Idrelle Games posts
Posts: 283
Files: 116
Progress Report 2023.07.18: Trying Something New
Hi all,I’m not entirely sure where to start this one. Writing has been very rough over the past couple of weeks. It’s not writer’s block, per se—I’m at a point in my career where I can typically work past writer’s block with persistence or by changing up my routine and schedule—but more how extremely drained the next stage of Episode 3 makes me.I’ve been working on the episode’s opening since May of last year. Episode 3 Part 2 is supposed to be the other half of the Episode 2 endings, finishing off all of the variations that e...
Episode 3 Part 2 Sneak Peek #2
A section from Melchior's friendship ending, with flavour text for an MC who did gain romance points with him but did not pursue his tryst scene.A door creaks open.Reacting on instinct, you rise to your feet and fall into a defensive stance. Your muscles tense, a hand curling into a fist. A moment later, the door snaps closed and a familiar face peers around a pillar.Kit stands on uneasy feet, her curly black hair a dishevelled halo around her head and a sallow colour creeping across her cheeks. Dressed in someone else’s shapeless tunic a...
Episode 3 Part 2, Sneak Peek #1
Sneak peeks are back! I am working on Melchior's Episode 3 paths. This is the starting section if the MC chooses to end their evening by drinking with him in the courtyard.You drank too much last night and will suffer for it this morning. Until the end of the day, you are Hungover. Perception and Persuasion skills are decreased by 2.You wake with a foggy mind and a stabbing pain in your head.The morning sun’s rays beat down upon you, the light uncomfortably bright even through your closed eyes. Groaning, you twist around and bury your fac...
Progress Report 2023.07.06.: More Writing & A Creator Q&A
Hi friends,I hope you’re all having a great July! This will be another quick update since I don’t have too much to discuss about development at this point. June was almost solely devoted to bug fixing. I released a new alpha patch on June 30th that corrects some errors; you can find the patch notes on the pinned post here and on the alpha build’s itch.io page.There will still be things to correct as the playtester team finds more errors, but I am going to set that aside for a little bit so I can focus on writing new content. I’ve return...
When Less Is More: Player Characters, Customization and Leaving Room for Headcanon
There is no element more important to an RPG than the Player Character. As the player’s avatar, they are the focal point of the whole experience. It is through them that the player gets to explore the world and the characters who inhabit it.For most games, this means that the player is playing as a pre-established character—boot up the Witcher or Horizon series and you are walking in Geralt of Rivia or Aloy’s shoes. By playing as them, you not only experience the world they inhabit, but you also have a hand in how their journeys unfold. D...
Progress Report 2023.06.20.: Picking Away At Things
Hi friends,I hope you are all having a splendid June! I am working away at the next section of Episode 3, but it will be a while before I have anything to share from it. I have a couple of other Patreon pieces that I am working on as well for bonus content, so there are a number of things keeping me quite busy!The playtester team has recently been expanded and I am tackling bug reports as they come in. Keep an eye out for a new patch sometime next week. As always, the patch notes will be available in the pinned post at the top of my Patreon as ...
Progress Report 2023.06.05: Back to Writing
Hi friends,Just a quick update as we roll into June. I will be periodically updating the alpha build with patches and hotfixes as I process bug reports. Patch notes can be viewed either in the pinned post at the top of my Patreon (it’s at the end of the post) or in the #alpha-changelist on the Patreon Discord server.If all goes well and nothing major is broken, I will be starting Episode 3 Part 2 tomorrow. Part 2 encompasses the unfinished branches not included in Part 1—this includes Melchior and Kit’s endings, drunk route, and the remai...
Bug Report, Hotfixes, Discord & Password Sharing
Hi all,I hope you are all enjoying the alpha update! I wanted to go over a few things very quickly in regards to bugs and bug reporting.Bug ReportsAll bugs must be reported through Wayfarer’s Patreon Discord server. The appropriate channels are located in the Bug Report category.There are two channels: #gameplay-errors is for high and medium priority bugs related to coding issues, approval and continuity errors, etc. #typo-reports is for low priority spelling and grammar mistakesAll reports must be made with a screenshot that includes the err...
Wayfarer Alpha Release Version 1.1.3. Patch 3.4.
Hi friends,Episode 3 Part 1 has been released! This is a massive 370,000 words update that adds new exclusive content to the alpha build. Currently, there are 5 playable routes: Aeran’s romance reconciliation Aeran’s friendship reconciliation Breaking off your MC’s friendship or romance with Aeran at the apartment Aeran’s low romance (if you do not go to Melchior’s party) Sleeping with Veyer All other routes (Melchior’s endings, Kit’s endings, drunk route, etc.) are not part of this update and will lead to an Under Construction pa...
Progress Report 2023.05.17: Alpha Release Date!
Hi friends,The alpha update is officially off for playtesting! If all goes well, the alpha build will be updated with Episode 3 Part 1 on May 26 (next Friday). Just a few reminders about the update:Only Aeran and Veyer’s branches will be playable. This includes the following Episode 2 endings: Aeran’s romance reconciliation Aeran’s friendship reconciliation Breaking off your friendship or romance with Aeran in the apartment after the fight Aeran’s low romance (if you did not attend Melchior’s party)What is not included: Any of Melchio...
