The Book of Shadows

[jwayjim]

Re: New RPG: The Book of Shadows

Postby bgillisp » Sat Oct 05, 2019 4:45 pm

jwayjim wrote:
Could someone please help me. I have downloaded the demo 17 times. It only gets to the extract part and then nothing. I have been playing these games for over 10 years and this is the first time this has happened. I am at a loss as what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.



That sounds like your antivirus might be blocking the extraction somehow. You may need to load up your anti-virus and tell it to let the program run.

Edit: Also we did have one person who for some reason the download didn't get all the files. If you still run into trouble let me know and I can post another link for you to try.

Would you please post that other link, I had no luck after loading up my anti-virus? Thanks.

[bgillisp]

Try this. It is a link to the current build of the demo. Be sure to download it by Friday (10.11) as I will be updating the build by then and this link will expire at that point in time. If you see this after it expires just tell me and I can post the updated link for the demo:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/473qrjhe0 ... o.exe/file

[kimo]

Will there be a seperate thread for feedback by us players? I just finished the game at slightly over 80 hours with characters at about level 80. Any feedback will not only be lengthy, but also filled with potential spoiler info.

For anyone who hasn't experienced the final battle, give yourself about 45 minutes ... or so. The same applies to Mutagen in the Eastwood "training" caves.

45 minutes with lvl 80 ? with Josie's new skills ? it can't be that long

Spoiler: show

if you try to use the skill reset orb for Josie in chapter 9 ... the shadow skills completely disappear ... you are left with only 3 skills left in Shadow skills option - can't learn them back - luckily I made a save before that

Maybe it just seemed that long. Not something you want to start before dinner.

I didn't know about Josie's new skills. I try not to read the developer's party preferences because I enjoy being surprised. Of course, some could say I was possessed to not read the guide before the final battle. Glad you found about the skill reset orb so it can be fixed for a future release.

[kimo]

My game feedback. Anyone have 2 cents? I will try to not openly divulge any “spoiler” info, but DO NOT READ THIS if you want to avoid all potential spoiler info. I’ll do my best to not spill the beans.

This game is incredibly involved with a well established storyline and world(s). And while the huge strategy guide is a good value for all the contents (screen shots), I found myself using it too often. I do feel that a relatively smart person should be able to complete a game without a guide. But, I am not sure I would have been successful without the guide because it is such a “large” game. In any case, I now buy the guide for every game because years from now there will not be people around who will help me when I am stuck like there is when a game is new. The developer deserves a round of applause for being around so often on Indi’s site. And, of course, Indi for having such a great site for so many years.

For the most part, this game was well balanced, but the need to revisit “optional” areas in Chap. 9 probably made it seem a bit tedious for us “completionists” who bought the guide and were aware of them. I only found 48 secret rooms using the guide and I would have missed much more optional returns to previously visited areas without the guide.

Some of the puzzles (not too hard except for the last dungeon) that need to be solved have too many enemies darting around and made me want to explore less in some dungeons. That was when I relied on the guide so as to not waste so much time killing baddies and that made the puzzles seem less fun (aka tedious). I did like the concept of a “fear factor” but never did get to kill that big rat so I lost out on the XP.

You can read about the game’s background history as well as magic types at several different points in the game, if you choose. But there is a large amount of reading (aka storytelling) during this game and I often found myself hitting the enter key too quickly because I would then find something that unexpectedly flashed in front of my eyes especially when searching bookshelves. The storytelling approach makes me think about my old days as an AD&D dungeon master. And this game did have a unique story line.

I wish there was an equipment option listed under the “items” button. Even if all the equipment was listed together, it would have made it a lot easier to find things on occasion without going through the equipment choices for each character. I often used the "sell" function at a shop to explore my armor & weapon inventory.

There are some storyline surprises that work, but not when they first happen. Who took my stuff?

Spoiler: show

Use the scrolls, magic books and items you are collecting because they will all be gone at the end of a future chapter as well as all of your money. So, buy and use those skill/magic books you are thinking about even if you will find a few for free. You won't lose your stats either. There will be enough money when you need it later.

My default party of choice was Alex, Liana, Sarah, Jarvis. But I started the game with Cedric as my #4 character and played him until I discovered Jarvis’ skills.

Spoiler: show

Jarvis’ “Whirlwind” with the poison halberd can often wipe out an entire party. Combined with Sarah’s “Dagger Flurry” and her ultimate dagger, these 2 can often take out every opponent. “Clone” Sarah later in the game with an accessory and get more fire power. And everyone who could equip it also had some version of Angel armor.

