No problem at all! It was quite the nice introductory build for the VN and I'm looking forward for future builds, least I could do is point out a few simple and easily fixable errors early on so the development can continue running smoothly!

Just finished build 1.1 and I have to say: I am thoroughly impressed with the start of ChoPro. I only have a few complaints (more so errors I noticed within the build, both of which I think can be easily fixed)  about the build:

• There were two points within the novel where voice acting suddenly played (right before Eddy & April left to go to work & soon after they arrived outside of work), the dialogue played during the end of the build in its correct location though.
• I couldn't get the bathroom text at the very beginning, it just caused an error in RenPy every time I clicked on it.

That being said, the positives hugely outweighed the cons. I really enjoyed the overall presentation, especially the logo for the VN and the text box as well; both remind me of a 70's-esque funk band, which warms my hard whether an intentional design choice or otherwise. Also to note, I really enjoyed the CG's that were present thus far, I'd probably say my favorite so far is the NSFW's (the masturbation scene) CG, not just for the sole reason of it being erotic, but more so that I really loved the lighting of the piece and it felt very cohesive and complimentary to the text being presented. Other than that, I really enjoy all of the cast so far and I'm awaiting to see what more will unfold in later builds

I would love to read a rating, but I think I'll put it on hold until future builds so I have more things to go off to give it a definitive rating. That being said, keep up the wonderful work and I'm thoroughly excited for more content in the coming future!

P.S. Love Eddy's design, personal preferences most of all but I think it's very lovely, not to say the other cast members aren't designed well, quite the contrary! They are all equally lovely designs.

Itch builds for EchoProject novels tend to release around 2-3 weeks after the Patreon build releases. So approximately around the 15-29th time frame of this month.

Re: The Smoke Room - Build 20: Ghosts of Melodious Prophesyings Rave

Literary References:

Title: 'Endymion' - John Keats

[MAJOR SPOILER WARNINGS FOR BUILD 20 BELOW]

[MAJOR SPOILER WARNINGS FOR BUILD 20 BELOW]

[MAJOR SPOILER WARNINGS FOR BUILD 20 BELOW]

A "Brief" Summary:

This build picks up right after the voice in Samuel's head tells Sam that he has a guess on what Murdoch is referring to. This then proceeds to a long discussion between Murdoch and Samuel about possible confessions of the murder that happened a month prior in the story. Murdoch goes on to say that the noose is not a way of justice, but a heavy tether between life and death. Going on to say that the reason why the people of Echo want to see Samuel hanged is not because of murder, but out of excitement and the tension the gallows bring. Afterwards, Samuel leaves Murdoch alone and heads to the pawn shop to meet up with Jim wherein a conversation between them occurs where Samuel reveals that he knows that Jim is proceeding in intercourse with his soon to be brother-in-law and is also engaging in sex with Murdoch as well. Leading Jim to say that Murdoch is very eager for the 'relationship' between the two men and can not get enough of Jim. Murdoch soon walks in afterwards and interrupts their conversation and leaves with Samuel back to his family's general store. Inside we find William discussing with Ralph about the presumed whereabouts of Samuel, Samuel obviously wants to hide himself but it caught by Alfred Byrnes before he can choose to do so. William then leads Samuel and Murdoch to the back of the store to question Samuel about what exactly happened the month prior. Samuel feigns that he doesn't remember exactly what happened that night due to the head injury he sustained during the struggle (with help of Murdoch, discussing how he had a concussion during his teenage years). William proceeds to implying say that he would buy Murdoch [for sex] if things did not work out with his current profession and waltzes off. Murdoch and Sam go into the store's red room and they discuss various things about how photography works (the lights and all that) and end off talking about what exactly happened to Seamus. Sam returns to the Hip and gets his suit hemmed by Cynthia and he has two clients before sleeping and dreaming about what happened to Blithe's friend Melissa and Blithe waking up. The build ends with a conversation between Gretchen Byrnes and Samuel about politics.

Thoughts & Opinions:

I may be hugely biased because Murdoch Byrnes is my favorite character in the novel and his route is something I hold in high regard. I don't really have much to say as I did in my 'Rocks of Sombre Hue' review but I still thoroughly enjoyed 'Ghosts of Melodious Prophesyings Rave' as what it was. I loved the two new CGs that were included this build and the return of the glorious 88883 to my mix of giddiness and despair in the moment. I am excited to see how the rest of Murdoch's route goes from here and I wish for the best for Mr. Byrnes by the end, although knowing that (depending on the ending(s)) his fate could be something worse than death. However, I do feel that the façade of Murdoch's emotional state is beginning to crack more and more as the story has been progressing, the breakdown from the end of 'Sparkles Bleared and Black and Blind' only but cements that as a definite possibility for things to come when it comes to Murdoch as an  individual who can hide his emotions in such a way.