Come Code With Me
Hi friends,This month's bonus content is a video on the behind-the-scenes processes of how coding a game like Wayfarer actually works. I recorded this last week when I was working on Veyer's branch, so the on-screen material does contain spoilers for the upcoming alpha release.Because the resolution fits two monitors (3840 x 1080), this is best viewed in fullscreen. Also, I was having technical difficulties with both my microphone and my video editing software, so apologies in advance for the audio issues.Enjoy! 💕
Progress Report 2023.05.12: An Update About the Update
Hi friends,Good news! I finished coding all of the current Episode 3 content on Wednesday, which means I am inching closer towards an update. I am currently in the midst of polishing and bug fixing before the patch goes to the playtesters for testing. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes balances with approval, rapport, and other relationship flags that I need to sort out and make some hard decisions on since I was on the fence about how severe some approval changes need to be. I also need to do some general polishing and run the new files thro...
Progress Report 2023.05.01: Where Are We At?
Hi friends,Happy May! To start things off, I wanted to apologize for how long it’s taking for this alpha update to come out. Estimations remain really hard to do, and, at the end of the day, there’s +350k words of content to code which is a lot of content. I’ve made very good progress, but it’s hard not to be frustrated at how slow things are going as I know how long you’ve been waiting. Episode 2 released on the alpha build in May last year. It wasn’t my intention to take a whole year between episodes (and not even complete ones at...
Progress Report 2023.04.15: Coding Update
Hi friends,This is a quick update on the status of Episode 3 Part 1. Aeran’s branches are fully coded and I will be moving onto Veyer’s branches on Monday. This was a lot of work (around 189k words of content to code!) and I’m at the halfway mark, which is a little behind schedule. It may take me another two weeks to get Veyer’s content finished, and then I need at least a week to do an initial round of bug testing before I can release the update. This is going to push a potential release date to the very end of April, if not early May....
Progress Report 2023.03.29: Coding Update
Hi friends,Just a quick update to round out March. The editing and proofing process on the Aeran and Veyer branches is complete. I have also finished all of the updated required for the next patch, rebalanced Aeran’s low romance, fixed a bunch of variable issues, excised additional coding that was clogging some stuff up in Episode 2, and fixed the backlog of reported bugs and typos.I have started coding Episode 3. This is the largest amount of content I have attempted to edit and code in one go, so it is taking me longer than usual and I can...
Progress Report 2023.03.13: Episode 3 Part 1 Update Coming Soon!
Hi friends,Happy March! I hope you are all having a good month. This will be a quick update to get some things in order.Current development is on track for getting an update out near the end of the month/early April. All content for the Veyer branch is finally complete and Aeran’s is edited. This week I am starting the editing process on Veyer’s content and will likely have to revisit some of Aeran’s content. Once that it finished, it can go off to my editor while I work on bug fixes and some background code overhauls in preparation for t...
Episode 3 Part 1 Sneak Peek #34
This will be the last sneak peek for a while! The Veyer branch is complete, which means I am starting the editing process and will be headed into coding soon. This is from the end of one of the variations of Veyer's branch, where the MC has to make an important decision.Some conditionals: Aeran's romance is flagged and has relatively high approval MC trained with Cenric MC does not feel guilty about their tryst with VeyerAshani strides to the grove’s edge, coming to a halt beside Aeran. Their dark hair ripples around them like a cloak...
Progress Report 2023.02.28: A Little Bit of Structural Shuffling
Hi friends,Just a quick update to round out February. As I am still working on the same sections as I was last progress report, there isn’t much new to talk about in terms of the Veyer branch progress. I am closer to the end of it now than I was before, but there’s still several sections to finagle before I can finally start editing.The more important update is that I am in the process of reconfiguring Wayfarer’s act structure. Up until this point, the game has been structured in three acts, like so: Prologue Act 1 – Episodes 1 – 8 Ac...
Episode 3 Part 1 - Sneak Peek #33
Hi friends!To make up for missing last week's sneak peek, I thought it would be fun to do a little demonstration of how player continuity shifts the path of a dialogue tree. These are four examples of the same conversation that have different results based on factors such as the player's previous choices, their approval/romance level, and other elements.This is from the Veyer branch and requires a specific event to unlock. MC is not fired from the mission MC was trained by Varyn (for some small flavour text shifts) Rivals encompasses ap...
Progress Report 2023.02.15: Veyer Branch Update
Hi friends,Happy February and Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day! I hope you are all doing well. This is going to be a short progress report as not too much has changed since my last one. I have made a lot of progress on the Veyer branch since the end of January. The Mission Off branch is complete; I am currently about half-way through the Mission On branch. This is a little easier to put together than the former because I have the skeletons for most of the dialogue trees and story beats in other material, it’s just a matter of editing and re-...