I never used Renee, but I do understand the reasons for having her as a multi-skill, low level, low SP character. I, too, used her after battles to heal party members because her MP was so high. I also equipped her with the “Learner” bracelet immediately upon joining the party and she was still about 10 levels below everyone else. But, I also didn’t use the other characters that often unless it was for a specific need like the fire element in frigid places. Likewise, I never really used Alex’s “Strategy” options except in the beginning of the game even though they are a free move. The replayability (that’s a word?) of this game lies in the use of different characters next time. I found out about the Gladiator by chance and I don’t remember how. Just think what I might discover during my next playthrough.

By level 80 (yes, I visited all the optional areas), I had all the SP I needed to learn every skill for every character (except Renee). Likewise, I found there was enough money to buy stuff. But, money is useless in a final dungeon. I had so many potions, etc. and I still ended the game with 200,000 coins.

I really like the developer’s choosing to apply XP to every member of the party regardless of being in the active group of 4. The “no character left behind” policy is one that more multi-character games should include. After all, it is an option for the MV engine.

These are my thoughts for what it’s worth. I tried to keep it short (no, really) so I may have left out things that I should have taken notes on while I played.

[Indinera]

Thanks for taking the time to write such comprehensive feedback.

[bgillisp]

Kimo, thanks for the feedback! A couple of questions for you in spoiler if you don't mind:

Spoiler: show

1) What puzzle areas seemed to have too many enemies? I tried to block them from wandering into the puzzle itself, but if there is one that felt off let me know.

2) Items should have a view all...let me investigate that one. I think it is the bottom tab though of the choices but can't pull it up to check as I'm at work.

3) Thanks for confirming what level you can learn all skills at. Did Renee have all of hers at level 80? Or because she was behind you didn't get a chance to find out?

[kimo]

Kimo, thanks for the feedback! A couple of questions for you in spoiler if you don't mind:

Spoiler: show

1) What puzzle areas seemed to have too many enemies? I tried to block them from wandering into the puzzle itself, but if there is one that felt off let me know.

2) Items should have a view all...let me investigate that one. I think it is the bottom tab though of the choices but can't pull it up to check as I'm at work.

3) Thanks for confirming what level you can learn all skills at. Did Renee have all of hers at level 80? Or because she was behind you didn't get a chance to find out?

Answers to your questions are below.

Spoiler: show

1) Examples of “puzzles” with interfering/large amounts of enemies. This is more of an exploration issue and making wrong decisions and then having to retrace steps. This is where the strategy guide is virtually required to make the right direction choices to minimize enemy encounters. This is just the way I feel and may not be shared by others. I think you did a good job of keeping enemies out of the specific puzzles (like the ice skating one).

It occurs to me as I am listing these areas that perhaps the large size of the areas compounds the matter. Also, respawning enemies contributed to the situation as I tried to navigate the multiple levels. Up/Down/Fight. Down/Up/Fight. Rinse and repeat.
Final Dungeon
Blackmire mushroom caves
Kythaela Wetlands


2) There is an “Items-All” choice, but it does not show armor and weapons. I’m sure that is because those things are not designated as “Items” in the game database. I guess you could have an “Equipment” tab either alone or with weapons/armor as sub-categories. Like I said, just having a single category where all equipment could be found would be a bonus.


3) Renee was only at about level 70 when I started the final dungeon, so did not have enough SP to learn everything for all 4 classes. But, it is only an observation and not a complaint. I fully understand why the character was configured that way. I am sure I could have had her learn only very strong (all enemies) and some strategic spells, but everyone else was performing well. I’ll see on a future playthrough and try to use her with more success. To be honest, I abandoned Renee's spell learning function because she was 10 levels under everyone else. She also might be a good candidate later in the game for the Reset Skills Orb which I never used.

[littlebro]

If I could chip in here as well.

Kimo, thanks for the feedback! A couple of questions for you in spoiler if you don't mind:

Spoiler: show

1) What puzzle areas seemed to have too many enemies? I tried to block them from wandering into the puzzle itself, but if there is one that felt off let me know.

2) Items should have a view all...let me investigate that one. I think it is the bottom tab though of the choices but can't pull it up to check as I'm at work.

3) Thanks for confirming what level you can learn all skills at. Did Renee have all of hers at level 80? Or because she was behind you didn't get a chance to find out?