Overall Rating:

9/10

~NotEvenParan0id

Furniture of the Golden Witch

It's already been a whole year since Echo was completed. I knew the anniversary update was gonna be a thing, but it's truly a dream come true.

<Very good>!! This level of reasoning is possible for Furudo Erika. What do you think, everyone?

Re: The Smoke Room - Build 19: Rocks of Sombre Hue

Literary References: 

Title: 'A Picture' - Olivia Ward Bush-Banks.

Build Art: 'The maner of kynges, from the Secretum Secretorum' - psuedo-Aristotle.

[MAJOR SPOILER WARNINGS FOR BUILD 19 BELOW]

A Brief Summary: 

This build (in my playthrough) proceeds the Cliff/Murdoch/Sam intercourse scene, picking up with the trio finishing up their bath and overhearing Avery and Jeb talking to each other, it's been quite a while since they've seen each other, I believe this is romantical in nature, and like the trio were up for some more explicit activities while bathing. Causing Murdoch to shout if anyone is there, in which Avery and Jeb present themselves and say that they were going to bathe. Then the trio heads back to camp to see Ed with a horribly-untuned guitar and which Murdoch proceeds to tune the guitar and play a song, which results in my favorite part of the build, an animatic with music reminiscent of hoedown/square-dancing, this concludes Clifford: Chapter II. Thus begins Clifford: Chapter III, starting right off with the past and perspective of Cornelis van Houwelinck (Clifford Tibbits), speaking to his grandfather while painting, they talk about how things has significantly changed after his mother's passing. Proceeding this, Cliff wakes up beside a naked Sam, and Murdoch who is outside of the tent urges them to get up. [In my playthrough], Cliff discovers Sam's has taken the map that Avery lent and questions him about it. Sam, obviously startled asks Cliff not to tell Avery about what has happened, Cliff obliges while monologuing his doubts and how he will have to think long and hard on his decisions about Sam and the map later. The build shortly ends after arriving in the Meseta settlement, to suspect quiet and even more suspect introduction of Reverend Caldwell (Clifford's contact).

Thoughts & Opinions:

 I really enjoyed this build personally and I think it's one of my favorite builds to be released for The Smoke Room yet. It was on the short side, but the payoff was definitely worth it. Especially the animatic, (correct me if I'm wrong), I believe this was animated by @ShtarFish and huge shout outs towards him and the rest of EchoProject for bringing this build all together, it's a wonderful, sorrowful read as always, I love all the work y'all put into these builds. I love the new HUD we have for the VN now, it adds a whole new flavor to the experience. I was expecting another perspective change after 'And They Tell Me You Are Brutal' but didn't quite expect to see another one so soon. While I love reading over Sam's monologuing and his overall loner, self-depreciating personality, I like the change of pace the perspective changes do, gives us more background on Cliff's thoughts and ideals. I hope we get more animatics in future builds, but that is just my propitious wish towards things. It takes a long time for such things, and this one in particular is special enough so it's enough to be sated.

Overall Rating:

10/10

~NotEvenParan0id

Furniture of the Golden Witch

<Very good>!! Haha, thank you very much. You do not know how much that compliment made my day. I'm very glad that to hear that you loved the build as well.

Re: Public Build 18

Another hit out of the ballpark (pun intended, I suppose) from EchoProject. The wait was long, but was justified with its content per usual. The h-scene this build was quite intense and the best one in the novel so far in my opinion, it has a lot of impact and makes you feel for both William & Sam and was quite philosophical in the dialogue which was quite surprising at least to me, I hope future h-scenes will have similar proportions rather it just being characters bonding and well being straight up porn. Since Murdoch is my favorite of the four, I was surprised when I read that he got a VGU, I am a fan of the new style, there's still a bit of me who yearns for the old style but I'll get used to it. I think the addition of the notebook is a nice quality-of-life feature and I hope that carries over to future builds and maybe even some of previous events in the novel. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Hattie, Andy, and even Porter.

All-in-all, I was very pleased with the new build and I'm looking forward to the next one even if it takes a while.