Stats page  <3

Suggestions: 

• the floating tootips (beside the left column) shouldn't step over neither the top bar nor the bottom bar. Imo, they could be embeded in a  static position rather than aligned with their respective skill: their horizontal axis and the left column's could be constantly aligned.
• the clicked chests popup sometimes disappears below or gets truncated by the left column or one of the 3 other limits of the arena. It could bother... anyone triying to count the chests :D not anymore! we now have a chests counter \o/

Below, my timers for skins, beasts, rebirths (RB) & bonuses for the past 5 days (right now it's H124.5;).

M=minute, H=Hour, D= Day

More detailed: https://sharetext.io/d8f4e5b7 (view as text)

HTH!

Okay :)

Something like this, with hourly report until 12 hours, then twice a day or daily:

T=time, PI=Passive Income, Best=Bestiary, 1%m=Bought 1%, Mm=Mystery multiplier

T  | PI  % (x$/ps) | X2 | Best | 1%m | Arena | Mm | Rb | Diam | Chests

H2 | 172% (100M) | 1.4 | 1.12 | 1.10 | 89       |        |       |          | 10

(new skin:Witch Doctor)

H3 | 182% (232M) | 1.4 | 1.12 | 1.16 | 106      |        |       |           |?

(new skin: Skater)

H4 | 209% (432M) | 1.5 | 1.16 | 1.20 | 140      |        |       |           | 17

H5 | 232% (741M) | 1.6 | 1.16 | 1.25 | 140      |        |       |           | 19

(after 5.5 hours: 1rst Credit =>Rebirth for x2)

H6 | 314% (37 k)   | 1.3 | 1.16 | 1.05 | 63        |         | 2    |            | 23

(new skin: Pirate Earl - afk @H7)

H8 | 418% (1.3M)  | 1.5 | 1.16 | 1.20 | 140      |         | 2   |            | 28

H9 | 479% (2.4M)  | 1.6 | 1.16 | 1.29 | 180      |         | 2   |             | 35

(Credit #2 after 9.5h - pushing for a 2nd)

I concur (even if my highest levels weren't yours!). Or maybe lowering the quality of the animations? 

Maybe 3 choices in Settings/VFX: Low quality, Medium, High?

Since I rarely refreshed the page, I've probably missed some of your updates by a day or even 2. I'm gonna restart from scratch now, I'll keep track of my progression and give you a daily feedback. Sounds good? Tell me which specific details/steps you need.

Definitely more readable, thank you! and using the fantasy font for the arena popup is a nice touch.

• Hours/day: 12-20 with "displayed" tab on a 24/7 PC. I check the game 2-5 times per hour to upgrade and check for chests and mystery.

(I'm working with several desktops & browser sessions on a single screen, so Idle Earl"s arena is considered active even if its tab isn't on direct display, but 'on display' on an hidden desktop. I only really hide the tab if my weak CPU  needs to cool down or if I need its 'full power' for another task ;) 

• Chests so far: 220ish
• Last enemy unlocked: Undead Pirate => 1.72 global multipler
• Current passive income bonus: 160 442%  

If you need more data, I'll be glad to provide what I can - my save: https://sharetext.io/ea6bafa3 

Suggestion: in the upgrades popup, I find hard to read the shaded red on gray text for level not reached & price too high. Maybe could you replace the shade with a light outline (the popup main font color should be fine)?

Thanks for being so active, experiencing the game evolving so fast in real time is very gratifying!

FYI, restarting from scratch 8 days ago, I'll get the last Earl skin (250 diams reward) after my next rebirth (Max arena reached so far: 4400)

I appreciate your proposal - still: no worries (and last night was... busy ^^ so whatever happened, part of it won't be recovered).

I wish I could describe the bug in details. I can't, so won't.

80-90 diams gone - I thought you had reset everything. TBF I'd have no problem with it - restarting from scratch isn't bad while testing. 

Since you argue it wasn't intentional and I haven't deleted itch.io cookies, idk what happened.

Diamonds deleted/Game reset after F5/page reload. Intentional, I suppose :)

Edit: 

- both Ctrl+C & right-click are disabled when I try to export game state,

- bottom bar/time: only 'Session' is appearing, no 'Duration since starting the game'  

Config:

- OS: MX Linux (Debian-based, partial systemd)

- browser: Vivaldi (Chrome-based)