Hello everyone! We have very exciting news: the free demo is out now! You can find it here: https://swordlake-entertainment.itch.io/mistwinter-bay
We would like to thank everyone who has been keeping track of the development so far. We don't think we'll be posting any more devlogs on here, but you can always keep track of the development by supporting us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/swordlakeentertainment) and watching our video devlogs on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICWzkpUmB-Xv_52sAh_tUw/featured). You can also find us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/swordlake_ent) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/swordlake_entertainment/).
Thank you so much for the support so far! We hope you enjoy trying out the game for yourselves!
Today, September 9 2022, we at Swordlake Entertainment released the free demo for our visual novel RPG, Mistwinter Bay! You can download the game from this page: https://swordlake-entertainment.itch.io/mistwinter-bay
More information can be found on the game’s page here on Itch: https://swordlake-entertainment.itch.io/mistwinter-bay
You can download the game from this page: https://swordlake-entertainment.itch.io/mistwinter-bay
Just like last week, we've been working hard on improving the game in various ways. The following video shows some, but not all, improvements made this week.
As shown in the video, a combination of images and sound make it more clear when the player switches to a different building in the town view. Having both images and sounds to convey that something is happening is usually a good idea. However, it's always important to not rely completely on sound effects, since there's the option to turn them off. The picture below shows the current appearance of the building information menu.
The dialogues have also been updated to make it more visually clear which character is talking. This is made using a subtle sparkle-particle effect behind the character. There's a bug related to this at the moment, which will be fixed next week. We also consider adding an additional visual indicator for the talking character.
Another visual indicator that has been added is a screen to indicate the end of a monthly event. Text, particle effects (if they are turned on) and a sound effect (if sound is turned on) tells the player that the event has been completed.
In addition to everything listed above, we have also been working on some other things. In the game, we've balanced food a bit, removed arrow buttons in certain scenarios (so that the start or end of a menu is clearly indicated) and removed the mouse pointer when changing rooms and other fading effects (to make loading appear smoother). Slightly improved loading has also decreased the live gameplay stuttering (which wasn't that big to begin with, but the less stuttering, the better).
Besides work on the actual game, we have also begun working on a video devlog! Video devlogs are but one type of promotion that we have in consideration for the future, but we will see what works best in the long run. The main focus is, of course, the game itself.
We've been hard at work this week with improving and polishing the game based on feedback. The video below shows some, but not all, of the improvements that have been made.
Icons have been added for resources, such as gold, wood, stone. They are used in multiple places: popups that record resource changes, build and upgrade-menus, the trade menu and in the top left bars that show current and monthly resources. This is also shown in the following screenshot:
The top bar shows town resources and other information. The lower bar shows the player's personal finances mainly used to buy gifts. Both bars are split in two parts, with the upper section showing the monthly income of that resource and the lower section showing the current amount of that resource. The town resource bar has five sections showing (from left to right): current population (which does not increase monthly), food, stone, wood and gold.
Gifts have also received icons to more easily show the price and impact of the gifts. This is shown further in the following screenshot:
As such, the gift menu now displays an icon for the gift, the name of the gift, the price of the gift (in coins, the new name for what was previously called "personal wealth") and the increase or decrease in reputation. This menu also uses anew resource icon for coins, much like the resource bars previously mentioned.
Then there has been an update to the menus showing who can receive a gift. The following screenshot illustrates this:
Now, the menu shows a picture of the character in question. Not shown in the video or screenshots is that a character who has their birthday during the current in-game month has a highlighted box/button, to more easily distinguish them from others. Also, the portraits shown in the screenshots are also used in popups for reputation changes, as well as in the hang out-menu. The hang out menu has also been improved with an image (the same hearts that are used in the roster menu, showing the romance level) instead of text to show which hang out is available.
Last but not least, the trading menu has been updated, as shown below:
Now, the trading menu uses the new resource icons. The current amount of resources owned by the player is also displayed at all times. Instead of having the price per one chunk of resources (right), it now displays how much the player will receive of that resource. Arrows for changing the player's resources (the resources which are sold) are now only displayed if it is possible to go in that particular direction. That is, if it's possible to increase or decrease amount sold based on current resources. Some balancing is still needed for trading costs (especially food, which has been updated in other parts of the game, but the update is not represented in the trading menu).
We will continue to work hard on the game from now until the free demo release in the near future!
Today, the main menu has gotten a small update with the addition of some social media buttons. Clicking on these buttons will open a browser window to the respective social media page. The buttons are in the top left and are quite small by design, so as to not be too in-your-face.
The background may change before the public demo is released. Now, work will start on some optimization to reduce loading times (hopefully).
The final character to introduce for the demo version of the game is none other than the captain of the local guards: Celia Quinn. Celia inhabits the guard barracks, which is one building that doesn't share a lot with another building (unlike the mage tower/alchemist laboratory, fishing docks and lumber camp).
