Prologue Demo - Update #4

After many months, I've finally updated the Prologue Demo. As I'm still working on getting the train sequence completed, I'm not going to bump this up to version 3 just yet. I am getting close to where that sequence is complete, and can be properly integrated into the Prologue itself. After which, I can make part of chapter 1 the preview portion that can be viewed at your own leisure. Otherwise, here are the noteworthy changes.

Gameplay Changes

- All normal "Attacks", including those used by enemies, now have the <Target Only Front Rank> tag coded in; meaning you can only target the front most enemies on the grid and vice versa. This means that if you have someone on the 1st rank on their side of the field, the opposition can only target them. If someone were to move a rank back where other targets are, they will be eligible to be hit. This tag will also be applied to certain enemy physical artes and potentially playable character artes to try and add more incentive to have characters 'Move', and for when player gains access to the "Grid Formation" menu later in the game.

- Piper's basic attack animation has changed to a single pierce attack (derived from Treble Strike/Sonic Thrust), so that she naturally does Pierce damage instead of a slash attack like Aki. Her old attack animation will be incorporated later for other artes.

- Gremlin? now has an additional attack, Terra Rupture. Had the animation for the attack for a while, only now started to implement it.

- Over Limit has been programmed. Will be fleshed out at a later point in the story, but currently it reduces physical and magical damage done to you by 50%. Currently, it's planned that Over Limit can be triggered manually, or triggered automatically with a passive skill. Other Passive Skills are being considered to alter the effects or make it easier to fill.
In addition, upon receiving the ability to use Over Limit (not in this demo), a bar will appear under a character's TP that will fill as attacks are done or received. It's currently bare until I can better program words to say when it's full.

- For the Prologue Demo, Aki will not have proper access to her Altered Artes, as they will be properly introduced at a later point in the story. Similarly, Piper will not have access to her Battle Forms until that same time.

- Aki's Altered Artes will be reworked to better suit her character, as well as how they can be done. As will Piper's Battle Forms.

- The order of which Aki learns certain artes has changed. She knows Steel right away, while in its place is a new arte (Dust Bath) at level 6; which will require a proper animation later and is considered a WIP. Spark Wave is learned at 16, while in its place is a new arte (Electrotherapy) at level 10.

- Piper learns Eruption at level 16 now, while in its place is a new arte (Flame Lance) at level 10. In addition, she starts out knowing Treble Strike, while in its place is a new arte (Pyre Light) at level 6.

- The pre-fight sequence with Gremlin? has been changed so that Aki enters Over Limit, as a preview for the mechanic that is properly introduced later in a future update. The fight will still feature her ability to use Lightning Tiger Blade as another preview to a later mechanic.

- Krista has more animation frames and attacks (which can all be seen for this demo), but is still considered a WIP and only the first part is still viewable.

Sorcerer's Ring Update

- Using Galv's Map Projectile Plugin, the Sorcerer’s Ring uses fewer events to utilize. Will also allow further implementation of other ring modes if able.

Skit System Added

- Several skits have been implemented throughout the playable sections of the story. Like with the main story, these are considered drafts and how they play out is a WIP to try and better do lip-flaps or blinking.

Menu Option Change

- The Quests menu option has been changed into Events. It will continue listing jobs and the 'eventual' bounties, but it will also feature a way to track main story events. It is available right away instead of after the Gremlin? fight.

Level Cap Increase

- I decided to bump the level cap for testing to 50. Not many artes will be available to learn after 10, at least you'll be able to better replay the game with ease when using the established cheat.

Enemy Stat Adjustments

- The pirates (Novice and Heavy variety) have their stats slightly lowered for balance.

Other

- Fixed an issue where Piper's resistances and bonuses to certain elements were inaccurate to what they should be. I.E., she is no longer 100% weak to lightning.

- Updated some icons with some personal ones made through Game-icons.net. Some also appear next to the Parameters in the Status Menu.

- Removed some Parameters from the Status Menu. Will refine them further later.

- General fixes to the environment and event fixes previously uncaught.

Future Changes

- I will consider condensing the number of status ailments in case of redundancy or if they would ever appear.

- All gameplay changes will be applied to the Arena Demo in the future.

Included are save files for convenience and testing. Please report any bugs you find, and I will address them either right away or for the next update, depending on the urgency of the matter.