Production Update 9/21/24


Howdy y'all! Short update this month but I'm almost done with my editing work

Writing Update:
So, as you may or may not know, I've been doing a TON of edits to get everything in line with just how I write now and trying to fix the slow pace of the beginning of the game. This is my attempt at that! Right now you can read up through day 12 on all characters on my patreon, as well as next month I will release the rest of the edits as I finish them.

Art update:
So, along with editing the script, I've been editing the positions of people in conversations, and where certain characters stand. I couldn't STAND how ugly some of the early conversations looked with 3-4 people on screen, but it's MUCH cleaner now!

Sorry there isn't a lot but I go into further detail on my patreon (as well as you can read the edits now)
May our roads again cross!
https://www.patreon.com/cryptiddog

https://discord.gg/QXBdjr7P3Q
https://twitter.com/CryptidDog

https://bsky.app/profile/cryptiddog.bsky.social
https://cryptiddog.itch.io/roadsyettraveled

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Comments

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okay so when u chose rhoun as a roommate thare is a bug where the mc should answer but insted of him , rhoun answers (after u start seeing things and rhoun tries to fix ur phone) i belive it is like day "???"

Obraz

(+10)

I liked the slow pace. It helped build tension and made that desperation effect of being lost and alone feel more real and visceral. Yeah, there was some redundancy, but that's all. Marrowyn insisting on helping us adds something to his character, that's all. Anyways, this VN is coming great as it is, and we trust you will keep making the best of it!

(+5)

Super excited to read and hope for more update soon. I need more of the dumb himbo boofs in my life! 

(+8)

I kinda liked slow pace

(8 edits) (+12)(-1)

Never saw anything wrong with the pacing it plays out perfectly imo. This is quite literally my favorite vn and I'm all in. I recently just did a full replay last update and if there isn't any new content I'll probably skip this one. Hopefully people like the changes I trust you as the creator but I understand people being worried and wanting you to focus on new content. The art updates are amazing and I see the progression don't listen to anyone telling you otherwise, every new sprite looks amazing. Maybe keep suggestions to patreon and worry less about people who get content for free.

I hope you don't get discouraged by nitpickers.

(+15)(-1)

Not to get too critical here, but the slower pacing in the beginning matched the mood of being locked up; I think it was artfully (and intentionally) done, was it not????

It may be hard to see this as the artist, but your older sprite work looked fine. Yes it was simplistic in a sense, but it was well executed to match (once again) the mood and voice of your writing, the some-times stale backgrounds, and the ambient yet melodic resonating songs were all woven together perfectly to set a really great mood which was matching the setting, circumstances, and scenes.

I don't know what you have planned plot-wise, but I am lacking confidence since the recent "polishing" has wiped away parts that use to fit neatly together, eg the few amazing artworks and pleasant surprises are like rewards, and the only way to make a reward feel more rewarding is to make the audience earn it/not expect it; so if we are cutting the pacing by a lot in the early parts it will impact those "wow!" moments in the future for the worse. Your fans love this VN because of those hard punches and overall harmony of pulling off the story as you have done was artfully executed. Ripping it apart to appease a perfectionist's ego won't go down well with the people who already love, respect, and support what youve made. At least wait until the end of your story to polish it up so you know your next steps and know what cracks to fill in without slipping or regretting the effort youve put in so far.

(+2)

I'm honestly not sure. The slower pace and the constant dead do make me feel like i experienced it myself.. some parts get really monotone like the.. 100th checkup with the doc and him repeatadely asking if i'm fine. It's a weirdly enjoyable vn. Maybe cut off the repeating parts but that's it


I do agree i'd rather they continue with the updates instead of entering the rework hell hiatus that usually results in..

(+1)

I'm fine with polishing things up. If I am not mistaken, he writes the script then implements it which is pretty astounding and fast! You go fast, you make mistakes... But you also have a consistent train of thought which is more important IMO as it allows you to be a better storyteller. I stopped painting on canvas because I could never mix in the right colors the next day. It is the same for my writing. Draft after draft after draft +6 times just trying to polish a chapter or string of chapters to settle a plot point neatly and tie up any loose ends or set up the right emotions for the reader... I do regret wasting so much time and effort, and in the end I still feel ashamed to show what I spent 100s of hours on. I only pass on hard advice I personally learned. Some people get polishing just right, but I see CryptidDog falling for the same perfectionist trap I struggle with, and having nothing to really show for it except taking a risk to fix something that isn't even broken.

The new Marrowyn sprite has different facial and slightly different torso proportions that it looks like another artist trying to copy his style might have drawn it. When it comes to having a variety in love interest choices, there are 4 main personality types: Melancholic, Phlegmatic, Sanguine, and Choleric. They also have recurring (archetypical-fitting) body types. Whether intentional or subconsciously influenced, Marrow fits the sanguine type, at least until the new sprite rework which introduced a touch of choleric, which totally doesnt fit his personality unless he is genuinely suffering from dysthymia and just acts all concerned. TBH emo doctor is a quirky fit, especially for a "saint" bernard.

In a little more detail, old Marrow had eyebrows at eyebrow level, but now they are much further up like some kind of receding hairline, and he lost that fluffiness at the top of his head, the larger baby-proportioned ears, and eyeglasses that seem way too small on him now, rather than everything being cutely proportionate, almost baby-like that we take sanguine types to be. Even the neck fluff has turned into a constricting boa of fat that you might associate with a villain that overindulges. I personally couldn't take it and pasted and replaced all the old sprites into the new marrowyn sprite folder. It doesnt replace every single one, but I really went that far over it.

(+16)(-1)

I kinda liked slow pace. I mean, its quite refreshing after "i went into new world, and banged my boyfriend within a week... whom i started dating three days after i got there" X)

(+3)

The curse of making each update a day means by the 3rd day players waited 3 months in real life :D Might as well marry

(+1)

🖤