Celia is an ambitious, hard working and competent young woman who is determined to keep Mistwinter Bay safe. Having turned around one of the most dangerous districts in the Straenian capital, Freykeep, Celia has lots of experience cleaning up after scum and criminals alike. Her main motivation is to keep bandits away from people and she has done a good job with that so far - the number of bandits have greatly reduced since she took over the role of captain in Mistwinter Bay. As for why she decided to leave a prestigious job watching over a large district in Freykeep - well, that's a story she would have to tell. Perhaps over a mug of beer, followed by some dancing?
On a lot in a forest in town, it's possible to build a lumber camp (or another, currently unannounced building). If the lumber camp is built, the player can interact with a local lumberjack turned foreman: Hector Gray.
Hector belongs to a renowned family of local lumberjacks. Having learnt a lot from his father, grandfather and uncle, Hector is undoubtedly knowledgeable about everything that has to do with cutting, transporting and planting trees. Even though he is not very talkative, he is respected among the workers, as well as the town in general. Sometimes, he can be seen acting as a bouncer at the local inn for free. Needless to say, Hector is a competent and trustworthy man, even if he has a hard time conversing with others.
The next character is also the last of non-Straenian origin in the demo. She can join the town if the player builds the fishing docks (which, in the full game, will be on a lot that is shared with another building, much like the mage tower/alchemy laboratory). This, naturally, makes her a fisher and her name is Birgit Naggstrom.
Birgit moved to Mistwinter Bay from Utrua in order to get recognized for her hard work. She hauls immense loads of fish every time she goes to sea, yet that means little in a country that is focused on ship building and craftsmanship. Instead, she hopes Mistwinter Bay will be a welcoming place for people like her, who support independent and free-spirited women and who carry the love of Avarall in their hearts. However, it may be a bit tricky to keep conversations with her, since she is very timid...
In the demo, it's possible to choose between two buildings for one specific lot in the game. That lot is available for either the mage tower or alchemist laboratory. This means that the mage Alm and the alchemist can't live in Mistwinter Bay at the same time. With that explained, it's time to introduce the alchemist: Amari Englia.
Englia was called "The Whirlwind" back in Ethal, and for good reasons. She is energetic, impulsive and has a deep passion for alchemy. The strict rules around alchemy in Ethal didn't fit Englia's taste, so she moved where she was needed and where she could push the boundaries of alchemy. She doesn't stop at anything to pursue new alchemical knowledge that can benefit the world, even if it means danger to herself and her surroundings. Her ambitions are high, but just how high, the player may have to wait to find out...
Besides the three characters who already live in Mistwinter Bay at the start of the game, it's possible to have other characters move in. In the demo, there are five characters who can move in. They automatically move in when the player has built their corresponding building. It is also possible to meet these characters before they move in, if they visit the local inn. One of these characters is Alm Dryas, an Yscorian mage who lives in the mage tower.
Alm is a shy young Yscorian who left Yscor in hopes of being of help where mages are fairly rare. As a fully fledged mage, who has completed the required 40-year education in Yscor, Alm is more than ready to take on the role of Mistwinter Bay's mage. Although, he may not be fully emotionally ready. He still has a lot of insecurities, even fears, for all sorts of creatures and situations. But he is more than eager to learn about new things.
The third and final character who lives in Mistwinter Bay from the start is Erewen Fossbearer, the local graveyard keeper. The Fossbearers have the oldest lineage in all of Mistwinter Bay and have looked after the graveyard throughout history. They may even have settled there when the town was founded, thousands of years ago.
There are many rumors about Erewen in town. They range from absurd theories about Erewen conducting occult rituals, like human sacrifices, to more valid questions, like Erewen's lack of visible emotions. Erewen is a big mystery to most people in town, yet there are three things everyone knows: they don't have a gender, they take great pride in their family history and work, and they are never seen without their fosslantern. As for what a fosslantern is - well, that is for Erewen to reveal. If they feel like it, that is...
The second character who lives in the town from the start is the innkeeper, Cecil Forthe. He runs The Winter Mist Inn - an old inn that is a great place to meet the locals. The Winter Mist Inn is the place where the player can meet potential residents - as well as hang out with people who already live in town via their respective second hang out-events.
Cecil is a bit of an odd innkeeper. He's well liked by regulars, but travelers can have a hard time understanding his relaxed nature and loose schedule. Although, most people warm up to him in time. Besides taking care of the inn and brewing its famous beer, he also takes care of his bed-ridden mother. He is one of few known Voidists in Mistwinter Bay. However, he doesn't seem to follow a particular Voidist faith. What he believes in is still a mystery to even the most loyal regulars.
Foreign leaders are of course very powerful in a narrative sense, but to the player, the most important and powerful characters are those of the nobility, middle class and lower class who live in Mistwinter Bay. Not only can the player date and potentially marry all of these characters, but they are also used to solve problems in monthly events. As an example, if a giant hawk attacks town, someone in town can be sent to shoot it or place a trap.
There are three characters living in town from the start. The first one is the priestess for the Avallerist chapel in town. Her name is Dawn Chamberlain.
Dawn moved to Mistwinter Bay a couple of years before the player returns to take over the throne. Dawn is well-liked for her kind and calm nature. She is very knowledgeable about all things Avallerist. She dislikes being the center of attention unless it's part of an Avallerist ceremony. Despite her kind heart, she has little patience for those who reject the god Avarall and turn to worship The Void instead.
