Back In The Swing

As the title suggests, I really need to/am going to get back in the swing of posting stuff this year, seeing as I really haven't since 2010 rolled in. I don't really have much of an excuse other than general laziness, but the Easter holidays are coming up soon, so maybe I'll get some more stuff done then. And some Easter eggs.

Well, I got absolutely no sleep last night. Not a wink. I hate it when that happens. You jump into bed at a semi-reasonable hour, and you know you're tired, your mind knows you're tired...but as soon as those lights go out and your head hits that pillow, suddenly, your brain begins to speak to itself. And who knows what you're talking about. And also, the last two episodes of OTH S04 drew me back towards my laptop...so that may have something to do with it.

Anyway, updates-wise, Black Sky the game is chugging along extremely slowly, though I've finished a couple more maps and areas since the last screenies were up, namely Silenz, Koriezia and the Rish'haad Catacombs. They're all looking pretty good actually, my mapping seems to have gotten a lot better recently, and the RPGVX RTP isn't exactly the best to map with. Saying that, their are some Mack tiles mixed in their, but who cares. All in all, actually, I'd say the mapping (without events) is about 35% (?) done, I still have the mammoth mapping that will be the mountains, the many mountain caverns, underground cities and a holy city atop said mountain. They'll probably take the most time, after that it's just another few palette locations (a few more deserts/forests/highways etc), one or two big cities then the final 'continent' to map. And that should be the mapping done.

I don't really want to turn this into a dev blog for Black Sky, but while I'm on the subject I may as well ramble on. The main issues right now are enemies - so, if you're still here, some opinions would be lovely. RPG wise, how do you like your enemies to grow? Do you prefer them FF7/9 style, each with set levels and stats so your party can encounter them at a reasonable stage? Or, do you prefer FF8, when then enemies actually levelled up with you? I'm kinda stuck between them the now, 'cause I like the idea of levelling monsters, though the only problem is if you create a really strong random encounter that's designed for later on in the game, by the time you actually get there, that random encounter will be waaay stronger. Of course there are ways around this, but still...lets hear your opinions.

Another point I'd quite like to share is that, following numerous database changes and arguments and mishaps, I'm going to make MY OWN bestiary. Well, it is my story (Auron moment much?), so I reckon rather than trying to recycle other FF bestiaries I should try my own. I'm already using the FF12 equipments and states, and skills seem to be all recycled from a multitude of FF games. Saying that, that'll change when the actual pen on paper story gets further along and the language of the Mrist is further developed and I actually have names for spells and such, rather than the oh so cliche Fire, Fira, Firaga...etc. On the topic of Skills actually, they're all completely finished (names aside), minus a lot of damage testing and tinkering. Items are all done too, so all that's left is the bestiary, mapping, and writing the damn story at some point. I may finish Chapter Two today, come to think of it...

As for scripts, many of the YERD ones that were being used have been replaced or gotten rid of completely, and I'm using the new ported YEZ ones. I got rid of the cacophony of incompatibility that was Tankentai and switched to Reedo's simple SBS, at least until Yanfly's Battle Engine Melodies is out...it looks delicious.

Anyway, if you're still here then I congratulate you, I just needed to vent my ideas. Sorry about the horrendousness that is this post, but I can feel my eyes closing, so I think I may have a snooze before attempting to write anything.

Next week, raccoons! A large, inordinate and altogether useless number of raccoons!
xxx

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