Episode 3 Sneak Peek #32
“This is the fastest route to Diradan with the lowest probability of detection,” Malsara explains. The annoyance is clear in her voice, frustration at being tasked with shepherding you across an entire district. Being restricted to the mundane means must feel debilitating to a planeswalker. “Even so, it will take some time. I suggest you use it to make whatever preparations you need. Once we arrive within the vicinity of Diradan Tower, you will have to act quickly.”“And Kellis?” Veyer asks. They gaze pointedly at Malsara and run a h...
Episode 3 Sneak Peek #31
From the Veyer continuity branch. This is similar to a conversation that happens in this sneak peek, but the context has shifted.Veyer flashes you a wan smile, devoid of their typical humour. “What I am about to say is dangerous,” they say. “Do you trust me?”You catch their eye. Their words are genuine, of that you have no doubt, but it leaves you with more questions than answers. “Do you need to ask?” you say cautiously.“For my own peace of mind, yes. But please do not take it as an affront, $firstname. I approach you now not bec...
Progress Report 2023.01.30: Trees & Branches
Hi friends,This is going to be a rather brief progress report to round out January! First of all, I am sorry for the general radio silence. I have been sick with a general cold since after Christmas, which has greatly impacted my ability to write. I am very tired, but I am finally starting to get better. Development on Episode 3 is ongoing, but it is very slow. This has been an extremely rough patch and perhaps the most difficult part of the game to date.I am still working on the Veyer branch and it is coming together slowly. I’ve been stuck ...
Episode 3 Sneak Peek #30
Some day I will have something to preview that doesn't come from the Veyer branch, but today is not that day.For continuity: MC still has high approval with Aeran MC slept with Veyer MC was fired from the Lethalis mission“You seem to know where you’re going,” you remark, drawing up beside Aeran. Tall grasses and undergrowth rustles against your serithan. You’re thankful for the shade; after the boat ride and the long climb, it’s good to be out of the sun.He stiffens. This familiar stance—the pair of you, pressing onwards to your...
Episode 3 Sneak Peek #29
A successful persuasion check during a conversation with Aeran on the Veyer branch. Romance is flagged in this continuity.1. [PERSUASION] [LIE] “Not really, no. I don’t know how they found out, but they’re here now. If this plan hinges on the skills of an illusionist, then I’ll accept their help, whether you approve of it or not.”The lie is easy. Almost tooeasy. In another time or place, it would terrify you how it easy it is to do. But not here. Not now. No matter how guilty you feel for your actions, this is not the time or place to...
Episode 3 Sneak Peak #28
I'm back working on the Veyer branch, sorting through some dialogue trees. This is probably one of the more emotionally charged results of a conversation the MC can have with Aeran late in the branch (out of... many possible ways this conversation can go). Some variables: MC unlocked Aeran's confession in Ep 1 MC slept with VeyerAeran pales. He meets your eyes, hurt flickering across his face, and slowly nods. “Yeah,” he says hoarsely. “I guess I am. Thanks for being honest.”Your jaw clenches, hollow anger simmering in the pit o...
Progress Report 2023.01.09.: Pushing Onwards
Hi friends,I hope you are having a great start to the year!I have unfortunately been a little all over the place. December was very difficult because of the burn out; I’m not happy that progress has stalled, and though I am picking away at bits and pieces, what progress I do manage to get done is very slow. I’ve been sick twice in the past month, and I’m still recovering from my second cold. My time off wasn’t very relaxing, but I’m hoping to put that behind me, pivot, and come up with a new plan that will make this stage of developme...
Episode 3 Sneak Peek #27
For the first sneak peek of the year, we're migrating over to the Melchior branch. This is a little rough as I'm just getting back from a break and it'll take a few days before I'm back to my normal writing.This preview assumes that the MC punched Sabien at the gala, is wearing a serithan, and slept with Melchior at the end of Episode 2.You wake to the warmth of the sun.Shielding your face with a hand, you crack your eyes open and squint at your surroundings. You fell asleep on a divan near the pool last night, wrapped in a fine...
Wayfarer Pin-Up Calendar 2023
Hi friends & Happy New Year!The Wayfarer 2023 Pin-Up Calendar is now available. This is a community project celebratingthe game, its characters, and the game’s wonderful community. It has been in the works since September and has finally come to fruition.Including 18 gorgeous, full-colour pieces, the calendar features Wayfarer characters from current and future episodes, includingcompanions, fan favourites, hot villains, and canonical pairings.→ Get it here!The Details 16 month calendar, running from January 2023 to April 2024 Unique cover ...
End of the Year
Hi friends,I was hoping to do a little end-of-the-year wrap up, but I caught a cold and don’t quite have the energy for anything too complicated. Wayfarer’s development has had some very high highs (Episode 2’s launch!) and very low lows (Covid and burn out 😅), but it has been a good year. While I didn’t hit everything on my 2022 roadmap (far from it—accurate estimations of how long development cycles take is still very difficult), the game has grown a lot and I have learned a lot of things over the course of the year.Some highligh...