Legends claim that the bird-like Ethalians stem from the ancient pastel birds, who in turn stem from The Bird of Life - one of the god Avarall's closest friends. Naturally, this makes Ethalians proudly Avallerist. Unlike human Avallerists, they mostly show their devotion through song. No other country on the continent is as musically centered as Ethal - then again, few can beat the Ethalian songstresses. The final foreign leader and the final "ruler" of a country of elementals is Ethal's most talented songstress, the Zei-Myori: Eria.
Eria encapsules the most important virtues in Ethalian culture: a gentle heart, physical beauty and an incredible singing voice. Her title, Zei-Myori, is proof that she is currently the best songstress in all of Ethal. The title itself gives her little power in Ethal, since it is ruled via direct democracy. Instead, her main responsibility is dealing with foreign diplomacy. Out of all the foreign leaders, Eria is the most likely to drop by in Mistwinter Bay unannounced. If she does, it's a good idea to keep the use of magic low. No one detests magic as much as Eria and other Ethalians do...
Deep in the forest filled land of Yscor live the Yscorians - a magic-loving, Void-worshiping people who stem from trees. They have appearances that are similar to human males, in some ways, but they outlive regular humans by hundreds of years. Their culture is heavily influenced by their religion and the country is governed by the High Priest, or Derem Somakk, as he's known in Yscorian. His name is Gaird Samarakk.
Gaird is not only the leader of the only organized, major Voidist faith, but also the most powerful mage on the entire continent. His power has in part been bestowed upon him by The Void Tree - the tree at the center of the Yscorian faith - and the staff he carries. Still, Gaird takes much pride in having been a strong mage long before The Void Tree began communicating with him. He is a generally calm and gentle man, but he shows little sympathy for those who oppose magic.
The next elemental country is the icy wastes of Fleidal. This almost uninhabitable land is home to several clans, of which the Ydalla-clan is the largest. The Ydalla-clan is located in Fleidal's only city, Celcis, and is run by our next foreign leader: Llemyon Ydalla.
Despite having the title of Supreme Ruler, Llemyon seldom does anything without the Ydalla-clan's support. He does, however, deal with all sorts of foreign diplomacy and trade. Running the most profitable market in all of Hruminus, Llemyon has become a wealthy man. In fact, he is the wealthiest individual on the entire continent, beating even Empress Ophelia. Material wealth and political power has made him a proud man. However, Fleidal's geographical location, the country's sheer cold and Fleidal's antagonistic attitude towards Achait has made Llemyon an isolated man in many ways - more ways than even some of his clan members understand.
Hruminus, the continent where the game takes place, is not only home to the human countries Straena, Meblia and Utrua. There are also four additional countries almost exclusively inhabited by so called elementals. Elementals are human-like creatures that are visually or magically linked to four magical elements: fire, ice, earth and wind. The home of the fire elementals and our next foreign leader is the volcanic land Achait. It is run by the strong-willed and fierce Queen Se'Vah Denagoh.
Se'Vah became Queen after winning the traditional Achaitan tournament that takes place after the previous monarch has passed away. Every Achaitan, young and old, participated and the strongest warrior emerged - as is required in a country focused on magical and martial prowess. Naturally, this makes Se'Vah a skilled fighter as well as a skilled mage. She is proud, honest and doesn't fear speaking her mind. Especially not when it comes to Fleidalans...
Another possible marriage partner is also a foreign leader. Orreg Nydd is King of Utrua, a small rocky island in the north. Utrua is the only country on the continent that is home to humans who don't hail from Straena.
Orreg is a typical Utrian in the sense that he loves the sea and boats. As the second son of the royal family, he was not intended to take the throne. Instead, he trained as a shipbuilder. An accident at sea claimed his older brother's life and Orreg had to become king. Another personal tragedy hardened him from an uncertain ruler to a force to be reckoned with.
There are several potential marriage partners in Mistwinter Bay. In fact, every character - except Ophelia, Jacques and Sophia - is a potential spouse! The marriage and dating feature is not fully implemented yet, since the game is in a pre-demo state, but all the demo characters can be "dated" (via so called hang out events, where the player gets to know the character better) to the second hang out event out of five.
One of the characters who it is possible to date and who also happens to be a foreign leader is Camilla Larmassier, President of The Republic of Meblia. Meblia is Straena's sister country and mainly consists of humans. Extravagant and eccentric ones, generally.
Camilla serves a 10-year-term as a democratically selected President in Meblia. She can come off as a superficial woman, only caring about appearances, but she is a lot sharper than she lets on. Although, there's no denying that she loves all types of parties and wine. She may be a marriage candidate to the player, but the player should be aware of the fact that she is already married to three people. Polygamy is legal in Meblia.
Did some work today on the different throne room backgrounds, so now there are variations for each upgrade of the player estate! The upgrades go from Villa, to Keep, to Castle. Not only does the throne room background change when upgrading, but the dialogue boxes change as well (there are no screenshots of that, though, since the backgrounds haven't been implemented in the game yet).