Spoiler: show

For me it was the final dungeon where I think the number of enemies got a bit much. I can see a dilemma for you - either people have done a lot of the optional stuff, and so have no need of either EXP or gold, or they haven't, in which case the EXP in particular might be vital. I was already almost maxed out in levels at the beginning of the Mage school and because I'd done that Slime boss in a secret room, I had more money than I knew what to do with. Would it be possible to have at least some of the visible enemies set to disappear if the average level of the party is X?

I too would have loved to be able to see what equipment and weapons I had without either going into a shop and pretend to sell, or into the equip menu, which is a bit hit and miss.

[bgillisp]

That helps some. Some comments on them:

Spoiler: show

Blackmire Mushroom Caves the enemies don't respawn. What is going on there is the tiles with the green mushroom like growth on mold? That is the mushrooms that attack you. Don't step on them and they will not attack. Also not all attack, so sometimes the tiles is safe.

Incidentally once you break level 14 (average level) many of them stop attacking.

The final dungeon I was going to have some of them run away at level 71, but I decided since the army is desperate and cornered it'd not make any sense. I don't believe any respawn though, so you can thin them out with time.

I checked and I know what happened to the equip all and armor all. For some odd reason the script that allowed that wouldn't work with the other scripts so I had to remove it. I think though some of it was due to me having some odd weapon and armor categories which were for naming only but it kept using those to ID them which messed everything up, and fixing it was going to break save games already made so it was decided to leave it out. Next game it should work though.

Also working on sending a new build to Indy to fix a few things before EOD today and...it will have a bonus. Ready for Nightmare Mode?

Ok, it is just an option to set the slider to 4 instead of the old cap of 3. I wanted to add a true Nightmare mode with more changes than that but can't do that in 2 days as I'd have no time to test it properly. But based on the feedback here I am going to work on adding one to my next game for those who like challenges.

Anyways it will probably not show up on BMT Micro until Thursday am USA time so wait until then to download it.

[darkange]

YESSS ... gimme gimme slider = 4 ... and nightmare mode

[bgillisp]

YESSS ... gimme gimme slider = 4 ... and nightmare mode

The slider = 4 version is in the build I just sent to Indy. I imagine it will be available tomorrow sometime. A true Nightmare mode I can't get done before people's BMT Micro Links start to expire and I don't want to do that to those who bought it, but next game I am going to work on adding it in.

[littlebro]

YESSS ... gimme gimme slider = 4 ... and nightmare mode

Somehow I just knew that would be your response.

[darkange]

by the way I don't understand some things about the mutagen fight :

Spoiler: show

when I scanned the mutagen it said he has 0 % resistance to DOOM ... when I saw that I immediately used doom skill from Savina like 4 times in a row - and nothing - no doom state applies on him - so what's up with that ? He was debuffed too first with Jossie's debuff shadow skill ....
Also does ultra shield skill from Cedric really works against status ailments ? The mutagen was still inflincting me with curse and other status ailments when I had the shield on - even before he used the almighty dispel

[bgillisp]

by the way I don't understand some things about the mutagen fight :

Spoiler: show

when I scanned the mutagen it said he has 0 % resistance to DOOM ... when I saw that I immediately used doom skill from Savina like 4 times in a row - and nothing - no doom state applies on him - so what's up with that ? He was debuffed too first with Jossie's debuff shadow skill ....
Also does ultra shield skill from Cedric really works against status ailments ? The mutagen was still inflincting me with curse and other status ailments when I had the shield on - even before he used the almighty dispel

Spoiler: show

0% means you have no chance of inflicting it, not it has 0% resistance. All those numbers are the chance of the state working on them. So 100% means normal rate of application works.

Curse is a debuff, not a status ailment. That is why it was still inflicted. Debuffs cannot be resisted, status ailments can. So that skill will block you from things like confuse, silence, etc though.

[darkange]

oooooh ... I see ... I had it all wrong the entire game lol - this is enlightening - I am amazed I made it this far by thinking the opposite .

Spoiler: show

For a long time I thought Jarvis was the best physical dmg dealer but man when I discovered how powerful Sarah can be once you buff and equip her right .... with only her dagger skills and a simple dagger ... she was vital for me in the mutagen fight and thanks to Jossie's shadow paralysis .... i let him stay paralized for more than 10 turns just so I can buff my party into oblivion in peace

By the way ... I love the description of physical skills of Jarvis - especially "dream punch "