So It Begins...

Well, Sparkleketeers, the first version of the combat demo has been shipped out to backers! This is a small microcosm of the game with its own individual scenario to teach you the basics of combat, and some early intermediate aspects of the combat system. Just as a reminder- the first release of the combat demo is for original Kickstarter backers only.

Bossfight viewers will recognize recurring characters from the web series, such as Ruchel (Baba Yaga), Boi, Solomon and, of course, Princess Sparklemuffin (and more to come)- but you also get to meet new friends, like Maus. Princess Sparklemuffin's section demonstrates the adventure game-like features of the game, where items from your inventory can be used to solve problems you come across in the world, combined with her ability to speak (well, sing) to animals.

 The demo then shifts over to the adventures of Solomon, Boi and Maus, which lets the player delve into the introductory tutorials for the combat system.  The tutorial will introduce the player to the concepts of:

1. Grid Combat
   1. Grid movement
   2. Weapon and attack range
   3. Battle positioning
2. Enemy position manipulation
3. Item usage and traps

Two aspects have not been fully included in this demo:

Princess Sparklemuffin and Princess Sparklepony's Combat Features: Princess Sparklemuffin's song-making magic and Princess Sparklepony's poop-throwing and magic dance systems are a little more advanced. So they are not included in this iteration of the combat demo. However, we will likely include them in future versions as we gather backer feedback through the in-game form.

Friendship Formations: Another advanced feature is the existence of Friendship Formations. During the events of the full game, players will be able to make choices that deepen the relationship between different characters in the party, and those bonds manifest themselves in how the characters behave in the battlefield, in a manner that is consistent with each character's personality. 

For example: Solomon is a protector by vocation, so by having either Maus or Boi standing right behind him, Solomon will protect them and intercept any damage, taking the blow for himself. We've left a marker for that particular status to signal to the testers that the formation has been activated. Boi or Maus will have the following status marker floating above their heads:

Boi, as a relative stranger to Solomon, does not interact as Solomon takes damage. Maus, on the other hand, due to his greater familiarity with Solomon, has a 20% chance of returning fire once his friend has been injured, pelting an element with an ice attack. In order for this to happen, Maus needs to be in the Guard state before an attack targets him while he's standing behind Solomon, setting himself ready to react.  

These are their default formations. As relationships shift and strengthen throughout the game, you will be able to acquire new formation options that trigger effects under specific conditions. For the purpose of this demo, we've included the two formations above, but there's no tutorial addressing them: they are there to give you a glance at an upcoming mechanic.

The game also features an effect that simulates playing the game through a CRT monitor, which can be turned off. We incorporated this effect as a dash of nostalgia, but also because it is close to how pixel art games were experienced when they first came out. The smoothing effect of CRT monitor scanlines informed how a great deal of early pixel art was designed, and although emulated filters on modern machines aren't a faithful recreation of the effect, we find the approximation appealing.

Backers will also find a soundtrack sample included in the root directory, featuring 18 tracks and approximately 55 minutes of music. 

Once you have made it through the full game, you will have the option to fill out the backer feedback form- it can be filed directly through a pop-out window, or have the game deposit a notecard with the link to your game root directory.

So, without further ado... happy testing, Sparkleketeers!

~Merryjest